Sdss V is a large and highly anticipated astronomical survey that will map the entire sky in unprecedented detail. It is set to be conducted by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, which is currently under construction. When completed, Sdss V will be the largest digital sky survey ever undertaken, and it will provide an invaluable resource for astronomers and cosmologists alike.
The main goal of Sdss V is to map the three-dimensional distribution of matter in the Universe out to redshifts of around six (the light from distant galaxies takes billions of years to reach us, so we see them as they were in the past). This will allow scientists to study the large-scale structure of the Universe in greater detail than ever before, providing new insights into its evolution and origins.
In addition to mapping the distribution of matter, Sdss V will also measure the properties of over 100 million galaxies and quasars. This includes their positions, shapes, sizes, brightnesses, distances, and spectra. By studying these galaxies and quasars – some of which are over 10 billion light-years away – scientists will be able to learn about how they formed and evolved over cosmic time.
Sdss V will also search for ‘transient’ objects such as supernovae and gamma-ray bursts. These brief but powerful events can tell us a lot about what’s going on in distant parts of the Universe that we couldn’t otherwise observe directly.
The Rubin Observatory is currently scheduled to begin operations in 2022; however, due to delays caused by COVID-19 pandemic construction has not yet been completed. Once finished though, Sdss V promises to be one of the most important astronomical surveys ever conducted – shedding new light on some of humanity’s most enduring questions about our place in the Cosmos