Optically-Selected Quasar Radio Source Catalog from NVSS Survey

1,313 low-redshift and 2,471 high-redshift quasars were studied using the 1.4-GHz NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS). The catalog, from NASA's datagov platform, contains radio source data for about 10% of these quasars detected above a 2.4-mJy limit, with statistical detections for the fainter majority. It was last updated in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Modeling radio luminosity functions of quasars based on the described power-law distributions.
• Investigating the evolution of quasar space density with redshift based on the reported rho ~ (1+z)^6 relation.
• Analyzing the link between faint radio emission and star formation rates in quasars, as suggested by the authors.
• Cross-matching optical quasar catalogs (like SDSS DR7) with radio survey data to identify multi-wavelength counterparts.

Strengths

• Based on the well-defined NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS), a complete 1.4-GHz radio survey.
• Covers two distinct, sizable samples: 1,313 low-redshift and 2,471 high-redshift quasars.
• Provides specific flux density thresholds (2.4 mJy catalog limit, ~0.3 mJy/beam statistical detection median).

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 SDSS and NVSS survey footprints.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Radio source analysis of optically-selected quasar samples from SDSS DR7 using the NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS).

Time Range

Observational data from the SDSS DR7 and NVSS surveys.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 17:54:46.859291; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Covers the SDSS DR7 area around the North Galactic Pole (2.66 sr solid angle), which is fully covered by the NVSS.