The Biggest Data of All: Making and Sharing a Digital Universe

Throughout the twentieth century, astronomers moved from and between different data-collection regimes, from the photographic to the electronic and, finally, to the born-digital era. At the same time, the focus of scientific discovery shifted away from the telescope itself to the hard drive, the database, and digital archives. This essay builds on the assumption that the sharing and circulation of astronomical data—as with other kinds of scientific data—have become core research activities that demand an increasing fraction of researchers’ time, money, and expertise. The examples presented here give insights into the larger and gradual digitization process that unfolded throughout the entire international astronomy community. Although the examples chosen here depict local processes, the importance of sharing digital data transcended specific institutions, individual research questions, and national boundaries.