PPDB and Alerts, whats the difference?

Support Data Products
#1

I hear a lot about the Prompt Products Database, but I am not clear what it is.

  • I understand it will be implemented as a TAP service (is that right?). If so, when might there be a prototype?
  • What is in the PPDB that is not in the collection of recent alerts? I think there is something about improved orbits for solar system bodies, is that right? Anything on the fixed objects?
  • Lasair is intending to keep only recent cutouts (~3 months). Is the PPDB the place to get older cutouts if needed?
  • Is the data in the PPDB for data rights holders only or is it public like the alerts?
#2

Hi @roy,

  • Yes, the PPDB will be behind TAP. At this time I don’t know that I expect a prototype; it’s the same technology as DP0.X.

  • The APDB contents are specified in https://sdm-schemas.lsst.io/apdb.html; the PPDB schema should be nearly identical. The only things in there that may not be in alerts are some forced photometry records and some of the solar system records.

  • The PPDB has catalog data only. Cutouts may be retrieved from the cutouts service.

  • This is specified in RDO-013 DPOL-054. Direct access is restricted to data rights holders but the contents may be freely shared.

#3

A tiny tweak: I’m expecting the best-performing place to get historical Alert postage stamps will be the archive of Alerts (confusingly known as the Alert Database in some contexts), as documented in https://dmtn-183.lsst.io/, rather than the cutout service.

#4

Thank you Eric and K-T!

1 Like