Tutorials

These pages provide detailed worked examples of SDSS data retrieval using the various interfaces provided. In addition, we provide discussions of how to access and read some of the unusual file types used in the survey, and perform certain operations, such as calibration.

Data Retrieval and Queries
- Getting galaxy spectra within a magnitude range
- Obtaining Spectra based on Color Constraints
- Getting Flags and Proper Motions for a List of Targets
- Position and Magnitude Limited Catalog Query
- Proximity Query - Getting Objects Near Your Coordinates
- Retrieving FITS Images of Objects
- Getting all spectra in bulk. This is a variant of the spectroscopic data set which has extra files per plate: one containing the calibrated object list entries for each spectrum, and one containing the corresponding postage-stamp (or "atlas") images.
Reading SDSS Data Files
- Software for reading fits images and tables
- Reading the tsObj*.fits files containing the calibrated photometric object lists
- Reading the spSpec*.fits files containing calibrated spectra, redshifts, and line measurements
- Reading .par files
- Reading Atlas Images
- Extracting Mask Frames
- Using Mask Frames
- Extracting PSF Images to reconstruct the PSF at a given location.
Operating on SDSS Data
- Converting counts in the fpC file to calibrated ugriz magnitudes
- Applying astrometric calibrations beyond the WCS info.

Last modified: Wed Mar 17 12:19:59 CST 2004

Send your questions to sdss-helpdesk@fnal.gov