# Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey (DECaLS)

We are conducting a public optical imaging survey to complement the vast spectroscopic database of ~2.5 million extragalactic targets created by the SDSS, SDSS-II and SDSS-III/BOSS surveys and the start of the SDSS-IV/eBOSS survey. Using DECam, we will image 6700 deg² of the SDSS/BOSS extragalactic footprint that lies in the region -20° < δ < +30° to depths of $g=24.7$, $r=23.9$, and $z=23.0$ AB mag (5σ point-source). The goal is to create a high quality multicolor imaging dataset that will be significantly deeper and have better image quality than SDSS or Pan-STARRS. Our survey will enable transformational studies of the dark and baryonic matter distribution in galaxy halos, focusing on the key issues of feedback and halo growth in the evolution of galaxies and AGN. The data will also be useful for studies of the halo and satellites of the Milky Way. In addition to providing a legacy dataset that will greatly enhance the value of the existing SDSS spectroscopy, our proposed survey will enable target selection within this footprint for the future Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument survey, which aims to provide spectra of additional tens of millions of galaxies and QSOs. Given its present and future scientific uses, this survey will be among the highest impact projects in the NOAO Survey Program.

Proposal information for 2013A-0741 and 2014B-0404: http://www.noao.edu/perl/abstract?2013A-0741 , http://www.noao.edu/perl/abstract?2014B-0404

Full text of proposal: http://legacysurvey.org/files/LargeSurvey.pdf

DECam Legacy Survey Principles: https://desi.lbl.gov/trac/wiki/PublicPages/DecamLegacy/Principles