Evaluating the (in)accessibility of data behind papers in astronomy

This paper presents results of a survey of authors of journal articles published over several decades in astronomy. The study focuses on determining the characteristics and accessibility of data behind papers, referring to the spectrum of raw and derived data that would be needed to validate the results of a particular published article as a capsule of scientific knowledge. Curating the data behind papers can arguably lead to new discoveries through reuse. However, as shown through related research and confirmed by the results of the present study, a fully accessible portrait of the data behind papers is often unavailable. These findings have implications for reusability efforts and are presented alongside a discussion of open science. This paper presents of a survey of authors of journal articles published over several in astronomy. The study focuses on determining the characteristics and accessibility of data behind papers, which refers to the spectrum of raw and derived data that would be needed to validate the results of a particular published article as a capsule of scientific knowledge. Curating the data behind papers alongside paper publication can arguably lead to new discoveries through reuse, especially for fields that require data collected over long timescales such as astronomy and ecology, and for developing robust computational models of changing phenomena over time. prior by the of a fully accessible of the data behind papers is often The results presented here represent an attempt to measure the accessibility of data behind papers over time in a particular discipline – astronomy – as a case study and methodological example. The paper will provide a brief review to contextualize the and outcomes of this research, followed by methods, analysis, and discussion of results within the framework of open science and reusability, and concluding with suggestions for future research to build upon this effort. The paper demonstrates a method of investigating time lags in observations of active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Previous observations of AGNs are analyzed using the new method. Through the survey, the author indicated that archival spectral and light curve data were obtained in FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) and plain text format. The author also indicated that these data were discovered through the astronomical literature and obtained directly from other researchers, which is evident in the paper’s ci tations to previous studies (rather than citations to datasets). The authors created simulated data models, some of which are available online in an astronomical data archive and some of which have been discarded. Specialized software would be required to understand or reuse the data, and the author is “unsure” whether the software is available online. The author would be willing to share any data associated with the paper that are not currently available online. The paper presents observations and measurements about a star with ambiguous spectroscopic classification. The paper refers to the telescope that was used to collect the observations Simulated data models were created for the paper, with some simulated data and software available via a personal website and some stored on an individual or laboratory hard disk. New or enhanced (derived) data products were created for the paper, but these are not available online. Rather, the data (images and computational model(s) or simulation(s)) are stored on an individual or laboratory hard disk. Specialized software would be needed to understand or reuse the data, and the author provided a link to a common suite of tools commonly used by astronomers. The author would be willing to share any data not currently available, but noted, “Most of the data is available online and I don't think many people are really interested in that data”. The paper presents a detailed analysis of an astrometry method. Through the survey, the author reported that new observational data were collected for the paper, and that the data (images) are available in a major astronomical data archive. Other observational data (photometry) are not available online, and the author is “unsure” of the location. The author also indicated that archival imag e data from the “ESO [European Southern Observatory] Database” were utilized for the paper. Simulated data models were created for the paper, which are not available online and are located on an individual or laboratory hard disk. The author indicated that specialized software would be required to understand or reuse the data and the software is not available online. The author would be willing to share the software as well as any data associated with the paper that are not online. The author explains, “I u sed a reference that is not publicly available, part of the restricted [observatory name redacted] technical archive (considered an industrial secret). The paper was confidentially sent to me by a colleague”. for instrument calibration. the survey, the author reported that new observational data were collected paper,