Imagine you are an astronomer with instant, fingertip access to all
existing observations of a given object and the opportunity to sift
through them at will. In just a few moments, you can have information
on all kinds about objects out of catalogues all over the world,
including observations taken at different times.

Over the next two years this scenario will become reality as Europe’s
Astrophysical Virtual Observatory (AVO) develops. Established only a
year ago (cf. ESO PR 26/01), the AVO already offers astronomers a
unique, prototype research tool that will lead the way to many
outstanding new discoveries.

Journalists are invited to a live demonstration of the capabilities of
this exciting new initiative in astronomy. The demonstration will take
place at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Manchester, in the United
Kingdom, on 20 January 2003, starting at 11:00.

Sophisticated AVO tools will help scientists find the most distant
supernovae – objects that reveal the cosmological makeup of our
Universe. The tools are also helping astronomers measure the rate of
birth of stars in extremely red and distant galaxies.

Journalists will also have the opportunity to discuss the project with
leading astronomers from across Europe.

The new AVO website has been launched today, explaining the progress
being made in this European Commission-funded project:

URL: http://www.euro-vo.org/

To register your intention to attend the AVO First Light
Demonstration, please provide your name and affiliation by January 13,
2003, to: Ian Morison, Jodrell Bank Observatory (full contact details
below). Information on getting to the event is included on the webpage
above.

Programme for the AVO First Light Demonstration

  • 11:00 Welcome, Phil Diamond (University of Manchester/Jodrell Bank Observatory)
  • 11:05 Short introduction to Virtual Observatories, Piero Benvenuti (ESA/ST-ECF)
  • 11:15 Q&A
  • 11:20 Short introduction to the Astrophysical Virtual Observatory, Peter Quinn (ESO)
  • 11:30 Q&A
  • 11:35 Screening of Video News Release
  • 11:40 Demonstration of the AVO prototype, Nicholas Walton (University of Cambridge)
  • 12:00 Q&A, including interview possibilities with the scientists
  • 12:30-13:45 Buffet lunch, including individual hands-on demos
  • 14:00 Science Demo (also open to interested journalists)
  • For more information about Virtual Observatories and the AVO, see the
    website or the explanation below.

    Notes to editors

    The AVO involves several partner organisations led by the European
    Southern Observatory (ESO). The other partner organisations are the
    European Space Agency (ESA), AstroGrid (funded by PPARC as part of the
    UK’s E-Science programme), the CNRS-supported Centre de Donnees
    Astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS), the University Louis Pasteur in
    Strasbourg, France, the CNRS-supported TERAPIX astronomical data
    centre at the Institut d’Astrophysique in Paris, France, and the
    Jodrell Bank Observatory of the Victoria University of Manchester,
    United Kingdom.

    Note

    [1]: This is a joint Press Release issued by the European Southern
    Observatory (ESO), the Hubble European Space Agency Information
    Centre, AstroGrid, CDS, TERAPIX/CNRS and the University of Manchester.

    Science Contacts

    Peter J. Quinn
    European Southern Observatory (ESO)
    Garching, Germany
    Tel: +49-89-3200 -6509
    email: pjq@eso.org

    Phil Diamond
    University of Manchester/Jodrell Bank Observatory
    United Kingdom
    Tel: +44-147-757-26-25 (0147 in the United Kingdom)
    email: pdiamond@jb.man.ac.uk

    Press contacts

    Ian Morison
    University of Manchester/Jodrell Bank Observatory
    United Kingdom
    Tel: +44-147-757-26-10 (0147 in the United Kingdom)
    E-mail: im@jb.man.ac.uk email: im@jb.man.ac.uk

    Lars Lindberg Christensen
    Hubble European Space Agency Information Centre
    Garching, Germany
    Tel: +49-89-3200-6306 (089 in Germany)
    Cellular (24 hr): +49-173-3872-621 (0173 in Germany)
    email: lars@eso.org

    Richard West (ESO EPR Dept.)
    ESO EPR Dept.
    Garching, Germany
    Phone: +49-89-3200-6276
    email: rwest@eso.org

    Background information

    What is a Virtual Observatory? – A short introduction

    The Virtual Observatory is an international astronomical
    community-based initiative. It aims to allow global electronic access
    to the available astronomical data archives of space and ground-based
    observatories, sky survey databases. It also aims to enable data
    analysis techniques through a coordinating entity that will provide
    common standards, wide-network bandwidth, and state-of-the-art
    analysis tools.

