Target Selection for the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE)
G. Zasowski, Jennifer A. Johnson, P. M. Frinchaboy, S. R. Majewski, D., L. Nidever, H. J. Rocha Pinto, L. Girardi, B. Andrews, S. D. Chojnowski, K., M. Cudworth, K. Jackson, J. Munn, M. F. Skrutskie, R. L. Beaton, C. H. Blake,, K. Covey, R. Deshpande, C. Epstein, D. Fabbian

TL;DR
This paper details the targeting strategy and sample selection process of the APOGEE survey, which aims to study the Milky Way's structure and evolution through high-resolution infrared spectroscopy of about 100,000 red giant stars.
Contribution
It provides a comprehensive description of APOGEE's target selection methodology, target classes, and evaluation of sampling algorithms, aiding future data analysis.
Findings
Primary sample of ~100,000 red giants selected with minimal bias.
Evaluation of selection accuracy, efficiency, and caveats.
Documentation of additional target classes and data for public release.
Abstract
The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) is a high-resolution infrared spectroscopic survey spanning all Galactic environments (i.e., bulge, disk, and halo), with the principal goal of constraining dynamical and chemical evolution models of the Milky Way. APOGEE takes advantage of the reduced effects of extinction at infrared wavelengths to observe the inner Galaxy and bulge at an unprecedented level of detail. The survey's broad spatial and wavelength coverage enables users of APOGEE data to address numerous Galactic structure and stellar populations issues. In this paper we describe the APOGEE targeting scheme and document its various target classes to provide the necessary background and reference information to analyze samples of APOGEE data with awareness of the imposed selection criteria and resulting sample properties. APOGEE's primary sample consists…
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