Kepler Target Search: Merged Stellar Catalog for Exoplanet Observation

The Kepler Target Search interface provides access to a 12.5 million row table created by the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST). It merges entries from the Kepler Input Catalog with the Kepler Characteristics table and associated data from multiple ground-based surveys. This dataset is intended for guest observers to locate potential targets for the Kepler space telescope.

Use Cases

• Identifying potential exoplanet host stars based on merged stellar parameters.
• Searching for targets within the Kepler field of view based on magnitude and color criteria.
• Cross-referencing stellar data from multiple survey sources for candidate validation.

Strengths

• Contains 12.5 million rows of merged stellar data.
• Integrates data from multiple authoritative catalogs and surveys, including UKIRT, USNOb, GALEX, KIS, and KPNO.
• Designed as the recommended interface for Kepler guest observer target selection.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is known, but specific data formats (BIN) may require specialized tools for access.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.

Provenance

Source

Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST), National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Created by joining the Kepler Input Catalog with the Kepler Characteristics table and merging with associated entries from other surveys.

Time Range

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Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 19:16:12.525387; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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