An Extension to the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

巡天对天文学来说是至关重要的。它们产生的数据集规模大，易于使用，质量高，可以支持整个研究领域数十年。斯隆数字巡天（SDSS）就属于这一类。它已经对大尺度结构和宇宙学产生了重大影响，并在银河结构、恒星群、星系特性和小型太阳系物体等不同领域产生了前沿研究。该合同支持一项为期三年半的扩展计划，使用SDSS机器（硬件、软件、基础设施和数据库）继续产生调查数据，重点关注三个主要问题：增强SDSS遗留数据档案及其通过增加区域覆盖和大大改进的光度校准来量化大规模星系分布的能力；对银河系恒星群运动学和结构的重大攻击，旨在揭开其形成历史；寻找红移范围内对宇宙加速开始敏感的超新星。SDSS已经有效和迅速地产生了一个巨大的，易于使用的极高质量数据的公共档案，已被天文学家使用，国家和世界范围内进行了大量的前沿，有影响力的研究。这些数据的可用性支持非传统的研究模式，并通过向所有人提供最先进的数据产品来创造公平的竞争环境。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着科学能力的持续发展：现有的主要设施，多波长档案，以及大型天气测量望远镜（LSST）等新设施的规划和发展。SDSS数据支持其他空间和地面天文设施：它们为目标列表提供准确的校准和原材料。大型调查还具有社会学影响，包括开创科学合作的新模式，发展从高中到资深科学家的各级教育，将结果和数据转移到媒体和博物馆的公共教育工作中，以及指导和发展青年科学家

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.***