The Sydney University Molonglo Sky Survey (SUMSS) and Optical Redshift Surveys of the Southern Sky

Abstract

The Sydney University Molonglo Sky Survey (SUMSS) is a radio imaging survey at 843 MHz of the whole sky south of declination −30°. With a resolution of 43″ × 43″ cosec |δ| and an rms noise level of ∼ 1 mJy/beam, SUMSS has similar sensitivity and resolution to the northern NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS). Here, we present some results from the first two years of SUMSS and also show what can be done by combining radio data from SUMSS and NVSS with the new generation of large optical redshift surveys (including the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey and 6dF Galaxy Survey) now becoming available in the southern hemisphere.