Discussion Overview
The discussion centers around the availability of star spectral data, specifically focusing on sources that provide flux versus wavelength information. Participants explore various databases and tools for accessing this data, including GAIA, SDSS, and NOIRLab's SPARCL.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory, Technical explanation
Main Points Raised
- One participant inquires about reliable sources for star spectral data, noting that GAIA has data for some stars but not for many others.
- Another participant suggests a Google search for a catalog of stellar spectra, indicating a lack of personal expertise in the field.
- A participant highlights the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) as a significant source of spectral data, providing links to tools for navigating and retrieving spectra.
- Additional links to SDSS resources are shared, emphasizing the ability to find and download spectral data for various stars.
- One participant reiterates the limitations of GAIA, mentioning that the scarcity of spectral data is a common issue due to the time-consuming nature of spectroscopy.
- A participant introduces NOIRLab's SPARCL tool, which allows users to find and retrieve spectra from SDSS and DESI, along with links to a Jupyter notebook for guidance.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally agree on the utility of SDSS as a source for spectral data, but there is no consensus on the completeness of available data from GAIA or the implications of its limitations.
Contextual Notes
The discussion reflects varying levels of familiarity with the tools and databases mentioned, and some participants express uncertainty about the reasons behind the limitations in spectral data availability.