Morphological classification of high redshift galaxies

Abstract

We present GASPHOT, a tool for automated surface photometry and morphological classification of galaxies in deep and wide fields. The requirements for any such tool are reviewed, and its use for the classification of high-z galaxies is presented. In the case if HDF-like images, for galaxies having a magnitude ranging from 24 to 27.5, the uncertainties on the photometric parameters derived from GASPHOT are respectively 0.02-0.1 on magnitude, 0.03 on the logarithm of the scale length, 0.02-0.5 on the Sersic index n used to classify the surface brightness profile of the galaxies. A comparison with the results achieved using Sextractor is presented.

4 pages, 3 encapsulated figures. Proceedings of the Euroconference "The Evolution of Galaxies.I- Observational clues." held in Granada (Spain), 23-27 May, 2000. To be published in a special issue of Astrophysics and Space Science journal