One of Everything: The Breakthrough Listen Exotica Catalog

TL;DR

The paper introduces the Exotica Catalog, a diverse collection of 963 astronomical targets aimed at broadening SETI survey scope, including various object types, anomalies, and extreme cases, to enhance the chances of detecting extraterrestrial signals.

Contribution

It presents the first comprehensive, diverse catalog of astronomical objects designed specifically for broad SETI and astrophysics surveys, including a new classification system for anomalies.

Findings

Catalog includes 963 targets across four samples.

First object list to span broad astrophysical diversity.

Provides extensive classification and notes for targets.

Abstract

We present Breakthrough Listen's "Exotica" Catalog as the centerpiece of our efforts to expand the diversity of targets surveyed in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). As motivation, we introduce the concept of survey breadth, the diversity of objects observed during a program. Several reasons for pursuing a broad program are given, including increasing the chance of a positive result in SETI, commensal astrophysics, and characterizing systematics. The Exotica Catalog is a 963 entry collection of 816 distinct targets intended to include "one of everything" in astronomy. It contains four samples: the Prototype sample, with an archetype of every known major type of non-transient celestial object; the Superlative sample of objects with the most extreme properties; the Anomaly sample of enigmatic targets that are in some way unexplained; and the Control sample with sources not expected to produce positive results. As far as we are aware, this is the first object list in recent times with the purpose of spanning the breadth of astrophysics. We share it with the community in hopes that it can guide treasury surveys and as a general reference work. Accompanying the catalog is extensive discussion of classification of objects and a new classification system for anomalies. Extensive notes on the objects in the catalog are available online. We discuss how we intend to proceed with observations in the catalog, contrast it with our extant Exotica efforts, and suggest similar tactics may be applied to other programs.