The discovery, apparent distribution and some properties of 4200 compact galaxies

The discovery of compact galaxies before 1961 and their catalogization is described. The results have been published in MCG. In the first three volumes, from 1962 till summer of 1964, 3350 compact galaxies have been discovered and measured. Their definition is compared to that by Zwicky, who presented his first list of 200 such objects in 1965. The scarcity of data about the structure of compact galaxies is noted as well as the fact that their linear dimensions are often considerable. The red galaxies with no emission in the spectrum must consist of relatively cool stars with large M:L. This densities and masses must exceed the average ones. The bluish objects mass get their compactness from the luminosity of gases. The apparent distribution of 4200 compact galaxies from delta=+90deg to delta =-45 deg does not differ significantly from that of all the 32000 galaxies of MCG