The LAMOST Survey of Background Quasars in the Vicinity Fields of the M 31 and M 33 - III. Results from the 2013 Regular Survey

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of 1330 new quasars near M31 and M33 using LAMOST in 2013, significantly expanding the known quasar sample for local group studies and astrometric reference frame construction.

Contribution

The study presents a large-scale survey result, adding 1330 new quasars in the M31 and M33 vicinity, enhancing the existing quasar catalog for local group research.

Findings

Discovered 1330 new quasars in the M31 and M33 region.

Total quasars in the area now 1870, with many being bright and suitable for detailed studies.

Provides a valuable sample for kinematic and chemical analysis of the Local Group.

Abstract

In this work, we report new quasars discovered in the vicinity fields of the Andromeda (M31) and Triangulum (M33) galaxies with the LAMOST (Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope, also named Guoshoujing Telescope) during the 2013 observational season, the second year of Regular Survey. In total, 1330 new quasars are discovered in an area of $\sim$133 deg$^2$ around M31 and M33. With $i$ magnitudes ranging from 14.79 to 20.0, redshifts from 0.08 to 4.85, the 1330 new quasars represent a significant increase of the number of identified quasars in the vicinity fields of M31 and M33. Up to the moment, there are in total 1870 quasars discovered by LAMOST in this area (see also Huo et al. 2010, 2013). The much enlarged sample of known quasars in this area can potentially be utilized to construct a precise astrometric reference frame for the measurement of the minute proper motions of M31, M33 and the associated substructures, vital for the understanding of the formation and evolution of M31, M33 and the Local Group of galaxies.Meanwhile, amongst the sample, there are in total 45, 98 and 225 quasars with $i$ magnitudes brighter than 17.0, 17.5 and 18.0 respectively. In the aforementioned brightness bins, 15, 35 and 84 quasars are reported here for the first time, 6, 21 and 81 are reported in Huo et al. (2010, 2013), while 0, 1 and 6 are from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and 24, 41 and 54 are from the NED database. These bright quasars provide an invaluable sample for the kinematics and chemistry study of the interstellar/intergalactic medium of the Local Group.