{ "fetched_at": "2026-10-24T02:05:34Z", "source_url": "https://www.kaggle.com/competitions/PLAsTiCC-2018/data", "pages": [ { "name": "rules", "content": "### One account per participant\n\nYou cannot sign up to Kaggle from multiple accounts and therefore you cannot submit from multiple accounts.\n\n### No private sharing outside teams\n\nPrivately sharing code or data outside of teams is not permitted. It's okay to share code if made available to all participants on the forums.\n\n### Team Mergers\n\nTeam mergers are allowed and can be performed by the team leader. In order to merge, the combined team must have a total submission count less than or equal to the maximum allowed as of the merge date. The maximum allowed is the number of submissions per day multiplied by the number of days the competition has been running.\n\n### Team Limits\n\nThe maximum team size is 8.\n\n### Submission Limits\n\nYou may submit a maximum of 5 entries per day.\n\nYou may select up to 2 final submissions for judging.\n\n### Competition Timeline\n\nStart Date: September 28, 2018\n\nMerger Deadline: December 10, 2018\n\nEntry Deadline: December 10, 2018\n\nEnd Date: December 17, 2018 11:59 PM UTC\n\n### COMPETITION-SPECIFIC TERMS\n\n**COMPETITION TITLE** (the 'Competition'): PLAsTiCC Astronomical Classification\n\n**COMPETITION SPONSOR**: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto - PLAsTiCC is funded through LSST Corporation Grant Award # 2017-03 and administered by the University of Toronto\n\n**COMPETITION SPONSOR ADDRESS**: Innovations and Partnerships Office, Banting Institute, 100 College Street, Suite 413, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1L5\n\n**COMPETITION WEBSITE**: https://www.kaggle.com/c/PLAsTiCC-2018\n\n**PRIZES: $25,000**\n\nFirst Prize: $12,000\n\nSecond Prize: $8,000\n\nThird Prize: $5,000\n\n**WINNER LICENSE TYPE**: OPEN SOURCE LICENSE\n\nCompetitions are open to residents of the United States and worldwide, except if you are a resident of Crimea, Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Sudan, or are subject to U.S. export controls or sanctions, then you may not enter the Competition. Other local rules and regulations may apply to you, so please check your local laws to ensure that you are eligible to participate in skills-based competitions. \n\n**ENTRY IN THIS COMPETITION CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THESE OFFICIAL COMPETITION RULES.**\n\nThe Competition named above is a skills-based competition to promote and further the field of data science. You must register via the Competition Website to enter. Your competition submissions (\"Submissions\") must conform to the requirements stated on the Competition Website. Your Submissions will be scored based on the evaluation metric described on the Competition Website. Subject to compliance with the Competition Rules, Prizes described on the Competition Website, if any, will be awarded to participants with the best scores, based on the merits of the data science models submitted. See below for the complete Competition Rules.\n\n### A. SPECIFIC COMPETITION RULES\n\nIn addition to the provisions of the General Competition Rules below, you understand and agree to these Specific Competition Rules required by the Competition Sponsor:\n\n#### **WINNER LICENSE**\n\nUnder Section 10 (Winners Obligations) of the General Rules below, you will grant Competition Sponsor the following license(s) with respect to your Submission if you are a Competition winner:\n\n**Open Source:** You will license your winning Submission and the source code used to generate the Submission under an Open Source Initiative-approved license (see [www.opensource.org][1]) that in no event limits commercial use of such code or model containing or depending on such code.\n\n#### **EXTERNAL DATA**\n\nThe following provision supersedes General Rules Section 7.C. below: “You may use data, other than the Competition Data, as allowed on the Competition Website to develop and test your models and Submissions; provided, you have the right and authority to use such external data for the purposes of the Competition, and to share such data with Sponsor and Kaggle as may be required.\"\n\n#### **GOVERNING LAW**\n\nThe following provision supersedes Section 20 of the General Rules below: “All claims arising out of or relating to these Rules will be governed by New York law, excluding its conflict of laws rules, and will be litigated exclusively in the State courts of New York, New York, USA. The parties consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts. If any provision of these Rules is held to be invalid or unenforceable, all remaining provisions of the Rules will remain in full force and effect.\"\n\n### B. GENERAL COMPETITION RULES\n#### **1.\tBINDING AGREEMENT.** \n\nTo enter the Competition, you must agree to these Official Competition Rules, which incorporate by reference the provisions and content of the Competition Website and any Specific Competition Rules above (collectively, the \"Rules\"). Please read these Rules carefully before entry to ensure you understand and agree. You agree that submission of an entry in the Competition constitutes agreement to these Rules. You may not submit an entry to the Competition and are not eligible to receive the prizes described in these Rules unless you agree to these Rules. These Rules form a binding legal agreement between you and the Competition Sponsor with respect to the Competition.\n\n#### **2.\tELIGIBILITY.