Get started

Welcome!

This page is a guide for all scientists and students looking to get started with Rubin data analysis.

Guidance for Rubin data rights holders

Step 1: Confirm that you have Rubin data rights.

Review the basics of the Rubin data policy.

See below for advice on doing Rubin science without data rights, there are lots of options!

Step 2: Get a Rubin Science Platform (RSP) account.

The RSP is a web-based service for access and analysis of proprietary LSST data.

Follow the instructions for new accounts at rsp.lsst.io.

Step 3: Get a Rubin Community Forum account.

The Community Forum is Rubin's open helpdesk. Any and all questions or issues should be posted in the Support category, which is monitored by Rubin staff.

Learn more about the Rubin Community Forum.

Step 4: Learn by working through tutorials.

Choose from the recent data releases, and find tutorials in the associated data release documentation (e.g., for Data Preview 1, at dp1.lsst.io).

Tutorials are often demonstrated live during virtual and in-person Rubin workshops and seminars, which all are welcome to join.

Step 5: Proceed with your science goals.

All types of scientific endeavors are equally open to all individuals with data rights, and no science is reserved for any group (DPOL-303 in the Rubin data policy).

For opportunities to collaborate with others, read on.

Guidance for Rubin data rights holders

Confirm that you have Rubin data rights. Review the Rubin data policy. All scientists (and students) employed at (or enrolled in) US/Chilean institutions, and individuals who appear on the international list of data rights holders, have Rubin data rights.

Get an account for the Rubin Science Platform (RSP), the web-based service for access and analysis of proprietary LSST data. Accounts are only available to data rights holders. Follow the instructions for new accounts at rsp.lsst.io.

Learn to use the RSP by working through the tutorials that can be found in the documentation for a recent data release (e.g., for Data Preview 1 tutorials, see dp1.lsst.io). Tutorials are often presented during workshops and seminars, which all are welcome to join.

Do science with proprietary LSST data. Prompt processed images and the annual data releases have a proprietary period of two years (DPOL-301). Learn more about the Rubin data products.

Guidance for everyone

The following guidance applies to everyone, regardless of their data rights status.

Option 1: Use the alerts and brokers.

alerts and brokers

Option 2: Collaborate with others.

Option 4: Access the Rubin support resources.

Option 3: Use post-proprietary data.