NEAR-INFRARED SURFACE PHOTOMETRY OF BULGES AND DISKS OF SPIRAL GALAXIES - THE DATA

We present optical and near-infrared (NIR) surface brightness and colo ur profiles, in bands ranging from U to K, for the disk and bulge comp onents of a complete sample of 30 nearby S0 to Sbc galaxies with incli nations larger than 50 degrees. We describe in derail the observations and the determination of colour parameters. Calibrated monochromatic and real-colour images are presented, as well as colour index maps. Th is data set, tailored for the study of the population characteristics of galaxy bulges, provides useful information on the colours of inner disks as well. In related papers, we have used them to quantify colour gradients in bulges, and age differentials between bulge and inner di sk.