Hubble Source Catalog: Master Catalog of 16 Million Astronomical Objects

The Hubble Source Catalog (HSC) is a master catalog combining tens of thousands of visit-based source lists from the Hubble Legacy Archive. It provides a single row entry for each cross-matched astronomical object, with averaged values for magnitudes and other parameters. The catalog currently contains over 16 million entries and is maintained by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, last updated in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Statistical analysis of astronomical object properties based on averaged magnitude and parameter data.
• Cross-matching and identification of unique objects across multiple Hubble Space Telescope observations.
• Large-scale sky surveys and population studies leveraging the catalog's over 16 million entries.

Strengths

• Contains over 16 million entries, providing a large-scale resource for astronomical research.
• Integrates data from tens of thousands of individual Hubble Space Telescope observations.
• Provides averaged values for magnitudes and parameters, offering a consolidated view of each object.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown beyond the stated 16 million entries, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect observational bias inherent to Hubble Space Telescope's mission and targets.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Combined from tens of thousands of visit-based source lists in the Hubble Legacy Archive (HLA).

Time Range

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Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 20:11:49.514509; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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