This paper introduces the Multi-wavelength Extreme Starburst Sample ( MESS ) , a new catalog of 138 star-forming galaxies ( 0.1 < z < 0.3 ) optically selected from the SDSS using emission line strength diagnostics to have high absolute SFR ( minimum 11 M _ { \odot } yr ^ { -1 } with median SFR \sim 61 M _ { \odot } yr ^ { -1 } based on a Kroupa IMF ) .
The MESS was designed to complement samples of nearby star-forming galaxies such as the luminous infrared galaxies ( LIRGs ) , and ultraviolet luminous galaxies ( UVLGs ) .
Observations using the multiband imaging photometer ( MIPS ; 24 , 70 , and 160 \mu m channels ) on the Spitzer Space Telescope indicate the MESS galaxies have IR luminosities similar to those of LIRGs , with an estimated median L _ { TIR } \sim 3 \times 10 ^ { 11 } L _ { \odot } .
The selection criteria for the MESS suggests they may be less obscured than typical far-IR selected galaxies with similar estimated SFRs .
20 out of 70 of the MESS objects detected in the GALEX FUV band also appear to be UV luminous galaxies .
We estimate the SFRs based directly on luminosities to determine the agreement for these methods in the MESS .
We compare to the emission line strength technique , since effective measurement of dust attenuation plays a central role in these methods .
We apply an image stacking technique to the VLA FIRST survey radio data to retrieve 1.4 GHz luminosity information for 3/4 of the sample covered by FIRST including sources too faint , and at too high a redshift , to be detected in FIRST .
We also discuss the relationship between the MESS and samples selected through alternative criteria .
Morphologies will be the subject of a forthcoming paper .