** \n\nA. To be eligible to enter the Competition, you must be:\n\n(i) a registered account holder at Kaggle.com; \n\n(ii) the Competition is open only to individuals who are at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in entrant’s jurisdiction of residence, whichever is older) at the time of entry. Minors may participate if a valid Parent/Guardian Consent Form is received. The participants legal guardian must enter the competition by accepting the competition rules,  the guardian must fill out the Authorization for Minors form, and submit to the form to Kaggle prior to the competition close; \n\n(iii) not a resident of Crimea, Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea, or Sudan; and\n\n(iv) not a person or representative of an entity under U.S. export controls or sanctions (see [https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Pages/Programs.aspx][3]).\n\nIf you are entering as a representative of a company, educational institution or other legal entity, or on behalf of your employer, these rules are binding on you, individually, and the entity you represent or are an employee. If you are acting within the scope of your employment, as an employee, contractor, or agent of another party, you warrant that such party has full knowledge of your actions and has consented thereto, including your potential receipt of a Prize. You further warrant that your actions do not violate your employer's or entity's policies and procedures. \n\nThe Competition Sponsor reserves the right to verify eligibility and to adjudicate on any dispute at any time. If you provide any false information relating to the Competition concerning your identity, residency, mailing address, telephone number, email address, ownership of right, or information required for entering the Competition, you may be immediately disqualified from the Competition.\n\nB. Unless otherwise set forth in the Specific Competition Rules above or prohibited by internal policies, members of the Competition Entities may enter and participate in the Competition, but are not eligible to win any Prizes. \"Competition Entities\" means the PLAsTiCC’s team, including model developers, data collaborators and validators, and employees of Kaggle Inc., and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries and affiliates. For clarity, associated members of the personnel of LSST are not subject to this rule. If you are such a participant from a Competition Entity, you are subject to all applicable internal policies of your employer with respect to your participation.\n\n#### **3.\tSPONSOR AND HOSTING PLATFORM.** \n\nThe Competition is sponsored by Competition Sponsor named above. The Competition is hosted on behalf of Competition Sponsor by Kaggle Inc. (\"Kaggle\"). Kaggle is an independent contractor of Competition Sponsor, is not a party to this or any agreement between you and Competition Sponsor. You understand that Kaggle has no responsibility with respect to selecting the potential Competition winner(s) or awarding any Prizes. Kaggle will perform certain administrative functions relating to hosting the Competition, and you agree to abide by the provisions relating to Kaggle under these Rules. As a Kaggle.com account holder and user of the Kaggle competition platform, remember you have accepted and are subject to the Kaggle Terms of Service at [www.kaggle.com/terms][2] in addition to these Rules.\n\n#### **4.\tCOMPETITION PERIOD.** \n\nThe Competition will run from the Start Date and time to the End Date and time, as stated on the Competition Website. The Competition Period and Submission deadlines are subject to change, and Competition Sponsor may introduce additional hurdle deadlines during the Competition. Any updated or additional deadlines will be publicized on the Competition Website. It is your responsibility to check the Competition Website regularly to stay informed of any deadline changes. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING THE CORRESPONDING TIME ZONE IN YOUR LOCATION. \n\n#### **5.\tCOMPETITION ENTRY.** \n\nNO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. To enter the Competition, you must register on the Competition Website during the Competition Period, and follow the instructions for developing and entering your Submission through the Competition Website. Your Submissions must be made in the manner and format, and in compliance with all other requirements, stated on the Competition Website (the \"Requirements\"). Submissions must be received before any Submission deadlines stated on the Competition Website.\n\nSubmissions may not use or incorporate information from hand labeling or human prediction of the validation dataset or test data records.\n\nIf the Competition is a multi-stage competition with temporally separate training data and/or leaderboard data, one or more valid Submissions **may be required** during each Competition stage in the manner described on the Competition Website in order for the Submissions to be Prize eligible.\n\nSubmissions are void if they are in whole or part illegible, incomplete, damaged, altered, counterfeit, obtained through fraud, or late. Competition Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entrant who makes a Submission that does not meet the Requirements. \n\n#### **6.\tINDIVIDUALS AND TEAMS.