The Molonglo Reference Catalogue of Radio Sources

408-MHz survey observations made with the Molonglo Radio Telescope have been used to prepare a catalogue of 12 141 discrete sources of listed flux density ≽ 0.7 Jy. The survey covers 7.85 sr of the sky defined by $$+18^\circ.5 \geqslant \delta\enspace(1950)\geqslant -85^\circ.0,\enspace|b|\geqslant 3^\circ$$. A few sources beyond the declination limits are also included. The catalogue comprises celestial coordinates with standard error typically lying between 3 and 10 arcsec and 408-MHz flux densities with standard error typically lying between 4 and 10 per cent. Galactic coordinates, notes on source morphology and cross-references to the Parkes Catalogues are included. The overall source density is 1500 sr⁻¹, corresponding to 10⁻³ per beam area. There are 7347 sources of listed flux density ≽ 1.00 Jy, at which level the catalogue is substantially complete. The reliability is believed to be better than 99.9 per cent.