An evolutionary catalogue of galactic post-AGB and related objects^*

¹ N. Copernicus Astronomical Center, Rabiańska 8, 87-100 Toruń, Poland e-mail: szczerba@ncac.torun.pl
² Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
³ LUTH, Observatoire de Meudon, 5 place Jules Janssen, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France


Received: 28 December 2006
Accepted: 6 March 2007

Abstract

Aims.With the ongoing AKARI infrared sky survey, of much greater sensitivity than IRAS, a wealth of post-AGB objects may be discovered. It is thus time to organize our present knowledge of known post-AGB stars in the galaxy with a view to using it to search for new post-AGB objects among AKARI sources.

Methods.We searched the literature available on the NASA Astrophysics Data System up to 1 October 2006, and defined criteria for classifying sources into three categories: very likely, possible and disqualified post-AGB objects. The category of very likely post-AGB objects is made up of several classes.

Results.We have created an evolutionary, on-line catalogue of Galactic post-AGB objects, to be referred to as the Toruń catalogue of Galactic post-AGB and related objects. The present version of the catalogue contains 326 very likely, 107 possible and 64 disqualified objects. For the very likely post-AGB objects, the catalogue gives the available optical and infrared photometry, infrared spectroscopy and spectral types, and links to finding charts and bibliography.