The Australian Virtual Observatory(a.k.a. eAstronomy Australia)

Ray Norris

CSIRO ATNF

Overview

• Aims – what can Australia contribute to the IVO– Data– Techniques

• Status

• The role of small countries in the IVO

Australian data resources

• 2dF– Galaxy survey: redshifts and spectra for

250 000 galaxies up to z=0.3, bJ=19.45

– Quasar survey: redshifts and spectra for 30 000 quasars up to z=3.0, bJ=21

Australian data resources

• 2dF– Galaxy survey: redshifts and spectra for

250 000 galaxies up to z=0.3, bJ=19.45

– Quasar survey: redshifts and spectra for 30 000 quasars up to z=3.0, bJ=21

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Australian data resources

• 2dF

• HIPASS– Surveyed all galaxies in HI (unbiased) up to

12000 km/s– Increased HI-surveyed volume by a factor of

100– Surveyed Zone of Avoidance– Doubled the number of known pulsars (~1000)

Australian data resources

• 2dF

• HIPASS– Surveyed all galaxies in HI (unbiased) up to

12000 km/s– Increased HI-surveyed volume by a factor of

100– Surveyed Zone of Avoidance– Doubled the number of known pulsars (~1000)

Australian data resources

• 2dF

• HIPASS– Surveyed all galaxies in HI (unbiased) up to

12000 km/s– Increased HI-surveyed volume by a factor of

100– Surveyed Zone of Avoidance– Doubled the number of known pulsars (~1000)

Australian data resources

• 2dF

• HIPASS

• Macho– 113 000 images on 8*2048*2048 CCDs– 8-year Light curves for 8 million stars in LMC– 8-year Light curves for 10 million stars in Bulge– Variable star catalogue, etc.

Australian data resources

• 2dF

• HIPASS

• Macho– 113 000 images on 8*2048*2048 CCDs– 8-year Light curves for 8 million stars in LMC– 8-year Light curves for 10 million stars in Bulge– Variable star catalogue, etc.

Australian data resources

• 2dF • HIPASS• Macho• SUMSS

– survey of entire sky south of Dec -33o at 843 MHz

– Sensitivity ~ 1mJy rms

– Resolution ~ 43 arcsec

– Similar in resolution and sensitivity to NVSS

Australian data resources

• 2dF • HIPASS• Macho• SUMSS

– survey of entire sky south of Dec -33o at 843 MHz

– Sensitivity ~ 1mJy rms

– Resolution ~ 43 arcsec

– Similar in resolution and sensitivity to NVSS

Australian data resources

• 2dF • HIPASS• Macho• SUMSS• ATCA data archive

– 10 years of radio synthesis observations– Complementary to VLT, Gemini, ALMA– All data older than 18 months currently available on

request from www archive

Australian data resources

• 2dF • HIPASS• Macho• ATCA data archive

– 10 years of radio synthesis observations– Complementary to VLT, Gemini, ALMA– All data older than 18 months currently

available on request from www archive

HDF-SWFPC field

7 Jy rms

Goals of eAstronomy Australia• Make survey and archive data from

Australian telescopes available to all IVO users– All data listed here (and more!) is planned to be

put into IVO

• Set up datagrid and compute grid to give Australian astronomers access to IVO resources

• Help develop techniques, protocols, etc for the IVO

What are the elements of the IVO?

IVOtool

Interchange format

User

Translator

Database

Capability database

Telescope proposal system

Translator

Processor

Database

Instruction format

Translator

Simulation

Theory/model

Example element of eAstronomy Australia

Build a pipeline processor (running aips++) to process radio synthesis data from ATCA archive on the fly– User can choose parameters of image

• Field centre• Field size• Optimise algorithm for science question being asked

– Can use latest version of calibration algorithm– Expert users can tweak parameters

Other elements of eAstronomy Australia

• Build a pipeline processor (running aips++) to process radio synthesis data from ATCA archive on the fly

• Incorporate significant Australian datasets• Working with ICT scientists (e.g. in CSIRO Maths

& Information Science), develop Grid Computer network

• Link into astrophysical theory centres• Link into SKA developments

Current status of eAstronomy Australia

• Identified in Australian “decadal review” as high priority

• Several funding proposals (ARC, CSIRO) in pipeline for different aspects

• Now in embryonic stage

• Expect to start in late 2002

Australian strengths

• Several significant projects providing data of interest to international community

• Unusually tight links and collaboration between radio and IR/optical communities

• Good links between astronomical community and ICT research community

Australian weakness

• Small size compared to US, Europe

• Distance between Australia and everywhere else

Principles of engagementof a small country in a

large international project1. Identify any strengths or special roles the

country may have in the international context2. Identify what the major international partners

gain from the involvement of the small country3. Identify what the small country gains from its

involvement in the project4. Identify a niche where the country can

realistically contribute in a significant way 5. If any of 1-4 cannot be identified, then small

country should not participate in the project

Principles of engagementof a small country in a

large international project1. Identify any strengths or special roles the

country may have in the international context2. Identify what the major international partners

gain from the involvement of the small country3. Identify what the small country gains from its

involvement in the project4. Identify a niche where the country can

realistically contribute in a significant way 5. If any of 1-4 cannot be identified, then small

country should not participate in the project

Data availability,optical/radio links,astronomy/ICT links

?

Data, technical input

Partnership, linkages

What is the niche in which Australia can

best contribute to the IVO?