An Algorithm has been developed and used to find galaxies in the
2MASS data. It uses the central surface brightness and parameterized radial
profile in conjuction with the integrated flux to discriminate galaxies
from the much more numberous stellar population. Additional tests reject
contaminants such as doubles. Simulations have demonstrated that this
galaxy algorithm performs with high completeness and reliability
above galaxy magnitudes of K = 13.5. 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 about 10 degrees. Results for
three surveyed fields at b=-26, 35 and 90 degrees are
presented, which are in agreement with these simulations.
See also:
