Byurakan/Hamburg/ROSAT Catalog: Optical IDs for 2,791 X-ray Sources
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Description
June 2006 saw the creation of this catalog by NASA HEASARC, based on CDS data. It contains optical identifications for 2,791 X-ray sources from the ROSAT Faint Source Catalog, with 97% of sources identified. The catalog provides multiwavelength data from sources like DSS images, MAPS photometry, and radio/infrared catalogs.
Use Cases
Selecting samples of specific X-ray emitter classes (e.g., AGN, white dwarfs) based on the provided morphological classifications and cross-correlations.
Studying optical-to-X-ray positional offsets and source morphology using the positional, brightness, and extension information derived from DSS images.
Analyzing the distribution of X-ray source counterparts (56.2% QSOs/AGN, 33.2% stars, 9.2% galaxies) based on the catalog's statistical breakdown.
Investigating close galaxy pairs or interacting systems identified as X-ray counterparts, which comprise 3.0% of the catalog.
Strengths
High identification rate of 97% (2,696 out of 2,791 X-ray sources).
Integrates data from multiple surveys and catalogs (HQS, DSS, MAPS, USNO-B1.0, NVSS, FIRST, IRAS, 2MASS).
Provides a morphological classification and includes information on brightness, color, extension, variability, and proper motion.
Cross-correlations with specialized catalogs yielded 322 AGN, 8 white dwarf, and 7 cataclysmic variable associations.
Limitations
Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
Data may reflect observational bias inherent to the source surveys (e.g., galactic latitude |b| >= 30 degrees, declination >= 0 degrees).
Provenance
Source
NASA HEASARC, based on CDS table J/A+A/449/425/table1.dat.
Collection Method
Optical identifications carried out using digitized spectroscopic plates and multiple imaging/photometric/radio/infrared catalogs.
Time Range
Based on ROSAT Faint Source Catalog data; catalog created in June 2006.
Freshness
Last updated 2026-03-13 18:33:36.781930; freshness should be verified.
Geography
Celestial coverage with declination >= 0 degrees and galactic latitude |b| >= 30 degrees.
License is listed as 'other-license-specified'; specific terms should be reviewed before use.