The Identification of the Submillimeter Galaxy Smmj00266+1708

We report the detection of 1.3mm continuum and near-infrared K−band (2.2μm) emission from the submillimeter galaxy SMMJ00266+1708. Although this galaxy is among the brightest sub-mm sources detected in the blank-sky surveys (L ∼ 10L⊙), SMMJ00266+1708 had no reliable optical/nearinfrared counter-part. We used sensitive interferometric 1.3mm observations with the Owens Valley Millimeter Array to accurately determine the position of the sub-mm galaxy. Follow-up near-infrared imaging with the Keck I telescope uncovered a new faint red galaxy at K = 22.5 mag which is spatially coincident with the 1.3mm emission. This is currently the faintest confirmed counter-part of a sub-mm galaxy. Although the redshift of SMMJ00266+1708 is still unknown, its high sub-mm/radio spectral index suggests that the system is at high redshift (z ∼> 2). Approximately 50% or more of the submm galaxies are faint/red galaxies similar to that of SMMJ00266+1708. These ultraluminous obscured galaxies account for a significant fraction of the total amount of star-formation at high redshift despite being missed by optical/ultraviolet surveys. Subject headings: galaxies: evolution — galaxies: formation — galaxies: individual (SMMJ00266+1708) — galaxies: starburst