Data Release 16

Data Release 16
Name	Data Release 16
Release date	December 2019
Mission	Sloan Digital Sky Survey
Predecessor	Data Release 15
Successor	Data Release 17

Data Release 16 is a major public data publication from the fourth phase of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, known as SDSS-IV. Released in December 2019, it represents a significant expansion of the survey's spectroscopic capabilities, delivering millions of new spectra and derived parameters to the global scientific community. This release is a cornerstone for studies in galactic archaeology, stellar astrophysics, and the large-scale structure of the universe.

Overview

This comprehensive release integrates data from all three core SDSS-IV programs: the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment 2, the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey, and the new Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory survey. It builds upon the foundation laid by previous efforts like the original Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the SEGUE project. The data were processed using advanced pipelines developed by collaborations at institutions like the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy and the University of Washington.

Scientific Goals and Objectives

The primary aim was to map the Milky Way in unprecedented detail to understand its formation history, a field known as galactic archaeology. A key objective for APOGEE-2 was to obtain high-resolution infrared spectra for hundreds of thousands of stars, probing regions obscured by interstellar dust. For eBOSS, the goal was to extend the cosmic distance record using quasars and galaxies to constrain properties of dark energy. MaNGA aimed to provide spatially-resolved spectra for thousands of nearby galaxies, revealing their internal kinematics and chemical evolution.

New Data and Surveys

The release includes the complete dataset from the second phase of the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment, adding over 200,000 new stellar spectra primarily from the Southern Hemisphere taken with the du Pont Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. It contains the final data from the Extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey, featuring new samples of luminous red galaxies, emission line galaxies, and quasars. Furthermore, it delivers the first half of the integral field unit observations from the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory survey.

Key Scientific Results

Initial studies using this data have yielded transformative results, including detailed chemical abundance maps of the Milky Way's disk and halo that reveal major accretion events like the Gaia-Enceladus merger. eBOSS data provided precise measurements of the baryon acoustic oscillation scale across cosmic time, significantly tightening constraints on cosmological models. MaNGA observations have unveiled the complex interplay between star formation quenching and galactic structure, contributing to debates on processes like AGN feedback and morphological transformation.

Data Access and Tools

All data are publicly accessible through the SDSS Science Archive Server and interfaces like the Marvin tool for MaNGA. The release is supported by extensive value-added catalogs, such as the NASA-Sloan Atlas and the Firefly spectral modeling platform. Data can be cross-matched with other major surveys including the Gaia mission and the Two Micron All Sky Survey via the CasJobs workspace. Documentation and tutorials are maintained by the SDSS Collaboration.

Impact and Legacy

This release has fundamentally enriched the field of time-domain astronomy by providing a vast spectral baseline for follow-up studies with facilities like the Zwicky Transient Facility and the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory. Its chemical catalogs are critical for interpreting data from the PLATO mission and the WEAVE survey. The cosmological datasets serve as a direct precursor to the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument. It solidified the Sloan Digital Sky Survey's role in enabling precision astrophysics across multiple decades.

Category:Sloan Digital Sky Survey Category:Astronomical catalogues Category:2019 in science