Skiff Spectral Catalog: 450,000 Stellar Spectral Classifications

A modified version of the Skiff Spectral catalog, containing roughly 450,000 stellar targets. The table includes standard spectral classifications and their encoded values as defined in an IVOA note. The catalog is provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and was last updated in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Training machine learning models for automated stellar spectral classification based on encoded spectral types.
• Cross-referencing and enriching other astronomical catalogs with standardized spectral classifications.
• Conducting statistical analyses of stellar populations based on the large sample of roughly 450,000 targets.

Strengths

• Contains roughly 450,000 stellar targets, providing a substantial sample size.
• Uses a standardized encoding system for spectral classes as described in an IVOA note.
• Excludes transient objects like novae and supernovae, focusing on stable stellar classifications.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is an approximate figure ('roughly 450,000'), which may limit precise suitability assessment.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Modified version of the full catalog available from VizieR.

Time Range

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Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 18:18:35.202150; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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