II. Contents of the First 2MASS Incremental Data Release

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5. Extended Source Postage Stamp Images

Small cut-outs of the full resolution J, H and K_s Atlas Images around each of the XSC sources in the First Incremental Release are available on-line. The image sizes are scaled to the size of the object, ranging from 21´´ × 21´´ for the faintest galaxies (K_s > 13 mag) to the maximum 101´´ × 101´´ for the largest galaxies that 2MASS can always fully image in a single Tile. For galaxies larger than 101´´, it is best to use the 2MASS Survey Visualizer, which will display larger (but lossy compressed) 2MASS Atlas images.

The 2MASS Extended Source Images are 3-dimensional FITS image cubes. Each cube contains three image planes, and each plane contains the J, H and K_s 2MASS image data, respectively. The near-infrared background emission has been subtracted from each image plane. Positional and photometric calibration information are included in the image header.

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