2025ApJS..281...25P

Query : 2025ApJS..281...25P

2025ApJS..281...25P - Astrophys. J., Suppl. Ser., 281, 25 (2025/November-0)

Super-size Me: The Big Multi-AGN Catalog (The Big MAC) Data Release 1: The Source Catalog.

PFEIFLE R.W., WEAVER K.A., SECREST N.J., ROTHBERG B. and PATTON D.R.

Abstract (from CDS):

Galaxy mergers represent the most transformative and dramatic avenue for galaxy and supermassive black hole (SMBH) evolution. Multiple active galactic nuclei (multi-AGNs) are expected to ignite, grow, and evolve alongside the host galaxies, and these represent different evolutionary stages of the SMBHs over the merger sequence. However, no comprehensive census exists of observed multi-AGN systems. Here we present the Big Multi-AGN Catalog (the Big MAC), the first literature-complete catalog of all known (confirmed and candidate) multi-AGN systems, which includes dual AGNs (separations ∼0.03-110 kpc), binary AGNs (gravitationally bound, ≲30 pc), and recoiling AGNs, gleaned from hundreds of literature articles spanning the years 1970-2020. The Big MAC is the first archive to assemble all multi-AGN systems and candidates across all selection methods, redshifts, and galaxy mass ratios, and this catalog offers a solid foundation for archival and targeted multiwavelength follow-up investigations. In this work, we provide an overview of the creation of the multi-AGN literature library and the catalog itself, present definitions for different multi-AGN classes (including new definitions for dual AGNs derived from galaxy pairs in Illustris-TNG100), describe the general properties of the catalog as a function of redshift space and separation, and we provide a thorough examination of selection and confirmation method usage within the literature. We also discuss best practices for the multi-AGN literature, and we emphasize that a diverse, multiwavelength array of selection approaches is crucial for a complete understanding of multi-AGNs and-by extension-answering long-standing, open questions regarding the importance of AGNs and galaxy mergers.

Abstract Copyright: © 2025. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.

Journal keyword(s): Galaxy mergers - Active galactic nuclei - Interacting galaxies

Status at CDS : Large table(s) will be appraised for possible ingestion in VizieR.

