Chandra Galactic Bulge Survey: Full X-Ray Point Source Catalog

1658 unique X-ray sources identified by the Chandra X-ray Observatory across a 12 square degree area of the Galactic Bulge. The catalog is based on the Chandra source lists from Jonker et al. (2011) and Jonker et al. (2014), published by NASA. The survey was designed to be shallow and wide-area, with a homogeneous depth to a specific X-ray flux, to maximize the detection of low-mass X-ray binaries.

Use Cases

• Constraining the neutron star equation of state based on the identification of eclipsing neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries.
• Investigating the black hole mass distribution by enlarging the sample of black hole systems for mass derivation.
• Testing X-ray binary formation scenarios, such as common envelope evolution and natal kicks, via source-type number counts.
• Analyzing the spatial distribution of X-ray binaries to understand Galactic structure and extinction effects.
• Studying X-ray source variability and radio properties by cross-matching with existing radio surveys.

Strengths

• Combines data from two major survey papers (Jonker et al. 2011 & 2014), covering the full 12 deg² survey area.
• Survey design is homogeneous in depth to a 0.5-10 keV flux of 7.7 x 10⁻¹⁴ erg cm⁻² s⁻¹.
• Targets regions above and below the Galactic plane to limit extinction while maintaining high source density.
• Explicitly lists 1234 sources from the initial three-quarters of the survey and 424 additional sources from later observations.

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 specific Chandra pointings and survey strips.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), based on work by Jonker et al.

Collection Method

Observational data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, processed and compiled into a source catalog.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 19:30:36.620701; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Two strips of 6° by 1° (12 deg² total) in the Galactic Bulge, one above (1° < b < 2°) and one below (-2° < b < -1°) the Galactic plane.