In collaboration with the Centre des Données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS), the astronomical data headers for all projects observed since December 1990 with the Plateau de Bure Interferometer were made available on the Internet. For now, the archive provides information up to September 2003 on source coordinates, on-source integration time, frequencies, observing modes, array configurations, project identification codes, and other observational parameters.
The archive is already in its second release, and regular updates are planned in March and September. To preserve the confidentiality of all information submitted in the proposals, the data headers are protected for one year from the date of project completion. We welcome users' comments on the current release and suggestions on how it may be improved.
The CDS service is open for searching and listing without restrictions. The VizieR Catalogue Service at http://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/VizieR provides direct access to the Plateau de Bure database: just enter IRAM or B/IRAM as catalogue name. We invite users of the Plateau de Bure Interferometer to consult the archive before proposing for observing time.
The policies about the release and proprietory rights for the associated raw data are currently under discussion.
As far as A-rated projects are concerned, we look forward to bring these to completion in the current winter semester. B-rated projects are likely to be observed only if they fall in a favorable LST range. We remind users of the Plateau de Bure interferometer that B-rated proposals which are not started before the end of the winter period have to be resubmitted again.
To optimize the observing efficiency with respect to the sun avoidance constraints of A-rated projects, the configuration schedule of the interferometer was slightly re-adjusted. The interferometer was moved to the most extended configuration (A) of the six element array at the end of December, and will move to the B configuration before mid February. We plan to move the array to the C configuration at the beginning of March, and finally switch to the most compact configuration (D) before the end of March. Global VLBI observations, which include the array in the 3mm phased-array mode, are planned from April 15 to 20, 2005. According to this plan, it will not be possible to complete projects requesting deep integrations and low-resolution mapping before the end of April.
Investigators, who wish to check the status of their project, may consult the interferometer schedule on the Web at http://www.iram.fr/IRAMFR/PDB/ongoing.html. The page is updated every day.