Mapping the Milky Way: Constructing a Comprehensive Catalog of RR Lyrae Radial Velocities

RR Lyrae (RRL) stars, known for their intrinsic variability, serve as critical tools for measuring distances in the farthest regions of the Milky Way's Stellar Halo. However, accurately determining their radial velocities (rvs) remains a challenge. Our research aims to address this using data from both the Sloan Digital Sky Survey V (SDSSV) and the Gaia Space Telescope. With over 50,000 RRL star spectra from SDSSV and complementary phase-space data from Gaia, we are constructing the most extensive and precise catalog of RRL rvs to date. This catalog, developed by a team of undergraduate researchers under faculty guidance, will provide an invaluable resource for understanding Galactic dynamics, including the search for undiscovered stellar streams and aiding in the estimation of the Milky Way's mass and structure. By making this data openly accessible, we aim to significantly advance the study of our Galaxy’s evolution and characteristics up to distances of 30 kpc.