diff --git a/src/hipscat/catalog/association_catalog/association_catalog.py b/src/hipscat/catalog/association_catalog/association_catalog.py
index b74fc135..012c8f4f 100644
--- a/src/hipscat/catalog/association_catalog/association_catalog.py
+++ b/src/hipscat/catalog/association_catalog/association_catalog.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 from typing import Any, Dict, Tuple, Union
 
 import pandas as pd
+import pyarrow as pa
 from mocpy import MOC
 from typing_extensions import TypeAlias
 
@@ -35,11 +36,14 @@ def __init__(
         join_pixels: JoinPixelInputTypes,
         catalog_path=None,
         moc: MOC | None = None,
+        schema: pa.Schema | None = None,
         storage_options: Union[Dict[Any, Any], None] = None,
     ) -> None:
         if not catalog_info.catalog_type == CatalogType.ASSOCIATION:
             raise ValueError("Catalog info `catalog_type` must be 'association'")
-        super().__init__(catalog_info, pixels, catalog_path, moc=moc, storage_options=storage_options)
+        super().__init__(
+            catalog_info, pixels, catalog_path, moc=moc, schema=schema, storage_options=storage_options
+        )
         self.join_info = self._get_partition_join_info_from_pixels(join_pixels)
 
     def get_join_pixels(self) -> pd.DataFrame:
diff --git a/src/hipscat/catalog/catalog.py b/src/hipscat/catalog/catalog.py
index b911184b..ccb8a929 100644
--- a/src/hipscat/catalog/catalog.py
+++ b/src/hipscat/catalog/catalog.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Tuple, Union
 
 import numpy as np
+import pyarrow as pa
 from mocpy import MOC
 from typing_extensions import TypeAlias
 
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ def __init__(
         pixels: PixelInputTypes,
         catalog_path: str = None,
         moc: MOC | None = None,
+        schema: pa.Schema | None = None,
         storage_options: Union[Dict[Any, Any], None] = None,
     ) -> None:
         """Initializes a Catalog
@@ -56,8 +58,9 @@ def __init__(
                 list of HealpixPixel, `PartitionInfo object`, or a `PixelTree` object
             catalog_path: If the catalog is stored on disk, specify the location of the catalog
                 Does not load the catalog from this path, only store as metadata
-            storage_options: dictionary that contains abstract filesystem credentials
             moc (mocpy.MOC): MOC object representing the coverage of the catalog
+            schema (pa.Schema): The pyarrow schema for the catalog
+            storage_options: dictionary that contains abstract filesystem credentials
         """
         if catalog_info.catalog_type not in self.HIPS_CATALOG_TYPES:
             raise ValueError(
@@ -65,7 +68,12 @@ def __init__(
                 f"{', '.join([t.value for t in self.HIPS_CATALOG_TYPES])}"
             )
         super().__init__(
-            catalog_info, pixels, catalog_path=catalog_path, moc=moc, storage_options=storage_options
+            catalog_info,
+            pixels,
+            catalog_path=catalog_path,
+            moc=moc,
+            schema=schema,
+            storage_options=storage_options,
         )
 
     def filter_by_cone(self, ra: float, dec: float, radius_arcsec: float) -> Catalog:
diff --git a/src/hipscat/catalog/healpix_dataset/healpix_dataset.py b/src/hipscat/catalog/healpix_dataset/healpix_dataset.py
index 572da159..419dd32f 100644
--- a/src/hipscat/catalog/healpix_dataset/healpix_dataset.py
+++ b/src/hipscat/catalog/healpix_dataset/healpix_dataset.py
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import dataclasses
+import warnings
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Tuple, Union
 
 import numpy as np
 import pandas as pd
+import pyarrow as pa
 from mocpy import MOC
 from typing_extensions import Self, TypeAlias
 
