The Southern Near-IR AGN Survey: spectroscopic observations from 6dF

Frank Masci, Roc Cutri, Paul Francis, Brant Nelson, John Huchra,
Heath Jones, Matthew Colless and Will Saunders.


Following the success of The Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) in revealing
large numbers of new optically red AGN and QSOs, we report on an extension
of this search in the Southern equatorial sky using the Six Degree Field
(6dF) multifibre spectrograph. Near-IR selected samples are more sensitive to
objects whose optical emission may be reddened by dust, or is intrinsically
weak. Our sample of red AGN candidates was selected using a single color cut
of J-Ks > 2 mag and a galactic latitude |b| > 30 deg. For comparison, most
optical/UV-selected QSOs and (quiescent) galaxies at redshifts z<~0.4 have
colors of J-Ks < 2 mag. A subsample of 6386 candidates with Bj < 19 and
rF < 18 were selected as auxiliary targets for the 6dF Galaxy Redshift Survey.
Spectra were obtained for 1182 objects. Approximately 700 are of sufficient
quality to enable a reliable identification. We present the results of the
classification of the 6dF spectra, making use of Bj, R (SuperCOSMOS) and
J, H, Ks (2MASS) images to assist in the identification process. We quantify
the AGN content, types, host morphologies (i.e., whether point-like or
extended), and compare their properties to those of AGN discovered at other
wavelengths.