The WSDB and its Ancillary Files give a detailed description of the observational and data processing history of each IRAS point source. These files are meant to give the sophisticated researcher all the available data on any given source, such as its brightness on each hours-confirmed sighting, the detectors involved, and the details of the data reduction (e.g., confusion with neighboring sources). The WSDB is in binary format and is broken up into 20 files, one for each range of ecliptic longitudes called a survey Lune. The Ancillary Files contain flags and derived quantities obtained during final generation of the IRAS Point Source Catalog. Like the WSDB, the Ancillary Files are in binary format and subdivided into Lunes.

Reference:
Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) Catalogs and Atlases, vol. 1, Explanatory Supplement, 1988, ed. C. Beichman, et al., NASA RP-1190 (Washington, DC: GPO)

Version and release date: WSDB 4.0, 1986 Nov; Ancillary 3.0, 1986 Nov

• Request a WSDB or Ancillary File from the ADF
• See the format of the WSDB and Ancillary Files (in the Explanatory Supplement)