Simbad objects: 157

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Number of rows : 157
N Identifier Otype ICRS (J2000)
RA 		ICRS (J2000)
DEC 		Mag U Mag B Mag V Mag R Mag I Sp type #ref
1850 - 2026 		#notes
1 LBQS 0009-0138 QSO 00 12 10.9001801160 -01 22 07.588862904   16 18.1     ~ 55 0
2 PKS 0035-216 rG 00 38 29.95481977 -21 20 04.0192820   19       ~ 34 1
3 NVSS J004117+133927 Rad 00 41 17.21096182 +13 39 27.5265956           ~ 16 1
4 M 31 AGN 00 42 44.330 +41 16 07.50 4.86 4.36 3.44     ~ 13622 1
5 2MASS J00452729+4132544 AGN 00 45 27.3113053824 +41 32 54.059523144 20.722 20.636 19.060 18.186 17.307 ~ 13 0
6 LBQS 0049+0019A QSO 00 52 05.5690063368 +00 35 38.149368180   16.54 16.22     ~ 58 1
7 6C 010311+334608 BLL 01 06 00.29331977 +34 02 02.9860678       20.00   ~ 30 1
8 ICRF J010610.9+253930 BLL 01 06 10.96897061 +25 39 30.4956806       14.93   ~ 30 1
9 ICRF J010643.2-031536 QSO 01 06 43.2286148400 -03 15 36.296670132           ~ 28 0
10 QSO J0122+0358 QSO 01 22 23.7677571430 +03 58 37.252636092           ~ 2 0
11 PKS 0144+209 Rad 01 46 58.78375705 +21 10 24.3843485           ~ 27 1
12 ICRF J021605.6-011803 QSO 02 16 05.6637733800 -01 18 03.393275508           ~ 27 1
13 [VV96] J021612.3-010519 Bla 02 16 12.2121383016 -01 05 18.824942904   18.35 18.06 18.12   ~ 70 1
14 3C 66A BLL 02 22 39.6114771888 +43 02 07.799534304   15.71 15.21 14.5   ~ 942 2
15 Z 538-57 Sy1 02 23 11.41124925 +42 59 31.3853324   15.71 14.81     ~ 582 2
16 4C 67.05 Bla 02 28 50.05148365 +67 21 03.0293322   19.5 19.50 18.1   ~ 264 1
17 SDSS J023831.82+001152.2 QSO 02 38 31.821 +00 11 52.23           ~ 2 0
18 QSO B0235+1624 BLL 02 38 38.93010450 +16 36 59.2745528   16.46 15.50 15.92   ~ 1614 2
19 NGC 1052 Bla 02 41 04.79849989 -08 15 20.7519527 11.84 11.41 10.47 10.71   ~ 1397 2
20 3C 75 PaG 02 57 41.64 +06 01 28.0           ~ 312 1
21 NGC 1275 Bla 03 19 48.1599902040 +41 30 42.108850836   13.10 12.48 11.09   ~ 4243 3
22 ICRF J033453.3+080014 Bla 03 34 53.31667674 +08 00 14.4191335     21.5 21.41   ~ 59 1
23 NVSS J033557-070956 rG 03 35 57.05509361 -07 09 55.8523737           ~ 14 1
24 4C 05.16 Sy1 03 49 46.48656 +05 51 41.6196     20.9     ~ 75 1
25 ICRF J040549.2+380332 SyG 04 05 49.26287155 +38 03 32.2348497   18.5 18.5     ~ 187 3
26 WISEA J042840.41-375619.3 BLL 04 28 40.4241894720 -37 56 19.580735832   18.96 19.0 17.21   ~ 343 1
27 PKS 0428+205 rG 04 31 03.76141386 +20 37 34.2648470   22.174   19.085   ~ 198 1
28 MCG+01-12-009 Bla 04 33 11.0956735296 +05 21 15.619461552   15.72 15.05 10.08   ~ 2099 2
29 ICRF J043534.5+253259 Bla 04 35 34.58295312 +25 32 59.6985423           ~ 32 1
30 ESO 252-18A Sy1 05 19 49.7229323856 -45 46 43.852662732   15.73 15.77 14.85   ~ 714 0
