Дата публикации: 17-04-2026 19:00:00

One of the most important productivity metrics in astronomy and astrophysics is the annual number of publications in peer-reviewed journals using data from telescopes. NSF NOIRLab, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, encompasses many of the world’s most powerful and productive telescopes, which continue to provide exceptional service to the international astronomical community, leading to impressive representation in major peer-reviewed journals.
Since 2014, the observatories operated by NOIRLab have seen an overall increase in total publications, from 554 refereed publications in 2015 to 747 refereed publications in 2025 [1]. This trend demonstrates the robust applications of NOIRLab’s world-class observatories and the fervent contribution to astronomical discovery by our user community.
A breakdown of publication metrics can be found on the NOIRLab publications dashboard, which directly accesses the NOIRLab public library in the ADS (Astrophysics Data System) to compile metrics. Users can view total telescope data publication counts, counts by NOIRLab Program and facility, and staff publication counts, arranged by month or year.
Data from NOIRLab's Mid-Scale Observatories (MSO) were utilized in 697 refereed publications in 2025. This metric includes telescopes at NSF Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) and NSF Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) (both Programs of NOIRLab). A major fraction of these — 383 publications (55%) — resulted from observations made with the NSF Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter telescope at CTIO. Additionally, data from the NSF Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter telescope at KPNO contributed to 282 papers, data from the 4.1-meter Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) telescope at CTIO contributed to 95 papers, and data from the WIYN 3.5-meter telescope at KPNO contributed to 61 papers [2].
MSO highlights include WIYN conducting crucial follow-up observations to confirm one of the most massive planets known to orbit a low-mass star. Additionally, two independent surveys conducted with the Department of Energy-fabricated Dark Energy Camera (DECam), mounted on the Blanco, and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) [3], mounted on the Mayall, have both hinted at a time-varying dark energy, challenging the standard model of cosmology.
The International Gemini Observatory, which is supported in part by NSF and operated by NOIRLab, recorded 284 refereed publications in 2025, comprising 152 refereed publications from the Gemini North telescope in Hawai‘i and 165 from the Gemini South telescope in Chile (33 publications used both telescopes). Among these publications were impactful results such as the discovery of a stellar companion around the famed star Betelgeuse, which utilized the ‘Alopeke instrument mounted on Gemini North. Additionally, observations with Gemini South contributed to the first-ever near-infrared analysis of a recurrent nova outside of the Milky Way Galaxy.
NOIRLab’s Community Science and Data Center (CSDC) contributed data to 330 publications in 2025. These papers are based in whole or in part on archival data made available through CSDC’s data products and services, such as NOIRLab’s Astro Data Archive and NOIRLab’s Astro Data Lab science platform.
Another notable 2025 metric is the 685 publications to which NOIRLab scientific and technical staff contributed. This includes refereed and non-refereed publications written by NOIRLab staff that use NOIRLab telescopes and data services, external telescopes and data, or both.
All in all, the 2025 numbers highlight NOIRLab’s world-class productivity and dedication to enabling and sharing breakthrough discoveries in astronomy and astrophysics with state-of-the-art ground-based observatories, data products, and services for our community.
Notes
[1] In addition to publications that use data from NOIRLab telescopes, this metric includes publications that use data from NOIRLab-granted community access time (CAT) on non-NOIRLab telescopes. Metrics in this announcement are reported for the calendar year rather than the fiscal year. Some publications use data from more than one NOIRLab telescope; however, we do not double-count them.
[2] Additional metrics for other MSO telescopes can be found here.
[3] DESI is managed by the DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) with primary funding from the DOE Office of Science.
More information
NSF NOIRLab, the U.S. National Science Foundation center for ground-based optical-infrared astronomy, operates the International Gemini Observatory (a facility of NSF, NRC–Canada, ANID–Chile, MCTIC–Brazil, MINCyT–Argentina, and KASI–Republic of Korea), NSF Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), NSF Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), the Community Science and Data Center (CSDC), and NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory (in cooperation with DOE’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory). It is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with NSF and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. 
The scientific community is honored to have the opportunity to conduct astronomical research on I’oligam Du’ag (Kitt Peak) in Arizona, on Maunakea in Hawai‘i, and on Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachón in Chile. We recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence of I’oligam Du’ag to the Tohono O’odham Nation, and Maunakea to the Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) community.

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