The SARAO MeerKAT 1.3 GHz Galactic Plane Survey

Abstract

We present the SARAO MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey (SMGPS), a 1.3 GHz continuum survey of almost half of the Galactic Plane (251○ ≤l ≤ 358○ and 2○ ≤l ≤ 61○ at |b| ≤ 1 5). SMGPS is the largest, most sensitive and highest angular resolution 1 GHz survey of the Plane yet carried out, with an angular resolution of 8″ and a broadband RMS sensitivity of ∼10–20 μJy beam−1. Here we describe the first publicly available data release from SMGPS which comprises data cubes of frequency-resolved images over 908–1656 MHz, power law fits to the images, and broadband zeroth moment integrated intensity images. A thorough assessment of the data quality and guidance for future usage of the data products are given. Finally, we discuss the tremendous potential of SMGPS by showcasing highlights of the Galactic and extragalactic science that it permits. These highlights include the discovery of a new population of non-thermal radio filaments; identification of new candidate supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae and planetary nebulae; improved radio/mid-IR classification of rare Luminous Blue Variables and discovery of associated extended radio nebulae; new radio stars identified by Bayesian cross-matching techniques; the realisation that many of the largest radio-quiet WISE H II region candidates are not true H II regions; and a large sample of previously undiscovered background H I galaxies in the Zone of Avoidance.

Metadata

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Goedhart, S. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3636-8731 Cotton, W.D. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7363-6489 Camilo, F. Thompson, M.A. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5392-909X Umana, G. Bietenholz, M. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0592-4152 Woudt, P.A. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6896-1655 Anderson, L.D. Bordiu, C. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7703-0692 Buckley, D.A.H. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7004-9956 Buemi, C.S. Bufano, F. Cavallaro, F. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1856-6806 Chen, H. Chibueze, J.O. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9875-7436 Egbo, D. Frank, B.S. Hoare, M.G. Ingallinera, A. Irabor, T. Kraan-Korteweg, R.C. Kurapati, S. Leto, P. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4864-2806 Loru, S. Mutale, M. Obonyo, W.O. Plavin, A. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2914-8554 Rajohnson, S.H.A. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8461-4701 Rigby, A. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3351-2200 Riggi, S. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6368-8330 Seidu, M. Serra, P. Smart, B.M. Stappers, B.W. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9242-7041 Steyn, N. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8237-4329 Surnis, M. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9507-6985 Trigilio, C. Williams, G.M. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5933-2147 Abbott, T.D. Adam, R.M. Asad, K.M.B. Baloyi, T. Bauermeister, E.F. Bennet, T.G.H. Bester, H. Botha, A.G. Brederode, L.R.S. Buchner, S. Burger, J.P. Cheetham, T. Cloete, K. de Villiers, M.S. de Villiers, D.I.L. du Toit, L.J. Esterhuyse, S.W.P. Fanaroff, B.L. Fourie, D.J. Gamatham, R.R.G. Gatsi, T.G. Geyer, M. Gouws, M. Gumede, S.C. Heywood, I. Hokwana, A. Hoosen, S.W. Horn, D.M. Horrell, L.M.G. Hugo, B.V. Isaacson, A.I. Józsa, G.I.G. Jonas, J.L. Jordaan, J.D.B.L. Joubert, A.F. Julie, R.P.M. Kapp, F.B. Kriek, N. Kriel, H. Krishnan, V.K. Kusel, T.W. Legodi, L.S. Lehmensiek, R. Lord, R.T. Macfarlane, P.S. Magnus, L.G. Magozore, C. Main, J.P.L. Malan, J.A. Manley, J.R. Marais, S.J. Maree, M.D.J. Martens, A. Maruping, P. McAlpine, K. Merry, B.C. Mgodeli, M. Millenaar, R.P. Mokone, O.J. Monama, T.E. New, W.S. Ngcebetsha, B. Ngoasheng, K.J. Nicolson, G.D. Ockards, M.T. Oozeer, N. Passmoor, S.S. Patel, A.A. Peens-Hough, A. Perkins, S.J. Ramaila, A.J.T. Ratcliffe, S.M. Renil, R. Richter, L.L. Salie, S. Sambu, N. Schollar, C.T.G. Schwardt, L.C. Schwartz, R.L. Serylak, M. Siebrits, R. Sirothia, S.K. Slabber, M.J. Smirnov, O.M. Tiplady, A.J. van Balla, T.J. van der Byl, A. Van Tonder, V. Venter, A.J. Venter, M. Welz, M.G. Williams, L.P.
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information:	© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Astronomical Society. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Keywords:	catalogues, Galaxy: general, radio continuum: ISM, radio continuum: stars, radio lines: galaxies, surveys
Dates:	Published: June 2024 Published (online): 3 May 2024 Accepted: 25 April 2024
Institution:	The University of Leeds
Academic Units:	The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Physics and Astronomy (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Physics and Astronomy (Leeds) > Astrophysics (Leeds)
Funding Information:	Funder Grant number STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) ST/W00125X/1 STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) ST/X001016/1
Depositing User:	Symplectic Publications
Date Deposited:	14 May 2024 12:24
Last Modified:	21 Aug 2024 13:33
Status:	Published
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Identification Number:	10.1093/mnras/stae1166
Related URLs:	Dataset
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID):	oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:212499

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The SARAO MeerKAT 1.3 GHz Galactic Plane Survey

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The SARAO MeerKAT 1.3 GHz Galactic Plane Survey

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