lsst · MelissaGraham · Jan 21, 2026 · Jan 20, 2026 · Jan 20, 2026 · Jan 20, 2026
diff --git a/docs/access/index.rst b/docs/access/index.rst
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
-#####################
-Data Access & Brokers
-#####################
+###########
+Data access
+###########
 
-Accessing prompt data products.
+Services and tools for accessing the alerts and the Prompt data products.
 
-Community Alert Brokers
-=======================
+Alert brokers
+=============
 
-Services that receive alerts in realtime.
+Software systems that ingest and process astronomical alerts from the LSST (and other surveys).
 
 .. toctree::
     :maxdepth: 1
@@ -16,15 +16,29 @@ Services that receive alerts in realtime.
     brokers
 
 
-Alert Archive
-=============
+Rubin Science Platform (RSP)
+============================
+
+.. important::
+
+   The alert archive, PPDB, and prompt images are not yet available.
+
+
+Past alerts and Prompt data products will be accessable via the RSP, as demonstrated in the :doc:`/tutorials/index`.
+
+Alert archive
+-------------
+
+An archive of all past alerts will be available via the Rubin Science Platform.
+This archive will be queryable by the ``DIA Object`` identifier.
 
-Image Access
-============
+Prompt Products Database (PPDB)
+-------------------------------
 
-Catalog Access
-==============
+The PPDB will be updated within 24 hours of alert distribution.
+The same data that is streamed in alert packets is available for query and analysis via the RSP.
 
-Solar System Data Products
-==========================
+Prompt images
+-------------
 
+The promptly-processed visit and difference images will be available after an 80 hour embargo period via the RSP.
diff --git a/docs/bib/lsstcam.bib b/docs/bib/lsstcam.bib
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+@misc{10.71929/rubin/2571927,
+    author = "{SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory} and {NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory}",
+    doi = "10.71929/rubin/2571927",
+    url = "https://www.osti.gov//servlets/purl/2571927",
+    keywords = "79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS",
+    language = "en",
+    title = "{The LSST Camera (LSSTCam)}",
+    publisher = "SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)",
+    year = "2025"
+}
diff --git a/docs/bib/osprae.bib b/docs/bib/osprae.bib
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+@TechReport{PSTN-019,
+    author = "{Rubin Observatory Science Pipelines Developers}",
+    title = "{The LSST Science Pipelines Software: Optical Survey Pipeline Reduction and Analysis Environment}",
+    institution = "{NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory}",
+    year = "2025",
+    month = "July",
+    handle = "PSTN-019",
+    type = "{Project Science Technical Note}",
+    number = "PSTN-019",
+    doi = "10.71929/rubin/2570545",
+    url = "https://pstn-019.lsst.io/"
+}
diff --git a/docs/bib/tutorials.bib b/docs/bib/tutorials.bib
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+@misc{ 10.11578/rubin/dc.20250909.20,
+    author = "{NSF-DOE Vera C.\ Rubin Observatory}",
+    doi = "10.11578/rubin/dc.20250909.20",
+    url = "https://doi.org/10.11578/rubin/dc.20250909.20",
+    keywords = "79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS",
+    title = "{Rubin Observatory LSST Tutorials [Computer Software]},"
+    publisher = "NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory",
+    year = "2021"
+}
diff --git a/docs/cite.rst b/docs/cite.rst
@@ -4,28 +4,60 @@
 How to cite
 ###########
 
-`How to cite Rubin Observatory <https://rubinobservatory.org/for-scientists/documentation/cite>`_.
+For general information, see `How to cite Rubin Observatory <https://rubinobservatory.org/for-scientists/documentation/cite>`_ and `citations.lsst.io <https://citations.lsst.io/>`_.
 
-When citing the Prompt Products please reference this paper: |pp_paper|.
 
-For AAS publications please refer to the `facility <https://journals.aas.org/facility-keywords/>`_ as "Rubin:Simonyi".
+DOI and publications
+====================
 
-The `Minor Planet Center <https://minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/ObsCodesF.html>`_ has allocated the telescope code X05.
+Data products
+-------------
 
-The instrument (LSST Science Camera) can be formally cited as
+When citing the Prompt Products please reference this paper:
 
-|lsstcam_doi|
+|pp_paper|
 
-and that page includes additional references describing the camera.
 
-When asked to cite the Prompt Products dataset as a whole please use:
+When citing the Prompt Products dataset as a whole please use:
 
 |prompt_doi|
 
-If you only use a specific subset, such as only the alerts, or a specific catalog table or image type, you may cite the DOI explicitly assigned to that subset.
-Each individual page in :doc:`/products/index` includes the relevant DOI.
 
