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Release of record astronomical data expands global scientific reach and consolidates Chinese telescope as a reference in spectroscopic mapping of the Universe, with millions of records allowing the investigation of stars, galaxies, and rare phenomena on an unprecedented scale.
In March 2026, China released 30.82 million spectra generated by LAMOST, the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope, consolidating the project as the largest spectroscopic survey ever made available by a single telescope.
With the identification DR13, the new release reinforces the observatory’s role in research on the Milky Way, stellar physics, compact objects, exoplanets, and quasars, significantly expanding the scope of studies based on large volumes of homogeneous data.
DR13 data expand global astronomical database
By gathering observations accumulated between October 2011 and June 2025, the latest package synthesizes more than a decade of continuous and consistent operation of the telescope, allowing large-scale comparative analyses based on standardized data.
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According to the LAMOST Operation and Development Center, linked to the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the release includes 13.47 million low-resolution spectra, 17.35 million medium-resolution spectra, and about 12.94 million stellar parameter records.
In practice, databases of this type enhance the ability to compare the light emitted by different celestial objects, allowing researchers to identify physical patterns, classify stars, and track fundamental properties with statistical precision far superior to that of smaller surveys.
As each spectrum functions as a unique physical signature, the collection facilitates the systematic study of stellar and galactic populations, offering a level of standardization that strengthens comparative analyses and reduces uncertainties associated with limited samples.
LAMOST structure allows large-scale observation
Crucial for this performance, the design of LAMOST combines significant optical aperture with a wide field of view, an essential feature for recording large quantities of targets in a single observational campaign.
According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the system has an effective aperture of up to 4.9 meters, a field of approximately 5 degrees, and the capacity to operate with 4,000 optical fibers, which can be simultaneously directed to thousands of distinct objects.
This technical arrangement solves a historical challenge of observational astronomy by integrating large light collection with broad sky coverage, accelerating the production of spectra and enabling systematic surveys on an industrial scale.
Thus, the fibers distributed across the focal surface allow for the simultaneous observation of stars, galaxies, and quasars, transforming the telescope into an infrastructure aimed at the massive cataloging of astronomical data.
Largest catalog of spectra ever published
Maintaining global leadership, the Chinese Academy of Sciences states that the total volume of spectra released by LAMOST remains the largest in the world, accompanied by one of the most extensive catalogs of stellar parameters currently available.
More than a numerical record, this homogeneous set of data enhances the ability to identify rare patterns, compare stellar populations, and reconstruct the structure of the galaxy with greater precision across different scales.
According to the official data from DR13, only the low-resolution spectra total 13,467,468 records, mostly of stars, in addition to hundreds of thousands of galaxies and over 100,000 cataloged quasars.
In the medium-resolution category, the total reaches 17,356,714 spectra, including both point observations and time series, which expands the potential for dynamic and evolutionary studies.
Impact on research about the Milky Way
Based on this collection, researchers have made progress in the systematic study of the structure and evolution of the Milky Way, exploring in greater depth the distribution and properties of different stellar populations.
Moreover, the data have been applied in investigations of peculiar stars, compact objects, companions of black holes, and planetary systems, expanding the scientific reach of the project beyond the immediate galactic environment.
The diversity of observed targets directly contributes to this impact, as the survey encompasses everything from common stars to galaxies and quasars, addressing multiple research fronts with a single observational infrastructure.
Among the derived products, catalogs focused on AFGK stars, M giants, dwarfs, subdwarfs, and white dwarfs stand out, as well as records related to cataclysmic variables and spectral properties of galaxies and quasars.
International use and growing scientific production
Over the years, the LAMOST database has transcended national borders and has been utilized by an increasingly broad and diverse international scientific community.
According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, more than 1,900 users linked to 278 institutions have already used the project’s data, resulting in over 2,200 published scientific articles in various areas of astronomy.
In parallel, the annual production based on this data exceeds 300 studies, indicating a continuous and growing utilization of the collection by research teams around the world.
Another relevant indicator is foreign participation, as more than 40% of recent works have been conducted by researchers from outside China, consolidating LAMOST as a global platform for scientific investigation.
Continuous operation ensures data consistency
Operational continuity over 14 years represents one of the pillars of the scientific relevance of the project, allowing the construction of comparable and consistent data series over time.
Classified as the first major national infrastructure of science and technology in astronomy in China, LAMOST has maintained stable operation since the beginning of the last decade, accumulating observations that favor long-term studies.
This continuous history strengthens analyses that depend on instrumental repetition and systematic follow-up, essential factors for understanding the evolution of astronomical objects and populations.
From the first public release in 2013 to the most recent versions, the volume of available spectra has progressively increased, reflecting the operational and technological expansion of the project.
Search for rare phenomena gains new scale
With tens of millions of records available, the capacity to identify rare phenomena that would remain diluted among limited and unrepresentative data in smaller surveys significantly increases.
In a context of large homogeneous databases, unusual signatures and unexpected variations become more detectable, expanding the potential for discovery in different areas of observational astronomy.
Thus, by combining large aperture, wide field, and thousands of optical fibers operating simultaneously, LAMOST consolidates an infrastructure capable of supporting research on the history of the Milky Way, stellar diversity, and identification of extragalactic sources on an unprecedented scale.
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