Summary

• 2MASS is revealing large numbers of previously unknown, predominantly low redshift, red AGN

  • ᡄ,000 expected over the entire sky, ~70% of which will be Sy1/QSO

• Luminosity function implies that space density of intermediate luminosity Type 1 2MASS AGN may be comparable to optical/UV-selected QSOs

  • Under-represented in optical/UV searches because too faint in blue/UV (e.g. Francis, Whiting and Webster 2000)

• NIR colors, source counts, polarization properties and X-ray flux and slopes suggest that many 2MASS AGN are red because of obscuration

  • But geometry and distribution of dust, origin of continuum at different wavelengths complicates interpretation

• Red AGN may be underluminous in X-rays

  • Implications for modeling AGN contribution of X-ray background

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