A new catalogue of quasi-stellar objects

Extract

We have prepared a new catalogue of QSOs and BL Lac objects containing approximately 3400 entries. A complete update of the Hewitt-Burbidge (1980) catalogue has been made with approximately another 2000 objects with known redshifts added. The references to discovery, magnitudes, redshifts, color, spectra and polarimetry have been updated for the objects listed in 1980, and complete new references are included for the new objects. In addition to the basic optical information, the new catalogue also contains X-ray, radio and infrared information for all objects. Absorption redshifts are listed when they are available. A supplementary catalogue which is now in preparation will contain similar information for objects described variously as Seyfert galaxies, N systems and AGNs. In doubtful cases we have used the operational dividing line ƶ = 0.1. All objects with ƶ < 0.1 are put in the supplementary catalogue unless their discoverers have unambiguously defined them as QSOs. With approximately twice as many objects included it is interesting to note that:

1. a) There are still very few genuine BL Lac objects, ∼100.

2. b) The largest number of additions has come from identifications using the objective prism-grism techniques.