The Small Bodies Node (SBN) of the Planetary Data System is a distributed node with expertise on comets, asteroids and interplanetary dust. The node data collection and verification activities are spread among several institutions specializing in particular bodies (comets, asteroids, or dust), while the main archives and user services are collected in a single place.

SBN Advisory Council
Dr. Michael J. S. Belton	Belton Space Exploration Initiatives, LLC	xxxx — present
Dr. Yan Fernandez	University of Central Florida	2008 — present
Dr. David Nesvorny	South-West Research Institute	2008 — present
Dr. Daniel Britt	University of Central Florida	2003 — present
Dr. David Trilling	University of Arizona	2008 — present
Dr. Shelte "Bobby" Bus	University of Hawaii	2008 — present
Dr. Anita L. Cochran	University of Texas	xxxx — present
Dr. William Reach	The Infrared Processing and Analysis Facility (IPAC/Caltech)	2003 — present
SBN Organization Chart and Personnel information

Our Subnodes

Activities at PDS data nodes like the SBN include:

• restoring datasets from past missions
• formatting and archiving data from current and on-going programs
• coordinating the creation and archiving of data from campaigns still in the planning stages
• supporting the archive, so that the files are available to the community
• assisting users in interpreting the data

The SBN is involved in restoring and archiving datasets from several past missions, including the International Halley Watch, the GIOTTO Extended Mission to Comet Grigg-Skjellerup, and interplanetary dust observations from the IRAS mission. The asteroid node has worked with the NEAR project to coordinate data formats and documentation for the archiving of project data with the SBN.

The Planetary Data System is a deep archive for planetary datasets past, present and future. It is the goal of the PDS to archive data files with sufficient documentation and ancillary information (flat fields, instrument parameters, ephemeris tables, etc.) that the data will be useful, meaningful and accessible to astronomers in future generations.

Both ground-based and space-based observations are included in the PDS archives, data nodes applying their in-house expertise to each case as needed. Each subnode is staffed by researchers who work with the data and are available for consultation.

An important part of the archiving process is a critical peer review of the candidate datasets. After the data node has formatted the files and gathered all the associated documentation and support files, external reviewers with the appropriate scientific expertise are asked to carefully review the set for completeness and usefulness. The comments and criticisms of the reviewers are noted, and if serious problems or deficiencies are found in the data, the files are not accepted into the archives unless and until the problems are corrected.

You may occasionally come across datasets in these pages that are marked as "Under Review". These are the files which are currently undergoing the review and correction process. Unless otherwise stated, all datasets available through the SBN have passed review.

Problems or Questions?

For technical or form-related questions, please contact Anne Raugh (raughastro.umd.edu). For scientific or data-related questions, contact Ludmilla Kolokolova (ludmillaastro.umd.edu).