  The first epoch Molonglo Galactic Plane Survey (MGPS1) is a radio continuum
survey made using the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (MOST) at 843
MHz with a resolution of 43" X 43" cosec |delta|. The region surveyed is 245
deg < l < 355 deg, |b| < 1.5 deg. The thirteen 9 deg X 3 deg mosaic images
presented here are the superposition of over 450 complete synthesis
observations, each taking 12 h and covering 70' X 70' cosec |delta|. The
root-mean-square sensitivity over much of the mosaiced survey is 1-2 mJy/beam
(1 sigma), and the positional accuracy is approximately 1" X 1" cosec |delta|
for sources brighter than 20 mJy. The dynamic range is no better than 250:1,
and this also constrains the sensitivity in some parts of the images. The
survey area of 330 sq deg contains well over 12,000 unresolved or barely
resolved objects, almost all of which are extra-galactic sources lying in the
Zone of Avoidance. In addition a significant fraction of this area is covered
by extended, diffuse emission associated with thermal complexes, discrete H II
regions, supernova remnants, and other structures in the Galactic interstellar
medium.
