BAX: X-Ray Galaxy Clusters and Groups Catalog with Multi-Wavelength Data

BAX (Base de Donnees Amas de Galaxies X) is a multi-wavelength database dedicated to X-ray clusters and groups of galaxies. The catalog, created by NASA's HEASARC in October 2004, provides access to published measurements of physical quantities like coordinates, redshift, flux, luminosity, and temperature, along with bibliographic references. It is designed to support astronomical research from proposal planning to data interpretation using facilities like XMM-Newton, Chandra, and Planck.

Use Cases

• Cross-matching galaxy clusters across X-ray, optical, and radio wavelengths based on the linked parameters described.
• Analyzing correlations between X-ray luminosity and temperature for clusters and groups.
• Planning observational proposals for telescopes like XMM-Newton or Chandra using pre-existing cluster data.
• Conducting statistical studies of cluster properties like redshift and spatial profiles.

Strengths

• Integrates multi-wavelength data, including X-ray, SZ, lensing, optical, and radio parameters.
• Provides bibliographic references linking published measurements to the data.
• Created and maintained by NASA's High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The core table was created in 2004, though the online database may be updated.

Provenance

Source

NASA HEASARC, based on data from the CDS table B/bax/bax.dat.

Collection Method

Compilation of published measurements from astronomical literature into a queryable database.

Time Range

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Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 19:20:16.379738; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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