-`citations.lsst.io <http://citations.lsst.io/>`_ provides a single point of reference for Rubin citations.
+If you only use a specific data product (e.g., alerts, or a specific catalog or image type), you may cite the DOI explicitly assigned to that subset.
+These DOI will appear on the individual pages under :doc:`/products/index`.
+
+
+Science pipelines software
+--------------------------
+
+The `Rubin Science Pipelines <https://pipelines.lsst.io/>`_ can be formally cited as:
+
+|osprae_doi| [:download:`BibTeX </bib/osprae.bib>`]
+
+
+Telescope and instrument
+------------------------
+
+For AAS publications please refer to the `facility <https://journals.aas.org/facility-keywords/>`_ as ``Rubin:Simonyi``.
+
+Note that the `Minor Planet Center <https://minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/ObsCodesF.html>`_ has allocated the telescope code X05.
+
+The `LSST Camera <https://lsstcam.lsst.io/>`_ should be citing using:
+
+|lsstcam_doi| [:download:`BibTeX </bib/lsstcam.bib>`]
+
+
+Rubin Science Platform
+----------------------
+
+If you accessed data via the RSP, for AAS publications please also add the facility ``Rubin:USDAC``.
+
+Tutorials
+---------
+
+When citing the tutorials please use:
+
+|tutorials_doi| [:download:`BibTeX </bib/tutorials.bib>`]
 
 
 How to refer to single objects

diff --git a/docs/index.rst b/docs/index.rst
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Vera C. Rubin Observatory Prompt Products
 
    This website is currently under development.
 
-Observations and Status
+Observations and status
 =======================
 
 Information and live status for the Rubin observations producing alerts.
@@ -21,39 +21,42 @@ Information and live status for the Rubin observations producing alerts.
 
    Observations <observations/index>
 
-Data processing
-===============
 
-Summary of the data processing steps that generate the data products.
+Data products
+=============
+
+Descriptions and schemas for the alert packets, catalogs, and images.
 
 .. toctree::
-   :maxdepth: 1
+   :maxdepth: 2
    :titlesonly:
 
-   Data Processing <processing/index>
+   Data products <products/index>
 
 
-Data products
-=============
+Data processing
+===============
 
-Descriptions and schemas for the alert packets, catalogs, and images.
+Summary of the data processing steps that generate the data products.
 
 .. toctree::
-   :maxdepth: 2
+   :maxdepth: 1
    :titlesonly:
 
-   Data Products <products/index>
+   Data processing <processing/index>
 
-Data Access and Brokers
-=======================
+
+
+Data access
+===========
 
 How to access Prompt Products through community alert brokers and the Rubin Science Platform.
 
 .. toctree::
    :maxdepth: 2
    :titlesonly:
 
-   Data Access <access/index>
+   Data access <access/index>
 
 
 Tutorials
@@ -62,11 +65,12 @@ Tutorials
 Tutorials demonstrating how to access and analyze data.
 
 .. toctree::
-   :maxdepth: 2
+   :maxdepth: 1
    :titlesonly:
 
    Tutorials <tutorials/index>
 
+
 Citing Prompt Products
 ======================
 

diff --git a/docs/observations/index.rst b/docs/observations/index.rst
@@ -1,26 +1,27 @@
 #######################
-Observations and Status
+Observations and status
 #######################
 
 .. important::
 
-   **Placeholder.** Rubin Observatory is still in an early operations optimization phase.
+   Rubin Observatory is still in an early operations phase.
 
 The key objective is to improve the image quality and survey efficiency in order to start the ten-year LSST survey.
-The amount of science-grade data collected during this phase will vary.
-
+The amount of science-grade data collected during this early phase will vary.
+For the general timeline during this phase, read more about the `Early Science Program <https://rubinobservatory.org/for-scientists/resources/early-science>`_.
 
 
 Survey strategy
 ===============
 
 Information about the strategy and cadence for the Legacy Survey of Space and Time can be found at `survey-strategy.lsst.io <https://survey-strategy.lsst.io/>`_.
 
+
 Nightly projection
 ------------------
 
-The projected Rubin schedule can be obtained via ObsLocTAP `programatically <https://usdf-rsp.slac.stanford.edu/obsloctap/schedule?time=24>`_ or with a `viewer <https://usdf-rsp.slac.stanford.edu/obsloctap/static/viewer.html>`_.
-A `tutorial <https://github.com/lsst/tutorial-notebooks/blob/main/Commissioning/102_rubin_schedule_viewer.ipynb>`_ is available.
+The projected Rubin schedule can be obtained via ObsLocTAP `programatically <https://usdf-rsp.slac.stanford.edu/obsloctap/schedule?time=24>`_ or with the browser-based `viewer <https://usdf-rsp.slac.stanford.edu/obsloctap/static/viewer.html>`_.
+A :ref:`tutorial notebook <tutorials-notebook>` for the Rubin Schedule Viewer is available.
 
 
 Alert stream status

diff --git a/docs/processing/alert-gen/index.rst b/docs/processing/alert-gen/index.rst
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ Alert generation
 
 .. important::
 
-   **Placeholder.** Prompt data processing is under construction.
+   Prompt data processing is under construction.
 
 
 This includes the creation of packets from the APDB, and alert distribution to brokers.
diff --git a/docs/processing/dia/index.rst b/docs/processing/dia/index.rst
@@ -6,46 +6,32 @@ Difference image analysis (DIA)
 
 .. important::
 
-   **Placeholder.** Prompt data processing is under construction.
+   Prompt data processing is under construction.
 
