Data Products

PLATO’s core science programme focuses on the discovery and characterisation of exoplanets, alongside asteroseismology. Most mission data will be released to the public shortly after calibration and validation. This effort is underpinned by the PLATO Input Catalog (PIC), which comprises the target (tPIC), science and calibration (scvPIC), instrument calibration (cPIC), and fine‑guidance (fgPIC) catalogs. Within the tPIC, the Prime Sample represents a central and pivotal set of targets selected to fulfill the mission's scientific objectives. For full context, please refer to the detailed descriptions via the dedicated PIC webpage and references therein, or explore the PIC data directly via the PLATO ArXiv (PAX).

The sections below give an overview of PLATO's data products and their public release schedule. Details of the produts are described in the dedicated Product Definition Document, which can be accessed at the bottom of this page. The main PLATO products are shown schematically in this diagramme:

Public Data Releases

The schedule for making tPIC targets data products publicly available will vary based on whether they are included in the Prime Sample:

• For targets in the Prime Sample, Level-0, Level-1 and Level-2 products for each observing quarter will be publicly released via PAX as soon as possible after scientific validation, but no later than one year after each Level-1 validation period. This will allow for the consolidation of the planet candidate list and the initiation of the ground-based observations by the PMC. Level-3 products and their ground-based associated observations will be publicly released immediately after the publication of the planetary parameters, or as soon as possible but no later than six months after the completion of the ground-based observations.  
  
  Approximately 6% of the Prime Sample will be PLATO Mission Consortrium (PMC) proprietary targets. Each target data proprietary period will end six months after the completion of the ground-based observations for the confirmation and characterisation of the associated planet. 
   
• For targets not included in the Prime Sample, Level-0, Level-1, and Level-2 products will be publicly released within three months of the corresponding Level-1 validation period. 

The Level-1 validation period is estimated to last 6 months for the first science observation quarter and 3 months for subsequent quarters.  

Level-0 and Level-1 data products associated with fgPIC and scvPIC targets will be generated and released following the tPIC non-Prime sample scheme. 

The public data releases during the first two years of operations, assuming a launch date in January 2027, are shown in the following scheme. OQ denotes the corresponding observation quarters. The schedule for the Prime Sample excludes the PMC proprietary targets. 

Product Definition Document

Current Version

Product Definition Document - released 7 April 2026