2MASS Re-processing I: The Search for Faint Objects

TL;DR

This paper introduces an automated pipeline that reprocesses 2MASS data, significantly improving faint object detection and increasing the catalog's depth and source count.

Contribution

The authors develop a novel reprocessing pipeline that enhances detection of faint sources in 2MASS data, surpassing previous limits with optimized parameters and screening.

Findings

Detection limit improved from 16.20 to 16.60 mag

Number of detected sources increased by ~21.36%

False-positive rate maintained at 4.80%

Abstract

We present an automated, DAOFind-based pipeline developed to reprocess J-band Atlas All Sky Release Survey Images from the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS). By optimizing the detection parameters and implementing a screening procedure that jointly evaluates the signal-to-noise ratio and central sharpness, the pipeline effectively identifies faint point sources that were previously undetected. Applying this method to eight representative sky regions improves the 2MASS detection limit from 16.20 to 16.60 mag and increases the number of detected point sources by approximately 21.36% relative to the 2MASS Point Source Catalog, with a false-positive rate of only 4.80%. These results demonstrate that the proposed reprocessing pipeline can substantially enhance the scientific yield of archival 2MASS data, providing valuable faint-source supplements for studies of time-domain variability, Galactic structure, and cold, low-luminosity objects.