def _get_ned_sources_needing_metadata(
            self):
        """*Get the names of 50000 or less NED sources that still require metabase in the database*

        **Return:**
            - ``len(self.theseIds)`` -- the number of NED IDs returned

        *Usage:*

            .. code-block:: python

                numberSources = stream._get_ned_sources_needing_metadata()
        """
        self.log.debug(
            'starting the ``_get_ned_sources_needing_metadata`` method')

        tableName = self.dbTableName

        # SELECT THE DATA FROM NED TABLE
        sqlQuery = u"""
            select ned_name from %(tableName)s where raDeg is null and (download_error != 1 or download_error is null) limit 50000;
        """ % locals()
        rows = readquery(
            log=self.log,
            sqlQuery=sqlQuery,
            dbConn=self.cataloguesDbConn,
            quiet=False
        )

        self.theseIds = []
        self.theseIds[:] = [r["ned_name"] for r in rows]

        self.log.debug(
            'completed the ``_get_ned_sources_needing_metadata`` method')

        return len(self.theseIds)