THE POWER SPECTRUM OF GALAXIES IN THE NEARBY UNIVERSE

We compute the power spectrum of galaxy density fluctuations in a recently completed Southern Sky Redshift Survey of optically selected galaxies (SSRS2). The amplitude and shape of the SSRS2 power spectrum are consistent with results of the Center for Astrophysics redshift survey of the northern hemisphere (CfA2), including the abrupt change of slope on a scale of 30-50 h(-1) Mpc; these results are reproducible for independent volumes of space, and variations are consistent with the errors estimated from mock surveys. Taken together, the SSRS2 and the CfA2 form a complete sample of 14,383 galaxies which covers one-third of the sky. The power spectrum of this larger sample continues to rise on scales up to similar to 200 h(-1) Mpc, with weak evidence for flattening on the largest scales. The SSRS2 + CfA2 power spectrum and the power spectrum constraints implied by COBE are well matched by an Omega h similar to 0.2, Omega + lambda(0), = 1 cold dark matter model with minimal biasing of optically selected galaxies.