<p>The SDSS (Sloan Digital Sky Survey) ImgCutout webservice should return jpeg images for a given field that is defined by the parameters. The service can be tested here: <a href="http://skyservice.pha.jhu.edu/DR12/ImgCutout/ImgCutout.asmx?op=GetJpeg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://skyservice.pha.jhu.edu/DR12/ImgCutout/ImgCutout.asmx?op=GetJpeg</a></p>

<p>A simple (and working) get query is given here:
<a href="http://skyservice.pha.jhu.edu/DR12/ImgCutout/getjpeg.aspx?ra=132.749&amp;dec=11.656&amp;scale=0.79224%20%20%20&amp;width=400&amp;height=400&amp;opt=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://skyservice.pha.jhu.edu/DR12/ImgCutout/getjpeg.aspx?ra=132.749&amp;dec=11.656&amp;scale=0.79224%20%20%20&amp;width=400&amp;height=400&amp;opt=</a></p>

<p>If you enter the same information (the parameters) in the form of the first link and click on invoke you will get a black image only. You can test the base64 encoded result here: <a href="http://www.askapache.com/online-tools/base64-image-converter/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.askapache.com/online-tools/base64-image-converter/</a></p>

<p><strong>Description of how to reproduce my findings:</strong></p>

<ol>
<li>Go to <a href="http://skyservice.pha.jhu.edu/DR12/ImgCutout/ImgCutout.asmx?op=GetJpeg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://skyservice.pha.jhu.edu/DR12/ImgCutout/ImgCutout.asmx?op=GetJpeg</a></li>
<li>Fill parameter 'ra_' with '132.749'</li>
<li>Fill parameter 'dec_' with '11.656'</li>
<li>Fill parameter 'scale_' with '0.79224'</li>
<li>Fill parameter 'width_' with '400'</li>
<li>Fill parameter 'height_' with '400'</li>
<li>Press 'Invoke' button</li>
<li>Convert the content in the <code>&lt;base64Binary&gt;</code> tag from base64 to a jpeg</li>
</ol>

<p>Following this steps I always get a black image.</p>

<p><strong>Now the question:</strong></p>

<p>Do I require an additional parameter (non empty string) for either <code>imgtype_</code> or <code>imageField_</code> in order to not get the correct image? What are this parameters good for anyway?</p>

<p>(Is there a better place this question? It would be nice if there was a tag for SDSS)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-04T14:26:10.213Z
Well the image is not black when I try it ....
Mike W
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-05T12:54:43.677Z
I tried again and still get a black image. Did you follow the same steps as I now described in more detail (see my recent edit).
Sjoerd222888
<observational-astronomy><sky-survey>
SDSS ImgCutout webservice returns black image for dr12
Sjoerd222888
# SDSS ImgCutout webservice returns black image for dr12

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-02-14)

The SDSS (Sloan Digital Sky Survey) ImgCutout webservice should return jpeg images for a given field that is defined by the parameters. The service can be tested here: <http://skyservice.pha.jhu.edu/DR12/ImgCutout/ImgCutout.asmx?op=GetJpeg>

A simple (and working) get query is given here:
<http://skyservice.pha.jhu.edu/DR12/ImgCutout/getjpeg.aspx?ra=132.749&dec=11.656&scale=0.79224%20%20%20&width=400&height=400&opt=>

If you enter the same information (the parameters) in the form of the first link and click on invoke you will get a black image only. You can test the base64 encoded result here: <http://www.askapache.com/online-tools/base64-image-converter/>

**Description of how to reproduce my findings:**

1. Go to <http://skyservice.pha.jhu.edu/DR12/ImgCutout/ImgCutout.asmx?op=GetJpeg>
2. Fill parameter 'ra\_' with '132.749'
3. Fill parameter 'dec\_' with '11.656'
4. Fill parameter 'scale\_' with '0.79224'
5. Fill parameter 'width\_' with '400'
6. Fill parameter 'height\_' with '400'
7. Press 'Invoke' button
8. Convert the content in the `<base64Binary>` tag from base64 to a jpeg

Following this steps I always get a black image.

**Now the question:**

Do I require an additional parameter (non empty string) for either `imgtype_` or `imageField_` in order to not get the correct image? What are this parameters good for anyway?

(Is there a better place this question? It would be nice if there was a tag for SDSS)

**Tags:** observational-astronomy, sky-survey

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Well the image is not black when I try it ....  
> **username_0**: I tried again and still get a black image. Did you follow the same steps as I now described in more detail (see my recent edit).  

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## 0 answers

