Source-linked AI summary
WISeREP - An Interactive Supernova Data Repository
Ofer Yaron, Avishay Gal-Yam
TL;DR
WISeREP is designed as a repository for holding, sharing, and analyzing public or private spectroscopic data. It combines searchable archiving with interactive online analysis tools and already hosts >8000 spectra, of which >5000 are public, while supporting ongoing and future surveys.
Problem
WISeREP addresses the need to hold, share, and analyze spectroscopic data for communities worldwide, including data that remain private to collaborations.
Method
The paper develops a fully searchable spectroscopic archive with interactive plots for visualization, line identification, redshift determination, supernova classification, and expansion-velocity measurement.
Results
>8000 spectra, of which >5000 are public, are hosted for ∼2600 objects, including the complete SUSPECT and CfA-Ia samples.
Takeaways & Limitations
WISeREP supports rapid online analysis, proprietary collaboration, public distribution, and curation of ongoing and future survey data.
Takeaways & Limitations
The repository may contain erroneous or missing data, metadata problems, and duplicated spectra, particularly in material ingested from SUSPECT.
Abstract
from arXiv · showhide
We have entered an era of massive data sets in astronomy. In particular, the number of supernova (SN) discoveries and classifications has substantially increased over the years from few tens to thousands per year. It is no longer the case that observations of a few prototypical events encapsulate most spectroscopic information about SNe, motivating the development of modern tools to collect, archive, organize and distribute spectra in general, and SN spectra in particular. For this reason we have developed the Weizmann Interactive Supernova data REPository - WISeREP - an SQL-based database (DB) with an interactive web-based graphical interface. The system serves as an archive of high quality SN spectra, including both historical (legacy) data as well as data that is accumulated by ongoing modern programs. The archive provides information about objects, their spectra, and related meta-data. Utilizing interactive plots, we provide a graphical interface to visualize data, perform line identification of the major relevant species, determine object redshifts, classify SNe and measure expansion velocities. Guest users may view and download spectra or other data that have been placed in the public domain. Registered users may also view and download data that are proprietary to specific programs with which they are associated. The DB currently holds >8000 spectra, of which >5000 are public; the latter include published spectra from the Palomar Transient Factory, all of the SUSPECT archive, the Caltech-Core-Collapse Program, the CfA SN spectra archive and published spectra from the UC Berkeley SNDB repository. It offers an efficient and convenient way to archive data and share it with colleagues, and we expect that data stored in this way will be easy to access, increasing its visibility, usefulness and scientific impact.
2.1. Database Tables and Relations
WISeREP organizes astronomical objects, spectra, metadata, auxiliary entities, and related files in a relational database. Its schema links multiple spectra to each object while tracking provenance, access status, and supporting information.
- Database structure: Objects and Spectra are the two major entities, linked through a 1:N relationship so each object can have multiple spectra.
- Database structure: Object records store names, coordinates, identifiers, redshifts, host galaxies, discovery data, maximum-light data, and public-availability status.
- Spectrum metadata: Each spectrum is linked to an object and records observational, instrumental, reduction, publication, and optional FITS-file metadata.
- Spectrum metadata: Objects and spectra support free-text remarks and related files, allowing additional calibration products, figures, plots, and other data to be attached.
- Supporting entities: Auxiliary tables cover instruments, telescopes, programs, collaborators, and coordinates, while an online ERD documents the database tables and columns.
2.2. Web Interface
WISeREP provides searchable web pages, interactive spectral analysis, and access controls for public and program-proprietary data. Users can query objects and spectra, inspect plots, and work with data according to their permissions.
- Web interface: Users query Objects and Spectra through dedicated pages with fields, sorting options, and links to retrieved records and associated data.
- Online analysis: Interactive plots support zooming, over-plotting, line identification, redshift determination, supernova classification, and expansion-velocity measurements.
- Online analysis: The plots display observed and rest-frame wavelength scales when redshift is available, and allow users to modify redshift and expansion velocity while over-plotting element lines.
- Online analysis: Interactive plots enable quick online analysis and selection of specific data for more detailed offline studies.
- Access and ownership: Guests access public data, while personal or group accounts provide program-based access to proprietary objects and spectra.
- Access and ownership: Owners can mark data public or non-public and choose whether proprietary data remain hidden or are visible as restricted resources for collaboration.
- Additional utilities: Additional utilities include coordinate-based Astronomer’s Telegram searches, SQL querying for registered users, and submission procedures for uploads.
6.1. Sources - SN Surveys and Archives
WISeREP aggregates supernova spectra from major archives, surveys, and observing programs, combining public and program-internal datasets. It is also positioned to distribute data from ongoing and future surveys.
- Archived sources: >1500 SUSPECT spectra for ∼180 SNe are public, alongside 2603 CfA Type Ia spectra obtained during 1993–2008.
- Archived sources: The archive includes ∼330 public UC Berkeley SNDB spectra, ∼240 NTT/NOT SDSS-II spectra, ∼3000 PTF spectra, and CCCP spectra with a smaller public subset.
- Archived sources: Additional holdings include HST-Ia, HIRES, PS1, ESO/NTT, and other survey or program datasets.
- Ongoing and future surveys: WISeREP serves as a curation and distribution facility for PESSTO and future PTF data releases, including extensive spectra and associated metadata.
6.2. Additional Features and Tools
WISeREP combines searchable archiving, online spectral analysis, access-controlled collaboration, and expanding survey coverage. The authors report substantial holdings while noting that some ingested data may require correction.
- Future development: Future plans include photometric archiving and analysis, including peak-date determination and light-curve fitting.
- Future development: Planned spectral extensions include line fitting, equivalent-width measurements, global spectral fitting, parametric synthesis, and infrared tools.
- Future development: High-level fitting results may be archived and distributed to increase the utility of the data.
- Examples and conclusion: The paper presents representative spectra sets covering common supernova types and peculiar cases as examples of the system’s content and appearance.
- Examples and conclusion: WISeREP is fully searchable, provides online analysis tools, and supports rapid determination of supernova types, redshifts, and expansion velocities.
- Examples and conclusion: >8000 spectra, including >5000 public spectra for ∼2600 objects, are hosted alongside complete SUSPECT and CfA-Ia samples.
- Data quality: The authors warn that erroneous, missing, duplicated, or improperly processed data may remain, especially among spectra ingested from SUSPECT.