Welcome to SkyServer! This site gives you access to all the data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Here, you will learn how to use exactly the same tools that professional astronomers use.

You are now viewing data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey's Data Release 7. (link opens in a new window)

Use the links below, or the links to the left, to go to a help page:

Start Here

Site News lists the latest changes to the interface and data on this SkyServer site.

Introduction to SkyServer gives you a quick overview of SDSS catalog data, and how to use the data

Cooking with Sloan consists of guides for doing common tasks with SDSS catalog data

FAQ is frequently asked questions about the SDSS and its data

Guide to Searching for Data

Search Form User Guide provides help on searching for data using the Search Form

SQL tutorial is an introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL), its scientific uses, and its syntax

Using SQL with SkyServer contains more detailed information about SQL, including advice making your queries run fast

Sample SQL Queries are many real-life examples of useful SQL queries

Graphing and Analyzing Data shows you how to use a graphing program (Excel) to do scientific analysis

Query Limits lists the timeouts and row limits in effect for the various query tools.

Searching advice provides some practical advice on how to search SDSS data

Important Reference Information

Archive Intro gives an overview of the archive

Table Description provides a description of the database tables

Schema Browser shows you what data you can find in the database

Glossary is a list of terms used on the site and in the SDSS

Algorithms describes the SDSS's data reduction algorithms

Web Browsers shows what parts of the site are supported by which web browsers

Known Problems lists known problems on this SkyServer site and in the SDSS data.

Detailed Reference Information

Download lets you download selected papers and tools

SDSS Data Publications is a link to publications that describe the SDSS data in more detail

API contains information on how to programatically access some of the SDSS services

SkyServer Sites lists the various SkyServer websites and physical locations, including mirror sites

Help Desk

Contact Help Desk allows you to send an email to the SDSS Help Desk if you have a question or problem with the site