BAX: a dedicated X-rays galaxy clusters database Original Research Article

We present BAX, Base de Données amas de galaxies X (), a project aiming at building a comprehensive database dedicated to X-rays clusters of galaxies allowing detailed information retrieval. BAX provides the user with basic data published in the literature on X-rays clusters of galaxies as well as with information concerning the physical properties in the X-rays domain or at other wavelengths. BAX allows individual studies on selected clusters as well as building up homogenous samples, from known X-rays clusters for which selection criteria are chosen through web interfaces. We expect BAX to become a useful tool for astronomy community in order to optimize the cluster science return using data from both ground based facilities like MEGACAM (CFHT), VIRMOS (VLT) and space missions like XMM, Chandra and Planck.