APOGEE: Gazing at the Inner Galaxy

The APO Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) will use high-resolution, high signal-to-noise infrared spectroscopy to penetrate the dust that obscures the inner Galaxy. APOGEE will survey 100,000 red giant stars across the full range of the Galactic bulge, bar, disk, and halo. Precise radial velocities and detailed chemical abundance "fingerprinting" will provide unprecedented insights into the dynamical structure and chemical history of the Galaxy.

The SEGUE-II and APOGEE datasets will play a central role in near-field cosmology tests of galaxy formation and the small-scale distribution of dark matter.

IR map of the whole Galaxy showing the plane and bulge of the Galaxy full of stars and dust. APOGEE will use new IR instrumentation to study stars within the disk and is less affected by the absorption due to dust.

APOGEE at a glance
Bright time observations
Spring 2011 - Spring 2014
100,000 giant stars to magnitude H=12.5
Resolution R~20,000, typical S/N=100
Wavelengths 1.52-1.69 μm
Velocity error 0.5 km/s

For a detailed description of APOGEE, see section 5 of the Project Description, available as a PDF document.