To accommodate users with slower network speeds or limited access, MAST has supported data distribution via mailed DVD for a number of years. As those speeds have become faster and CD and DVD drives continue to be phased out of computers, we recognize the need to update our practices to be able to best serve MAST users. Starting soon, DVDs will be replaced by USB drives as the primary MAST data physical media option.
MAST Portal shippable media dialogue
When the new system is launched, users will see a “Shippable Media” option to select for data batch retrieval. As with the current hard media option that offers a DVD, the new system offering a USB will involve a delay due to processing and shipping and will require users to contact the Archive Help Desk to discuss options available that will work for them. We highly recommend that those who are able to retrieve data via staging continue to use this method, as it will greatly expedite the retrieval of data. Users that are unable to use staging and require hard media are welcome to take advantage of this new option, and will see instructions on MAST after selecting the portable media option on how to proceed with their request. Any questions or concerns can be sent to the Archive Help Desk.
MAST continues to provide access to new data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission as they are released. All of the data products for both Sector 6 and Sector 7 are now available; Sector 6 data went live on February 27, 2019 and Sector 7 data went live today. To find out which TESS data products are available via different services at MAST, see the Current TESS Holdings page. For immediate notification for when new sectors are available for download, follow MAST on Twitter (@MAST_News) or Facebook (@MASTArchive).
The latest HLSP updates include a new catalog of object classification for Pan-STARRS sources, a set of simulated galactic evolution images from various space telescopes, and updated models for galaxy clusters.
The Mock Images from Vela Cosmological Simulations (VELA, Simons et al. 2019) project presents synthetic ultra-high-resolution space telescope images spanning the cosmic time evolution of nearly 3 dozen galaxies. Based on dust radiative transfer modeling, this dataset contains over 800,000 mock images for 34 broadband HST, JWST, and proposed WFIRST filters.
Updated:
New lens models were added for eight RELICS lensing galaxy clusters, and improved 'version 2' models for two other clusters. See the project page to access the models and consult the updated lens model README file for more information.
If you are thinking about contributing a High-Level Science Product of your own, please fill out the HLSP Interest Form to get started. HLSPs archived on MAST enjoy permanent hosting space, additional visibility, and, often, increased citation rates. Any further questions on the process can be sent to the Archive Help Desk.
This newsletter is a MAST publication produced by Greg Snyder, Peter Forshay, and Jonathan Hargis, on behalf of the entire MAST staff, who welcome your comments and suggestions.
The Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST) is a NASA funded project to support and provide to the astronomical community a variety of astronomical data archives, with the primary focus on scientifically related data sets in the optical, ultraviolet, and near-infrared parts of the spectrum. MAST is located at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI).
