Near - infrared observations of galaxies in Pisces - Perseus : I . H - band surface photometry of 174 spirals ⋆

We present near–infrared, H–band (1.65μm), surface photometry of 174 spiral galaxies in the area of the Pisces–Perseus supercluster. The images, acquired with the ARNICA camera mounted on various telescopes, are used to derive radial profiles of surface brightness, ellipticities, and position angles, together with global parameters such as H-band magnitudes and diameters . The mean relation between H-band isophotal diameter D21.5 and the B-band D25 implies a B − H color of the outer disk bluer than 3.5 ; moreover, D21.5/D25 depends on (global) color and absolute luminosity. The correlations among the various photometric parameters suggest a ratio between isophotal radius D21.5/2 and disk scale length of ∼ 3.5 and a mean disk central brightness ≃ 17.5H-mag arcsec. We confirm the trend of the concentration index C31 with absolute luminosity and, to a lesser degree, with morphological type. We also assess the influence of non-axisymmetric structures on the radial profiles and on the derived parameters.