Databases are information systems that describe data in an organized way, with the aim of facilitating their scientific use. In astronomy, these data can be ground-based or space-based observations, laboratory measurements or the results of scientific calculations.
Scientific databases and Virtual Observatory
Astronomical data is now widely shared, to enable the widest possible scientific use and maximum benefit. The Open Science policy promotes open access to data to enable researchers around the world to quickly reuse it for their own research, and the public to easily access research products and scientific advances.
One of the great strengths of databases is the ability to cross-reference data from diverse and complementary sources, thus offering the community the equivalent of new instruments combining the possibilities of each individually. The mechanisms enabling this kind of reconciliation form the basis of the Virtual Observatory (VO), an infrastructure enabling the publication and interoperability of online databases. The OV also provides generic analysis tools to meet the need to exploit the masses of data from various observation programs, the volume of which has grown enormously with the advent of new technologies. The Virtual Observatory is thus an essential organizational framework for online databases and services, involving the use of data description standards and access protocols to meet the challenge of managing, analyzing and disseminating large volumes of data.
The development of OV at international level takes place within the framework of the IVOA (International Virtual Observatory Alliance), where expertise is shared and OV standards are discussed and formalized. Similar consortia exist for planetary space mission data (IPDA), heliophysics (IHDEA), molecular physics data (VAMDC), etc. These different standards are themselves made compatible and interoperable.
Paris Astronomical Data Centre is the Center of Expertise of Paris Observatory, which implements and develops the interoperability of local databases, publishes new data collections according to community standards, and contributes to Virtual Observatory standards. PADC activities are described on its website.
Teams at Observatoire de Paris-PSL develop and maintain numerous databases. The most frequently consulted include the Encyclopaedia of exoplanetary systems and the [Miriade ephemeris server]->http://vo.imcce.fr/webservices/miriade/. Some are organized on a national level as INSU Observation Service, notably those belonging to ANO5.