I. Incremental Data Releases (IDR)

• 2MASS has had three successful releases of preliminary data products



• Second Incremental Data Release - 2000 March
• First Incremental Data Release - 1999 May
• 2MASS Sampler - 1998 December


• Catalog and Image data from 48% of the sky now in the public domain

II. Data Access Modes

• Primary access mode to catalog and image data is via on-line tools of the Infrared Science Archive



• Catalog Searches
• Point Source Catalog Statistics Tool (June 2000)
• Interactive Atlas Image Retrieval - Quicklook Images (lossy-compressed Atlas Images)
• Batch Image Retrieval (July 2000) - Atlas Images (held at SDSCC) and Quicklook Images
• Extended Source Image Retrieval


• On-line access also available at Centre de Donnees astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) via the VizieR Service and the Aladin interface (First IDR available, Second IDR being integrated)



• Catalog files available via anonymous ftp from IPAC and mirror site at CDS



• Catalogs available on CD-Rom (Sampler) and DVD-Rom (First IDR available, Second IDR in production)



• Explanatory Supplements available on-line

III. Future Incremental Release Plans

• Third and fourth IDR scheduled for late 2000, mid-2001



• Further IDRs not a requirement for Final Processing (although completion of preliminary processing is)



• Benefits of further IDRs:



• Get remaining 53% of sky to the community to enable scientific investigation and to receive feedback on the data products before final processing commences (community are the 2MASS beta-testers)
• SIRTF pipeline needs 2MASS sky for observation planning and processing pipelines


• Cost of IDRs is an issue



• Strain on personnel resources for final processing


• Propose one modest IDR (~25% of sky) by end 2000
, and hold option for fourth pending review of resources

IV. Final Data Release

• Final Catalogs, Image Atlas and Documentation release to follow final uniform processing and FPG. Scheduled for end of FY02.



• Distribution modes identical to IDRs



• Possible final hardcopy distribution of Explanatory Supplement



• IRSA will become curator of on-line data products, with at least 1 FTE 2MASS-specialist (funding from IRSA)