The EUV mini-survey with the ROSAT wide field camera

• Published in: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 1991-11, Vol.253 (2), p.364-368
• Main Authors: Pounds, K. A., Abbey, A. F., Barstow, M. A., Bentley, R. D., Bewick, A., Breeveld, E. R., Cole, R. E., Courtier, G. M., Deeley, M., Denby, M., Goodall, C. V., Gourlay, J. A., Guttridge, P. R., Harris, A. W., Huckle, H. E., Kent, B. J., Lieu, R., McCalden, A. J., Page, C. G., Pankiewicz, G. S., Ponman, T. J., Pye, J. P., Reading, D. H., Richards, A. G., Ricketts, M. J., Rochester, G. K., Sansom, A. E., Sembay, S. E., Sidher, S., Sims, M. R., Spragg, J. E., Sumner, T. J., Swinyard, B. M., Vallance, R. J., Watson, D. J., Watson, M. G., Wells, A. A., Willingale, R., Wright, J. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Astronomy; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Stellar systems. Galactic and extragalactic objects and systems. The universe; Unidentified sources and radiation outside the solar system
• ISSN: 0035-8711; 1365-2966
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/253.2.364

Following a successful launch on 1990 June 1, the ROSAT spacecraft and its payload, consisting of an X-ray and an EUV telescope, underwent two months of in-orbit calibration and detailed performance checks. A preliminary observation of a small section of the sky, carried out over July 11–16 (the ‘mini-survey’) showed all ROSAT systems to be functioning well and has allowed predictions to be made on the ultimate productivity of both ROSAT all-sky surveys. An analysis of the mini-survey data from the UK Wide Field Camera, has revealed 35 EUV sources, including several white dwarf stars, a variety of active cool stars and several other objects. In all, 23 sources have probable optical counterparts. Consideration of the effective exposure and sky coverage in the mini-survey allows the prediction that the recently completed ROSAT all-sky survey will yield in excess of a thousand new EUV sources.