The Target-selection Pipeline for the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument

Understand

In 2021 May, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) began a 5 yr survey of approximately 50 million total extragalactic and Galactic targets.

• The primary DESI dark-time targets are emission line galaxies (ELGs), luminous red galaxies (LRGs) and quasars (QSOs).
• In bright time, DESI will focus on two surveys known as the Bright Galaxy Survey (BGS) and the Milky Way Survey (MWS).
• DESI also observes a selection of "secondary" targets for bespoke science goals.