Getting Started with MaNGA

The two main catalogs with observational metadata and global galaxy properties for MaNGA are the DRPall file and the Targeting Catalog file. You can directly access the fits files containing these catalogs via the SAS or you can use the CAS to run SQL queries; see the tutorials here for SQL and here for how to use the DRPall file.

If you're interested in whether or not your galaxy of interest has been observed by MaNGA, you can cross reference the galaxy's coordinates with the DRPall file, find more details here. Please consult the description of the DRPall file here. You can also use the DRPall catalog to select a galaxy sample based on global properties from the NASA-Sloan Atlas, find more details here.

Note: In these catalogs, each galaxy has a unique MaNGA-ID, but a galaxy may have multiple PLATE-IFUDESIGN designations if it has been observed multiple times. Please be cognizant of repeat observations when searching these catalogs.

The vast majority of users will want to download the final products of the Data Reduction Pipeline (DRP), either the datacube or RSS files. These are the final products of the 3d stage of the DRP as described by the data model, and a full description of how to download these files is provided in the Data Access page.

There are four main output files per PLATE-IFUDESIGN identification of a MaNGA observation: row-stacked spectra (RSS) and datacubes (CUBE) files that are sampled either linearly (LIN) or log-linearly (LOG) in wavelength. The specific file that you should use for your project (LINRSS, LOGRSS, LINCUBE, or LOGCUBE) depends on your application and the format that may be required by any existing analysis software that you want to use. Some discussion to keep in mind when choosing which files to download is provided here. Note that the MaNGA DAP only analyzes the log-linearly binned data cubes (LOGCUBE files).

In addition to science-ready spectral data cubes, we provide the results of our Data Analysis Pipeline (DAP). The DAP currently only analyzes the LOGCUBE files produced by the DRP, not the RSS files. The DAP output is provided in the form of mapped values and model spectra, as described the data model, and a full description of how to download these files is provided in the Data Access page.

The Data Analysis Pipeline (DAP) analyzes the data in multiple ways. The specific method used for a given output file is specified by the DAPTYPE. The data model briefly describes the analysis methods provided for each available DAPTYPE. For DR17, we generally recommend using either HYB10-MILESHC-MASTARSSP or HYB10-MILESHC-MASTARHC2; see the description of the "hybrid" binning here.

There are specific procedural issues that you should keep in mind when working with the MaNGA data. Some of these will persist through the end of the survey (i.e., how to use the covariance matrices), whereas others may have changed during ongoing development of the DRP and DAP. We highlight specific issues in our discussion of working with MaNGA data, and the tutorials provide many working examples of accessing and visualizing MaNGA data.

Value Added Catalogs, or VACs, are data products contributed by SDSS-IV team members, based on SDSS-IV data. The MaNGA team has several of these catalogs now publicly available, listed here.

We want you to use the MaNGA data for your science! If you have questions, we maintain a list of frequently asked questions, which may contain the answer.

If you are unable to find answers to your questions on that page or by consulting the tutorials, please email us at the SDSS helpdesk, and your question will be directed to an expert that can help you.

An comprehensive list of terminology used by SDSS can be found in the Survey Glossary. If you're unsure about the meaning of anything you see in the MaNGA documentation, please check the glossary. We've collected of few of the primary terms here as a quick reference guide:

CAS

The Catalog Archive Server is a searchable database that contains the measured parameters from all objects in the imaging survey and the spectroscopic survey. For MaNGA, the CAS provides search utilities for the DRPall and targeting catalogs.

DAP

The MaNGA data analysis pipeline, the software package that processes the reduced data products provided by the MaNGA DRP to produce stellar and ionized-gas kinematics, nebular emission-line fluxes and equivalent widths, and a variety of spectral indices that characterize the galaxy continuum. The paper describing the DAP is listed among our technical papers here and briefly summarized here.

DAPall

The summary file created by the DAP that contains metadata (global information) from the MaNGA DAP, as well as useful global properties for each analyzed galaxy derived from the output maps files. See the description of the MaNGA Catalogs for a description of the DAPall file.

DAP Map

A short-hand for an image created by mapping an analysis quantity to the on-sky location of the spaxel from which it was derived.

Datacube

A three-dimensional data array containing calibrated MaNGA imaging spectra for a single galaxy. The array consists of two spatial dimensions and a wavelength dimension encoding the spectrum at each point in the galaxy.

DRP

The MaNGA data reduction pipeline, the software package that processes the raw MaNGA data into spectrophotometrically calibrated spectra, including a wavelength-dependent astrometric solution, in both datacube and RSS formats. The paper describing the DRP is listed among our technical papers here and briefly summarized here.

DRPall

The summary file created by the DRP that contains metadata (global information) for all the MaNGA observations. This includes information for both galaxy and non-galaxy observations. For the galaxy observations, it includes salient global properties largely drawn from the NASA-Sloan Atlas.

Integral-Field Unit (IFU)

An assembly consisting of multiple optical fibers designed to collect spectra for a spatially extended object like a galaxy. Please see further description of the MaNGA instrument in the technical papers listed here, which is briefly summarized here. A general description of IFU spectroscopy is here.

IFU Design (ifudesign)

A number that specifies the integral field unit (IFU) used to observe a given galaxy. For instance, 12703 represents the third 127-fiber IFU on a given cartridge.

MaNGA-ID

A unique identifier given to each galaxy observed by MaNGA, including the MaNGA ancillary programs. Any galaxy with a MaNGA-ID starting with '1-' has an entry in the NASA-Sloan Atlas.

Marvin

Marvin is a tool designed for overcoming the challenge of searching, accessing, and visualizing the MaNGA data. It consists of three components: a Web App, a Python package of Tools, and an API. Marvin combines these components to provide a seamless experience when using MaNGA Data.

NASA-Sloan Atlas (NSA)

The catalog of galaxy parameters, constructed from SDSS and GALEX observations, which was used for MaNGA target selection.

PLATE-IFUDESIGN

A unique identifier for a complete set of MaNGA observations for a given IFU with an IFU design on each plate. This is the most convenient identifier for finding a specific galaxy observation because it is included in the name of the fits file. Note: Each galaxy has a unique MaNGA-ID, but a galaxy may have multiple PLATE-IFUDESIGN designations if it has been observed multiple times.

Row-stacked spectra (RSS)

A two-dimensional data array containing the calibrated spectra measured by individual MaNGA IFU fibers. The array consists of one dimension separating the observed fibers and one dimension separating the observed wavelength channels. Please see further description of the MaNGA data reduction pipeline in the list of technical papers listed here, which is briefly summarized here.

SAS

The Science Archive Server (found here), which serves the flat-files for SDSS.

Spaxel (spectral pixel)

A spatial element of the MaNGA datacube.

Spectrograph

The instrument used to obtain spectra of objects. MaNGA feeds into the two BOSS spectrographs. Please see further description of the MaNGA instrument in the technical papers listed here, which is briefly summarized here.

VAC

Value Added Catalogs, listed here, are data products contributed by SDSS-IV team members, based on SDSS data.