@@ -12,6 +14,7 @@
 from hipscat.catalog.dataset import BaseCatalogInfo, Dataset
 from hipscat.catalog.partition_info import PartitionInfo
 from hipscat.io import FilePointer, file_io, paths
+from hipscat.io.file_io import read_parquet_metadata
 from hipscat.pixel_math import HealpixPixel
 from hipscat.pixel_tree import PixelAlignment, PixelAlignmentType
 from hipscat.pixel_tree.moc_filter import filter_by_moc
@@ -39,6 +42,7 @@ def __init__(
         pixels: PixelInputTypes,
         catalog_path: str = None,
         moc: MOC | None = None,
+        schema: pa.Schema | None = None,
         storage_options: Union[Dict[Any, Any], None] = None,
     ) -> None:
         """Initializes a Catalog
@@ -49,13 +53,15 @@ def __init__(
                 list of HealpixPixel, `PartitionInfo object`, or a `PixelTree` object
             catalog_path: If the catalog is stored on disk, specify the location of the catalog
                 Does not load the catalog from this path, only store as metadata
-            storage_options: dictionary that contains abstract filesystem credentials
             moc (mocpy.MOC): MOC object representing the coverage of the catalog
+            schema (pa.Schema): The pyarrow schema for the catalog
+            storage_options: dictionary that contains abstract filesystem credentials
         """
         super().__init__(catalog_info, catalog_path=catalog_path, storage_options=storage_options)
         self.partition_info = self._get_partition_info_from_pixels(pixels)
         self.pixel_tree = self._get_pixel_tree_from_pixels(pixels)
         self.moc = moc
+        self.schema = schema
 
     def get_healpix_pixels(self) -> List[HealpixPixel]:
         """Get healpix pixel objects for all pixels contained in the catalog.
@@ -101,6 +107,7 @@ def _read_kwargs(
     ) -> dict:
         kwargs = super()._read_kwargs(catalog_base_dir, storage_options=storage_options)
         kwargs["moc"] = cls._read_moc_from_point_map(catalog_base_dir, storage_options)
+        kwargs["schema"] = cls._read_schema_from_metadata(catalog_base_dir, storage_options)
         return kwargs
 
     @classmethod
@@ -118,10 +125,30 @@ def _read_moc_from_point_map(
         orders = np.full(ipix.shape, order)
         return MOC.from_healpix_cells(ipix, orders, order)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def _read_schema_from_metadata(
+        cls, catalog_base_dir: FilePointer, storage_options: dict | None = None
+    ) -> 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, storage_options=storage_options
+        )
+        metadata_file = paths.get_parquet_metadata_pointer(catalog_base_dir)
+        metadata_exists = file_io.does_file_or_directory_exist(metadata_file, storage_options=storage_options)
+        if not (common_metadata_exists or metadata_exists):
+            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, storage_options=storage_options)
+        return metadata.schema.to_arrow_schema()
+
     @classmethod
     def _check_files_exist(cls, catalog_base_dir: FilePointer, storage_options: dict = None):
         super()._check_files_exist(catalog_base_dir, storage_options=storage_options)
-
         partition_info_file = paths.get_partition_info_pointer(catalog_base_dir)
         metadata_file = paths.get_parquet_metadata_pointer(catalog_base_dir)
         if not (
@@ -170,7 +197,7 @@ def filter_by_moc(self, moc: MOC) -> Self:
         filtered_tree = filter_by_moc(self.pixel_tree, moc)
         filtered_moc = self.moc.intersection(moc) if self.moc is not None else None
         filtered_catalog_info = dataclasses.replace(self.catalog_info, total_rows=None)
-        return self.__class__(filtered_catalog_info, filtered_tree, moc=filtered_moc)
+        return self.__class__(filtered_catalog_info, filtered_tree, moc=filtered_moc, schema=self.schema)
 
     def align(
         self, other_cat: Self, alignment_type: PixelAlignmentType = PixelAlignmentType.INNER
diff --git a/src/hipscat/catalog/margin_cache/margin_catalog.py b/src/hipscat/catalog/margin_cache/margin_catalog.py
index 53bd174a..6a882d6f 100644
--- a/src/hipscat/catalog/margin_cache/margin_catalog.py
+++ b/src/hipscat/catalog/margin_cache/margin_catalog.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import pyarrow as pa
 from mocpy import MOC
 from typing_extensions import Self, TypeAlias
 