** \n\nA. Individual Account. You may make Submissions only under one, unique Kaggle.com account. You will be disqualified if you make Submissions through more than one Kaggle account, or attempt to falsify an account to act as your proxy. You may submit up to the maximum number of Submissions per day as specified on the Competition Website. \n\nB. Teams. If permitted under the Competition Website guidelines, multiple individuals may collaborate as a team (a \"Team\"); however, you may join or form only one Team. Each Team member must be a single individual with a separate Kaggle account. You must register individually for the Competition before joining a Team. You must confirm your Team membership to make it official by responding to the Team notification message sent to your Kaggle account. Team membership may not exceed the Maximum Team Size stated on the Competition Website.\n\nC. Team Merger. Teams may request to merge via the Competition Website. Team mergers may be allowed provided that: (i) the combined Team does not exceed the Maximum Team Size; (ii) the number of Submissions made by the merging Teams does not exceed the number of Submissions permissible for one Team at the date of the merger request; (iii) the merger is completed before the earlier of: any merger deadline or the Competition deadline; and (iv) the proposed combined Team otherwise meets all the requirements of these Rules. \n\n#### **7.\tCOMPETITION DATA.** \n\n\"Competition Data\" means the data or datasets available from the Competition Website for the purpose of use in the Competition, including any prototype or executable code provided on the Competition Website. \n\nA. Data Access and Use. Unless otherwise restricted under the Competition Specific Rules above, after your acceptance of these Rules, you may access and use the Competition Data for the purposes of the Competition, participation on Kaggle Website forums, academic research and education, and other non-commercial purposes.\n\nB. Data Security. You agree to use reasonable and suitable measures to prevent persons who have not formally agreed to these Rules from gaining access to the Competition Data. You agree not to transmit, duplicate, publish, redistribute or otherwise provide or make available the Data to any party not participating in the Competition. You agree to notify Kaggle immediately upon learning of any possible unauthorized transmission or unauthorized access of the Data and agree to work with Kaggle to rectify any unauthorized transmission. You agree that participation in the Competition will not be construed as having or being granted a license (expressly, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise) under, or any right of ownership in, any of the Data.\n\nC. External Data. Unless otherwise expressly stated on the Competition Website, you may not use data other than the Competition Data to develop and test your models and Submissions. Competition Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any Participant who Competition Sponsor discovers has undertaken or attempted to undertake the use of data other than the Competition Data, or who uses the Competition Data other than as permitted by the Competition Website and these Rules.\n\n\n#### **8.\tSUBMISSION CODE REQUIREMENTS.**\n\nA. Private Code Sharing. Unless otherwise specifically permitted under the Competition Website or Competition Specific Rules above, during the Competition, you are not allowed to privately share source or executable code developed in connection with or based upon the Competition Data. This prohibition includes code sharing between separate Teams, unless a Team merger occurs. Any such code sharing is a breach of these Competition Rules and may result in disqualification.\n\nB. Public Code Sharing. You are permitted to publicly share source or executable code developed in connection with or based upon the Competition Data, or otherwise relevant to the Competition, provided that such public sharing does not violate the intellectual property rights of any third party. Further, you are required to share via the Kaggle platform on the discussion forum or kernels associated specifically with the Competition for the benefit of all competitors. By so sharing, you are deemed to have licensed the shared code under any of the eligible Open Source licenses listed below.\n\nC. Use of Open Source. Unless otherwise stated in the Specific Competition Rules above, if Open Source code is used in the model to general the Submission, then you must only use Open Source code licensed under an Open Source Initiative-approved license (see [www.opensource.org][1]) that in no event limits commercial use of such code or model containing or depending on such code.\n\n\n\n#### **9.\tDETERMINING WINNERS:** \n\nEach Submission will be scored and ranked by the evaluation metric stated on the Competition Website. During the Competition, the current ranking will be visible on the Competition Website's leaderboard. The potential winner(s) are determined solely by the leaderboard ranking on the private leaderboard as stated on the Competition Website, subject to compliance with these Rules.\n\nIn the event of a tie, the Submission that was entered first to the Competition will be the winner. In the event a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, the Submission that received the next highest score rank will be chosen as the potential winner.\n\nKaggle will notify the potential winner(s) by email. If a potential winner does not respond to the notification attempt within five (5) days from the first notification attempt, then such potential winner will be disqualified and an alternate potential winner will be selected from among all eligible entries received based on the Competition’s judging criteria. \n\nThe winner's list will be publicly displayed at Kaggle.com. Determinations of Competition Sponsor are final and binding.