The Aquarius superclusters. I. Identification of clusters and superclusters

We study the distribution of galaxies and galaxy clusters in a 10degrees x 6degrees field in the Aquarius region. In addition to 63 clusters in the literature, we have found 39 new candidate clusters using a matched-filter technique and a counts-in-cells analysis. From redshift measurements of galaxies in the direction of these cluster candidates, we present new mean redshifts for 31 previously unobserved clusters, while improved mean redshifts are presented for 35 other systems. About 45% of the projected density enhancements are due to the superposition of clusters and/or groups of galaxies along the line of sight, but we could confirm for 72% of the cases that the candidates are real physical associations similar to the ones classified as rich galaxy clusters. On the other hand, the contamination due to galaxies not belonging to any concentration or located only in small groups along the line of sight is similar to10%. Using a percolation radius of 10 h(-1) Mpc (spatial density contrast of about 10), we detect two superclusters of galaxies in Aquarius, at z similar to 0.086 and 0.112, respectively, with five and 14 clusters. The latter supercluster may represent a space overdensity of about 160 times the average cluster density as measured from the Abell et al. cluster catalog and is possibly connected to a 40 h(-1) Mpc lament from z similar to 0.11 to 0.14.