The 2MASS Red AGN Survey

The Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) provides an unprecedented, uniform photometric data set for large samples of AGN discovered at other wavelengths, and also forms the basis to search for previously unknown, obscured AGN. We present the results of a highly efficient near infrared color-based AGN survey using 2MASS that has already discovered 485 new, red AGN and QSOs. The extrapolated surface density of the 2MASS red AGN is ~0.57 deg~ for Ks<15.5 mag. The ratio of Type 1 to Type 2 AGN among the newly discovered objects is 4:1, similar to proportions found in X-ray and deep ISO surveys, but the inverse of that found in IRAS surveys. The median redshift of the the new 2MASS red AGN sample is z=0.22, and all but three have z<0.7. The color distribution, polarization and X-ray properties data suggest that most of the 2MASS-discovered AGN are red because of obscuration by dust in and around their nuclei.