Ohio Sky Survey
Encyclopedia
The Ohio Sky Survey was an astronomical survey of extragalactic radio source
s. Data were taken between 1965 and 1971 using the Big Ear radio telescope
at the Ohio State University Radio Observatory
(OSURO), also known as the "Big Ear Radio Observatory (BERO)".
The survey covered 94% of the sky area between the limiting declination
s of 63oN and 36oS with a resolution at 1415 MHz of 40 arc minutes in declination. The survey was carried out primarily at a frequency of 1415 MHz but observations were also made at 2650 MHz and 612 MHz. Roughly 19,620 sources were identified over the course of the survey of which 60% were previously uncatalogued.
The survey was unique in that it covered a larger portion of the sky, to a greater depth, and at a higher frequency, than any previous survey. In addition, all previously catalogued sources were tabulated and maps of the areas surveyed were included with the positions of all catalogued sources.
Sources discovered in the course of the survey were assigned names according to a coordinate numbering system consisting of a two-letter prefix followed by three digits. The first letter, O, stood for Ohio, and the second letter, B-Z inclusive (omitting O) indicated the source right ascension
in hours (0-23 inclusive). The first digit indicated the declination zone in increments of 10o while the last two digits give the right ascension to the nearest one-hundredth of an hour.
Data reduction for the survey was done using a computer program developed by John D. Kraus and Robert S. Dixon.
The Ohio Sky Survey was published in seven installments and two supplements.
Radio source
Radio sources are objects in outer space that emit strong radio waves. Radio emission comes from a wide variety of sources. Such objects represent some of the most extreme and energetic physical processes in the universe.-History:...
s. Data were taken between 1965 and 1971 using the Big Ear radio telescope
Radio telescope
A radio telescope is a form of directional radio antenna used in radio astronomy. The same types of antennas are also used in tracking and collecting data from satellites and space probes...
at the Ohio State University Radio Observatory
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
(OSURO), also known as the "Big Ear Radio Observatory (BERO)".
The survey covered 94% of the sky area between the limiting declination
Declination
In astronomy, declination is one of the two coordinates of the equatorial coordinate system, the other being either right ascension or hour angle. Declination in astronomy is comparable to geographic latitude, but projected onto the celestial sphere. Declination is measured in degrees north and...
s of 63oN and 36oS with a resolution at 1415 MHz of 40 arc minutes in declination. The survey was carried out primarily at a frequency of 1415 MHz but observations were also made at 2650 MHz and 612 MHz. Roughly 19,620 sources were identified over the course of the survey of which 60% were previously uncatalogued.
The survey was unique in that it covered a larger portion of the sky, to a greater depth, and at a higher frequency, than any previous survey. In addition, all previously catalogued sources were tabulated and maps of the areas surveyed were included with the positions of all catalogued sources.
Sources discovered in the course of the survey were assigned names according to a coordinate numbering system consisting of a two-letter prefix followed by three digits. The first letter, O, stood for Ohio, and the second letter, B-Z inclusive (omitting O) indicated the source right ascension
Right ascension
Right ascension is the astronomical term for one of the two coordinates of a point on the celestial sphere when using the equatorial coordinate system. The other coordinate is the declination.-Explanation:...
in hours (0-23 inclusive). The first digit indicated the declination zone in increments of 10o while the last two digits give the right ascension to the nearest one-hundredth of an hour.
Data reduction for the survey was done using a computer program developed by John D. Kraus and Robert S. Dixon.
The Ohio Sky Survey was published in seven installments and two supplements.