\n\n#### **10.\tWINNERS OBLIGATIONS.**\n\nAs a condition to being awarded a Prize, a Prize winner must fulfill the following obligations:\n\n(a) deliver to the Competition Sponsor the final model's software code as used to generate the winning Submission and associated documentation. The delivered software code must be capable of generating the winning Submission and contain a description of resources required to build and/or run the executable code successfully;\n\n(b) grant to Competition Sponsor the license to the winning Submission as stated in the Competition Specific Rules above, and represent that you have the unrestricted right to grant that license; \n\n(c) sign and return all Prize acceptance documents as may be required by Competition Sponsor or Kaggle, including without limitation: (i) eligibility certifications; (ii) licenses, releases and other agreements required under the Rules; and (iii) U.S, tax forms (such as IRS Form W-9 if U.S. resident, IRS Form W-8BEN if foreign resident, or future equivalents).\n\n#### **11.\tPRIZES.** \n\nPrize(s) are as described on the Competition Website. Odds of winning any prize depends on the number of eligible Submissions received during the Competition Period and the skill of the entrants. \n\nAll Prizes are subject to Competition Sponsor's review and verification of the entrant's eligibility and compliance with these Rules, and the compliance of the winning Submissions with the Submissions Requirements. In the event that the Submission demonstrates non-compliance with these Competition Rules, Competition Sponsor may at its discretion take either of the following actions: (i) disqualify the Submission(s); or (ii) require the potential winner to remediate within one week after notice all issues identified in the Submission(s) (including, without limitation, the resolution of license conflicts, the fulfillment of all obligations required by software licenses, and the removal of any software that violates the software restrictions).\n\nA potential winner may decline to be nominated as a Competition winner by notifying Kaggle directly within 1 week after the end of the Competition Period, in which case the potential winner forgoes any prize or other features associated with winning the Competition. Kaggle reserves the right to disqualify a Participant who so declines its winner status.\n\nPotential winners must return all required documents within 15 days following notification, or such potential winner will be deemed to have forfeited the prize and another potential winner will be selected. Prize(s) will be awarded within approximately 30 days after receipt by Competition Sponsor of the required Prize acceptance documents. Transfer or assignment of a Prize is not allowed. \n\nYou are not eligible to receive any prize if you do not meet the Eligibility requirements in Section 2 above.\n\nIf a Team wins a monetary prize, the prize money will be allocated in even shares between the eligible Team members, unless the Team unanimously opts for a different prize split and notifies Kaggle before prizes are issued.\n\n#### **12.\tTAXES.** \n\nALL TAXES IMPOSED ON PRIZES ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNERS. Payments to potential winners are subject to the express requirement that they submit all documentation requested by Competition Sponsor or Kaggle for compliance with applicable state, federal, local and foreign (including provincial) tax reporting and withholding requirements. Prizes will be net of any taxes that Competition Sponsor is required by law to withhold. If a potential winner fails to provide any required documentation or comply with applicable laws, the Prize may be forfeited and Competition Sponsor may select an alternative potential winner. Any winners who are U.S. residents will receive an IRS 1099 form in the amount of their Prize.\n\n#### **13.\tGENERAL CONDITIONS.**  \n\nAll federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations apply. Competition Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entrant from the Competition if the Competition Sponsor reasonably believes that the entrant has attempted to undermine the legitimate operation of the Competition by cheating, deception, or other unfair playing practices or abuses, threatens or harasses any other entrants, Competition Sponsor or Kaggle. \n\n#### **14.\tPUBLICITY.**\n\nBy accepting a Prize, you agree that Competition Sponsor, Kaggle and its agencies may use of your name and likeness, for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law.\n\n#### **15.\tPRIVACY.**\n\nYou acknowledge and agree that Competition Sponsor and Kaggle may collect, store, share and otherwise use personally identifiable information provided during the registration process and the Competition, including but not limited to, name, mailing address, phone number, and email address. Kaggle will use this information in accordance with its Privacy Policy <[www.kaggle.com/privacy][4]>, including for administering the Competition. Your information may also be transferred to countries outside the country of your residence, including the United States. Such other countries may not have privacy laws and regulations similar to those of the country of your residence. As a Kaggle.com account holder, you have the right to request access, review, rectification or deletion of any personal data held by Kaggle by logging into your account.