The UKIRT Hemisphere Survey: Definition and J-band Data Release

TL;DR

The paper details the UKIRT Hemisphere Survey's completion of J-band data over 17,900 sq.deg, including data processing, quality control, and initial data release plans, enhancing infrared sky coverage.

Contribution

It introduces the full J-band coverage of the UKIRT Hemisphere Survey and provides comprehensive data products and quality metrics.

Findings

98% data passed quality control

Median 5-sigma sensitivity is 19.6 mag

Point spread function median FWHM is 0.75 arcsec

Abstract

This paper defines the UK Infra-Red Telescope (UKIRT) Hemisphere Survey (UHS) and release of the remaining ~12,700 sq.deg of J-band survey data products. The UHS will provide continuous J and K-band coverage in the northern hemisphere from a declination of 0 deg to 60 deg by combining the existing Large Area Survey, Galactic Plane Survey and Galactic Clusters Survey conducted under the UKIRT Infra-red Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) programme with this new additional area not covered by UKIDSS. The released data includes J-band imaging and source catalogues over the new area, which, together with UKIDSS, completes the J-band UHS coverage over the full ~17,900 sq.deg area. 98 per cent of the data in this release have passed quality control criteria, the remaining 2 per cent being scheduled for re-observation. The median 5-sigma point source sensitivity of the released data is 19.6 mag (Vega). The median full width at half-maximum of the point spread function across the dataset is 0.75 arcsec. In this paper, we outline the survey management, data acquisition, processing and calibration, quality control and archiving as well as summarising the characteristics of the released data products. The data are initially available to a limited consortium with a world-wide release scheduled for August 2018.