THE GLOBULAR-CLUSTER SYSTEM OF NGC-5813

We present a deep three colour study of the globular cluster system of the elliptical galaxy NGC 5813. CCD frames in B, V, and R were used t o search for globular cluster candidates within the radial range from 40 to 310 arc sec. Candidates were detected out to a distance of 190 a rc sec. The radial density profile of the cluster distribution follows a de Vaucouleurs law with a larger effective radius and a shallower g radient than found for the unresolved population of field stars. The t otal number of clusters is 1650 +/- 400 which corresponds to a specifi c globular cluster frequency of S = 5.7 +/- 1.8. The mean colours of t he cluster system are (B - V) = +0.74(m) and (V - R) = +0.54(m). The B -V colour does not change with radius within our detection limits whil e we found a significant radial change in V-R of -0.1 mag from the inn er to the outer regions.