# ZVAR: Unlocking the Sky's Variability and Periodicity for 1.5 Billion Astronomical Objects

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · California Institute of Technology (CA) · $575,000

## Abstract

Observations of the temporal variability of astrophysical objects are foundational for many areas of stellar and extragalactic astrophysics. The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) is the leading large-area time domain sky survey with a particular emphasis on transient sources that change on day timescales. A research group at California Institute of Technology (Caltech) will significantly enhance the value of ZTF to the astronomy community by boosting its ability to study persistent variability on all timescales. The team will develop a publicly accessible repository of variability data for 1.5 billion objects: the ZTF Variability Archive or ZVAR. The ZVAR footprint includes a significant overlap with the region covered by new Vera C. Rubin Observatory, providing a valuable tool for early exploitation of the Rubin data. This project will directly support thesis-related activities for graduate students studying stellar variability as well as undergraduate students through programs such as Caltech’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF). The project also exposes students to cutting edge techniques in data science, including high level data mining and extraction of meaningful results from these large datasets.

ZVAR will contain a forced-photometry light curve and variability repository for 1.5 billion objects above -30 degrees declination. With a median of over 1600 observations per source, ZVAR will provide variability information on time scales from minutes t

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2509891
- **Awardee organization:** California Institute of Technology (CA)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** U2JMKHNS5TG4
- **PI:** Matthew Graham
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** THEORETICAL & COMPUTATIONAL ASTROPHYSICS, OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY, ARCHIVAL DATA ANALYSIS
- **Estimated total:** $575,000
- **Funds obligated:** $575,000
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 09/01/2025 → 08/31/2027

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2509891

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2509891, ZVAR: Unlocking the Sky's Variability and Periodicity for 1.5 Billion Astronomical Objects. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2509891. Licensed CC0.

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