Mainly on the PI

Article <1996Nov15.090456.1@stosc>
From: [email protected] (Faraway, So Close)
Subject: Re: Hale Bopp photos
Date: 15 Nov 96 09:04:56 EST

In article <[email protected]>, Mark <[email protected]> writes:
> Jonathan Silverlight wrote:
>> In article <01bbd061$06d8d7a0$89462399@default>,
>> "Ray Laliberty" ([email protected]) writes:
>> > it appears that ALL Hubble Space Telescope datasets are subject to a wait
>> >period of 1 year. So exactly 1 year from the time the data was collected,
>> >NASA will release the data to the public, not necessarily including
>> >the finished photograph.
>
>> This can't be right. The pictures of a Martian dust storm that were
>> released recently were taken in September and October 1996, and
>> the pictures of Neptune were taken in August.
>
> I agree Jonathan. If memory serves me right HST pics of comet
> Hyuatake (butchered the spelling) were IMMEDIATELY made available
> on the web, and not crappy low-res .jpgs either. If you doubt me
> check out NASA web sight, over 1,000 comet Hyuatake pics. Again I
> am just curious what's up???? The amateur pics posted on the web
> are very interesting, numerous "jets" shooting from the comet etc.
> It would be nice to see what the HST is seeing of this very peculiar
> comet.

It depends mainly on the PI (Principal investigator) of the project. Sometimes, they can process the data right away and release the results. There are also some cases where the director uses discretionary time for an unexpected occurance, and then makes them public right away. An example of this is the Hubble Deep field (well not unexpected but made public right away so anyone can work on the data). Sometimes, an image is taken only for planning purposes. I can't speak to the comet case directly but it depends. HST is observing Hale-Bopp and some nice data will come out, don't worry.