Nearby Large-Scale Structures and the Zone of Avoidance

Abstract

Abstract. Motivated by the possibility that the highly obscured (AB = 12. m) radio galaxy PKS1343−601 at (ℓ,b,cz) = (309. ◦ 7,+1. ◦ 8,3872 kms −1) might constitute the center of a heavily obscured cluster in the Great Attractor region, we have imaged about 2 ◦ × 2 ◦ of the core of this prospective cluster in the I-band using the WFI at the ESO 2.2 m telescope at La Silla. We were able to identify 49 galaxies and 6 uncertain galaxy candidates. Although their distribution does not resemble a centrally condensed, massive cluster, its appearance – severely influenced by the strong dust gradient across our surveyed region – is entirely consistent with a cluster. 1.