diff --git a/.copier-answers.yml b/.copier-answers.yml
index e7a8798b..88e04b91 100644
--- a/.copier-answers.yml
+++ b/.copier-answers.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ project_license: BSD
 project_name: hats
 project_organization: astronomy-commons
 python_versions:
-- '3.10'
 - '3.11'
 - '3.12'
 - '3.13'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/asv-main.yml b/.github/workflows/asv-main.yml
index 34b3ced7..957e6322 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/asv-main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/asv-main.yml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ on:
     branches: [ main ]
 
 env:
-  PYTHON_VERSION: "3.11"
+  PYTHON_VERSION: "3.12"
   ASV_VERSION: "0.6.5"
   WORKING_DIR: ${{github.workspace}}/benchmarks
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/asv-nightly.yml b/.github/workflows/asv-nightly.yml
index d0dbf4ce..00b89972 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/asv-nightly.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/asv-nightly.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch:
   
 env:
-  PYTHON_VERSION: "3.11"
+  PYTHON_VERSION: "3.12"
   ASV_VERSION: "0.6.5"
   WORKING_DIR: ${{github.workspace}}/benchmarks
   NIGHTLY_HASH_FILE: nightly-hash
diff --git a/.github/workflows/asv-pr.yml b/.github/workflows/asv-pr.yml
index e52157fd..23acf458 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/asv-pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/asv-pr.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ concurrency:
   cancel-in-progress: true
 
 env:
-  PYTHON_VERSION: "3.11"
+  PYTHON_VERSION: "3.12"
   ASV_VERSION: "0.6.5"
   WORKING_DIR: ${{github.workspace}}/benchmarks
   ARTIFACTS_DIR: ${{github.workspace}}/artifacts
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pre-commit-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/pre-commit-ci.yml
index c718066f..a8c85bf6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pre-commit-ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pre-commit-ci.yml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: Set up Python
       uses: actions/setup-python@v6
       with:
-        python-version: '3.11'
+        python-version: '3.12'
     - name: Install uv
       uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v7
     - name: Install dependencies
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-to-pypi.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-to-pypi.yml
index 6146a752..7262e296 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-to-pypi.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-to-pypi.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: Set up Python
       uses: actions/setup-python@v6
       with:
-        python-version: '3.11'
+        python-version: '3.12'
     - name: Install dependencies
       run: |
         python -m pip install --upgrade pip
diff --git a/.github/workflows/smoke-test.yml b/.github/workflows/smoke-test.yml
index 63c161e8..bfa56170 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/smoke-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/smoke-test.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        python-version: ['3.10', '3.11', '3.12', '3.13']
+        python-version: ['3.11', '3.12', '3.13']
 
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v5
diff --git a/.github/workflows/testing-and-coverage.yml b/.github/workflows/testing-and-coverage.yml
index 2c18f6a8..72bfde78 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/testing-and-coverage.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/testing-and-coverage.yml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        python-version: ['3.10', '3.11', '3.12', '3.13']
+        python-version: ['3.11', '3.12', '3.13']
 
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v5
@@ -43,10 +43,10 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v5
-    - name: Set up Python 3.10
+    - name: Set up Python 3.11
       uses: actions/setup-python@v6
       with:
-        python-version: '3.10'
+        python-version: '3.11'
     - name: Install dependencies
       run: |
         sudo apt-get update
diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index 9e6a5486..351e9541 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ repos:
         # supported by your project here, or alternatively use
         # pre-commit's default_language_version, see
         # https://pre-commit.com/#top_level-default_language_version
-        language_version: python3.11
+        language_version: python3.12
     # Make sure Sphinx can build the documentation while explicitly omitting 
     # notebooks from the docs, so users don't have to wait through the execution 
     # of each notebook or each commit. By default, these will be checked in the 
diff --git a/.readthedocs.yml b/.readthedocs.yml
index e83928da..578fd870 100644
--- a/.readthedocs.yml
+++ b/.readthedocs.yml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ version: 2
 build:
   os: ubuntu-22.04
   tools:
-    python: "3.11"
+    python: "3.12"
 