31 NVSS J052311+600745 rG 05 23 11.00800550 +60 07 45.7158842           ~ 16 1
32 QSO J0530+13 Bla 05 30 56.41674741 +13 31 55.1494688     20.00 19.35   ~ 1004 1
33 QSO B0537-441 BLL 05 38 50.36155950 -44 05 08.9390233   15.77 16.48 16   ~ 924 2
34 ICRF J055250.1+031327 Bz? 05 52 50.10145853 +03 13 27.2442176       22.79   ~ 65 1
35 NVSS J064444+291103 Rad 06 44 44.81581968 +29 11 04.0162503           ~ 15 1
36 8C 0716+714 BLL 07 21 53.4482942664 +71 20 36.363846516   15.5 15.50 14.27   ~ 1388 1
37 ICRF J072917.8-132002 BLL 07 29 17.8177224648 -13 20 02.273770824           ~ 27 1
38 7C 073304.20+300107.00 Q? 07 36 13.66108615 +29 54 22.1849189           ~ 24 1
39 QSO J0738+1742 BLL 07 38 07.39375312 +17 42 18.9981506   16.76 16.22 15.78   ~ 1045 1
40 ICRF J074541.6+314256 Sy1 07 45 41.6715742128 +31 42 56.614217508   16.10 15.97     ~ 265 1
41 Z 59-39 Sy2 08 04 46.4040459432 +10 46 36.016606848   14.9       ~ 85 0
42 QSO B0805-077 Bla 08 08 15.53603763 -07 51 09.8865298     19.80 16.71   ~ 291 1
43 7C 080735.29+414300.00 Bla 08 10 58.99422809 +41 34 02.8068333   18.84 18.75 18.44   ~ 71 1
44 JVAS J0817+3227 Rad 08 17 28.084 +32 27 18.59           ~ 2 0
45 7C 081419.39+323623.00 Bz? 08 17 28.5455 +32 27 02.928       21.62   ~ 21 2
46 ICRF J082753.6+521758 Sy1 08 27 53.69814703 +52 17 58.2963608   20.24 19.65     ~ 46 1
47 3C 207.0 Bla 08 40 47.58842599 +13 12 23.5637506   18.58 18.15 17.622   ~ 455 1
48 US 1498 Bla 08 42 15.3516545208 +45 25 44.182186752   18.16 17.70 16.5   ~ 68 1
49 6C 083938+454712 BLL 08 43 07.0949 +45 37 42.895           ~ 33 1
50 PG 0851+202 BLL 08 54 48.8749846272 +20 06 30.639583620   15.649 15.146 15.446   ~ 2513 1
51 7C 085042.79+623017.00 BLL 08 54 50.57629150 +62 18 50.1927118     19.00 17   ~ 48 1
52 7C 085912.69+432156.00 Bla 09 02 30.91997316 +43 10 14.1657021   20.78 20.61 19.77   ~ 49 1
53 ICRF J092338.8-213547 Bla 09 23 38.8852056768 -21 35 47.129767764   13.0   12.80   ~ 99 1
54 4C 39.25 Bla 09 27 03.01394144 +39 02 20.8518067   17.17 17.00 16.486   ~ 1036 1
55 4C 40.24 Bla 09 48 55.33815103 +40 39 44.5869471   18.31 18.02 17.85   ~ 379 1
56 6C 095456+654857 BLL 09 58 47.2451872176 +65 33 54.819354600     17.0 15.75   ~ 771 1
57 NAME COSMOS Field reg 10 00 28.60 +02 12 21.0           ~ 3639 0
58 8C 0958+561 QSO 10 01 20.6918953728 +55 53 55.593949272   17.16 16.95     ~ 757 3
59 3C 236.0 BLL 10 06 01.75023017 +34 54 10.4016113   15.97       ~ 473 2
60 4C 48.29 rG 10 20 51.9148449384 +48 31 09.784797996   16       ~ 40 0
61 7C 101913.19+425430.00 Bla 10 22 13.13233088 +42 39 25.6121664       21.16   ~ 34 1
62 PKS 1020-10 BLL 10 22 32.8200967176 -10 37 44.309640648   16.25 16.11 16.0   ~ 144 1
