Spitzer mid-infrared point sources in the fields of nearby galaxies^⋆,⋆⋆

¹ Department of PhysicsUniversity of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
e-mail: williams@physics.uoc.gr
² IAASARS, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Penteli, Greece

Received: 13 November 2015
Accepted: 23 December 2015

Abstract

Aims. To complement the study of transient phenomena and to assist subsequent observations in the mid-infrared, we extract point source photometry from archival mosaics of nearby galaxies with high star formation rates within 4 Mpc.

Methods. Point spread function photometry was performed on sources detected in both Spitzer IRAC 3.6 μm and 4.5 μm bands at greater than 3σ above background. These data were then supplemented by aperture photometry in the IRAC 5.8 μm and 8.0 μm bands conducted at the positions of the shorter wavelength sources. For sources with no detected object in the longer wavelengths, we estimated magnitude limits based on the local sky background.

Results. We present Spitzer IRAC mid-infrared point source catalogs for mosaics covering the fields of the nearby (≲4 Mpc) galaxies NGC 55, NGC 253, NGC 2366, NGC 4214, and NGC 5253. We detect a total of 20159 sources in these five fields. The individual galaxy point source breakdown is the following: NGC 55, 8746 sources; NGC 253, 9001 sources; NGC 2366, 505 sources; NGC 4214, 1185 sources; NGC 5253, 722 sources. The completeness limits of the full catalog vary with bandpass and were found to be m_3.6 = 18.0, m_4.5 = 17.5, m_5.8 = 17.0, and m_8.0 = 16.5 mag. For all galaxies, this corresponds to detection of point sources brighter than M_3.6 = −10. These catalogs can be used as a reference for stellar population investigations, individual stellar object studies, and in planning future mid-infrared observations with the James Webb Space Telescope.