YSOVAR: Mid-Infrared Light Curves for ~29,000 Young Stellar Objects

The YSOVAR (Young Stellar Object VARiability) Spitzer Space Telescope program obtained the first extensive mid-infrared time series photometry for the Orion Nebula Cluster and 11 other star-forming cores. It contains light curves for approximately 29,000 unique objects in the 3.6 and 4.5 micron IRAC channels. The data is from NASA, with initial results described in 2011 and conventions detailed in 2014.

Use Cases

• Analyze mid-infrared variability patterns in young stellar objects based on the IRAC channel light curves.
• Model stellar accretion and disk processes based on time-series photometry from star-forming regions.
• Compare variability characteristics across different star-forming cores like Orion, NGC 1333, and Serpens.
• Conduct statistical studies of stellar populations using the catalog of ~29,000 unique objects.

Strengths

• Contains light curves for approximately 29,000 unique astronomical objects.
• Covers 12 distinct star-forming regions, including the Orion Nebula Cluster.
• Provides the first extensive mid-infrared (3.6 and 4.5 micron) time series photometry for these targets.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is stored in a BIN format, which may require specialized tools for access.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Observational data from the Spitzer Space Telescope's YSOVAR program.

Time Range

Observation period not specified in metadata.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 18:58:05.247219; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Targets star-forming regions including Orion, NGC 1333, Mon R2, and others across the sky.