The Sloan Digital Sky Survey data acquisition system, and early results

J. Annis, J. Bakken, D. Holmgren, D. Petravick, R. Rechenmacher

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey will systematically map one-quarter of the sky, producing detailed images in five color bands and determining the positions and absolute brightnesses of more than 100 million celestial objects. It will also measure the redshifts of a million selected galaxies and of 100,000 quasars, yielding a three-dimensional map of the Universe through a volume one hundred times larger than that explored to date. The SDSS collaboration is currently in the process of commissioning the 2.5-meter survey telescope. We describe the data acquisition system used to record the survey data. This system consists of twelve single board computers and their associated interfaces to the camera and spectrograph CCD electronics, to tape drives, and to online video displays, distributed among several VME crates. A central UNIX computer connected to the VME crates via a vertical bus adapter coordinates the system and provides the interface to telescope operations. We briefly discuss results from the observing runs to date and plans for the archiving and distribution of data.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationSANTA FE 1999 - 11th IEEE NPSS Real Time Conference, Conference Record, RT 1999
EditorsStuart C. Schaller
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages2-5
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)078035463X, 9780780354630
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999
Externally publishedYes
Event11th IEEE NPSS Real Time Conference - Computer Applications in Nuclear Particle and Plasma Physics, RT 1999 - Santa Fe, United States
Duration: Jun 14 1999Jun 18 1999

Publication series

NameSANTA FE 1999 - 11th IEEE NPSS Real Time Conference, Conference Record, RT 1999

Other

Other11th IEEE NPSS Real Time Conference - Computer Applications in Nuclear Particle and Plasma Physics, RT 1999
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySanta Fe
Period6/14/996/18/99

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • Computer Science Applications

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