Kepler Input Catalog: Stellar Catalog for Target Selection

14 million objects down to 21st magnitude are listed in the Kepler Input Catalog (KIC), the primary source for the ground-based Kepler Spectral Classification Program. The catalog was created by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in preparation for selecting Kepler PI and GO targets, with light from only about one-third of the objects falling on the Kepler CCD detector. It was last updated on 2026-03 13.

Use Cases

• Selecting primary investigator and guest observer targets for the Kepler mission based on pre-flight stellar classifications.
• Analyzing the completeness and selection function of the Kepler field based on the catalog's stated magnitude limit.
• Identifying calibration objects distributed across the sky for instrument performance assessment.

Strengths

• Lists approximately 14 million stellar objects.
• Provides magnitude information down to 21st magnitude.
• Includes a small number of calibration objects distributed across the sky.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The catalog is not complete to its stated 21st magnitude limit.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Ground-based observations from the Kepler Spectral Classification Program.

Time Range

Preparation phase for the Kepler mission.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 19:30:53.859940; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Sky coverage of the Kepler field.