A VLA Survey of Rich Clusters of Galaxies III. The Weaker Sources: Maps and Identifications

Abstract

We present radio and optical parameters for 737 weak sources in 60 Abell cluster fields observed with the Very Large Array (VLA) using scaled arrays at 1.5 and 4.9 GHz. The measurements extend to a lower 1.5 GHz limit of 1.0 mJy and comprise a complete sample with 1.5 GHz flux density 2.5 ≤ S_1.5 < 20 mJy. The combined sky area within the half-power circle on the maps is 3.5 X 10⁻³ sr, and the cluster fields are distributed over 24 h of right ascension and between declinations +35° and −30°. Contour maps of the extended sources at 1.5 GHz are presented and source parameters such as position, angular size and spectral index are tabulated. We also derive the emitted power and linear size for those sources with published redshifts. We try to identify the radio sources with optical images on the Palomar and SERC survey plates and give their accurate optical positions, morphologies and apparent magnitudes.