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ def __init__(
         pixels: PixelInputTypes,
         catalog_path: str = None,
         moc: MOC | None = None,
+        schema: pa.Schema | None = None,
         storage_options: dict | None = None,
     ) -> None:
         """Initializes a Margin Catalog
@@ -40,13 +42,19 @@ def __init__(
                 list of HealpixPixel, `PartitionInfo object`, or a `PixelTree` object
             catalog_path: If the catalog is stored on disk, specify the location of the catalog
                 Does not load the catalog from this path, only store as metadata
-            storage_options: dictionary that contains abstract filesystem credentials
             moc (mocpy.MOC): MOC object representing the coverage of the catalog
+            schema (pa.Schema): The pyarrow schema for the catalog
+            storage_options: dictionary that contains abstract filesystem credentials
         """
         if catalog_info.catalog_type != CatalogType.MARGIN:
             raise ValueError(f"Catalog info `catalog_type` must equal {CatalogType.MARGIN}")
         super().__init__(
-            catalog_info, pixels, catalog_path=catalog_path, moc=moc, storage_options=storage_options
+            catalog_info,
+            pixels,
+            catalog_path=catalog_path,
+            moc=moc,
+            schema=schema,
+            storage_options=storage_options,
         )
 
     def filter_by_moc(self, moc: MOC) -> Self:
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index ce08dc6d..b33b8714 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 from typing import List
 
 import pandas as pd
+import pyarrow as pa
 import pytest
 
 from hipscat.catalog.association_catalog.association_catalog_info import AssociationCatalogInfo
@@ -171,6 +172,76 @@ def index_catalog_info_with_extra() -> dict:
     }
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def small_sky_schema() -> pa.Schema:
+    return pa.schema(
+        [
+            pa.field("id", pa.int64()),
+            pa.field("ra", pa.float64()),
+            pa.field("dec", pa.float64()),
+            pa.field("ra_error", pa.int64()),
+            pa.field("dec_error", pa.int64()),
+            pa.field("Norder", pa.uint8()),
+            pa.field("Dir", pa.uint64()),
+            pa.field("Npix", pa.uint64()),
+            pa.field("_hipscat_index", pa.uint64()),
+        ]
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def small_sky_source_schema() -> pa.Schema:
+    return pa.schema(
+        [
+            pa.field("source_id", pa.int64()),
+            pa.field("source_ra", pa.float64()),
+            pa.field("source_dec", pa.float64()),
+            pa.field("mjd", pa.float64()),
+            pa.field("mag", pa.float64()),
+            pa.field("band", pa.string()),
+            pa.field("object_id", pa.int64()),
+            pa.field("object_ra", pa.float64()),
+            pa.field("object_dec", pa.float64()),
+            pa.field("Norder", pa.uint8()),
+            pa.field("Dir", pa.uint64()),
+            pa.field("Npix", pa.uint64()),
+            pa.field("_hipscat_index", pa.uint64()),
+        ]
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def association_catalog_schema() -> pa.Schema:
+    return pa.schema(
+        [
+            pa.field("Norder", pa.int64()),
+            pa.field("Npix", pa.int64()),
+            pa.field("join_Norder", pa.int64()),
+            pa.field("join_Npix", pa.int64()),
+        ]
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def margin_catalog_schema() -> pa.Schema:
+    return pa.schema(
+        [
+            pa.field("id", pa.int64()),
+            pa.field("ra", pa.float64()),
+            pa.field("dec", pa.float64()),
+            pa.field("ra_error", pa.int64()),
+            pa.field("dec_error", pa.int64()),
+            pa.field("Norder", pa.uint8()),
+            pa.field("Dir", pa.uint64()),
+            pa.field("Npix", pa.uint64()),
+            pa.field("_hipscat_index", pa.uint64()),
+            pa.field("margin_Norder", pa.uint8()),
+            pa.field("margin_Dir", pa.uint64()),
+            pa.field("margin_Npix", pa.uint64()),
+        ]
+    )
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def dataset_path(test_data_dir) -> str:
     return test_data_dir / "info_only" / "dataset"
diff --git a/tests/hipscat/catalog/association_catalog/test_association_catalog.py b/tests/hipscat/catalog/association_catalog/test_association_catalog.py
index 79fdf2a0..52e6bc80 100644
--- a/tests/hipscat/catalog/association_catalog/test_association_catalog.py
+++ b/tests/hipscat/catalog/association_catalog/test_association_catalog.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import os
 
 import pandas as pd
+import pyarrow as pa
 import pytest
 
 from hipscat.catalog import CatalogType
@@ -49,7 +50,9 @@ def test_different_join_pixels_type(association_catalog_info, association_catalo
     pd.testing.assert_frame_equal(catalog.get_join_pixels(), association_catalog_join_pixels)
 
