Intense radio sources at 1400MHz (BDFL sample)

Results are given for 424 sources in the area of sky -5{deg}<{delta}<+70{deg}, |b|>5 whose 1400-MHz integrated flux densities S_1400_ exceed 1.70Jy [1 Jy (flux unit) = 10^-26^w/m^2^/Hz]. The 234 sources with S_1400_>=2.00Jy, equivalent diameters <10arcmin, and |b|>20{deg} form a 98+/-2% complete sample comparable in number to the 178-MHz Revised Third Cambridge Catalogue in this 4.30-sr area of sky, but selected at 1400MHz.

This sample is suitable for statistical studies of the properties of extragalactic radio sources. To facilitate its use, and that of other samples which may be drawn from these data, references to other studies of the positions, fine and extended structure, polarization, and variability of the sources have been assembled in the principal table of this paper (Table 2). A comparison is made with other 1400-MHz flux-density data (Sec. 3), and the spectral content of the complete sample is discussed (Sec. 4).