\n\n#### **16.\tWARRANTY, INDEMNITY AND RELEASE.** \n\nYou warrant that your Submission is your own original work and, as such, you are the sole and exclusive owner and rights holder of the Submission, and you have the right to make the Submission and grant all required licenses. You agree not to make any Submission that: (i) infringes any third party proprietary rights, intellectual property rights, industrial property rights, personal or moral rights or any other rights, including without limitation, copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, privacy, publicity or confidentiality obligations, or defames any person; or (ii) otherwise violates any applicable U.S. or foreign state or federal law.\n\nTo the maximum extent permitted by law, you indemnify and agree to keep indemnified Competition Entities at all times from and against any liability, claims, demands, losses, damages, costs and expenses resulting from any of your acts, defaults or omissions t and/or a breach of any warranty set forth herein. To the maximum extent permitted by law, you agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Competition Entities from and against any and all claims, actions, suits or proceedings, as well as any and all losses, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) arising out of or accruing from: (a) your Submission or other material uploaded or otherwise provided by you that infringes any third party proprietary rights, intellectual property rights, industrial property rights, personal or moral rights or any other rights, including without limitation, copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, privacy, publicity or confidentiality obligations, or defames any person; (b) any misrepresentation made by you in connection with the Competition; (c) any non-compliance by you with these Rules or any applicable U.S. or foreign state or federal law; (d) claims brought by persons or entities other than the parties to these Rules arising from or related to your involvement with the Competition; and (e) your acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any Prize, or your participation in the Competition and any Competition-related activity.\n\nYou hereby release Competition Entities from any liability associated with: (a) any malfunction or other problem with the Competition Website; (b) any error in the collection, processing, or retention of any Submission; or (c) any typographical or other error in the printing, offering or announcement of any Prize or winners.\n\n#### **17.\tINTERNET.** \n\nCompetition Entities are not responsible for any malfunction of the Competition Website or any late, lost, damaged, misdirected, incomplete, illegible, undeliverable, or destroyed Submissions or entry materials due to system errors, failed, incomplete or garbled computer or other telecommunication transmission malfunctions, hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, typographical or system/human errors and failures, technical malfunction(s) of any telephone network or lines, cable connections, satellite transmissions, servers or providers, or computer equipment, traffic congestion on the Internet or at the Competition Website, or any combination thereof, which may limit an entrant's ability to participate.\n\n#### **18.\tRIGHT TO CANCEL, MODIFY OR DISQUALIFY.**\n\nIf for any reason the Competition is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Competition, Competition Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Competition. Competition Sponsor further reserves the right to disqualify any entrant who tampers with the submission process or any other part of the Competition or Competition Website. Any attempt by an entrant to deliberately damage any web site, including the Competition Website, or undermine the legitimate operation of the Competition is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Competition Sponsor and Kaggle each reserves the right to seek damages from any such entrant to the fullest extent of the applicable law.\n\n#### **19.\tNOT AN OFFER OR CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT.**\n\nUnless otherwise specifically provided under the Competition Website, under no circumstances will the entry of a Submission, the awarding of a Prize, or anything in these Rules be construed as an offer or contract of employment with Competition Sponsor or any of the Competition Entities. You acknowledge that you have submitted your Submission voluntarily and not in confidence or in trust. You acknowledge that no confidential, fiduciary, agency or other relationship or implied-in-fact contract now exists between you and Competition Sponsor or any of the Competition Entities, and that no such relationship is established by your entry of your Submission.\n\n#### **20.\tGOVERNING LAW.** \n\nUnless otherwise provided in the Competition Specific Rules above, all claims arising out of or relating to these Rules will be governed by California law, excluding its conflict of laws rules, and will be litigated exclusively in the Federal or State courts of Santa Clara County, California, USA. The parties consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts. If any provision of these Rules is held to be invalid or unenforceable, all remaining provisions of the Rules will remain in full force and effect.