63 4C 19.34 Bla 10 24 44.80959654 +19 12 20.4155021   17.95 17.49 16.41   ~ 167 1
64 6C 102810+311911 BLL 10 30 59.0936990784 +31 02 55.723145964   17.07 16.71 16.1   ~ 192 1
65 7C 1030+3951 Bla 10 33 22.06099343 +39 35 51.0830059   19.55 19.06 21.17   ~ 52 1
66 ICRF J104309.0+240835 BLL 10 43 09.03578135 +24 08 35.4094642   17.98 17.32 16.40   ~ 171 1
67 ICRF J104807.7+005543 Sy2 10 48 07.74459815 +00 55 43.4818043   21.89 21.42     ~ 47 1
68 NGC 3393 Sy2 10 48 23.4653152920 -25 09 43.487648784   13.10 13.95 11.67 12.2 ~ 471 1
69 4C 20.24 Bla 10 58 17.9007317832 +19 51 50.872721328   17.51 17.07 17.28   ~ 228 1
70 4C 01.28 BLL 10 58 29.60520810 +01 33 58.8237454   18.74 18.28 16.68   ~ 828 2
71 4C 62.15 Bla 11 01 53.4510001968 +62 41 50.602765344     17.90 17.9   ~ 64 1
72 ICRF J110715.0+162802 Sy1 11 07 15.0475336176 +16 28 02.244766584   15.91 15.70     ~ 172 1
73 ICRF J111036.3+481752 Sy2 11 10 36.3247 +48 17 52.444   21.74 20.79     ~ 76 1
74 QSO B1145-071 Bla 11 47 51.55403485 -07 24 41.1411766   19.0 18.5 18.10   ~ 211 1
75 [VV98] J115016.5+433205 Bla 11 50 16.60280297 +43 32 05.9063832     20.30 19.28   ~ 52 1
76 6C 1148+3842 QSO 11 51 29.3612242776 +38 25 52.374506052   17.22 17.04     ~ 135 2
77 ICRF J115421.7-350529 Sy1 11 54 21.7842834888 -35 05 29.079469716   18.81 17.84     ~ 139 1
78 7C 115551.8+250647 Bla 11 58 25.78756089 +24 50 17.9638522   20.27 19.40 16.58   ~ 89 1
79 [VV2006] J120329.9+480313 BLL 12 03 29.8530293400 +48 03 13.625934552   16.7 16.55 16.8   ~ 74 1
80 7C 121325.0+350452 Bla 12 15 55.60104732 +34 48 15.2206367     20.0 19.4   ~ 111 1
81 NGC 4278 LIN 12 20 06.8242 +29 16 50.722 11.54 11.09 10.16     ~ 988 2
82 7C 1219+2830 BLL 12 21 31.6904439888 +28 13 58.500308172   16.81 16.11 14.24   ~ 924 1
83 3C 273 BLL 12 29 06.6998257176 +02 03 08.597629980   13.05 14.830 14.11   ~ 6022 1
84 M 87 AGN 12 30 49.42338414 +12 23 28.0436859 10.16 9.59 8.63   7.49 ~ 7815 3
85 ICRF J124357.6+162253 Sy1 12 43 57.6491122968 +16 22 53.395049244   19.23 19.00     ~ 321 1
86 QSO J1244+1721B QSO 12 44 10.8247089768 +17 21 04.508869464   16.40 16.09     ~ 159 1
87 PKS 1252+092 Rad 12 54 58.95766713 +08 59 47.5520233           ~ 16 1
88 3C 279 Bla 12 56 11.16657958 -05 47 21.5251510   18.01 17.75 15.87   ~ 3205 2
89 Z 294-4 Sy1 12 56 14.2341182928 +56 52 25.238373852   14.68 13.84     ~ 2096 3
90 7C 125916.50+465013.00 BLL 13 01 32.60628738 +46 34 02.9396004   19.86 18.94 14.64   ~ 47 1
91 QSO J1305-1033 Bla 13 05 33.0150535680 -10 33 19.430383680   15.18 15.23 14.46   ~ 624 1
92 US 371 BLL 13 10 28.66385420 +32 20 43.7828340   15.61 15.24 17.91   ~ 917 1
93 NVSS J131214+253113 rG 13 12 14.28896106 +25 31 13.1757021           ~ 15 1
