Spectroscopic observations of thirteen optically-selected QSOs in a large field centred around NGC 5334

A large field (approximately 25 sq deg) around NGC 5334 was searched for QSO candidates with ultraviolet-excess, in order to investigate the space density, distribution, and luminosity of quasars near as well as far from bright galaxies. Spectroscopic data obtained with the European Southern Observatory 3.6 m telescope are presented for 13 quasars identified within a sample of 23 observed candidates. As expected, the redshift of these optically selected quasars was found to fall in the range 0.23-2.08, with only one exception. Two, and possibly three, of the quasars of the largest redshift show absorption lines, while the remaining 10 faint blue objects display zero-redshift stellar spectra