Optical Identification Strategies for the Molonglo Cluster Survey

We describe a newly refined procedure for making optical identifications of radio sources in Abell cluster fields observed with the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (MOST). The method is based on past experience but uses a range of new tools to improve the reliability and production rate of identification lists. The COSMOS/UKST Southern Sky Object Catalogue was used to make preliminary identifications which were then inspected visually with the assistance of computer generated overlays of the MOST images and the Digitized Sky Survey (DSS). The overlaid images were essential for securing identifications for the extended sources prevalent among nearby clusters. We find 21±1 ·5% of the radio sources are identified with galaxies and 4 ·6±0 ·7% with QSO candidates in a sample of 927 radio sources in 27 cluster fields. We make a preliminary attempt to separate cluster radio galaxies from interlopers on the basis of absolute magnitudes. A strong concentration of radio galaxies was found at projected distances less than 100 kpc from the cluster centres and a weaker concentration for projected distances of 100–500 kpc.