New optical and infrared observations along the sight-line toward the quasar OI 363 ( 0738+313 ) are presented and discussed .
Excluding systems which lack confirming UV spectroscopic observations of the actual Ly \alpha line , this sight-line presently contains the two lowest-redshift classical damped Ly \alpha ( DLA ) quasar absorption line systems known ( i.e .
with N _ { HI } \geq 2 \times 10 ^ { 20 } atoms cm ^ { -2 } ) , one at z _ { abs } = 0.0912 and the other at z _ { abs } = 0.2212 .
Our new observations suggest identifications for the DLA galaxy counterparts of these absorption-line systems .
The z = 0.09 DLA galaxy appears to be an extended low surface brightness galaxy which is easily visible only in infrared images and shows rich morphological structure .
Assuming there is no contribution from the quasar host galaxy , we place an upper limit on the K-band luminosity of the z = 0.09 DLA galaxy of L _ { K } \leq 0.13 L ^ { * } _ { K } ( assuming a cosmology with H _ { 0 } = 65 km s ^ { -1 } Mpc ^ { -1 } , \Omega = 1 , and \Lambda = 0 ) .
More realistically , a subtraction of the quasar nuclear and host light yields L _ { K } \approx 0.08 L ^ { * } _ { K } .
The impact parameter between the galaxy and quasar sight-line is very small , b < 3.6 kpc ( < 2 arcsec ) , which makes measurements difficult .
The z = 0.22 DLA galaxy is an early-type dwarf with a K-band luminosity of L _ { K } \approx 0.1 L ^ { * } _ { K } at impact parameter b = 20 kpc .
Its colors are neutral and consistent with star formation models suggesting its formation epoch was less than a few Gyr ago ( i.e . z _ { f } \approx 0.3 - 0.9 ) .
Thus , it is conceivable that its progenitor originated from the population of “ faint blue galaxies ” seen at moderate redshifts .
In general , these results serve to support mounting evidence that DLA galaxies are drawn from a wide variety of gas-rich galaxy types .