The Heidelberg InfraRed Optical Cluster Survey (HIROCS)

Aims. We describe a survey for distant clusters of galaxies that identified clusters as local overdensities in the 3D galaxy distribution. Methods. Optical and near-IR imaging in B, R, i, z, and H are used to derive photometric redshifts for objects as faint as m* + 1 at a redshift of 1.5. We outline the astrometric and photometric data reduction. The 3D cluster search, based on the photometric redshifts, is described. Results. On the basis of the first fully reduced 1 square degree of data, we demonstrate that the objectives of HIROCS have been achieved. Four representative clusters from the list of candidates are presented.