SDSS-V Unveils All-Sky Spectra, First from South Hem
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey V has released its twentieth data set, providing a detailed spectroscopic map of stars across both the northern and southern skies. This release includes data from the Milky Way Mapper, helping astronomers study the history and chemical composition of our galaxy.
Why it matters
This massive dataset provides critical insights into the formation of the Milky Way and the evolution of stars, serving as a foundational resource for global astronomical research.
SUNSPOT, N.M. / LA SERENA, CHILE - The Sloan Digital Sky Survey V (SDSS-V) has announced its twentieth public data release (DR20), delivering a dramatic expansion of the Milky Way Mapper (MWM) scientific survey - the most detailed spectroscopic map yet assembled of stars in and around our home galaxy.
With repeat visits, DR20 includes more than two million total spectra, revealing the temperatures, ages, and chemical compositions of stars all across the Milky Way. The dataset draws on observations from twin optical spectrographs at Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico and Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, giving astronomers a seamless view of stellar populations across both the northern and southern skies.
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