Phenomenological analysis of observed relations for low-redshift galaxies.

Maximum-likelihood estimates are made for the exponent p in the phenomenological redshift-distance relation z [unk] r(p) for galaxies at redshifts less, similar0.03, on the basis of redshift (z)-magnitude (m)-apparent diameter (theta) observations given in the Reference Catalogue of Bright Galaxies [de Vaucouleurs, G. & de Vaucouleurs, A. (1964)]. The estimates are in the range 1.96 </= p </= 2.04 for the full sample of 742 galaxies having m - z - theta data, with dispersions less, similar0.08, and in a similar but broader range for various subsamples. Explicit allowance for an observational cut-off in apparent magnitude in the m - z relation reinforces the result that p approximately 2. Independent estimation based on a cut-off independent generalized Kafka-Schmidt V/V(m) test for a subsample in conservatively limited redshift and magnitude ranges, yields p = 2.05.