For amateur astronomers

Welcome!

Amateur astronomers are welcomed and encouraged to engage in science with data from Rubin Observatory and its LSST. This page provides some practical information about the specific opportunities and challenges.

What is an "amateur" astronomer?

The term "amateur astronomer" refers to individuals doing non-profit scientific research in astronomy, but who are not employed at or enrolled in a US educational or research institution. This includes, for example, high school students; astronomers employed in other industries; and former, unaffiliated, or retired astronomers.

Rubin data rights & amateur astronomers

The first thing to know is that some Rubin data products and services are public (accessible by anyone), but some are proprietary and only available to "Rubin data rights holders". Within the United States, "Rubin data rights holders" are defined as scientists or students employed or enrolled at a US educational or research institution (in other words, "affiliated" astronomers), and who are doing non-profit scientific research. In general, it is anticipated that most amateur astronomers will not need to become a "Rubin data rights holder" in order to participate in scientific research. However, amateurs may submit a request for data rights (see below) if the public resources and collaboration options in the list below are insufficient. Learn more about the Rubin Data Policy.

How can those without data rights participate in scientific research?

For those who want to use the public Rubin data directly:

• Do time-domain science with the world-public alerts using the alert brokers.
• Use the public EPO data products and services.
• Use data from an annual release after the 2-year proprietary period has expired.

• Participate in citizen science projects at zooniverse.org/rubin
• Join an LSST Science Collaboration that does not require data rights:
  • Active Galactic Nuclei Science Collaboration (AGN-SC)
  • Transients and Variable Stars Science Collaboration (TVS SC)
  • Informatics & Statistics Science Collaboration (ISSC)
  • Stars, Milky Way, and Local Volume Science Collaboration (SMWLV)
• Collaborate with Rubin data rights holders (RDRH):
  • non-RDRH can co-author papers based on proprietary data
  • RDRH can share derived data products (e.g., classifications) based on proprietary data
  • RDRH can share <1000 objects from proprietary catalogs for follow-up with external facilities
  • refer to Section 6, 7, and 8 of the Rubin Data Policy for details

How can amateur astronomers request data rights?

For amateur astronomers in the United States, if proprietary access to a proprietary recent data release and/or the Rubin Science Platform is needed, follow these instructions to start the process of requesting an account in the Rubin Science Platform. When Rubin staff reach out via email for data rights verification, be prepared respond with a description of why the publicly available data and resources listed above are insufficient.

Questions?

The Rubin Community Forum is open to everyone regardless of data rights. Please post your question in the Support category. Rubin staff will see it there and respond.