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 galaxies up to z=0.3, b J =19.45 – Quasar survey: redshifts and spectra for quasars up to z=3.0, b J =21

Australian data resources 2dF –Galaxy survey: redshifts and spectra for galaxies up to z=0.3, b J =19.45 – Quasar survey: redshifts and spectra for quasars up to z=3.0, b J =21 Ly CIV CIII] MgII H

Australian data resources 2dF HIPASS –Surveyed all galaxies in HI (unbiased) up to 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 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 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 – 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 – 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 -33 o 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 -33 o 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-S WFPC 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 engagement of a small country in a large international project 1.Identify any strengths or special roles the country may have in the international context 2.Identify what the major international partners gain from the involvement of the small country 3.Identify what the small country gains from its involvement in the project 4.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 engagement of a small country in a large international project 1.Identify any strengths or special roles the country may have in the international context 2.Identify what the major international partners gain from the involvement of the small country 3.Identify what the small country gains from its involvement in the project 4.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?