NOTICE: This Legacy journal article was published in Volume 3, May 1993, and has not been updated since publication. Please use the search facility above to find regularly-updated information about this topic elsewhere on the HEASARC site.

Astrophysics CD-ROMs
in the NSSDC Archive

Cynthia Cheung
HEASARC

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HEASARC CD-ROMs

Compact Disk-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) technology has enabled the dissemination of large volumes of scientific data at very low prices to many researchers. The HEASARC produced its first CD-ROM containing data products from the Einstein (HEAO 2) Solid State Spectrometer (SSS) and the Focal Plane Crystal Spectrometer (FPCS) in June 1992. These were distributed in the past two American Astronomical Society meetings in Ohio and Arizona. The CD-ROM was pre-mastered at the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) at GSFC. The NSSDC, as a partner in the HEASARC collaboration, will continue to support the production, archiving, and distribution of CD-ROMs for high energy astrophysics data.

Since last fall, the NSSDC has started user support and distribution of Einstein data products on CD-ROM issued by the Einstein Data Center (EDC) at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO). The earlier issues: IPC Images, HRI Images, and the IPC Slew Survey, are also available on the WORM-jukebox in the NSSDC Data Archive and Distribution System (NDADS) and can be retrieved electronically via ARMS (Legacy, 1, 9). The Einstein CD-ROM reprint license is being transferred from the SAO to the NSSDC as part of the process of transferring some of the EDC data holdings to the HEASARC.

Other Astrophysics CD-ROMs

The Astronomical Data Center in the NSSDC has produced a two-disk CD-ROM set containing 114 selected astronomical catalogs. This set has been widely distributed to the community and is also available electronically from NDADS. Other astrophysics data on CD-ROM that are available from NSSDC include the IRAS Sky Survey Atlas, and planetary data consisting of Galileo, Magellan, Voyager and Viking Images, and data from the International Halley Watch.

CD-Write Once

HEASARC has recently begun an effort to examine the feasibility of using CD-Write Once (CD-WO) as an archival media. CD-WO is an evolution of CD-ROM into to sequential write-once medium. International standards are being defined for CD-WO and it holds great promise to be a cost-effective means to archive medium-size data sets.

Ordering CD-ROMs

The NSSDC has issued a CD-ROM catalog, "NASA Space and earth Science Data on CD-ROM," Feb. 1993 (NSSDC WDC-A-R&S 93-01). This can be requested from the NSSDC. Researchers with network access can check the CD-ROM catalog in the NSSDC On-line Data and Information Service (NODIS) and place an order. NODIS a menu-driven public service and does not require a password. To access NODIS,

NSI/DECnet (SPAN):      SET HOST NSSDCA
                        USERNAME:  NSSDC

INTERNET:               Telnet nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov
                        USERNAME:  NSSDC

Scientists without network access can send e-mail, fax, write or call:


     Coordinated Request and User Support Office
     National Space Science Data Center
     Code 633.4
     Goddard Space Flight Center
     Greenbelt, MD 20771

     Telephone:         (301) 286-6695
     FAX:               (301) 286-4952
     E-mail:            NSSDCA::REQUEST
                        request@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov

Cost of CDROMs

The cost of the first CD-ROM from any data set is US $20.00; each additional CD-ROM from the same set is another US $6.00. Each software package is US $9.00. Requestors in the US add $2.50 for shipping and handling. Those from outside the US add $10.00. Payment can be made using Visa, MasterCard, American Express, check, or International Money Order. Please make check or International Money Order payable to Hughes STX Corporation in US dollars.

Currently Available CD-ROMs (May 1, 1993)

Set No.    Issue Date   Contents

1          Jun 1990     The Einstein Observatory Database of
                                        HRI X-ray Images, Vol. 1
                        The Einstein Observatory Database of
                                        HRI X-ray Images, Vol. 2

2          Jan 1991     The Einstein Observatory SLEW Survey, Version 1.0


3          Jun 1991     The Einstein Observatory Catalog of IPC
                                        X-ray Sources, Vol. 1
                        The Einstein Observatory Catalog of IPC
                                        X-ray Sources, Vol. 2
                        The Einstein Observatory Catalog of IPC
                                        X-ray Sources, Vol. 3

4          Jan 1992     The Einstein Observatory Database of
                                        HRI Images in Event List Format, Vol. 1
                        The Einstein Observatory Database of
                                        HRI Images in Event List Format, Vol. 2

5          Jun 1992     The Einstein Observatory Database of
                                        IPC Images in Event List Format, Vol. 1
                        The Einstein Observatory Database of
                                        IPC Images in Event List Format, Vol. 2
                        The Einstein Observatory Database of
                                        IPC Images in Event List Format, Vol. 3
                        The Einstein Observatory Database of
                                        IPC Images in Event List Format, Vol. 4

6          Jun 1992     The Einstein Observatory SSS, MPC, and FPCS Data Products

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