MIGHTEE: the host-galaxy associated catalogue of the radio sources in MIGHTEE continuum data release 1

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Radio continuum surveys provide samples of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and star forming galaxies (SFGs) to high redshifts, free of biases due to dust obscuration. However, radio detected sources require multiwavelength counterparts to understand their intrinsic properties (e.g. redshift, stellar mass) and to study the evolution of star formation and AGN activity. In this work, we present host galaxy counterparts for the MeerKAT International GHz Tiered Extragalactic Exploration (MIGHTEE) survey continuum Data Release 1 in regions with the best ancillary data (totalling 7.5 sq. deg). We combine statistical cross-matching and visual inspection to identify $K_s$-band selected host galaxies, and additionally combine multiple radio components into single physical objects, where needed. This results in a combined radio catalogue of $\sim$66 000 sources, with host counterparts and redshifts identified for $\sim$95 per cent of sources in the COSMOS field, $\sim$91 per cent in XMM-LSS and $\sim$90 per cent in CDFS-DEEP. This includes a significant fraction of sources with spectroscopic redshifts within the COSMOS field ($\sim$50 per cent), with $\sim$30 and $\sim$20 per cent in the XMM-LSS and CDFS-DEEP fields, respectively. Using the cross-matched catalogue, we make an initial identification of radio-excess and SFGs based on comparisons of the radio luminosities to host star formation rates. Using this split as a proxy for radio loud AGN or SFGs, we present expectations for the redshift distributions of these sources, finding broad agreement with those from deep radio luminosity functions and simulated catalogues.

Source: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stag1408

Institutions: University of Oxford, Royal Observatory, University of Edinburgh, University of the Western Cape, University of Hertfordshire, University of Cape Town, Istituto di Radioastronomia di Bologna, Inter-university Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy, University of Bologna, University of South Africa, Victoria University of Wellington, South African Astronomical Observatory, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Trieste Astronomical Observatory, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Trieste, Institute for Fundamental Physics of the Universe, National Institute for Astrophysics, University of Cambridge, North-West University, Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania, Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, University College London, University of Manchester, Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Guizhou University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Astronomical Observatories, Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio, University of Antananarivo, National Observatory of Athens, Thüringer Landessternwarte Tautenburg, Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing, SKA Observatory, Carnegie Institution for Science, Carnegie Observatories

Language: English

Topic: Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,046

Funders: Albert Ellis Institute, Neurosciences Research Foundation, UK Research and Innovation, Department of Science and Innovation, South Africa, Leverhulme Trust, European Commission, National Research Foundation, University of Pretoria, University of the Western Cape, Universiteit Stellenbosch, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, University of Cape Town, Science and Technology Facilities Council, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, H2020 European Research Council

OpenAlex ID: W7171138804