The CHIPASS 1.4GHz Radio Continuum Map of the Sky

What is it about?

Describes the processing steps required to produce the CHIPASS 1.4GHz radio continuum map of the sky from the HIPASS 21cm spectral line survey data archive. The resulting map is freely available for download in FITS format. While a detailed knowledge of the processing algorithms is not required to use the map, it may assist in understanding residual low-level artefacts. The algorithms, particularly that of iterative gridding, may also prove useful for future endeavours of a similar nature.

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Why is it important?

CHIPASS is to the 1.4GHz radio sky as a geographic map is to the Earth. It reveals the celestial equivalent of the "terra incognita" of the times of Columbus, Magellan, or Cook. CHIPASS contains "zero-spacing" information which can only be obtained with a single-dish radio telescope, not an interferometer. It is unlikely that an opportunity will arise in the forseeable future to repeat or improve upon the 14 arcmin resolution and excellent sensitivity achieved by CHIPASS.