We present here the results of the first part of the VLBI Ecliptic Plane Survey (VEPS) program. The goal of the program is to find all compact sources within 7.5{deg} of the ecliptic plane that are suitable as calibrators for anticipated phase referencing observations of spacecraft, and determine their positions with accuracy at the 1.5 nrad level. We run the program in two modes: search and refine. In the search mode, a complete sample of all sources brighter than 50mJy at 5GHz listed in the Parkes-MIT-NRAO and Green Bank 6cm (GB6) catalogs, except those previously detected with VLBI, is observed. In the refining mode, the positions of all ecliptic plane sources, including those found in the search mode, are improved. By 2016 October, thirteen 24hr sessions that targeted all sources brighter than 100mJy have been observed and analyzed. Among 3320 observed target sources, 555 objects have been detected. We also conducted a number of follow-up VLBI experiments in the refining mode and improved the positions of 249 ecliptic plane sources.

Cone search capability for table J/ApJS/230/13/table2 (The 555 target sources detected in the search mode of the survey)

Cone search capability for table J/ApJS/230/13/table3 (The 249 sources observed in the refining mode of the survey)