This page documents the data currently available through the DASCH data access services. These services are not versioned by data release, so the results of any queries or downloads will change as scanning proceeds and the data processing pipeline is updated. We refer to this “rolling data release” as “DRnext”.
Noteworthy changes in the data will be logged on the news page.
This documentation is under development along with the daschlab analysis toolkit. It is known to be incomplete. Please bear with us as we work to improve it, and email the scientific contact with any requests, questions, or comments.
Getting Started: About DASCH DRnext
The Introduction to DASCH slide deck presents an overview of DASCH from an astronomer’s perspective.
We recommend that astronomers retrieve and analyze DASCH data using Jupyter notebooks and the daschlab Python package. The Introduction to daschlab video gives an overview of what this is like.
The DRnext Scope document summarizes the contents of DRnext at a high level.
The DRnext Data Products document lists the specific data products provided in DRnext.
Accessing and Using DASCH DRnext
Because the DASCH pipeline is always evolving, the available data may contain undocumented errors or limitations. Use them cautiously, and do not hesitate to reach out to the scientific contact if you have any questions or concerns.
Likewise, the material here is, inevitably, provisional. If you find any inaccuracies, please alert the scientific contact. For documentation that has been vetted but may be out-of-date, see the most recent snapshot data release: Data Release 6 (January 31, 2019).
Launch a cloud-based quicklook notebook to investigate a source. (Assumes familiarity with DASCH and daschlab.)
The “Cannon” portal is the classical way to get DASCH data. daschlab and StarGlass are now recommended, but Cannon will be maintained indefinitely.
StarGlass is a portal for exploring the HCO plate collection. Among other features, it provides full-plate FITS mosaic downloads.
For bulk data access, reach out to the scientific contact named in the footer.
Tutorials
If you’re not sure where to start, try a tutorial.
- RY Cnc
- This tutorial slide deck shows you how to recreate the daschlab analysis shown in the introductory video using a cloud-based notebook. If you’re running the software locally, you can download the notebook to your computer (right-click and “Save Link As” since GitHub just shows you the JSON).
How-to Guides
- Install daschlab
- For substantial DRnext data analysis, you will probably want to install daschlab in your own computing environment. This guide explains how to do that.
- Reduce Lightcurves
- Recommended procedures for reducing DASCH lightcurve data.
- Cite & Acknowledge DASCH
- If you are writing a scholarly manuscript based on DASCH data, you should mention DASCH in the acknowledgments section and cite the relevant DASCH papers.
Explainers
These documents provide additional information about the DASCH DRnext data.
- Known Issues
- As with any survey, the DASCH data display various known issues. This page summarizes them and provides links to more in-depth discussions.
- Legacy Data Guide
- The Legacy Data Guide is an older document that is, frankly, quite confusing, but it contains details that have not yet been documented anywhere else. It may be helpful in deciphering obscure aspects of the DASCH data.
- Pipeline Overview
- An overview of DASCH data processing. Note: this document needs to be updated.
- DASCH Data Access
- A summary of different methods for accessing the DASCH data.
Reference Information
- Lightcurve Columns
- Definitions of columns in DASCH lightcurve tables, anchored to the naming conventions used by daschlab.
- (other table column definitions)
- Not written yet! Badger the contact to fix this.
- daschlab API Docs
- API reference documentation for the daschlab Python package.
- StarGlass API Docs
- Documentation of the StarGlass API, which can be used for automated retrieval of most DASCH data (but not lightcurves; for those, use daschlab).
Other Resources
- Direct download the template “Quicklook” notebook (right-click and “Save Link As”)
- DASCH Publications
- StarGlass
- About the DASCH Project
- About the DASCH Scanner
- About the DASCH Team