China's Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) has unveiled its latest dataset, DR13, delivering over 30 million astronomical spectra to researchers worldwide. This release solidifies LAMOST's status as the world's most prolific provider of spectral data, offering unprecedented insights into the Milky Way and cosmic phenomena.
The dataset spans observations from October 2011 to June 2025, comprising 6,961 low-resolution and 3,404 medium-resolution observation patches. It includes 12.94 million stellar spectral parameters, enabling systematic studies of galaxy evolution, compact objects, and exoplanets. The National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC) confirmed LAMOST continues to lead globally in both data volume and research output.
Since its launch as China's first major astronomical infrastructure, LAMOST has supported 1,900 researchers from 278 institutions across multiple countries and regions. Collaborators from the US, Germany, Belgium, and Denmark have co-authored more than 2,200 high-impact papers, with foreign astronomers contributing to over 40% of recent publications.
This year marks 14 years of stable operation for LAMOST, which pioneered large-scale spectroscopic surveys. Its open-data policy has democratized access to cutting-edge astronomical resources, fostering breakthroughs in stellar physics and quasar research while strengthening international scientific partnerships.
