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The 20th Data Release (DR 20) of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) is Here!
Developing
In Short: The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), a pioneering astronomical project, has released its 20th data set (DR 20), marking a milestone in its evolution.
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), a pioneering astronomical project, has released its 20th data set (DR 20), marking a milestone in its evolution. This release, the third of the fifth phase (SDSS-V), represents a substantial operational expansion, expanding the survey's reach and capabilities.
Dr. Anne-Marie Weijmans, SDSS Data Products Coordinator, emphasized the survey's accessibility, stating, 'We want everyone to make use of the SDSS data products, whether they are a professional astronomer, a student, a teacher, or someone interested in astronomy.
This latest release accelerates SDSS's transition into a global, multi-wavelength, multi-epoch project involving multiple observatories. It includes the first optical spectra from the Southern Hemisphere, all-sky panoptic spectroscopy, and part of the planned panoptic spectroscopic map for SDSS-V.
The SDSS, which began as an optical/spectral survey of the Northern Hemisphere in 2000, has grown into a massive international project. This expansion is expected to provide unprecedented insights into the cosmos, making the data available to a wide range of users from professional astronomers to casual enthusiasts.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- Credit: Swinburne University/Sam Moorfield/WiggleZ Team Like previous data releases, the DR20 includes newly reduced spectroscopic data from the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey](https://www.sdss4.org/surveys/boss/) (BOSS) obtained through February 2nd, 2025, from both hemispheres, combined with spectroscopic data from all previous SDSS phases.
Sources
- Universe Today link