 
-def test_read_from_file(association_catalog_path, association_catalog_join_pixels):
+def test_read_from_file(
+    association_catalog_path, association_catalog_join_pixels, association_catalog_schema
+):
     catalog = read_from_hipscat(association_catalog_path)
 
     assert isinstance(catalog, AssociationCatalog)
@@ -66,6 +69,9 @@ def test_read_from_file(association_catalog_path, association_catalog_join_pixel
     assert info.join_catalog == "small_sky_order1"
     assert info.join_column == "id"
 
+    assert isinstance(catalog.schema, pa.Schema)
+    assert catalog.schema.equals(association_catalog_schema)
+
 
 def test_empty_directory(tmp_path, association_catalog_info_data, association_catalog_join_pixels):
     """Test loading empty or incomplete data"""
@@ -121,5 +127,6 @@ def test_csv_round_trip(tmp_path, association_catalog_info_data, association_cat
     part_info = PartitionJoinInfo(association_catalog_join_pixels)
     part_info.write_to_csv(catalog_path=catalog_path)
 
-    catalog = read_from_hipscat(catalog_path)
+    with pytest.warns(UserWarning, match="_common_metadata or _metadata files not found"):
+        catalog = read_from_hipscat(catalog_path)
     pd.testing.assert_frame_equal(catalog.get_join_pixels(), association_catalog_join_pixels)
diff --git a/tests/hipscat/catalog/margin_cache/test_margin_catalog.py b/tests/hipscat/catalog/margin_cache/test_margin_catalog.py
index 30f80272..aa260b30 100644
--- a/tests/hipscat/catalog/margin_cache/test_margin_catalog.py
+++ b/tests/hipscat/catalog/margin_cache/test_margin_catalog.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import json
 import os
 
+import pyarrow as pa
 import pytest
 
 from hipscat.catalog import CatalogType, MarginCatalog, PartitionInfo
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ def test_wrong_catalog_info_type(catalog_info, margin_catalog_pixels):
         MarginCatalog(catalog_info, margin_catalog_pixels)
 
 
-def test_read_from_file(margin_catalog_path, margin_catalog_pixels):
+def test_read_from_file(margin_catalog_path, margin_catalog_pixels, margin_catalog_schema):
     catalog = read_from_hipscat(margin_catalog_path)
 
     assert isinstance(catalog, MarginCatalog)
@@ -50,6 +51,9 @@ def test_read_from_file(margin_catalog_path, margin_catalog_pixels):
     assert info.primary_catalog == "small_sky_order1"
     assert info.margin_threshold == 7200
 
+    assert isinstance(catalog.schema, pa.Schema)
+    assert catalog.schema.equals(margin_catalog_schema)
+
 
 # pylint: disable=duplicate-code
 def test_empty_directory(tmp_path, margin_cache_catalog_info_data, margin_catalog_pixels):
diff --git a/tests/hipscat/catalog/test_catalog.py b/tests/hipscat/catalog/test_catalog.py
index 9c4e07dd..91778d0f 100644
--- a/tests/hipscat/catalog/test_catalog.py
+++ b/tests/hipscat/catalog/test_catalog.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 import astropy.units as u
 import numpy as np
+import pyarrow as pa
 import pytest
 from mocpy import MOC
 
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ def test_get_pixels_list(catalog_info, catalog_pixels):
     assert pixels == catalog_pixels
 
 
-def test_load_catalog_small_sky(small_sky_dir):
+def test_load_catalog_small_sky(small_sky_dir, small_sky_schema):
     """Instantiate a catalog with 1 pixel"""
     cat = read_from_hipscat(small_sky_dir)
 