 
-DIA uses the decorrelated `Alard and Lupton (1998) <https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1998ApJ...503..325A/abstract>`_
-image differencing algorithm,
-as described in "Implementation of Image Difference Decorrelation" (`dmtn-021.lsst.io <https://dmtn-021.lsst.io/>`_)
-and in the LSST Science Pipelines documentation for
-the `Alard-Lupton implementation <https://pipelines.lsst.io/modules/lsst.ip.diffim/AL_implementation.html>`_.
+DIA uses the decorrelated `Alard and Lupton (1998) <https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1998ApJ...503..325A/abstract>`_ image differencing algorithm, as described in "Implementation of Image Difference Decorrelation" (`dmtn-021.lsst.io <https://dmtn-021.lsst.io/>`_) and in the LSST Science Pipelines documentation for the `Alard-Lupton implementation <https://pipelines.lsst.io/modules/lsst.ip.diffim/AL_implementation.html>`_.
 
 Key terminology:
 
 * ``DiaSource``: a detection, positive or negative, in a single difference image
 * ``DiaObject``: the astrophysical transient or variable object at a static sky coordinate
 
 
-**Light curves:** the forced photometry fluxes should be used for light curves.
-
-All measurements are stored in the catalog :doc:`/products/index`.
-
-
 Difference images
 =================
 
-Template coadd images are warped, scaled, and PSF-matched to a visit image,
-and then subtracted from the visit image to create a difference image.
+Template coadd images are warped, scaled, and PSF-matched to a visit image, and then subtracted from the visit image to create a difference image.
 
-In the context of DIA, the visit image is sometimes referred to as the
-"direct" or "science" image.
+In the context of DIA, the visit image is sometimes referred to as the "direct" or "science" image.
 
 
 DIA source detection
 ====================
 
-DIA source detection refers to the process of finding regions with above-threshold
-absolute flux in difference images, where the threshold is a signal-to-noise ratio of 5.
+DIA source detection refers to the process of finding regions with above-threshold absolute flux in difference images, where the threshold is a signal-to-noise ratio of 5.
 
-Difference images contain sources of residual flux from the subtraction, both
-positive and negative.
-Real astrophysical transients, variables, and moving objects appear as sources with
-a flux that is equal to the difference between their flux in the template and visit images.
+Difference images contain sources of residual flux from the subtraction, both positive and negative.
+Real astrophysical transients, variables, and moving objects appear as sources with a flux that is equal to the difference between their flux in the template and visit images.
 
 Spurious sources are also present due to unavoidably imperfect template matching.
 
@@ -63,19 +49,13 @@ An estimate of how likely a source is to be real is provided to enable filtering
 Dipoles
 -------
 
-Sources with footprints containing both positive and negative peaks are fit with a
-dipole centroid code.
-Dipoles represent sources that have moved only slightly (e.g., less than the PSF)
-between template and visit image.
+Sources with footprints containing both positive and negative peaks are fit with a dipole centroid code.
+Dipoles represent sources that have moved only slightly (e.g., less than the PSF) between template and visit image.
 
 Pixel flags
 -----------
 
-If the footprint contains one or more flagged pixels,
-e.g., for cosmic rays, detector edge, bad pixels,
-known artifacts, non-astrophysical trails,
-the source is also flagged.
-
+If the footprint contains one or more flagged pixels, e.g., for cosmic rays, detector edge, bad pixels, known artifacts, non-astrophysical trails, the source is also flagged.
 
 
 DIA object association
@@ -89,19 +69,15 @@ The DIA objects are stored in the ``DiaObject`` catalog.
 Variability characterization
 ----------------------------
 
-Light curve characterization parameters are calculated for all DIA objects,
-such as the minimum, mean, maximum, standard deviation, and skew in the
-difference image fluxes, the light curve's slope, percentiles, and ``StetsonJ``
-parameter.
+Light curve characterization parameters (timeseries features) are calculated for all DIA objects.
+In the future this set of parameters will extend to include measurements such as standard deviation, skew slope, percentiles, the ``StetsonJ`` parameter and more.
 
 
 DIA forced photometry
 =====================
 
-In general, "forced" photometry means a measurement made at a fixed coordinate in an image,
-regardless of whether an above-threshold region was detected in that particular image.
+In general, "forced" photometry means a measurement made at a fixed coordinate in an image, regardless of whether an above-threshold region was detected in that particular image.
 
-Forced PSF photometry measurements are made on all visit and difference images
-at the locations of all DIA objects.
+Forced PSF photometry measurements are made on all visit and difference images at the locations of all DIA objects.
 The results are stored in the ``ForcedSourceOnDiaObject`` catalog.
 
diff --git a/docs/processing/index.rst b/docs/processing/index.rst
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Data processing
 
 .. important::
 
-   **Placeholder.** Prompt data processing is under construction.
+   Prompt data processing is under construction.
 
 
 A high-level overview of the Prompt Processing steps which generated the data products.