[[Net]]            

SIMBAD now free of charge for European users.
The XSimbad interface version 1.1 is available.
Weaving the Astronomy Web Conference (6-7 April 1995)

The CDS hosts the SIMBAD astronomical database, the world reference database for the identification of astronomical objects. The CDS also offers the following on-line services for access to data and documentations:

New developments include the ALADIN project, the X Window version of SIMBAD, and the client/server routines for catalogue queries.

A data center at the hub of international cooperation

• collect all of the useful information concerning astronomical objects that is available in computerized form: observational data produced by observatories around the world, on the ground or in space;
• upgrade these data by critical evaluations and comparisons;
• distribute the results to the astronomical community;
• conduct research, using these data.

The CDS has signed international exchange agreements with

• NASA (ADC),
• Japan's National Astronomical Observatory in Tokyo,
• the Russian Academy of Sciences,
• the SERC Starlink network in Great-Britain,
• China's Beijing Observatory,
• the University of Porto Allegre in Brazil,
• the University of La Plata in Argentina,
• and India's InterUniversity Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics.

The CDS plays, or has played, a part in most of the major astronomical space missions: generating guide star catalogues (EXOSAT, IRAS, Hipparcos, HST, ISO), helping to identify observed sources (Hipparcos, Tycho, ROSAT, SIGMA), or to organize data access to the archives (IUE), etc.

The CDS is cooperating with ESA in the European Space Information System (ESIS) project, and with NASA in the Astrophysics Data System (ADS) project.

Information about CDS services and the latest developments can be found in the six-monthly CDS Information Bulletin. The Bulletin also contains general papers about astronomical data, information methodology, other data centres' activities, etc.

Organisation and personnel

The CDS staff includes 10 researchers, 4 engineers, 3 technicians, and several temporary contractors and guest researchers.