There is a wealth of data on stellar parameters out there for those in need of it, from members of the public with an interest in astronomy, to students studying the field, and to professional researchers - however, even in 2024, there is still no means of finding that data in an accessible, reliable and convenient way. This needs to change.

Wikipedia is a common starting point to find information about individual stars, but the data cited is often limited (whether because only one source on a particular parameter has been included or because the data has not been included in the first place), contradictory (for instance, when competing values from different studies are combined together in a single infobox), or unreliable (and in some cases completely uncited). SIMBAD can be a useful tool for scientists, but its user interface is somewhat clunky for most others; whilst SIMBAD does provide data for stellar temperatures, it is of limited use for those with in interest in finding luminosities, masses and radii, and the database does not adequately signpost which values apply to which components in multiple star systems. The NASA Exoplanet Archive is an excellent example of a user-friendly interface with interactive tables which enable cross-referencing, but its stellar data is limited to host stars of confirmed exoplanets. One could delve deep into the literature to find stellar data, but this task is very time-consuming, especially if users wish to compare data between several different studies.

The stars are truly fascinating, and as time goes on and access to the internet across the world increases, the demand for publicly-available stellar data can only grow. Without a user-friendly database of stellar parameters, individuals with a keen interest in astronomy may turn away as they find their curiosity unfulfilled - individuals who may have otherwise found themselves going on to study the field. If things stay as they are, popular science communication will be lesser for it, and in the worst cases media sources will continue to rely on outdated and mis-attributed data like a game of telephone. Misinformation will continue to spread.

If a user-friendly online database were developed, it would be transformative. Benefits could include:

• Greater ease of use for amateur astronomers and enthusiasts
• More accurate communication of scientific data to the public through the media and through content-led platforms such as YouTube
• Broader opportunities to reach a potentially larger pool of people interested in a career in astronomy
• Reduced time spent undertaking literature reviews for research papers, potentially accelerating the pipeline for astronomical research

What would such a database look like? Perhaps it would include a summary section containing live averages (or weighted averages taking into account age of the data and/or its level of influence) for prominent and meaningful parameters (such as distance, temperature, luminosity, mass and radius) for quick reference. Underneath, the full data would be listed in tables for each parameter, fully cited and with the ability to be cross-referenced with ease. For multiple star systems, it would be made clear which data apply to which components of the system. As previously stated, the NASA Exoplanet Archive is exemplary in its design, and this database should learn from its best principles.

The NASA Exoplanet Archive is now almost 13 years old; it was possible in 2011 to develop a data service collating astronomical data, and with advances in computing and algorithms since then it can only be more possible now. Now is the time to develop an accessible, user-friendly, reliable and convenient database of stellar parameters. It can be done and it can be brilliant.