An Extension to the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

克朗测量对于天文学来说是非常重要的。他们生产的数据集很大，易于使用，质量很高，可以支持整个研究领域数十年。斯隆数字巡天(SDSS)完全可以被认为属于这一类。它已经对大尺度结构和宇宙学产生了重大影响，此外还在银河系结构、恒星群、星系性质和小型太阳系天体等领域产生了前沿研究。该奖项支持一项三年半的延期计划，以利用SDSS机制(硬件、软件、基础设施和数据库)继续产生专注于三个主要问题的调查数据：通过扩大面积覆盖和大大改进的光度定标，增强SDSS遗留数据档案及其量化星系大范围分布的能力；旨在解开其形成历史的对银河系恒星群运动学和结构的重大攻击；以及在红移范围内对宇宙加速开始敏感的超新星的搜索。SDSS高效和迅速地产生了大量、易于使用的极高质量数据的公共档案，已被全国和世界各地的天文学家用来开展大量前沿的、有影响力的研究。这些数据的可获得性支持开展研究的非传统模式，并通过将最先进的数据产品带给所有人来营造公平的竞争环境。SDSS数据档案在大多数天文学学科和支持它们的联邦机构中都有应用。SDSS硬件和软件技术影响科学能力的持续发展：现有的主要设施、多波长档案以及大型天气观测望远镜等新设施的规划和发展。SDSS数据支持其他天文设施，包括天基和陆基设施：它们为目标清单提供准确的校准和原材料。大型调查也产生了社会学影响，包括开创新的科学合作模式，发展从高中到资深科学家的各级教育，将成果和数据转移到媒体和博物馆的公共教育工作，以及青年科学家的指导和发展。

AST 0443905KronSurveys are of fundamental importance to astronomy. They produce data sets which are large, easy to use, of high quality, and can support entire fields of research for decades. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) can fairly be considered to belong in this category. It has already had a major impact on large scale structure and cosmology, and has in addition produced forefront research in areas as diverse as Galactic structure, stellar populations, galaxy properties, and small solar system objects. This award supports a three and one half year extension program to use the SDSS machinery (the hardware, software, infrastructure and data bases) to continue to produce survey data focused on three main questions: the enhancement of the SDSS legacy data archive and its power to quantify the large-scale distribution of galaxies via increased area coverage and much improved photometric calibration; a major attack on the kinematics and structure of the Galaxy's stellar populations aimed at unraveling its formation history; and a search for supernovae in the redshift range sensitive to the onset of cosmological acceleration. SDSS has efficiently and promptly produced a vast, easy-to-use public archive of extremely high quality data which has been used by astronomers nation- and world-wide to carry out a plethora of forefront, influential research. The availability of such data supports non-traditional modes of carrying out research and levels the playing field by bringing state-of-the-art data products to all. The SDSS data archive has applications across most astronomical disciplines and across the Federal agencies which support them. SDSS hardware and software technology influence the continuing development of scientific capabilities: existing major facilities, multi-wavelength archives, and the planning for and development of new facilities such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, LSST. SDSS data support other astronomical facilities, both space- and ground-based: they provide accurate calibration and the raw material for target lists. Large surveys also have sociological impact, including the pioneering of new modes of scientific collaboration, the development of education at all levels from high school through senior scientists, the transfer of results and data to public education efforts in the media and at museums, and the mentoring and development ofyoung scientists.***