Data Policy

Policies that apply to the access, analysis, and publication of Rubin data are described in full in the Data Policy document. Key data policy (DPOL) items are summarized below.

No reserved science

All types of scientific endeavors are equally open to everyone. (DPOL-303)

Public and proprietary data products

A public data product can be shared with anyone, anywhere, worldwide. Alert packets, data reported to the Minor Planet Center, and the contents of the Prompt Products Database are public. A proprietary data product can only be accessed and analyzed by Rubin data rights holders. Prompt processed images, Prompt source tables during LSST year 1, and the entirety of the annual data releases (including raw images and observational metadata) have a proprietary period of two years. (DPOL-301)

Public and proprietary data access

Rubin Science Platform (RSP) accounts are proprietary and may be held by Rubin data rights holders only. The RSP provides access to public and proprietary data sets, as well as computational resources for data analysis. No access to public (including post-proprietary) data sets is provided by Rubin Observatory for individuals who do not have Rubin data rights (DPOL-302). Anyone may access the public data products, alerts and moving objects, via Alert Brokers or the Minor Planet Center. See the Data access and analysis page.

Rubin data rights holders

US scientists (and students) who are employed (or enrolled) at a US educational or research institution, and who are doing non-profit scientific research. (DPOL-401)

Chilean scientists, professionals, and students as defined by SOCHIAS. (DPOL-402)

International scientists: named individuals on the International In-Kind Data Rights Holders list. (DPOL-402a)

Rubin builders: individuals on the Builders list typically have 2 FTE years of service to Rubin Observatory. (DPOL-403)

Grace period: junior researchers in the US and Chile who lose data rights by moving institutions retain access to released data products for 2 years; additional details apply for international junior researchers. (DPOL-404)

Unaffiliated researchers within the US may submit a request for data rights if the public resources are insufficient; see Amateur astronomers. (DPOL-401)

Collaboration and co-authorship

Individuals with and without Rubin data rights are encouraged to collaborate and co-author papers based on Rubin data.

Co-authorship: Individuals without data rights may co-author papers that publish analyses of proprietary data products. This does not grant them access to that data. (DPOL-702)

Derived data products: Data rights holders may create and share "derived data products" to enable collaboration with colleagues without data rights, provided these products cannot be used to recreate any proprietary data. (DPOL-601)

Limited target lists: Data rights holders may share limited target lists for small samples of up to 1000 LSST objects to facilitate collaboration, such as follow-up observations at other telescopes. (DPOL-603)

A set of collaboration use case examples is provided in Section 8 of the Rubin Data Policy document.

Rubin data policy quick reference slide deck

Questions?

Find details in the Rubin Data Policy document, linked at the top of this page.

Questions are welcome in the Support category of the Rubin Community Forum.