The Sloan Digital Sky Survey --Phase III

该项目建立在两个以前的斯隆数字巡天计划（SDSS和SDSS-II）的遗产。 该项目包括四项调查。美国国家科学基金会的资金主要用于重子振荡光谱调查（BOSS）。 这项调查将测量150万个发光红色星系的红移和16万个高红移类星体的莱曼α吸收。这些测量将允许绝对宇宙距离尺度被确定到比以前实现的更高的精度（1.0-1.5%），并将提供对暗能量状态方程的约束。 美国国家科学基金会的部分资金也将用于支持阿帕奇点天文台银河演化实验（APOGEE）。 这项调查将使用高分辨率和高信噪比的红外光谱，穿透从我们的视野中掩盖银河系内部的尘埃，测量径向速度，光谱类型和10万颗红巨星的详细元素丰度，在银河系凸起的整个范围内，H级极限约为13.5，第一个非国家科学基金会资助的调查是SEGUE-2，它将测量径向速度，光谱类型和350，000颗恒星的元素丰度，在许多目标类别中，g星等限制约为19，这将探测外银河系的运动学和化学演化。最后一项调查也是非NSF资助的，是多目标APO径向速度系外行星大面积调查（MARVELS）。 这将监测11，000颗明亮恒星的径向速度，其精度和节奏需要检测轨道周期从几个小时到两年不等的气体巨行星。 这些观测将为检验行星系统的形成和动力演化理论提供关键的统计数据集，这些调查将产生大型、校准良好、易于访问的公共数据库，支持各级天文学研究和教育活动。该项目还包括一个积极的教育和推广计划，向K-12和大学教育工作者以及更广泛的公众推广数据和工具。

This project builds on the legacy of the two previous Sloan Digital Sky Survey programs (SDSS and SDSS-II). This project consists of four surveys. The NSF funding is primarily for the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS). This survey will measure redshifts of 1.5 million luminous red galaxies and Lyman-alpha absorption towards 160,000 high redshift quasars. These measurements will permit the absolute cosmic distance scale to be determined to a higher precision (1.0-1.5%) than previously achieved and will provide constraints on the equation of state of dark energy. Some of the NSF funds will also be used to support the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE). This survey will use high-resolution and high signal-to-noise infrared spectroscopy to penetrate the dust that obscures the inner Galaxy from our view, measuring radial velocities, spectral types, and detailed elemental abundances of 100,000 red giant stars to an H magnitude limit of approximately 13.5 across the full range of the Galactic bulge, bar, and disk.The first of the non-NSF funded surveys is SEGUE-2 which will measure radial velocities, spectral types, and elemental abundances of 350,000 stars in numerous target categories to a g magnitude limit of approximately 19, which will probe the kinematics and chemical evolution of the outer Milky Way. The final survey, also non-NSF funded, is the Multi-Object APO Radial Velocity Exoplanet Large-area Survey (MARVELS). This will monitor the radial velocities of 11,000 bright stars, with the precision and cadence needed to detect gas giant planets with orbital periods ranging from several hours to two years. These observations will provide a critical statistical data set for testing theories of the formation and dynamical evolution of planetary systems.These surveys will produce large, well calibrated, easily accessible public databases supporting astronomical research and educational activities at many levels. The project also includes an active program of education and outreach promoting the data and tools to K-12 and university educators and to the broader public.