The Sloan Digital Sky Survey ImgCutout: The universe at your fingertips

Maria A. Nieto-Santisteban nieto@pha.jhu.edu

Johns Hopkins University

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey ImgCutout: The universe at your fingertips

1 TByte astronomical database on the internet.

Available to professional astronomers & general public.

A photometric and spectral catalog of 100 million objects.

The big picture of the sky

The big picture of the sky

Each tile corresponds to 5 images taken in different wavelengths by the Sloan telescope.

Originally in FITS format, images are "glued" together to create a JPEG mosaic.

The big picture of the sky

Plates show astronomers the boundaries of spectroscopic observations.

The big picture of the sky

Plates show astronomers the boundaries of spectroscopic observations.

The big picture of the sky

Plates show astronomers the boundaries of spectroscopic observations.

The big picture of the sky

Plates show astronomers the boundaries of spectroscopic observations.

The big picture of the sky

Plates show astronomers the boundaries of spectroscopic observations.

The big picture of the sky

Yellow crosses mark spectroscopic Targets.

The big picture of the sky

Yellow crosses mark spectroscopic Targets.

Red squares indicate actual Spectroscopic observations.

The big picture of the sky

Blue circles point to Photometric observations.

Yellow crosses mark spectroscopic Targets.

Red squares indicate actual Spectroscopic observations.

Looking at data quality

10 - 15 % of the observations are lost due to bad weather, bright stars, satellite trails, meteors, etc.

Looking at data quality

Masks delimit such bad areas.

10 - 15 % of the observations are lost due to bad weather, bright stars, satellite trails, meteors, etc.

Looking at data quality

Masks delimit such bad areas.

10 - 15 % of the observations are lost due to bad weather, bright stars, satellites trails, meteors, etc.

Looking at data quality

Masks delimit such bad areas.

10 - 15 % of the observations are lost due to bad weather, bright stars, satellite trails, meteors, etc.

Looking at data quality

Meteor Trail

Bright Source

Astronomers need to identify bad areas in order to improve their science.

Looking at known sources Astronomers can enter a list of coordinates to get an initial view and decide whether or not proceed further.

Preparing new observationsLooking at known sources

Finding charts are invaluable tools when observing with a ‘real’ telescope.

Users can search for new objects online and get answers in real time.

Search for quasars:

Find galaxies with specific

spectra:

Querying the database for new discoveries

Querying the database for new discoveries

Querying the database for new discoveries

These three objects might form a previously unknown lensed quasar!

Querying the database for new discoveries

Photometric data?

Background?

Looking in detail Digging for more information:

Boundaries

Types and magnitudes

Looking in detail Digging for more information:

Boundaries

Outlines

Types and magnitudes

Looking in detail Digging for more information:

Boundaries

Outlines

Photometry, Spectro, Cross Identifications and more …

Types and magnitudes

Photometry, Spectro, Cross Identifications and more from SkyServer

SkyServer

SkyServer Photometry, Spectro, Cross Identifications and more from SkyServer

Quasar Spectrum

Exploring the neighborhood

Select objects.

Exploring the neighborhood

Select objects.

Move around: E – W, N – S.

Exploring the neighborhood

Select objects.

Move around: E – W, N – S.

Exploring the neighborhood

Select objects.

Recenter.

Move around: E – W, N – S.

Exploring the neighborhood

Zoom in & out.

Select objects.

Recenter.

Move around: E – W, N – S.

Exploring the neighborhood

Zoom in & out.

Select objects.

Recenter.

Move around: E – W, N – S.

Exploring the neighborhood

Zoom in & out.

Select objects.

Recenter.

Move around: E – W, N – S.

Exploring the neighborhood

Zoom in & out.

Select objects.

Recenter.

Move around: E – W, N – S.

ImgCutout

the 1 TeraByte SkyServer database, its 100 million celestial objects,

Visual exploration of

their images and spectra, complex spatial relations, boundaries.

Enables instantaneous discoveries.

The Universe at your fingertips…

Johns Hopkins University

http://skyservice.pha.jhu.edu/dr1/ImgCutout/

ImgCutout