Scientists with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey V have released Data Release 20, a major update that expands the survey’s map of the sky with new observations from the Southern Hemisphere, according to ScienceDaily.
The release combines southern telescope data from Chile with updated observations from Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico, giving researchers a broader look at stars, gas, galaxies and other objects across both hemispheres. It also includes the first large coordinated dataset from eROSITA-SDSS-V observations, which helps identify X-ray sources such as active galactic nuclei, galaxy clusters and active stars.
According to ScienceDaily, DR20 includes more than 3 million spectra of stars and galaxies, along with 18 value-added catalogs. The release also expands the survey’s Black Hole Mapper, Milky Way Mapper and Local Volume Mapper projects with new data and visual tools.
The full dataset is available through the Science Archive Server, and updated notebook tutorials are being offered for users who want to work with the data. SDSS officials say the release is designed for professional astronomers, students, teachers and anyone interested in exploring the universe.
