def _count_ned_sources_in_database_requiring_metadata(
            self):
        """*Count the sources in the NED table requiring metadata*

        **Return:**
            - ``self.total``, ``self.batches`` -- total number of galaxies needing metadata & the number of batches required to be sent to NED

        *Usage:*

            .. code-block:: python

                totalRemaining, numberOfBatches = stream._count_ned_sources_in_database_requiring_metadata()
        """
        self.log.debug(
            'starting the ``_count_ned_sources_in_database_requiring_metadata`` method')

        tableName = self.dbTableName

        sqlQuery = u"""
            select count(*) as count from %(tableName)s where raDeg is null and (download_error != 1 or download_error is null)
        """ % locals()
        rows = readquery(
            log=self.log,
            sqlQuery=sqlQuery,
            dbConn=self.cataloguesDbConn,
            quiet=False
        )
        self.total = rows[0]["count"]
        self.batches = int(self.total / 50000.) + 1

        if self.total == 0:
            self.batches = 0

        self.log.debug(
            'completed the ``_count_ned_sources_in_database_requiring_metadata`` method')
        return self.total, self.batches