Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 April 2016
We are using the 2dF spectrograph to make a survey of all objects (“stars” and “galaxies”) in a 12 deg2 region towards the Fornax cluster. We have discovered a population of compact emission-line galaxies unresolved on photographic sky survey plates and therefore missing in most galaxy surveys based on such material. These galaxies are as luminous as normal field galaxies. Using Hα to estimate star formation they contribute at least an additional 5% to the local star formation rate.