CLoGS: The Complete Local-volume Groups Sample

The current lack of a statistical Xray sample of galaxy groups is a serioushindrance to studies of galaxy evolution, structure formation, and feedbackprocesses. The subset of nearby groups observed in the Xray contains less thanhalf the number of systems expected and is biased in unknown ways. We havedefined an optically selected, statistically complete sample of groups in thelocal Universe, screened to exclude systems which are uncollapsed or embedded inlarger structures. This will allow the first detailed studies of the gascontent, thermal history and physical properties of an unbiased sample ofgroups, and significantly improve our understanding of the mass distribution inthe local volume. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]