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Description
A 2007 catalog of 242 serendipitously detected galaxy clusters from a 397 square degree ROSAT PSPC X-ray survey. The survey, created by NASA HEASARC, detected 287 extended X-ray sources, with 266 optically confirmed, and is optimized to sample high-redshift, massive clusters. It demonstrates a decrease in the number density of luminous clusters at redshifts greater than 0.3.
Use Cases
Study the evolution of galaxy cluster populations based on X-ray luminosity and redshift.
Calibrate X-ray survey detection algorithms using the described Monte Carlo simulations.
Compare logN-logS distributions and X-ray luminosity functions with other surveys.
Validate flux measurements by comparing ROSAT-derived data with Chandra observations for high-redshift clusters.
Strengths
Catalog contains 242 confirmed galaxy clusters from a large 397 square degree survey.
High optical confirmation rate of 93% for detected extended X-ray sources.
Survey volume for luminous clusters within z < 1 exceeds that of the entire local universe (z < 0.1).
Statistical calibration validated via Monte Carlo simulations and comparison with Chandra data.
Limitations
Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
Excludes 24 non-serendipitous clusters, 5 noncluster sources, and 16 likely false detections listed in separate tables.
Provenance
Source
NASA HEASARC, based on Table 4 from the reference paper.
Collection Method
Detection algorithm applied to 1610 high Galactic latitude ROSAT PSPC pointings.
Time Range
Observational data from the ROSAT mission; catalog created in December 2007.
Freshness
Last updated 2026-03-13 17:51:47.074921; freshness should be verified.
Geography
Sky coverage of 397 square degrees at high Galactic latitudes.
License is listed as 'other-license-specified'; terms should be reviewed before use. File formats include BIN and HTML.