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Session 75 - 2MASS.
Display session, Wednesday, January 17
North Banquet Hall, Convention Center

[75.03] The 2Mass Galaxy Detection Algorithm: Description, Expected Performance Versus Galactic Latitude and Results from the Coma Cluster

An algorithm has been developed and used to find galaxies in the 2MASS data. It uses the central surface brightness, parameterized radial profile and annular flux measurements, in conjunction with the integrated magnitude, to discriminate galaxies from the much more numerous stellar population and to discriminate galaxies from chance coincidences of two stars within 5\arcsec. Simulations have demonstrated that this galaxy algorithm performs with high completeness and reliability above integrated galaxy magnitudes of K_s = 13.5 mag. The reliability is limited currently by chance coincidences of three stars within a radius of 10\arcsec, which is important only below galactic latitudes of \sim10\deg. Images of a 5 square degree region containing the Coma galaxy cluster that was observed by the 2MASS prototype camera are presented, along with source counts from this area.

Program listing for Wednesday