94 6C 131034+484447 Bla 13 12 43.35362141 +48 28 30.9405577   21.8 20.3 20.00   ~ 109 1
95 4C 67.22 rG 13 13 27.98902761 +67 35 50.3599652           ~ 61 1
96 ICRF J131739.1+411545 Bla 13 17 39.1954 +41 15 45.621           ~ 54 1
97 IC 4296 rG 13 36 39.03253319 -33 57 57.0730368   11.52 12.99 10.00 10.79 ~ 520 2
98 PKS 1345+12 Sy2 13 47 33.36161873 +12 17 24.2398927   19.28 18.44 15.718   ~ 652 2
99 Z 103-14 Sy2 13 56 02.89833 +18 22 18.2982   14.8 14.22     ~ 413 2
100 Mrk 668 BLL 14 07 00.39441712 +28 27 14.6901341   16.13 15.35 10.29   ~ 826 3
101 ICRF J141414.8+455448 Sy2 14 14 14.8497 +45 54 48.730           ~ 41 1
102 3C 298.0 Bla 14 19 08.1802187928 +06 28 34.802854680   17.12 16.79     ~ 422 1
103 [VV2006] J142242.5+041439 QSO 14 22 42.4905131280 +04 14 39.121993824   18.04 17.69     ~ 50 1
104 6C 142125+510933 Bla 14 23 14.1852096840 +50 55 37.285758732   18.25 17.88 14.93   ~ 96 1
105 Z 163-41 Sy2 14 24 40.5266308536 +26 37 30.467191764   15.6 15.62     ~ 119 1
106 ICRF J143040.5+364903 BLL 14 30 40.58369349 +36 49 03.8887684   20.13 19.70 19.69   ~ 76 1
107 ICRF J144033.6+012705 QSO 14 40 33.64702220 +01 27 05.2090079           ~ 14 1
108 ICRF J144302.7+520137 Sy1 14 43 02.76069031 +52 01 37.2985156   18.96 18.29     ~ 316 3
109 PKS 1449+13 rG 14 51 31.49104109 +13 43 24.0016409           ~ 23 1
110 ICRF J145359.7+091543 BLL 14 53 59.73208771 +09 15 43.3285463   19.44 19.01     ~ 39 1
111 NVSS J145608+504836 BLL 14 56 08.11972063 +50 48 36.3006926       21.80   ~ 43 1
112 PMN J1503+0918 rG 15 03 00.89956508 +09 17 58.9826585           ~ 20 1
113 6C 150412+374224 Bla 15 06 09.52997529 +37 30 51.1325012   21.2 21.2 20.60   ~ 213 1
114 QSO J1512-0906 Bla 15 12 50.53293048 -09 05 59.8297908   16.74 16.54     ~ 1409 1
115 ICRF J151443.0+365050 Sy1 15 14 43.0683049560 +36 50 50.355436776   17.11 17.01 15.83   ~ 422 1
116 QSO B1524-136 QSO 15 26 59.44274001 -13 51 00.2643644     20.5     ~ 102 1
117 3C 321 Sy1 15 31 43.46520 +24 04 18.9948   16.0   15.40   ~ 341 1
118 Z 50-83 QSO 15 43 33.9253861056 +04 52 19.314948648   15.1       ~ 56 1
119 PG 1553+113 BLL 15 55 43.0440048528 +11 11 24.365649948 14.91 14.72 14.57 13.99   ~ 672 1
120 [VV2006] J160338.0+155403 Bla 16 03 38.06239453 +15 54 02.3585581   18.5 13.97 12.15   ~ 71 2
121 ICRF J160449.9+192620 rG 16 04 49.99374683 +19 26 20.9422584           ~ 13 0
122 7C 160511.09+541350.00 Bla 16 06 23.5659651384 +54 05 55.759093332 17.27 18.16 17.89     ~ 61 1
123 ICRF J160913.3+264129 Sy2 16 09 13.3196 +26 41 29.042   19       ~ 249 1
124 QSO B1614+051 Bla 16 16 37.55681923 +04 59 32.7365717   19.60 19.17 19.49   ~ 195 2
125 4C 41.32 Bla 16 25 57.66971273 +41 34 40.6292008     22 21.73   ~ 171 1