\n\n\n[1]: http://www.opensource.org\n[2]: http://www.kaggle.com/terms\n[3]: https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Pages/Programs.aspx\n[4]: http://www.kaggle.com/privacy", "isPublished": false, "hasIsPublished": false, "postTitle": "", "hasPostTitle": false, "mimeType": "", "hasMimeType": false }, { "name": "data-description", "content": "### File Descriptions\n- `data_note`: Start here for a more extensive context than we can provide in this space. You'll get helpful background on both this dataset and the relevant astronomy. This is also available on [arxiv.org][1]. We've also posted kernels with additional [context about the relevant astronomy][2] and [the approaches astronomers have taken in the past][3].\n- `[training/test]_set_metadata`: Information about objects in the that doesn't change over time, like the coordinates of the object.\n- `[training/test]_set`: Time series of observations of the objects. Maps to the metadata via `object_id`.\n- `test_set_sample`: The first million rows of the test set.\n- `sample_submission`: A valid submission file. You can submit probabilities of precision float64, but we highly recommend sticking to float16 for your initial iterations to minimize upload time.\n\n### Metadata File Column Descriptions\n- `object_id`: unique object identifier. Int32\n- `ra`: right ascension, sky coordinate: co-longitude in degrees. Float32\n- `decl`: declination, sky coordinate: co-latitude in degrees. Float32\n- `gal_l`: galactic longitude in degrees. Float32\n- `gal_b`: galactic latitude in degrees. Float32\n- `ddf`: A flag to identify the object as coming from the DDF survey\narea (with value DDF = 1 for the DDF, DDF = 0 for the WFD survey). Note that while the DDF fields are\ncontained within the full WFD survey area, the DDF fluxes have significantly smaller\nuncertainties. Boolean\n- `hostgal_specz`: the spectroscopic redshift of the source. This is an extremely accurate\nmeasure of redshift, available for the training set and a small fraction of the\ntest set. Float32\n- `hostgal_photoz`: The photometric redshift of the host galaxy of the astronomical\nsource. While this is meant to be a proxy for hostgal_specz, there can be large\ndifferences between the two and should be regarded as a far less accurate version\nof hostgal_specz. Float32\n- `hostgal_photoz_err`: The uncertainty on the hostgal_photoz based on LSST survey\nprojections. Float32\n- `distmod`: The distance to the source calculated from hostgal_photoz\n and using general relativity. Float32\n- `mwebv`: MW E(B-V). this ‘extinction’ of light is a property of the Milky Way (MW)\ndust along the line of sight to the astronomical source, and is thus a function of\nthe sky coordinates of the source ra, decl. This is used to determine a passband\ndependent dimming and redenning of light from astronomical sources as described\nin subsection 2.1, and based on the [Schlafly et al. (2011)](http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011ApJ...737..103S) and [Schlegel et al. (1998)](http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1998ApJ...500..525S) dust models. Float32\n- `target`: The class of the astronomical source. This is provided in\nthe training data. Correctly determining the target (correctly assigning classification\nprobabilities to the objects) is the ‘goal’ of the classification challenge for the test\ndata. Note that there is one class in the test set that does not occur in the training set: `class_99`\nserves as an \"other\" class for objects that don't belong in any of the 14 classes in the training set. Int8\n\n### Data File Column Descriptions\n- `object_id`: Foreign key with the metadata. Int32\n- `mjd`: the time in Modified Julian Date (MJD) of the observation. Can be read as days since November 17, 1858. Can be converted to\nUnix epoch time with the formula `unix_time = (MJD−40587)×86400`. Float64\n- `passband`: The specific LSST passband integer, such that u, g, r, i, z, Y =\n0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in which it was viewed. Int8\n- `flux`: the measured flux (brightness) in the passband of observation as listed in the\npassband column. These values have already been corrected for dust extinction (mwebv), though heavily\nextincted objects will have larger uncertainties (`flux_err`) in spite of the correction. Float32\n- `flux_err`: the uncertainty on the measurement of the flux listed above. Float32\n- `detected`: If 1, the object's brightness is significantly different at the 3-sigma level relative to the reference template.\nOnly objects with at least 2 detections are included in the dataset. Boolean\n\n### Caveats\nA few caveats about the light-curve data are as follows:\n\n- Data gaps: Different passbands are taken at different times, sometimes many days\napart.\n- Galactic vs extragalactic: The given redshift for objects in our own galaxy is given\nas zero.\n- Negative Flux: Due to statistical fluctuations (of e.g. the sky brightness) and the\nway the brightness is estimated, the flux may be negative for dim sources, where\nthe true flux is close to zero. Second, if the pre-survey image actually contains a\nflux brighter than its true ‘zero’, this can lead to a negative flux when the difference is\ncomputed.\n\n\n [1]: https://arxiv.org/abs/1810.00001\n [2]: https://www.kaggle.com/michaelapers/the-plasticc-astronomy-starter-kit\n [3]: https://www.kaggle.com/michaelapers/the-plasticc-astronomy-classification-demo\n", "isPublished": false, "hasIsPublished": false, "postTitle": "", "hasPostTitle": false, "mimeType": "", "hasMimeType": false }, { "name": "Description", "content": "

