Seeking the Local Convergence Depth. I. Tully-Fisher Observations of the Clusters A168, A397, A569, A1139, A1228, and A1983.

Abstract

We present first results of an all-sky observing program designed to improve the quality of the I band Tully-Fisher (TF) template and to obtain the reflex motion of the Local Group with respect to clusters to z = 0.06. We are obtaining between 5 and 15 TF measurements per cluster on a sample of 50 clusters at intermediate redshifts (0.02 < z < 0.06). Presentation of the data for seven Abell clusters of galaxies is given here. This data incorporates methods for estimating the true inclination of a spiral disk, an observational parameter undervalued for small angular-sized galaxies or for galaxies observed in poor seeing conditions.Comment: 21 pages, uses AAS LaTeX, 3 tables and 8 postscript figures (only first page of fig. 6 included in this version); to appear in the Astronomical Journa