@@ -87,6 +88,9 @@ def test_load_catalog_small_sky(small_sky_dir):
     assert cat.catalog_name == "small_sky"
     assert len(cat.get_healpix_pixels()) == 1
 
+    assert isinstance(cat.schema, pa.Schema)
+    assert cat.schema.equals(small_sky_schema)
+
 
 def test_load_catalog_small_sky_order1(small_sky_order1_dir):
     """Instantiate a catalog with 4 pixels"""
@@ -109,7 +113,7 @@ def test_load_catalog_small_sky_order1_moc(small_sky_order1_dir):
     assert np.all(cat.moc.flatten() == np.where(counts_skymap > 0))
 
 
-def test_load_catalog_small_sky_source(small_sky_source_dir):
+def test_load_catalog_small_sky_source(small_sky_source_dir, small_sky_source_schema):
     """Instantiate a source catalog with 14 pixels"""
     cat = read_from_hipscat(small_sky_source_dir)
 
@@ -117,6 +121,9 @@ def test_load_catalog_small_sky_source(small_sky_source_dir):
     assert cat.catalog_name == "small_sky_source"
     assert len(cat.get_healpix_pixels()) == 14
 
+    assert isinstance(cat.schema, pa.Schema)
+    assert cat.schema.equals(small_sky_source_schema)
+
 
 def test_max_coverage_order(small_sky_order1_catalog):
     assert small_sky_order1_catalog.get_max_coverage_order() >= small_sky_order1_catalog.moc.max_order
diff --git a/tests/hipscat/io/conftest.py b/tests/hipscat/io/conftest.py
index ef53ecad..f0fd09b1 100644
--- a/tests/hipscat/io/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/hipscat/io/conftest.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 import re
 
 import numpy.testing as npt
-import pyarrow as pa
 import pytest
 
 from hipscat.io import file_io
@@ -48,23 +47,6 @@ def assert_text_file_matches(expected_lines, file_name, storage_options: dict =
     return assert_text_file_matches
 
 
-@pytest.fixture
-def basic_catalog_parquet_metadata():
-    return pa.schema(
-        [
-            pa.field("id", pa.int64()),
-            pa.field("ra", pa.float64()),
-            pa.field("dec", pa.float64()),
-            pa.field("ra_error", pa.int64()),
-            pa.field("dec_error", pa.int64()),
-            pa.field("Norder", pa.uint8()),
-            pa.field("Dir", pa.uint64()),
-            pa.field("Npix", pa.uint64()),
-            pa.field("_hipscat_index", pa.uint64()),
-        ]
-    )
-
-
 @pytest.fixture
 def check_parquet_schema():
     def check_parquet_schema(file_name, expected_schema, expected_num_row_groups=1):
diff --git a/tests/hipscat/io/test_parquet_metadata.py b/tests/hipscat/io/test_parquet_metadata.py
index 355b1ee0..97115b95 100644
--- a/tests/hipscat/io/test_parquet_metadata.py
+++ b/tests/hipscat/io/test_parquet_metadata.py
@@ -16,9 +16,7 @@
 from hipscat.pixel_math.healpix_pixel import HealpixPixel
 
 
-def test_write_parquet_metadata(
-    tmp_path, small_sky_dir, basic_catalog_parquet_metadata, check_parquet_schema
-):
+def test_write_parquet_metadata(tmp_path, small_sky_dir, small_sky_schema, check_parquet_schema):
     """Copy existing catalog and create new metadata files for it"""
     catalog_base_dir = tmp_path / "catalog"
     shutil.copytree(
@@ -27,27 +25,27 @@ def test_write_parquet_metadata(
     )
     total_rows = write_parquet_metadata(catalog_base_dir)
     assert total_rows == 131
-    check_parquet_schema(catalog_base_dir / "_metadata", basic_catalog_parquet_metadata)
+    check_parquet_schema(catalog_base_dir / "_metadata", small_sky_schema)
     ## _common_metadata has 0 row groups
     check_parquet_schema(
         catalog_base_dir / "_common_metadata",
-        basic_catalog_parquet_metadata,
+        small_sky_schema,
         0,
     )
     ## Re-write - should still have the same properties.
     total_rows = write_parquet_metadata(catalog_base_dir)
     assert total_rows == 131
-    check_parquet_schema(catalog_base_dir / "_metadata", basic_catalog_parquet_metadata)
+    check_parquet_schema(catalog_base_dir / "_metadata", small_sky_schema)
     ## _common_metadata has 0 row groups
     check_parquet_schema(
         catalog_base_dir / "_common_metadata",
-        basic_catalog_parquet_metadata,
+        small_sky_schema,
         0,
     )
 
