BeppoSAX 2-10 keV Survey: 177 Sources Resolving Cosmic X-ray Background

A BeppoSAX satellite survey of 140 high galactic latitude fields, including 12 deep exposures of blank sky. The catalog contains a statistically complete sample of 177 sources, resolving about 25% of the Cosmic X-ray Background at a sensitivity of 5 x 10^-14 erg/cm^2/s. NASA's HEASARC created this database in December 2000 based on CDS Catalog J/A+A/362/799.

Use Cases

• Modeling the log N - log S function for X-ray sources based on the statistically complete sample of 177 sources.
• Studying the composition of the Cosmic X-ray Background based on the resolved fraction of discrete sources.
• Cross-survey validation by comparing source counts with those from ASCA surveys.
• Analyzing source populations in deep, blank-sky exposures mentioned in the description.

Strengths

• Includes a statistically complete sample of 177 sources for reliable analysis.
• Based on 140 survey fields, including 12 deep exposures for sensitivity comparison.
• Limiting sensitivity of 5 x 10^-14 erg/cm^2/s provides a defined detection threshold.
• Resolves about 25% of the Cosmic X-ray Background into discrete sources.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Last updated 2026-03-13 19:18:15.499802; freshness should be verified.

Provenance

Source

NASA HEASARC, based on CDS Catalog J/A+A/362/799.

Collection Method

Survey based on 140 high galactic latitude Medium Energy Concentrator Spectrometer (MECS) fields from the BeppoSAX satellite.

Time Range

Survey observation timeframe not specified; catalog created December 2000.

Freshness

Data originally created in December 2000; metadata last updated in 2026.

Geography

High galactic latitude sky fields, including 12 deep exposures of blank sky.