The Eighteenth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys: Targeting and First Spectra from SDSS-V
Authors: Almeida Andrés , Anderson Scott F. , Argudo-Fernández Maria , Badenes Carles , Barger Kat , Barrera-Ballesteros Jorge K. , Bender Chad F. , Benitez Erika , Besser Felipe , Bird Jonathan C. , Bizyaev Dmitry , Blanton Michael R. , Bochanski John , Bovy Jo , Brandt William Nielsen , Brownstein Joel R. , Buchner Johannes , Bulbul Esra , Burchett Joseph N. , Díaz Mariana Cano , Carlberg Joleen K. , Casey Andrew R. , Chandra Vedant , Cherinka Brian , Chiappini Cristina , Coker Abigail A. , Comparat Johan , Conroy Charlie , Contardo Gabriella , Cortes Arlin , Covey Kevin , Crane Jeffrey D. , Cunha Katia , Dabbieri Collin , Davidson James W. , Davis Megan C. , de Andrade Queiroz Anna Barbara , De Lee Nathan , Méndez Delgado José Eduardo , Demasi Sebastian , Di Mille Francesco , Donor John , Dow Peter , Dwelly Tom , Eracleous Mike , Eriksen Jamey , Fan Xiaohui , Farr Emily , Frederick Sara , Fries Logan , Frinchaboy Peter , Gänsicke Boris T. , Ge Junqiang , González Ávila Consuelo , Grabowski Katie , Grier Catherine , Guiglion Guillaume , Gupta Pramod , Hall Patrick , Hawkins Keith , Hayes Christian R. , Hermes J. J. , Hernández-García Lorena , Hogg David W. , Holtzman Jon A. , Ibarra-Medel Hector Javier , Ji Alexander , Jofre Paula , Johnson Jennifer A. , Jones Amy M. , Kinemuchi Karen , Kluge Matthias , Koekemoer Anton , Kollmeier Juna A. , Kounkel Marina , Krishnarao Dhanesh , Krumpe Mirko , Lacerna Ivan , Lago Paulo Jakson Assuncao , Laporte Chervin , Liu Chao , Liu Ang , Liu Xin , Lopes Alexandre Roman , Macktoobian Matin , Majewski Steven R. , Malanushenko Viktor , Maoz Dan , Masseron Thomas , Masters Karen L. , Matijevic Gal , McBride Aidan , Medan Ilija , Merloni Andrea , Morrison Sean , Myers Natalie , Mészáros Szabolcs , Negrete C. Alenka , Nidever David L. , Nitschelm Christian , Oravetz Daniel , Oravetz Audrey , Pan Kaike , Peng Yingjie , Pinsonneault Marc H. , Pogge Rick , Qiu Dan , Ramirez Solange V. , Rix Hans-Walter , Rosso Daniela Fernández , Runnoe Jessie , Salvato Mara , Sanchez Sebastian F. , Santana Felipe A. , Saydjari Andrew , Sayres Conor , Schlaufman Kevin C. , Schneider Donald P. , Schwope Axel , Serna Javier , Shen Yue , Sobeck Jennifer , Song Ying-Yi , Souto Diogo , Spoo Taylor , Stassun Keivan G. , Steinmetz Matthias , Straumit Ilya , Stringfellow Guy , Sánchez-Gallego José , Taghizadeh-Popp Manuchehr , Tayar Jamie , Thakar Ani , Tissera Patricia B. , Tkachenko Andrew , Toledo Hector Hernandez , Trakhtenbrot Benny , Fernández-Trincado José G. , Troup Nicholas , Trump Jonathan R. , Tuttle Sarah , Ulloa Natalie , Vazquez-Mata Jose Antonio , Alfaro Pablo Vera , Villanova Sandro , Wachter Stefanie , Weijmans Anne-Marie , Wheeler Adam , Wilson John , Wojno Leigh , Wolf Julien , Xue Xiang-Xiang , Ybarra Jason E. , Zari Eleonora , Zasowski Gail 
Published: August 2023

The eighteenth data release (DR18) of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) is the first one for SDSS-V, the fifth generation of the survey. SDSS-V comprises three primary scientific programs or “Mappers”: the Milky Way Mapper (MWM), the Black Hole Mapper (BHM), and the Local Volume Mapper. This data release contains extensive targeting information for the two multiobject spectroscopy programs (MWM and BHM), including input catalogs and selection functions for their numerous scientific objectives. We describe the production of the targeting databases and their calibration and scientifically focused components. DR18 also includes ∼25,000 new SDSS spectra and supplemental information for X-ray sources identified by eROSITA in its eFEDS field. We present updates to some of the SDSS software pipelines and preview changes anticipated for DR19. We also describe three value-added catalogs (VACs) based on SDSS-IV data that have been published since DR17, and one VAC based on the SDSS-V data in the eFEDS field.