 # Build documentation in the docs/ directory with Sphinx
 sphinx:
diff --git a/benchmarks/asv.conf.json b/benchmarks/asv.conf.json
index 55ab772f..31572c88 100644
--- a/benchmarks/asv.conf.json
+++ b/benchmarks/asv.conf.json
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
     // The Pythons you'd like to test against. If not provided, defaults
     // to the current version of Python used to run `asv`.
     "pythons": [
-        "3.11"
+        "3.12"
     ],
     // The matrix of dependencies to test. Each key is the name of a
     // package (in PyPI) and the values are version numbers.  An empty
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 0664cacf..bd9b3b17 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@ classifiers = [
     "Programming Language :: Python",
 ]
 dynamic = ["version"]
-requires-python = ">=3.10"
+requires-python = ">=3.11"
 dependencies = [
     "aiohttp>=3.8.0", # http filesystem support
-    "astropy>=6.1.5",
+    "astropy>=7.0.0",
     "cdshealpix>=0.7.0",
     "fsspec>=2023.10.0", # Used for abstract filesystems
     "jproperties>=2.0.0",
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ omit=["src/hats/_version.py"]
 
 [tool.black]
 line-length = 110
-target-version = ["py310"]
+target-version = ["py311"]
 [tool.isort]
 profile = "black"
 line_length = 110
diff --git a/src/.pylintrc b/src/.pylintrc
index ef8deb6d..38327354 100644
--- a/src/.pylintrc
+++ b/src/.pylintrc
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ persistent=yes
 
 # Minimum Python version to use for version dependent checks. Will default to
 # the version used to run pylint.
-py-version=3.10
+py-version=3.11
 
 # Discover python modules and packages in the file system subtree.
 recursive=no
diff --git a/src/hats/io/parquet_metadata.py b/src/hats/io/parquet_metadata.py
index d8d7cbce..37b12a5d 100644
--- a/src/hats/io/parquet_metadata.py
+++ b/src/hats/io/parquet_metadata.py
@@ -2,14 +2,17 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import io
 import random
 from pathlib import Path
 
+import nested_pandas as npd
 import numpy as np
 import pandas as pd
 import pyarrow as pa
-import pyarrow.dataset as pds
 import pyarrow.parquet as pq
+from astropy.io.votable.tree import FieldRef, Group, Param, VOTableFile
+from astropy.table import Table
 from upath import UPath
 
 from hats.io import file_io, paths
@@ -130,29 +133,6 @@ def write_parquet_metadata(
     return total_rows
 
 
-def read_row_group_fragments(metadata_file: str):
-    """Generator for metadata fragment row groups in a parquet metadata file.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    metadata_file : str
-        path to `_metadata` file.
-
-    Yields
-    ------
-    RowGroupFragment
-        metadata for individual row groups
-    """
-    metadata_file = get_upath(metadata_file)
-    if not file_io.is_regular_file(metadata_file):
-        metadata_file = paths.get_parquet_metadata_pointer(metadata_file)
-
-    dataset = pds.parquet_dataset(metadata_file, filesystem=metadata_file.fs)
-
-    for frag in dataset.get_fragments():
-        yield from frag.row_groups
-
-
 def _nonemin(value1, value2):
     """Similar to numpy's nanmin, but excludes `None` values.
 