\"LSST\"

\n

Help some of the world's leading astronomers grasp the deepest properties of the universe.

\n\n

The human eye has been the arbiter for the classification of astronomical sources in the night sky for hundreds of years. But a new facility -- the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) -- is about to revolutionize the field, discovering 10 to 100 times more astronomical sources that vary in the night sky than we've ever known. Some of these sources will be completely unprecedented!

\n\n

The Photometric LSST Astronomical Time-Series Classification Challenge (PLAsTiCC) asks Kagglers to help prepare to classify the data from this new survey. Competitors will classify astronomical sources that vary with time into different classes, scaling from a small training set to a very large test set of the type the LSST will discover.

\n\n

More background information is available here.

\n\n

Acknowledgements

\n

PLAsTiCC is funded through LSST Corporation Grant Award # 2017-03 and administered by the University of Toronto. Financial support for LSST comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF) through Cooperative Agreement No. 1258333, the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science under Contract No. DE-AC02-76SF00515, and private funding raised by the LSST Corporation. The NSF-funded LSST Project Office for construction was established as an operating center under management of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA). The DOE-funded effort to build the LSST camera is managed by the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC).

\n

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science. NSF supports basic research and people to create knowledge that transforms the future.

\n
\n\n

Photo Credit: M. Park/Inigo Films/LSST/AURA/NSF

\n\n\n [1]: https://arxiv.org/abs/1810.00001", "isPublished": false, "hasIsPublished": false, "postTitle": "", "hasPostTitle": false, "mimeType": "", "hasMimeType": false }, { "name": "Evaluation", "content": "

Submissions are evaluated using a weighted multi-class logarithmic loss. The overall effect is such that each class is roughly equally important for the final score.

\n\n\nEach object has been labeled with one type. For each object, you must submit a set of predicted probabilities (one for every category). The formula is then\n\n

$$\\text{Log Loss} = - \\left( \\frac{\\sum^{M}_{i=1} w_{i} \\cdot \\sum_{j=1}^{N_{i}} \\frac{y_{ij}}{N_{i}} \\cdot \\ln p_{ij} }{\\sum^{M}_{i=1} w_{i}} \\right)$$

\n\n\n

where N is the number of objects in the class set, M is the number of classes,  \\\\(ln\\\\) is the natural logarithm, \\\\(y_{ij}\\\\) is 1 if observation (i) belongs to class (j) and 0 otherwise, \\\\(p_{ij}\\\\) is the predicted probability that observation \\\\(i\\\\) belongs to class \\\\(j\\\\).

\n\n

The submitted probabilities for a given object are not required to sum to one because they are rescaled prior to being scored (each row is divided by the row sum). In order to avoid the extremes of the log function, predicted probabilities are replaced with \\\\(max(min(p,1-10^{-15}),10^{-15})\\\\).

