The BeppoSAX WFC X-ray source catalogue

Aims We present the catalogue of X-ray sources detected by the two Wide Field Cameras (WFCs) in complete observations on board BeppoSAX during its 6 years of operational lifetime, between April 1996 and April 2002. <BR />Methods The BeppoSAX WFCs were coded mask instruments sensitive in the 2-28 keV energy band with a 4040 square degree fields of view, pointing in opposite directions and perpendicularly to the BeppoSAX Narrow Field Instruments (NFI). The WFCs were usually operated simultaneously to NFI observations, each lasting up to several days. WFCs observed thus the entire sky several times with a typical sensitivity of 2 to 10 mCrab. A systematic analysis of all WFC observations in the BeppoSAX archive has been carried out using the latest post-mission release of the WFC analysis software and calibrations. <BR />Results The catalogue includes 253 distinct sources, obtained from a total sample of 8283 WFC detections. We describe the basic statistical properties of the sample and present a six-year history of two celestial calibration X-ray sources. Table 3 is only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr(130.79.128.5) or via http //cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/472/705