DIAMETER FUNCTIONS OF UGC AND ESO GALAXIES

An analysis of the diameter function of galaxies is presented for three redshift surveys. The completeness of the UGC and ESO catalogues is investigated, the completeness of the redshift surveys is calculated and density-independent maximum likelihood estimators are applied in determining the parameters of the diameter functions. The diameter function is well described by an exponential with characteristic diameter D(UGC)* = 6.38 +/- 0.15 h-1 kpc; D(ESO)* = 7.56 +/- 0.19 h-1 kpc; D25* = 5.72 +/- 0.2 h-1 kpc for diameters greater than 4.36 h-1 kpc. The ESO and UGC diameter functions are compatible with each other when they are scaled to the same depth.