A search for low surface brightness galaxies in Virgo using Tech Pan films

Abstract

We report on a pilot study for a new survey of low surface brightness galaxies in the Virgo Cluster using Kodak Technical Pan 4415 films from the UK Schmidt Telescope. The film offers significant gains in depth, resolution and S/N when compared with conventional photographic plate data. This translates to direct scientific benefits as we clearly demonstrate with the effectiveness of Tech Pan in searching for faint extended objects. From only a small pilot region we present photometry on two newly discovered low surface brightness galaxies not found in previous studies of Virgo. The new surface brightness and size limits expected for the overall automated survey are discussed.