\n\n## Submission File\nFor each object ID in the test set, you must predict a probability for each of the different possible classes. The file should contain a header and have the following format:\n\n\n object_id,class_6,class_15,class_16,class_42,class_52,class_53,class_62,class_64,class_65,class_67,class_88,class_90,class_92,class_95,class_99\n 13,0,0.1,0,0.1,0,0.3,0,0,0,0,0,0.5,0,0,0\n 14,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0\n 17,0.75,0.23,0,0,0.01,0,0,0,0,0.01,0,0,0,0,0\n etc.\n", "isPublished": false, "hasIsPublished": false, "postTitle": "", "hasPostTitle": false, "mimeType": "", "hasMimeType": false }, { "name": "Prizes", "content": "

Cash Prizes

\n

Participants with the best score on the private leaderboard are eligible to receive:

\n\n

Additional Opportunities

\n

Thank you for joining our efforts! If you felt that you made innovative contributions in this competition we want to invite you to submit your work to present at an upcoming Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) workshop. Any participant, not necessarily with the highest score, is welcome to submit model (code) and documentation to a panel with international experts in astronomical transients and machine learning. The panel will select the contribution submissions with the most original approach with respect to traditional astronomical strategy. We will provide a limited budget for travel to the workshop to share your experience with our community. An entry form for those of you interested in this phase will be posted in a discussion thread before the end of the competition.

\n

Selected entrants can attend one of the upcoming LSST workshops:

\n", "isPublished": false, "hasIsPublished": false, "postTitle": "", "hasPostTitle": false, "mimeType": "", "hasMimeType": false }, { "name": "Timeline ", "content": "* **December 10, 2018** - Entry deadline. You must accept the competition rules before this date in order to compete.\n\n* **December 10, 2018** - Team Merger deadline. This is the last day participants may join or merge teams.\n\n* **December 17, 2018** - Final submission deadline.\n\n* **January 15, 2019** - LSST Workshop entry deadline.\n\n* **February 15, 2019** - LSST Workshop announcement.\n\nAll deadlines are at 11:59 PM UTC on the corresponding day unless otherwise noted. The competition organizers reserve the right to update the contest timeline if they deem it necessary.", "isPublished": false, "hasIsPublished": false, "postTitle": "", "hasPostTitle": false, "mimeType": "", "hasMimeType": false }, { "name": "PLAsTiCC's Team", "content": "We are happy to acknowledge here the people who contributed to the development of PLAsTiCC.\n
\n
\n
\n**PLAsTiCC team:**\n
\n
\n
\nTarek Allam Jr.* (University College of London, UK)
\nAnita Bahmanyar (University of Toronto, Canada)
\nRahul Biswas (Stockolm University, Sweden)
\nMi Dai (Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, USA)
\nLluís Galbany (University of Pittsburgh, USA)
\nRenée Hložek (Univeristy of Toronto, Canada)
\nEmille E. O. Ishida (CNRS/Universite Clermont Auvergne, France)
\nSaurabh W. Jha (Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, USA)
\nDavid O. Jones (University of California Santa Cruz, USA)
\nMichelle Lochner* (African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, South Africa)
\nAshish A. Mahabal (California Institute of Technology, USA)
\nAlex I. Malz* (New York University, USA)
\nKaisey S. Mandel (Cambridge University, UK)
\nJuan Rafael Martínez-Galarza (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, USA)
\nJason D. McEwen (University College of London, UK)
\nDaniel Muthukrishna (Kavli Institute for Cosmology, UK)
\nGautham Narayan (Space Telescope Science Institute, USA)
\nHiranya Peiris* (Stockolm University, Sweden)
\nChristina M. Peters (University of Toronto, Canada)
\nKara Ponder (University of California Berkeley, USA)
\nChristian N. Setzer* (Stockolm University, Sweden)
\n
\n
\n
\n*These researchers are part of the PLAsTiCC team focusing on metric selection and competition\ndesign, they did not have a role in producing, seeing, nor validating the data, and as\nsuch are allowed to compete in the challenge fully.
\n
\n
\n
\n**Modelers:**\n
\n
\n
\nIn addition, the PLAsTiCC data set generation relied on numerous members of the astronomical community who provided models of astronomical transients and variables. While we cannot\nthank them by name at this point, we acknowledge here their anonymous contributions - which will be disclosed once the competition is over. \n", "isPublished": false, "hasIsPublished": false, "postTitle": "", "hasPostTitle": false, "mimeType": "", "hasMimeType": false } ] }