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Component Overview

The 'HST Search Parameter Components' section contains the the common search parameters for the Hubble data collection.. This page overviews the types of search components and how to specify parameter constraints.

 Parameter Constraint Syntax

Learn how to specify constraints on search parameters depending on the nature of the input. The following specifications apply for the core search parameters and Additional Search Parameters in the search form.

Hovering over each filter box shows tooltips on how to use search conditions.


HST Search Parameter Components


Data Types

By default, the 'Data Types' is set to 'ALL'. Check the check box for a preferred data type: 'SPECTRUM' or 'IMAGE'.

Observation Type

The 'Observations' selector can choose 'SCIENCE' and/or 'CALIBRATION'. The default setting is to search only 'SCIENCE'.

Instrument Selector

 This video clip demonstrates how to select different instruments to include in searches. 

Some data collections contain datasets from a wide range of instruments, for example, the various HST instruments. Mission Search can include results from across all available instruments or a subset of them. By default, all available instruments are selected. Hovering the mouse over each instrument will show the full name of the instrument.

Depending on the 'Data Types' selection, such as 'SPECTRUM' only or 'IMAGE' only, the list of available instruments will also change (an instrument that only takes images will not be shown if only 'SPECTRUM' data types are selected, for example).  To select a single instrument, click the 'none' () button and then select the desired instrument to include.

Some instruments produce neither images nor spectra: the Fine Guidance Sensors (FGS, which produce astrometric, usually interferometric, data) and the High Speed Photometer (HSP, which produced photometric data). These instruments will only appear if 'ALL' is selected in the Data Types area.

Dataset ID

The 'Dataset ID' is a unique dataset name (for HST it is 9-characters long, e.g., J8BA7JCAQ or O4140Q020, where the first character indicates the instrument used; L=COS; I=WFC3; J=ACS; N=NICMOS; O=STIS; U=WFPC2; W=WFPC; X=FOC; Y=FOS; Z=GHRS; F=FGS; V=HSP).

This component is a String field, so 'Exact Match', 'Wildcard', 'Exclude', and search by 'Multiple' entries are allowed. If known, type the exact dataset ID into this field's box. If the exact dataset ID is not known, conduct a wildcard search or type a string to enable a type-ahead menu. It will show a list of dataset IDs that contain that text. Browse through the suggested list to find the right one by scrolling the mouse or use the scroll bar on the right of the menu, and then click to select.

The 'Proposal ID' component allows search by proposal ID number(s) assigned to observation(s). Note that for some data collections, this might refer to Proposal ID or Guest Investigator ID.

This component is a Numeric field, so it allows an exact match, conditional search (for example, >= 14657) or a range search (for example, 12500 .. 12600). Type the Proposal ID with a preferred numeric search operation.

Principal Investigator

Example of an exact match, already selected.


Example of a type-ahead search result for PI surnames that start with 'WH'.

The 'Principal Investigator' component is a String field. Type an exact surname or a character string to enable a type-ahead menu. Once the type-ahead menu pops out, scroll through the surname list and select a name. 'Wildcard' search, 'Exclude' search, and search by 'Multiple' entries are allowed, but will not work with the type-ahead drop-down list.

Exposure Time

The 'Exposure Time' component, a Numeric field, allows querying for observations based on exposure durations, in seconds. Type a number, conditional operation, or a range.

Spectral Element

The 'Spectral Element' refers to filters, gratings, both, or combination filter sets such as 'POL120UV;F330W' depending on the data collection.

This component is displayed for multiple missions.  Please refer to the Spectral Element component documentation for more information.

Observed Date

The 'Observed Date' Component is a DateTime field.

To constrain data by Date and/or Time, use the format: yyyy-mm-dd in the 'Obs Start Date' field and hh:mm:ss in the 'Time' field. Note the 'Time' field is not required.

This component is displayed for multiple missions.  Please refer to the Observed Date component documentation for more information.

Release Date

This component is also a DateTime field. See the Observed Date component for tips on how to use this component.

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