@@ -489,3 +469,204 @@ def per_pixel_statistics(
             {stat_name: int for stat_name in int_col_names}
         )
     return frame
+
+
+def pick_metadata_schema_file(catalog_base_dir: str | Path | UPath) -> UPath | None:
+    """Determines the appropriate file to read for parquet metadata
+    stored in the _common_metadata or _metadata files.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    catalog_base_dir : str | Path | UPath
+        base path for the catalog
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    UPath | None
+        path to a parquet file containing metadata schema.
+    """
+    common_metadata_file = paths.get_common_metadata_pointer(catalog_base_dir)
+    common_metadata_exists = file_io.does_file_or_directory_exist(common_metadata_file)
+    metadata_file = paths.get_parquet_metadata_pointer(catalog_base_dir)
+    metadata_exists = file_io.does_file_or_directory_exist(metadata_file)
+    if not (common_metadata_exists or metadata_exists):
+        return None
+    return common_metadata_file if common_metadata_exists else metadata_file
+
+
+# pylint: disable=protected-access
+def pa_schema_to_vo_schema(
+    catalog_base_dir: str | Path | UPath,
+    *,
+    verbose: bool = False,
+    field_units: dict | None = None,
+    field_ucds: dict | None = None,
+    field_descriptions: dict | None = None,
+    field_utypes: dict | None = None,
+):
+    """Create VOTableFile metadata, based on the names and types of fields in the parquet files.
+
+    Add ancillary attributes to fields where they are provided in the optional dictionaries.
+
+    Note on field names with nested columns: to include ancillary attributes (units, ucds, etc)
+    for a nested sub-column, use dot notation (e.g. ``"lightcurve.band"``). You can add ancillary
+    attributes for the entire nested column group using the nested column name (e.g. ``"lightcurve"``).
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    catalog_base_dir : str | Path | UPath
+        base path for the catalog
+    verbose: bool
+        Should we print out additional debugging statements about the vo metadata?
+    field_units: dict | None
+        dictionary mapping column names to astropy units (or string representation of units)
+    field_ucds: dict | None
+        dictionary mapping column names to UCDs (Uniform Content Descriptors)
+    field_descriptions: dict | None
+        dictionary mapping column names to free-text descriptions
+    field_utypes: dict | None
+        dictionary mapping column names to utypes
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    VOTableFile
+        VO object containing all relevant metadata (but no data)
+    """
+    schema_file = pick_metadata_schema_file(catalog_base_dir=catalog_base_dir)
+    if not schema_file:
+        return None
+
+    field_units = field_units or {}
+    field_ucds = field_ucds or {}
+    field_descriptions = field_descriptions or {}
+    field_utypes = field_utypes or {}
+
+    ## Try to find VO metadata in the file:
+    # metadata = file_io.read_parquet_metadata(schema_file)
+    nested_schema = npd.read_parquet(schema_file)
+
+    df_types = nested_schema.to_pandas().dtypes
+    names = []
+    data_types = []
+    for col in nested_schema.base_columns:
+        names.append(col)
+        type_str = str(df_types[col]).split("[", maxsplit=1)[0]
+        data_types.append(type_str)
+
+    for col in nested_schema.nested_columns:
+        for key, val in nested_schema[col].dtype.column_dtypes.items():
+            names.append(f"{col}.{key}")
+            data_types.append(str(val))
+    data_types = ["U" if t == "string" else t for t in data_types]
+
+    # Might have extra content for nested columns.
+    named_descriptions = {key: field_descriptions[key] for key in field_descriptions if key in names}
+    named_units = {key: field_units[key] for key in field_units if key in names}
+    if verbose:
+        dropped_keys_units = set(field_units.keys()) - set(named_units.keys())
+        dropped_keys_desc = set(field_descriptions.keys()) - set(named_descriptions.keys())
+        if dropped_keys_units or dropped_keys_desc:
+            print("================== Extra Fields ==================")
+        if dropped_keys_units:
+            print(f"warning - dropping some units ({len(dropped_keys_units)}):")
+            print(dropped_keys_units)
+        if dropped_keys_desc:
