ROSAT PSPC OBSERVATIONS OF NEARBY SPIRAL GALAXIES .1. THE DATA

We report here the results of the largest detailed X-ray survey of nea rby spiral galaxies performed with the ROSAT Position Sensitive Propor tional Counter (PSPC) to date - a uniform analysis of a sample of 17 s ystems covering a wide range in activity and inclination. This study p rovides a significant advance over earlier pioneering work performed w ith Einstein. We have attempted, for each system, to separate the poin t-source emission from the diffuse emission, allowing an insight into the properties of X-ray sources within external galaxies, and enabling us to establish the prevalence and properties of hot galactic winds a nd haloes. The X-ray properties of both the point-source emission and the diffuse emission within each of the 17 systems are discussed in de tail, as are the general X-ray properties of the whole survey. We also derive physical parameters for the hot gas observed within many of th ese systems. A forthcoming paper will use the results presented here t o analyse the statistical properties of the sample as a whole.