Published in "Internet Resources for Professional Astronomy", eds. M.R. Kidger, I. Pérez-Fournon & F. Sánchez, Cambridge University Press, 1999. astro-ph/9807346

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Abstract. A subjective overview of Internet resources for radio-astronomical information is presented. Basic observing techniques and their implications for the interpretation of publicly available radio data are described, followed by a discussion of existing radio surveys, their level of optical identification, and nomenclature of radio sources. Various collections of source catalogues and databases for integrated radio source parameters are reviewed and compared, as well as the WWW interfaces to interrogate the current and ongoing large-area surveys. Links to radio observatories with archives of raw (uv-) data are presented, as well as services providing images, both of individual objects or extracts (``cutouts'') from large-scale surveys. While the emphasis is on radio continuum data, a brief list of sites providing spectral line data, and atomic or molecular information is included. The major radio telescopes and surveys under construction or planning are outlined. A summary is given of a search for previously unknown optically bright radio sources, as performed by the students as an exercise, using Internet resources only. Over 200 different links are mentioned and were verified, but despite the attempt to make this report up-to-date, it can only provide a snapshot of the current situation.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

OBSERVING TECHNIQUES AND MAP INTERPRETATION

Single Dishes versus Interferometers

Special Techniques in Radio Interferometry

Mosaicing

Map Interpretation

Intercomparison of Different Observations and Pitfalls

Linear Polarisation of Radio Emission

Cross-Identification Strategies

RADIO CONTINUUM SURVEYS

Historical Evolution

Radio Source Nomenclature: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Major Radio Surveys

Surveys from Low to High Frequencies: Coverage and Content

Optical Identification Content

Galactic Plane Surveys and Galactic Sources

Modern Large-Scale Discrete Source Surveys: NVSS, FIRST, WENSS and SUMSS

The ``WENSS'' Survey at 325-350MHz

The ``NRAO VLA Sky Survey'' at 1.4GHz (NVSS)

The ``FIRST'' Survey at 1.4GHz

The ``SUMSS'' 843MHz Survey with ``MOST''

INTEGRATED SOURCE PARAMETERS ON THE WEB

The Evolution of Electronic Source Catalogues

Searching in Radio Catalogues: VizieR and CATS

Object Databases: NED, SIMBAD, and LEDA

MISCELLANEOUS DATABASES AND SURVEYS OF RADIO SOURCES

Clusters of Galaxies

VLBI and Astrometric Surveys

Gravitational Lens Surveys

Variable Sources and Monitoring Projects

Solar Radio Data

RAW DATA, SOFTWARE, IMAGES AND SPECTRAL LINE DATA

Radio Observatories and their Archives

Archives of Centimetre- and Metre-wave Telescopes/Arrays

Archives of (Very) Long Baseline Interferometers

Millimetre Telescopes and Arrays

Software for Radio Astronomy

Radio Images on the Internet

Images from Large-scale Surveys

Image Galleries of Individual Sources

Spectral Lines

Neutral Hydrogen (HI)

Molecular and Recombination Lines, and Pulsars

FINDING LITERATURE, ADDRESSES, AND PROPOSAL FORMS ON WWW

Relevant Literature on the Internet

Finding Radio Astronomers around the World

Proposing Observations with Radio Telescopes

THE NEAR AND FAR FUTURE OF RADIO SURVEYS AND TELESCOPES

Continuing or Planned Large-scale Surveys

Very Recent Medium-Deep Multi-Waveband Source Surveys

Extending the Frequency Range of the Radio Window

Spectral Line and Pulsar Surveys

CMB and Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect

Radio Telescopes: Planned, under Construction or being Upgraded

Low and Intermediate Frequencies

Where the Action is: Millimetre Telescopes and Arrays

Space Projects

Nomenclature and Databases

SUMMARY OF PRACTICALS

CONCLUSIONS

REFERENCES

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