126 [VV2000] J162902.6+372429 QSO 16 29 02.5963967088 +37 24 30.768379272   17.7 19.36 17.6   ~ 34 0
127 3C 345 Bla 16 42 58.80997043 +39 48 36.9939552   16.81 16.59 16.84   ~ 1808 3
128 ICRF J164801.5+222433 Sy1 16 48 01.53554002 +22 24 33.1480282       21.51   ~ 30 1
129 NGC 6240 Sy2 16 52 58.9 +02 24 03   14.31 13.37     ~ 1734 2
130 Z 225-7 BLL 16 53 52.21668403 +39 45 36.6088754 14.09 14.15 13.29 8.26   ~ 2304 2
131 Z 252-40 Bla 17 19 14.4925971408 +48 58 49.423205136   15.86 14.81 9.44   ~ 335 1
132 4C 62.29 QSO 17 46 14.03413499 +62 26 54.7383195   20.91 19.51     ~ 124 1
133 4C 56.27 BLL 18 24 07.06837171 +56 51 01.4908155   18.9 19.30 16.48   ~ 510 1
134 Z 173-14 Sy1 18 35 03.3896172576 +32 41 46.855964616   16.50 15.39 10.50   ~ 688 1
135 3C 390.3 Bla 18 42 08.9904975672 +79 46 17.127835104   16.06 15.38     ~ 1381 1
136 ICRF J191845.5+493756 Bla 19 18 45.5795980920 +49 37 56.033097456       17.49   ~ 49 1
137 4C 73.18 BLL 19 27 48.4947009120 +73 58 01.572558816     16.06 15.11   ~ 562 2
138 PKS J2009-4849 BLL 20 09 25.3903899240 -48 49 53.725051056   15.75 12.81 11.41   ~ 604 1
139 ICRF J205243.6+161948 QSO 20 52 43.61985689 +16 19 48.8279757           ~ 18 1
140 QSO B2052-474 Bla 20 56 16.35980507 -47 14 47.6277179   18.29 19.1 18.07   ~ 341 1
141 QSO B2141+1730 Bla 21 43 35.54456275 +17 43 48.7875890   15.91 15.73 15.17   ~ 418 1
142 PKS 2147+14 Rad 21 50 23.60748567 +14 49 47.8943983           ~ 52 1
143 QSO B2153-2026 Bla 21 56 33.7557224688 -20 12 30.895934220   17.15 17.01 15.9   ~ 56 1
144 PKS J2158-3013 BLL 21 58 52.0652249880 -30 13 32.118447792   13.36 13.09 12.62   ~ 1829 1
145 NAME BL Lac BLL 22 02 43.2913536816 +42 16 39.979416792   15.66 14.72     ~ 2397 1
146 LBQS 2203-2134 Bla 22 06 41.3823490200 -21 19 40.514099772     17.70 17.94   ~ 49 1
147 PMN J2210+0857 rG 22 10 06.05013825 +08 57 29.5583321   20.5 20.0     ~ 19 1
148 3C 446 BLL 22 25 47.25929101 -04 57 01.3907626   18.83 18.39 16.3   ~ 863 1
149 PKS J2249-1251 rG 22 49 59.61247455 -12 51 16.8243273           ~ 68 1
150 3C 454.3 Bla 22 53 57.7480438728 +16 08 53.561508864   16.57 16.10 15.22   ~ 3004 2
151 [VV2006] J225900.7-081103 Bla 22 59 00.6891384912 -08 11 03.043669200   19.51 19.19 19.30   ~ 52 1
152 ICRF J231635.1+040518 Sy2 23 16 35.1933566880 +04 05 18.297101076   17.54 16.68 17.220   ~ 309 1
153 NGC 7674 Sy1 23 27 56.6973043968 +08 46 44.253707772 13.84 13.92 13.23 12.64   ~ 738 2
154 NGC 7727 EmG 23 39 53.870 -12 17 34.84   11   10.55   ~ 183 0
155 NVSS J234646+301159 Rad 23 46 46.25097549 +30 11 59.2446524           ~ 13 1
156 PKS 2344-192 rG 23 47 08.62672907 -18 56 18.8569796           ~ 30 1

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