    It is now possible to have powerful and expensive new observing
    facilities at wavelengths from the radio to the X-ray and gamma-ray
    regions. Together with advanced instrumentation techniques, a vast new
    array of astronomical data sets will soon be forthcoming at all
    wavelengths. These very large databases must be archived and made
    accessible in a systematic and uniform manner to realise the full
    potential of the new observing facilities.

    The Virtual Observatory aims to provide the framework for global
    access to the various data archives by facilitating the
    standardisation of archiving and data-mining protocols. The AVO will
    also take advantage of state-of-the-art advances in data-handling
    software in astronomy and in other fields.

    The Virtual Observatory initiative is currently aiming at a global
    collaboration of the astronomical communities in Europe, North and
    South America, Asia, and Australia under the auspices of the recently
    formed International Virtual Observatory Alliance.

    The Astrophysical Virtual Observatory – An Introduction

    The breathtaking capabilities and ultrahigh efficiency of new ground
    and space observatories have led to a ‘data explosion’ calling for
    innovative ways to process, explore, and exploit these data.

    Researchers must now turn to the GRID paradigm of distributed
    computing and resources to solve complex, front-line research
    problems. To implement this new IT paradigm, you have to join existing
    astronomical data centres and archives into an interoperating and
    single unit. This new astronomical data resource will form a Virtual
    Observatory (VO) so that astronomers can explore the digital Universe
    in the new archives across the entire spectrum. Similarly to how a
    real observatory consists of telescopes, each with a collection of
    unique astronomical instruments, the VO consists of a collection of
    data centres each with unique collections of astronomical data,
    software systems, and processing capabilities.

    The Astrophysical Virtual Observatory Project (AVO) will conduct a
    research and demonstration programme on the scientific requirements
    and technologies necessary to build a VO for European astronomy. The
    AVO has been jointly funded by the European Commission (under FP5 –
    Fifth Framework Programme) with six European organisations
    participating in a three year Phase-A work programme, valued at 5
    million Euro. The partner organisations are the European Southern
    Observatory (ESO) in Munich, Germany, the European Space Agency (ESA),
    AstroGrid (funded by PPARC as part of the UK’s E-Science programme),
    the CNRS-supported Centre de Donnees Astronomiques de Strasbourg
    (CDS), the University Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France, the
    CNRS-supported TERAPIX astronomical data centre at the Institut
    d’Astrophysique in Paris, France, and the Jodrell Bank Observatory of
    the Victoria University of Manchester, United Kingdom.

    The Phase A program will focus its effort in the following areas:

    * A detailed description of the science requirements for the AVO will be
    constructed, following the experience gained in a smaller-scale science
    demonstration program called ASTROVIRTEL (Accessing Astronomical
    Archives as Virtual Telescopes).

    * The difficult issue of data and archive interoperability will be
    addressed by new standards definitions for astronomical data and trial
    programmes of “joins” between specific target archives within the
    project team.

    * The necessary GRID and database technologies will be assessed and
    tested for use within a full AVO implementation.

    The AVO project is currently working in conjunction with other
    international VO efforts in the United States and Asia-Pacific
    region. This is part of an International Virtual Observatory Alliance
    to define essential new data standards so that the VO concept can have
    a global dimension. The AVO partners will join with all astronomical
    data centres in Europe to put forward an FP6 IST (Sixth Framework
    Programme – Information Society Technologies Programme) Integrated
    Project proposal to make a European VO fully operational by the end of
    2007.