SPACE FLUFF

Where are the images from?

The images you will classify come from the Fornax Deep Survey (FDS), a deep multi-band survey of the Fornax Cluster.

FDS is a joint project based on the GTO survey FOrnax Cluster Ultra deep Survey (FOCUS, P.I. R. Peletier) and VEGAS (P.I. E. Iodice)

Observations, in the u, g, r and i bands, started on November 2013 and were completed in 2017.

To know more about the survey:

The Fornax Deep Survey (FDS) with the VST

Why this dataset?

Studying faint objects in a cluster allows for better distance measurements, since we know the objects must be in the cluster's volume. Fornax is one of the closest to us, and is therefore 'easier' to study. Moreover, it has some interesting properties.

Lastly, the number of objects is ideal to study the citizen science's classification and prepare us for future projects with bigger surveys, such as KIDS, that it would be difficult to control with no previous experience. These objects are not easy to classify!

What is SUNDIAL?

SUNDIAL (SUrvey Network for Deep Imaging Analysis & Learning) is an ambitious interdisciplinary network of nine research groups in The Netherlands, Germany, Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium and Italy. The aim of the network is to develop novel algorithms to study the very large databases coming from current-day telescopes to better understand galaxy formation and evolution, and to prepare for the huge missions of the next decade.

To know more about SUNDIAL, visit the blog or follow us on twitter(@SundialItn)

There in nothing in the middle of the image: is this normal?

Sadly, yes. Our algorithms struggle to see these very faint objects, which means we want them to be very sensitive to anything that could possibly be one of them. This means they sometimes see things that are not there, and believe that there is a galaxy where maybe there is just a trick of the light, or nothing at all.

This is why we need all of you to help us! Click on 'something else', specify what the problem is, and go to the next image!

I keep having images that look like clusters: is it normal?

Clusters are the main problem with this set: you might get a lot of them is you are unlucky! It is however still very useful to us that you classify them as such. This will help us take them out from future surveys!

I see a cool feature, how do I tell you about it in a helpful way?

Some galaxies have features we expect to be rare or did not expect at all when starting the project. We have since introduced some tags you can use in 'talk' section to label those. These are listed on the right side of the 'talk' page, and you should use them in your comments if they apply. If the feature is not listed in the tags, you can write what you see, and we will introduce the tag.

Why are the images so ugly?

They are just shy, don't be mean! These objects are very faint and as a consequence it is difficult to render them in a pleasing way. Moreover, they have less fun shapes and features because they have been battered by other bigger galaxies all of their life.

My question is not answered here: who can I contact?

Consider talking about it in the Zooniverse board! Sometimes other volunteers can help better than we can. That's the cool thing about citizen science: the citizens!

Otherwise, you can contact space-fluff@astro.rug.nl for general questions about the project, Reynier Peletier at peletier@astro.rug.nl for questions about the science, Anna Lanteri at lanteri@astro.rug.nl for questions about the creation of the project.

You can also contact us on twitter at @fluff_space, and follow us for news about the project and much more!