+            print(f"warning - dropping some descriptions ({len(dropped_keys_desc)}):")
+            print(dropped_keys_desc)
+
+    t = Table(names=names, dtype=data_types, units=named_units, descriptions=named_descriptions)
+
+    votablefile = VOTableFile()
+    votablefile = votablefile.from_table(t)
+
+    ## TODO - add info to root resource, e.g. obsregime.
+
+    ## Add groups for nested columns
+    vo_table = votablefile.get_first_table()
+    for col in nested_schema.nested_columns:
+        new_group = Group(vo_table, name=col, config=vo_table._config, pos=vo_table._pos)
+        if col in field_descriptions:
+            new_group.description = field_descriptions[col]
+        else:
+            new_group.description = "multi-column nested format"
+        vo_table.groups.append(new_group)
+
+        new_param = Param(vo_table, name="is_nested_column", datatype="boolean", value="t")
+        new_group.entries.append(new_param)
+
+        for key in nested_schema[col].columns:
+            new_field = FieldRef(vo_table, ref=f"{col}.{key}")
+            new_group.entries.append(new_field)
+
+    ## Go back and add UCD/utypes to fields
+    for field in vo_table.iter_fields_and_params():
+        field_name = field.name
+        if field_name in field_ucds:
+            field.ucd = field_ucds[field_name]
+        if field_name in field_utypes:
+            field.utype = field_utypes[field_name]
+    return votablefile
+
+
+def write_voparquet_in_common_metadata(
+    catalog_base_dir: str | Path | UPath,
+    *,
+    verbose: bool = False,
+    field_units: dict | None = None,
+    field_ucds: dict | None = None,
+    field_descriptions: dict | None = None,
+    field_utypes: dict | None = None,
+):
+    """Create VOTableFile metadata, based on the names and types of fields in the parquet files,
+    and write to a ``catalog_base_dir/dataset/_common_metadata`` parquet file.
+
+    Add ancillary attributes to fields where they are provided in the optional dictionaries.
+
+    Note on field names with nested columns: to include ancillary attributes (units, ucds, etc)
+    for a nested sub-column, use dot notation (e.g. ``"lightcurve.band"``). You can add ancillary
+    attributes for the entire nested column group using the nested column name (e.g. ``"lightcurve"``).
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    catalog_base_dir : str | Path | UPath
+        base path for the catalog
+    verbose: bool
+        Should we print out additional debugging statements about the vo metadata?
+    field_units: dict | None
+        dictionary mapping column names to astropy units (or string representation of units)
+    field_ucds: dict | None
+        dictionary mapping column names to UCDs (Uniform Content Descriptors)
+    field_descriptions: dict | None
+        dictionary mapping column names to free-text descriptions
+    field_utypes: dict | None
+        dictionary mapping column names to utypes
+    """
+    votablefile = pa_schema_to_vo_schema(
+        verbose=verbose,
+        catalog_base_dir=catalog_base_dir,
+        field_units=field_units,
+        field_ucds=field_ucds,
+        field_descriptions=field_descriptions,
+        field_utypes=field_utypes,
+    )
+
+    xml_bstr = io.BytesIO()
+    votablefile.to_xml(xml_bstr)
+    xml_str = xml_bstr.getvalue().decode("utf-8")
+    if verbose:
+        print("================== Table XML ==================")
+        print(xml_str)
+
+    common_metadata_file_pointer = paths.get_common_metadata_pointer(catalog_base_dir)
+
+    pa_schema = file_io.read_parquet_metadata(common_metadata_file_pointer).schema.to_arrow_schema()
+
+    original_metadata = pa_schema.metadata or {}
+    updated_metadata = original_metadata | {
+        b"IVOA.VOTable-Parquet.version": b"1.0",
+        b"IVOA.VOTable-Parquet.content": xml_str,
+    }
+
+    pa_schema = pa_schema.with_metadata(updated_metadata)
+
+    file_io.write_parquet_metadata(pa_schema, common_metadata_file_pointer)
diff --git a/src/hats/loaders/read_hats.py b/src/hats/loaders/read_hats.py
index 51edc62f..0f3a812a 100644
--- a/src/hats/loaders/read_hats.py
+++ b/src/hats/loaders/read_hats.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 from hats.catalog.partition_info import PartitionInfo
 from hats.io import file_io, paths
 from hats.io.file_io import read_parquet_metadata
+from hats.io.parquet_metadata import pick_metadata_schema_file
 
