Visual morphological classification of the full MaNGA DR17 sample: a general characterization

ABSTRACT We present the MaNGA (Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory) Visual Morphology (MVM) catalogue, featuring a visual morphological classification of 10 059 galaxies in the final MaNGA sample. By combining SDSS (Sloan Digital Sky Survey) and DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument) Legacy Survey (DLS) images, we classified galaxies into 13 Hubble types, detected tidal features, categorized bars into different families, and estimated concentration, asymmetry, and clumpiness. The depth of the DLS images allowed us to identify structural details that were not evident in the SDSS images, resulting in a more reliable classification. After correcting for volume completeness, we find a bimodal distribution in galaxy morphology, with peaks in S0 and Scd types, and a transition zone around S0a–Sa types. Bars are present in 54 per cent of disc galaxies with inclinations $\lt 70^\circ$, following a bimodal trend with peaks in Sab–Sb and Scd–Sd types. Tidal structures are identified in $\sim$13 per cent of galaxies, particularly in massive E–Sa and low-mass Sdm–Irr galaxies. We derive the galaxy stellar mass function (GSMF) and decompose it into each morphological type. Schechter functions accurately describe the latter, while a triple Schechter function describes the total GSMF, associating three characteristic masses with different galaxy types. The abundance of early-type galaxies remains constant at low masses; they are predominantly satellites. We confirm that later-type galaxies are generally younger, bluer, more star-forming, and less metal-rich compared to early-type galaxies. Additionally, we find evidence connecting morphology and stellar mass to the star formation history of galaxies. The MVM catalogue provides a robust data set for investigating galaxy evolution, secular processes, and machine learning-based morphological classifications.