GLIMPSE 3D Archive: Infrared Point Sources from the Galactic Plane

GLIMPSE3D is a large-area infrared mapping project of the Galactic plane using the Spitzer Space Telescope. The Archive consists of point sources with a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 5 in at least one band, with photometric uncertainty typically below 0.3 magnitudes. This dataset is provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and was last updated in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Study vertical stellar structure based on extended latitude coverage up to |b| < 4.2°.
• Analyze interstellar medium properties using infrared photometry from the Spitzer IRAC instrument.
• Filter and compare source catalogs based on signal-to-noise and photometric uncertainty criteria mentioned in the description.

Strengths

• Data originates from the Spitzer Space Telescope Infrared Array Camera (IRAC), a major space observatory.
• Photometric uncertainty is typically less than 0.3 magnitudes, as stated in the description.
• Provides extended vertical coverage of the Galactic plane, up to |b| < -4.2° in the galactic center.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope Infrared Array Camera (IRAC).

Time Range

Epoch 1, specific observation dates are not provided.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 17:53:44.693207; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Covers the Galactic plane with vertical extensions, generally up to |b| < 3°, and up to |b| < 4.2° in the center.