SIMBAD references

We have obtained the E-W surface brightness profile of the standard elliptical NGC 3379 from overlapping NTT/SUSI frames out to ∼5.2' from the centre of the galaxy. These observations in I include a high-resolution frame (σ_*=0.37)" of the centre. We find that a single isothermal core does not fit the central surface photometry of this galaxy, indicating that NGC 3379 may be the result of a more complex formation scenario than a dissipationless collapse. Combining B-band literature data with the present I-band profile we obtain a colour gradient consistent with an average abundance gradient of {DELTA}[Fe/H]/{DELTA}logR=-0.21±0.03.