High K-band surface brightness fluctuations in NGC 1427 and NGC 720

We have observed K-band Surface Brightness Fluctuations (SBF) in NGC 1427 a nd NGC 720. We combine our measurements with distance measurements based on I{band SBF distance moduli and distance moduli derived by other distance i ndicators. When using distances from I-band SBF, we obtain (M) over bar (K) = -6.55 +/- 0.27 for NGC 1427 and (M) over bar (K) = 6.43 +/- 0.18 for NGC 720. When using an average of direct distance measurements, we obtain (M) over bar (K) = -6.17 +/- 0.23 for NGC 1427 and (M) over bar (K) = -6.14 +/- 0.24 for NGC 720. For both galaxies, (M) over bar (K) lies well above the average value used as a calibration for distance indication ((M) over bar ( K) = 5.61 +/- 0.12 Jensen et al. 1998). In NGC 720 the high K-band SBF are most probably due to an intermediate-age population. However, there is no h int from current data for any anomaly in the stellar population of NGC 1427 . These large variations of (M) over bar (K) in several galaxies underline once more the need for a better understanding of (M) over bar (K) as a func tion of stellar population properties (Mei et al. 2001b; Liu et al. 2001), especially with respect to the potential presence of intermediate-age popul ations.