RASSCALS: ROSAT All-Sky Survey Catalog of 260 Galaxy Groups

260 galaxy groups were identified from the combined CfA and Southern Sky Redshift Surveys, covering one-quarter of the sky. The catalog, published in 2000, includes X-ray detections for 61 groups (23%) and presents median properties like velocity dispersion and X-ray luminosity. This table was created by NASA's HEASARC in 2005 based on data from the Center for Astrophysics.

Use Cases

• Identify X-ray luminous galaxy groups based on extended X-ray source detections.
• Study the relationship between optical properties (like membership count) and X-ray luminosity for low-mass groups.
• Analyze the statistical properties of galaxy groups, such as median velocity dispersion and recession velocity.
• Compare group catalogs by using this survey, which was the largest of its kind at publication.

Strengths

• Largest X-ray and optical survey of low-mass galaxy groups at its 2000 publication date.
• Contains specific median statistics for detected groups, including velocity dispersion (400 km/s) and X-ray luminosity (3e42 erg/s).
• Covers a significant spatial area, surveying one-quarter of the sky.
• Replaces a preliminary analysis, indicating a finalized and reviewed catalog.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is from 2000; newer surveys with improved instrumentation may exist.

Provenance

Source

NASA HEASARC, based on data from the Center for Astrophysics (CfA) and CDS tables J/ApJ/534/114.

Collection Method

Drawn from the combined Center for Astrophysics and Southern Sky Redshift Surveys, with X-ray data from the ROSAT All-Sky Survey.

Time Range

Survey data leading to publication in 2000.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 16:43:14.616124; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Covers one-quarter of the sky (all-sky survey).