How to Search the SNDB
This website allows you to perform complex searches for data within the SNDB.
The Objects column searches against properties of the object itself,
while the Spectra and Photometry columns search against the properties of a each data file.
The checkboxes at the top of the page allow you to choose what type of data to search for.
Note that the SNDB is not case-sensitive.
Pre-defined Search Options
Many fields allow you to either choose from a set of pre-defined options or to enter your own text. The given options
cover most of the data in the SNDB, but not all, so if you cannot find a file using the pre-defined options try
making your search more general!
Numerical Fields
All of the numerical entry fields (except for the coordinate fields) allow you to enter logical comparison
operators (<,>), or a comma-separated range, or a single value. For example:
-
0.05 : matches only 0.05 exactly
-
< 0.05 : matches all values less than 0.05
-
> 0.05 : matches all values greater than 0.05
-
0.01, 0.05 : matches all values between 0.01 and 0.05
RegEx
If you select the RegEx box (where given) and enter a valid
regular expression
the SNDB will return all matches using the MySQL REGEXP operator.
Several parameters have the RegEx box marked by default - in these cases,
the SNDB field may contain more than one value, and using a regular expression match allows
you to search for fields that contain the search string but are not exact matches to the search string.
Some helpful RegEx examples:
-
1998S: matches 'sn1998s', 'SN1998S', 'SN 1998S', et cetera
-
2000[AMN]: matches 'SN 2000A', 'SN 2000M', 'SN 2000N', 'SN 2000ab', et cetera
-
V: matches 'V', 'B,V,R,I', et cetera
-
(R|clear): matches 'B,V,R,I', 'clear', 'V,I,clear', et cetera
Range
If you select the Range box (where given), you must enter a range of values
separated by a comma. For example, selecting Range by a Date entry box
and entering "2015-01-01, 2015-01-30" would match to all dates in between.
Coordinates
Coordinates can be entered in most reasonable formats, so long as Right Ascension is first
and Declination is second, and they are separated by a comma. If a search box size is not given,
the SNDB will search for sources within one arcminute of the given coordinates.
Some valid formats:
- 12:18:48.68, +14:24:43.5
- 12 18 48.68, +14 24 43.5
- 184.7, 14.4
Dates
Dates can be entered in most reasonable formats, so long as no commas are used except to
demarcate two different date strings when performing a Range search.
Some valid formats:
- 2010-01-21
- 2010/01/21
- 01/21/2010
- January 21 2010
- Jan 21 2010
Days From Discovery/Peak
You can search for spectra in the DB that were taken at a certain
phase relative to the date of discovery and/or peak. These are numerical
fields, so you can use the logical arguments described above.
Note that all SNe in our DB have a known discovery date, but only a small
subset have a known peak date - if you use the Days From Peak
constraint, only spectra of SNe with known peak dates will be returned.
Time dilation is accounted for when calculating the phase relative to
peak date.