High-Resolution Rotation Curves of Low Surface Brightness Galaxies. I. Data

We present long-slit Hα observations of 50 low surface brightness galaxies. Of these, 36 are of sufficient quality to form rotation curves. These data provide a large increase in the number of low surface brightness galaxies for which accurate rotation curves are available. They also represent an order-of-magnitude improvement in spatial resolution over previous 21 cm studies (1"-2" instead of 13"-45"). The improved resolution and accuracy of the data extend and strengthen the scientific conclusions previously inferred from 21 cm data. Based on observations using the 4 m telescope, Kitt Peak National Observatory, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation, and the du Pont Telescope of the Las Campanas Observatory, Carnegie Institution of Washington.