Far infrared properties of Hickson compact groups of galaxies. I. High resolution IRAS maps and fluxes.

The Far Infrared (FIR) properties of galaxies which are members of compact groups bear relevant information on the dynamical status and the physical properties of these structures. All studies published so far have been undermined by the poor sensitivity and spatial resolution of the IRAS-PSC and IRAS Sky Survey data. We used the HIRAS software available at the IRAS server at the Laboratory for Space Research in Groningen to fully exploit the redundancy of the IRAS data and to approach the theoretical diffraction limit of IRAS. Among the 97 groups which were observed by IRAS, 62 were detected in at least one band, while reliable upper limits were derived for all the others. Among the detected groups, 49 were fully or partially resolved, i.e. it was possible to discriminate which member or members emit most of the FIR light. At 60μm, for instance, 87 individual sources were detected in 62 groups. In order to ease the comparison with data obtained at other wavelengths - and in particular in the X and radio domains - we give co-added and HIRAS maps for all the detected groups.