 DATASET_TYPE_TO_CLASS = {
     CatalogType.OBJECT: Catalog,
@@ -106,16 +107,12 @@ def _read_moc_from_point_map(catalog_base_dir: str | Path | UPath) -> MOC | None
 
 def _read_schema_from_metadata(catalog_base_dir: str | Path | UPath) -> pa.Schema | None:
     """Reads the schema information stored in the _common_metadata or _metadata files."""
-    common_metadata_file = paths.get_common_metadata_pointer(catalog_base_dir)
-    common_metadata_exists = file_io.does_file_or_directory_exist(common_metadata_file)
-    metadata_file = paths.get_parquet_metadata_pointer(catalog_base_dir)
-    metadata_exists = file_io.does_file_or_directory_exist(metadata_file)
-    if not (common_metadata_exists or metadata_exists):
+    schema_file = pick_metadata_schema_file(catalog_base_dir=catalog_base_dir)
+    if not schema_file:
         warnings.warn(
             "_common_metadata or _metadata files not found for this catalog."
             "The arrow schema will not be set."
         )
         return None
-    schema_file = common_metadata_file if common_metadata_exists else metadata_file
     metadata = read_parquet_metadata(schema_file)
     return metadata.schema.to_arrow_schema()
diff --git a/tests/.pylintrc b/tests/.pylintrc
index 35a1feb9..16368327 100644
--- a/tests/.pylintrc
+++ b/tests/.pylintrc
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ persistent=yes
 
 # Minimum Python version to use for version dependent checks. Will default to
 # the version used to run pylint.
-py-version=3.10
+py-version=3.11
 
 # Discover python modules and packages in the file system subtree.
 recursive=no
diff --git a/tests/hats/io/test_parquet_metadata.py b/tests/hats/io/test_parquet_metadata.py
index 4cfd2fd4..8c2e47c7 100644
--- a/tests/hats/io/test_parquet_metadata.py
+++ b/tests/hats/io/test_parquet_metadata.py
@@ -2,15 +2,23 @@
 
 import shutil
 
+import astropy.units as u
 import pandas as pd
 import pyarrow as pa
 import pyarrow.parquet as pq
 import pytest
+from astropy.io.misc.parquet import read_parquet_votable
 from pandas.api.types import is_numeric_dtype
 from pyarrow.parquet import ParquetFile
 
 from hats.io import file_io, paths
-from hats.io.parquet_metadata import aggregate_column_statistics, per_pixel_statistics, write_parquet_metadata
+from hats.io.parquet_metadata import (
+    aggregate_column_statistics,
+    pa_schema_to_vo_schema,
+    per_pixel_statistics,
+    write_parquet_metadata,
+    write_voparquet_in_common_metadata,
+)
 from hats.pixel_math.healpix_pixel import HealpixPixel
 from hats.pixel_math.spatial_index import SPATIAL_INDEX_COLUMN
 