 
 def test_write_parquet_metadata_order1(
-    tmp_path, small_sky_order1_dir, basic_catalog_parquet_metadata, check_parquet_schema
+    tmp_path, small_sky_order1_dir, small_sky_schema, check_parquet_schema
 ):
     """Copy existing catalog and create new metadata files for it,
     using a catalog with multiple files."""
@@ -62,19 +60,19 @@ def test_write_parquet_metadata_order1(
     ## 4 row groups for 4 partitioned parquet files
     check_parquet_schema(
         temp_path / "_metadata",
-        basic_catalog_parquet_metadata,
+        small_sky_schema,
         4,
     )
     ## _common_metadata has 0 row groups
     check_parquet_schema(
         temp_path / "_common_metadata",
-        basic_catalog_parquet_metadata,
+        small_sky_schema,
         0,
     )
 
 
 def test_write_parquet_metadata_sorted(
-    tmp_path, small_sky_order1_dir, basic_catalog_parquet_metadata, check_parquet_schema
+    tmp_path, small_sky_order1_dir, small_sky_schema, check_parquet_schema
 ):
     """Copy existing catalog and create new metadata files for it,
     using a catalog with multiple files."""
@@ -89,13 +87,13 @@ def test_write_parquet_metadata_sorted(
     ## 4 row groups for 4 partitioned parquet files
     check_parquet_schema(
         temp_path / "_metadata",
-        basic_catalog_parquet_metadata,
+        small_sky_schema,
         4,
     )
     ## _common_metadata has 0 row groups
     check_parquet_schema(
         temp_path / "_common_metadata",
-        basic_catalog_parquet_metadata,
+        small_sky_schema,
         0,
     )
 
diff --git a/tests/hipscat/io/test_write_metadata.py b/tests/hipscat/io/test_write_metadata.py
index cfe80411..8df9bc96 100644
--- a/tests/hipscat/io/test_write_metadata.py
+++ b/tests/hipscat/io/test_write_metadata.py
@@ -178,9 +178,7 @@ def test_write_partition_info_float(assert_text_file_matches, tmp_path):
     assert_text_file_matches(expected_lines, metadata_filename)
 
 
-def test_write_parquet_metadata(
-    tmp_path, small_sky_dir, basic_catalog_parquet_metadata, check_parquet_schema
-):
+def test_write_parquet_metadata(tmp_path, small_sky_dir, small_sky_schema, check_parquet_schema):
     """Copy existing catalog and create new metadata files for it"""
     catalog_base_dir = tmp_path / "catalog"
     shutil.copytree(
@@ -188,20 +186,20 @@ def test_write_parquet_metadata(
         catalog_base_dir,
     )
     io.write_parquet_metadata(catalog_base_dir)
-    check_parquet_schema(catalog_base_dir / "_metadata", basic_catalog_parquet_metadata)
+    check_parquet_schema(catalog_base_dir / "_metadata", small_sky_schema)
     ## _common_metadata has 0 row groups
     check_parquet_schema(
         catalog_base_dir / "_common_metadata",
-        basic_catalog_parquet_metadata,
+        small_sky_schema,
         0,
     )
     ## Re-write - should still have the same properties.
     io.write_parquet_metadata(catalog_base_dir)
-    check_parquet_schema(catalog_base_dir / "_metadata", basic_catalog_parquet_metadata)
+    check_parquet_schema(catalog_base_dir / "_metadata", small_sky_schema)
     ## _common_metadata has 0 row groups
     check_parquet_schema(
         catalog_base_dir / "_common_metadata",
-        basic_catalog_parquet_metadata,
+        small_sky_schema,
         0,
     )