Deep optical galaxy counts with the Keck Telescope

Abstract

We present faint galaxy counts from deep $VRI$ images obtained with the Keck Telescope. These images reach $R\sim 27$ in median seeing FWHM $\sim 0.5$--0.6 arcsec and we detect a integrated galaxy number density of $7\times 10^5$ degree${}^{-2}$, equivalent to $3\times 10^{10}$ galaxies in the observable Universe. In addition we present median galaxy colors as a function of magnitude; bluing trends are visible in all colors to $R\sim 24.5$. Fainter than $R\sim 24.5$, however, the typical \VR\ color becomes redder again, \VI\ remains constant, and \RI\ becomes yet bluer. These trends are consistent with the $VRI$ count slopes, implying a decrease in the $V$ slope at the faintest levels, which our data supports. Taking advantage of our good seeing we also present median half-light radii for faint galaxies, these show a steady decline at fainter magnitudes, leading to an intrinsic half-light radius of $\sim 0.2$ arcsec for a typical $R\sim 25.5$--26 galaxy. Irrespective of the redshift distribution, the extremely high galaxy surface densities and their small intrinsic sizes are consistent with a scenario in which the majority of the very faint field population are dwarf galaxies or sub-galactic units.

7 pages plus four figures in a self-unpacking uuencoded tar file. Accepted for publication, ApJ Letters

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