Star Formation Research and the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive (IRSA)
First Author:
Anastasia Alexov
Email: aalexov AT ipac.caltech.edu
Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, Caltech
Mail Code 100-22, Pasadena CA 91125 USA
Coauthors:
BERRIMAN, G. BRUCE , Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, Caltech
CHIU, NIAN MING , Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, Caltech
GOOD, JOHN C. , Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, Caltech
GROOM, STEVEN , Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, Caltech
HARBUT, MARCY , Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, Caltech
KIRKPATRICK, J. DAVY , Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, Caltech
KONG, MIHSEH , Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, Caltech,
LAITY, ANASTASIA C. , Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, Caltech
McELROY, DOUGLAS L. , Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, Caltech
MONKEWITZ, SERGE , Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, Caltech
ZHANG, ANGELA , Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, Caltech
Abstract
IRSA currently curates and serves data from 24 projects and missions, including 120 source catalogs, 48 image data collections, and seven spectral data sets. This paper highlights the data and services of importance to star formation researchers. IRSA hosts science products from the IRAS, 2MASS, and MSX surveys, the Spitzer Legacy team surveys GLIMPSE, MIPSGAL and SAGE, the pointed observations of the Spitzer Legacy programs C2D and FEPS, and the SWAS mission. IRSA is also interoperable with the Spitzer archive. IRSA has recently enhanced its data access services to support input of source lists, and scripts to support bulk download of data. It will soon complete the definition of "program-friendly interfaces" (including those that comply with VO-standards) that will automate access to all its data through queries embedded in programs and scripts. IRSA offers unique tools that support extraction of optimized science content of its data sets. The IRAS Scan Processing and Integration Tool ("Scanpi"), which computes weighted average fluxes of 1-dimensional (in-scan) IRAS raw survey data, has been modernized to give the user insight into the processing steps. The Montage image mosaic engine, available for download, computes science-grade mosaics that preserve the calibration and astrometric fidelity of the input images. It has been used by Spitzer Legacy teams in generating their science products, and it powers an on-request mosaic service accessible from a simple web form. IRSA will deliver new data sets applicable to star formation in the next four years. In mid-2011, it will assume responsibility for the long-term Spitzer archive, and will serve data from all the Spitzer Legacy Enhanced Products. It will host the archive for WISE, and will provide access to science products from the Herschel and Planck missions.
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