@@ -432,3 +440,135 @@ def test_per_pixel_statistics_with_rowgroups_empty_result(small_sky_source_dir):
         partition_info_file, include_pixels=[HealpixPixel(1, 4)], multi_index=True
     )
     assert len(result_frame) == 0
+
+
+def test_pa_schema_to_vo_schema_small(small_sky_nested_dir):
+    dec_utype = "stc:AstroCoords.Position2D.Value2.C2"
+    return_value = pa_schema_to_vo_schema(
+        small_sky_nested_dir,
+        field_units={
+            "ra": "deg",
+            "dec": u.deg,
+            "lc.source_ra": "deg",
+            "lc.source_dec": u.deg,
+            "lc.object_ra": "deg",
+            "lc.object_dec": u.deg,
+            "does_not_exist": "deg**2",
+        },
+        field_ucds={
+            "ra": "pos.eq.ra",
+            "dec": "pos.eq.dec",
+            "lc.source_ra": "pos.eq.ra",
+            "lc.source_dec": "pos.eq.dec",
+            "lc.object_ra": "pos.eq.ra",
+            "lc.object_dec": "pos.eq.dec",
+            "does_not_exist": "pos.eq.dec",
+        },
+        field_descriptions={
+            "ra": "Object ICRS Right Ascension",
+            "dec": "Object ICRS Declination",
+            "lc.source_ra": "Object ICRS Right Ascension",
+            "lc.source_dec": "Object ICRS Declination",
+            "lc.object_ra": "Object ICRS Right Ascension",
+            "lc.object_dec": "Object ICRS Declination",
+            "lc": "Properties of transient-object detections on the single-epoch difference images",
+            "lc.band": "Band used to take this observation",
+            "does_not_exist": "Band used to take this observation",
+        },
+        field_utypes={
+            "ra": "stc:AstroCoords.Position2D.Value2.C1",
+            "dec": dec_utype,
+            "does_not_exist": dec_utype,
+        },
+    )
+    assert return_value
+    dec_value = next(return_value.get_first_table().get_fields_by_utype(dec_utype))
+    assert dec_value.name == "dec"
+    assert dec_value.datatype == "double"
+    assert dec_value.unit == "deg"
+    assert dec_value.utype == dec_utype
+
+
+def test_write_voparquet_in_common_metadata_verbosity(small_sky_nested_dir, tmp_path, capsys):
+    catalog_base_dir = tmp_path / "catalog"
+    shutil.copytree(
+        small_sky_nested_dir,
+        catalog_base_dir,
+    )
+
+    dec_utype = "stc:AstroCoords.Position2D.Value2.C2"
+    field_kwargs = {
+        "field_units": {
+            "ra": "deg",
+            "dec": u.deg,
+            "does_not_exist": "deg**2",
+        },
+        "field_ucds": {
+            "ra": "pos.eq.ra",
+            "dec": "pos.eq.dec",
+            "does_not_exist": "pos.eq.dec",
+        },
+        "field_descriptions": {
+            "ra": "Object ICRS Right Ascension",
+            "dec": "Object ICRS Declination",
+            "does_not_exist": "Band used to take this observation",
+        },
+        "field_utypes": {
+            "ra": "stc:AstroCoords.Position2D.Value2.C1",
+            "dec": dec_utype,
+            "does_not_exist": dec_utype,
+        },
+    }
+
+    ## No verbosity - nothing printed
+    write_voparquet_in_common_metadata(catalog_base_dir, **field_kwargs)
+
+    captured = capsys.readouterr().out
+    assert captured == ""
+
+    ## Yes verbosity - print a few warnings and full XML
+    write_voparquet_in_common_metadata(catalog_base_dir, verbose=True, **field_kwargs)
+
+    captured = capsys.readouterr().out
+    assert "Extra Fields" in captured
+    assert "dropping some units" in captured
+    assert "dropping some descriptions" in captured
+    assert dec_utype in captured
+    # Default description for a nested field.
+    assert "multi-column nested format" in captured
+
+
+def test_write_voparquet_in_common_metadata_small(small_sky_order1_dir, tmp_path):
+    catalog_base_dir = tmp_path / "catalog"
+    shutil.copytree(
+        small_sky_order1_dir,
+        catalog_base_dir,
+    )
+
+    dec_utype = "stc:AstroCoords.Position2D.Value2.C2"
+    write_voparquet_in_common_metadata(
+        catalog_base_dir,
+        field_units={
+            "ra": "deg",
+            "dec": u.deg,
+            "does_not_exist": "deg**2",
+        },
+        field_ucds={
+            "ra": "pos.eq.ra",
+            "dec": "pos.eq.dec",
+            "does_not_exist": "pos.eq.dec",
+        },
+        field_descriptions={
+            "ra": "Object ICRS Right Ascension",
+            "dec": "Object ICRS Declination",
+            "does_not_exist": "Band used to take this observation",
+        },
+        field_utypes={
+            "ra": "stc:AstroCoords.Position2D.Value2.C1",
+            "dec": dec_utype,
+            "does_not_exist": dec_utype,
+        },
+    )
+
+    table = read_parquet_votable(catalog_base_dir / "dataset" / "_common_metadata")
+    assert table.colnames == ["_healpix_29", "id", "ra", "dec", "ra_error", "dec_error"]