The DENIS 2 Micron Survey and its Cosmological Applications

Abstract

Near-infrared surveys have very promising cosmological applications. The DENIS 2 micron survey, currently in camera-testing, is scheduled to begin in early 1995, and to map the entire southern sky in the $I$, $J$, and $K'$ bands. The steps for the near-homogeneous extraction of $\sim 10^5$ galaxies are outlined, some pitfalls are given, and the estimated limiting capabilities of the survey are presented. A preliminary $J$-band image illustrates these capabilities and some of the hidden pitfalls. The necessary spectroscopic followup is shown to be feasible on a reasonably short timescale.

presented at 35th Herstmonceux Conference "Wide-Field Spectroscopy and the Distant Universe", held in Cambridge (U.K.) July 1994. 8 pages Postscript (incl. one table and 2 figures, self-extracting on UNIX and self-printing on UNIX/BSD).