Wolf-Rayet galaxies and their CCD photometry

Abstract

Galaxies with Wolf-Rayet star features in their spectra have long been known. They are characterised by a broad emission feature at ? 4686 Å. This is attributed to stellar HeII emission from a large population of WR stars. Broad CIV ?? 5808 Å emission has also been detected in about 30 WR galaxies. The WR galaxies are thought to be undergoing present or very recent star formation that produces massive stars evolving to the WR stage. More than 130 WR galaxies are now known and most of them have been studied on the basis of spectroscopic observations. Therefore, a CCD surface photometry programme has been initiated at the U.P. State Observatory, Naini Tal using B V R I and H? filters. NGC 1741, IIZw40, IRAS01003-2238 have been observed and their morphology is discussed.