The Astronomers’ Data Manifesto

Ray Norris

Astronomy has a distinguished tradition of using technology to accelerate the quality and effectiveness of science, and data-intensive initiatives such as the Virtual Observatory lead the way. However, astronomical data are not uniformly well-managed, and amongst shining examples of excellent data management by major projects are interspersed examples where data management has not been properly resourced, or where hard-earned data remain inaccessible to most astronomers. We, like other fields of science, need to establish and agree on a set of guiding principles for the management of astronomical data.

To focus this process, we are constructing a “data manifesto”, which sets out guidelines to which the astronomical community should aspire to maximise the rate and cost-effectiveness of scientific discovery. The challenges are not underestimated, but can still be overcome if astronomers, observatories, journals, data centres, and the Virtual Observatory Alliance work together to overcome the hurdles.

The key points of the manifesto are:

1. All major tables, images, and spectra published in journals should appear in the astronomical data centres.

2. All data obtained with publicly-funded observatories should, after appropriate proprietary periods, be placed in the public domain.

3. In any new major astronomical construction project, the data processing, storage, migration, and management requirements should be built in at an early stage of the project plan, and costed along with other parts of the project.

4. Astronomers in all countries should have the same access to astronomical data and information.

5. Legacy astronomical data can be valuable, and high-priority legacy data should be preserved and stored in digital form in the data centres.

6. The IAU should work with other international organisations to achieve our common goals and learn from our colleagues in other fields.