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Description
We present a refinement of the optical morphologies for galaxies in the Catalog of Isolated Galaxies (Karachentseva et al., 1973, Cat. <VII/82>) that forms the basis of the AMIGA (Analysis of the interstellar Medium of Isolated GAlaxies) project. Uniform reclassification using the digitized POSS II data benefited from the high resolution and dynamic range of that sky survey. Comparison with independent classifications made for an SDSS overlap sample of more than 200 galaxies confirms the reliability of the early vs. late-type discrimination and the accuracy of spiral subtypes within {Delta}T=1-2. CCD images taken at the Observatorio de Sierra Nevada (OSN) were also used to solve ambiguities in early versus late-type classifications. A considerable number of galaxies in the catalog (n=193) are flagged for the presence of nearby companions or signs of distortion likely due to interaction. This most isolated sample of galaxies in the local Universe is dominated by two populations: 1) 82% are spirals (Sa-Sd) with the bulk being luminous systems with small bulges (63% between types Sb-Sc) and 2) a significant population of early-type E-S0 galaxies (14%).
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