STScI Annual Report 2002: A Living Mission

42 achievements
Figure 3 displays the histogram by year of the number of
refereed papers based on Hubble data that have not been
cited. Understandably, there is a time delay between the
publication of a scientific paper and the first paper citing it.
After allowing a few years time, only about 2% of the
Hubble based papers have no citations, whereas about one
third of all refereed papers in astrophysics are never cited.
This high level of productivity and impact reflects, in
part, the care with which we select the science program.
This year saw continued evolution in the process for
selecting the Hubble science program. We made a major
improvement with Cycle 12, reducing the time between
submitting proposals and starting observations in an
observing cycle. In prior cycles, the Phase I deadline
occurred in mid-September, with observations starting the
following July. For Cycle 12, we moved the Phase I deadline
to the end of January 2003, with observations still starting
in July. As a consequence the Telescope Allocation
Committee did not convene in 2002 but will meet in March
2003 for Cycle 12. Shortening the time between proposal
deadline and cycle start will ensure that recent findings
have greater influence on new Hubble observations,
quickening the pace of scientific advance.
We began the Hubble Treasury Program in the Cycle
11 proposal solicitation. The HST Second Decade committee
recommended this Program based on the observation that
many of the highest impact results came from the largest
programs. Recently compiled metrics (see Figure 4)
support the conclusion that papers from larger programs
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
publication year
have higher impact: large programs produce about 30% more citations than small programs.
Treasury programs are large programs to create major data sets with long-term significance and
relevance to multiple scientific problems. The Treasury data sets are non-proprietary and immediately
available to the community. In addition, we expect the observing teams to provide processed (science
ready) data sets, catalogues, and other data products to the archive for the community’s use. Accepted
Cycle 11 Treasury programs are now being carried out.
For Cycle 12, we have taken several steps to further strengthen the Treasury Program. The Director
established a Treasury Program Advisory Committee to provide continued advice on matters related to
the selection and conduct of the Hubble Treasury Program.
In November, the Institute organized a three-day workshop to foster high-quality Treasury proposals.
The workshop examined scientific areas requiring large investments of Hubble time and aired science
objectives, targets, and observing strategies, and brought potential collaborators together. More than
70 scientists attended the workshop, which by all indications was successful in promoting community
ideas and collaborations. In the future, we will hold Treasury Workshops in conjunction with the summer
meeting of the American Astronomical Society.
In Cycle 11, we created a new class of Archival Research (AR) proposals, called ‘Legacy’, to take
advantage of the growing size of the Hubble data archive and develop the potential of large, homogenous
data sets. Selected Legacy programs analyze specific data sets in a uniform manner, to deliver data
products like catalogs, software tools, and web interfaces to the archive for the community to use.
In Cycle 11 we also created the Hubble Theory Program, funded as part of the Hubble AR Program,
to improve the interpretation and understanding of Hubble data. The Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey
Committee of the National Research Council recommended funding such targeted theoretical research
in conjunction with major observing facilities. Selected Cycle 11 programs in both these categories are
being carried out.
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
mean # of citations
FIG 3: Refereed Hubble Papers Without Citations
0%
all Astrophysics HST papers
1.8%
1.8% 2.2% 2.5% 3.0%
FIG 4: Citations Per Refereed Paper
25
20
15
10
5
0
13.47
1-10
1.4%
3.0%
7.4%
8.2%
17.55 17.55
16.16
14.58 14.43
14.6%
11-20 21-50 51-100 1-50 51-100 >100
program size (orbits)
48.7%
19.74