XRBcats: Galactic High Mass X-ray Binary Catalogue

Abstract

Context. We present a new catalogue of high mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) in the Galaxy that we call the Galactic High Mass X-ray Binary Catalogue (XRBcats), which improves upon the most recent of such catalogues. We include new HMXBs discovered since previous publications and revise the classification for several objects previously considered HMXBs or HMXB candidates. The catalogue includes basic information (e.g. source names, coordinates, types), other data (e.g. distance and X-ray flux estimates, binary system parameters), and other characteristic properties of the 169 HMXBs catalogued. We also present finding charts in several bands from the infrared to hard X-rays for each object. Aims. The aim of this catalogue is to provide a list of all currently known Galactic HMXBs, including basic information on both compact objects and non-degenerate counterpart properties (where available). We also include objects tentatively classified as HXMBs in the literature and give a brief motivation for the classification in each case. Methods. The catalogue is compiled based on a search of known HMXBs and candidates in all publicly available databases and literature published before May 2023. The relevant properties in various wavelength bands were collected for all objects, either from the literature or using data provided by large-scale surveys. For the latter case, the counterparts in each individual survey were found by cross-correlating positions of identified HMXBs with relevant databases. Results. An up-to-date catalogue of Galactic HMXBs is presented to facilitate research in this field. Our goal was to collect a larger set of relevant HMXB properties in a more uniform way compared to previously published works.