A radio continuum survey of the southern sky at 1420 MHz - The atlas of contour maps

The results of an absolutely calibrated radio continuum survey of the South Celestial Hemisphere at a frequency of 1420 MHz are presented. Contour maps show the area 0(h) less than or equal to RA less than or equal to 24(h) for the declination range -90 degrees to -10 degrees. Contour steps (50 mK T-B; 3 x rms noise) and angular resolution (HPBW 35.'4) of the maps match the already existing Stockert northern sky survey at the same frequency. We compare flux densities of compact and extended sources with published data from the Parkes 64-m telescope and find excellent agreement in general. The survey maps are sensitive enough to constrain synchrotron and thermal emission components which might influence studies of the cosmic microwave background.