1. VOConcepts @ VOEvent 2005-12-05T13:30:00+8, Tucson VOConcepts, the IVOA Standard Vocabulary, VOEvent & You Frederic V. Rick Hessman Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

2. VOConcepts @ VOEvent 2005-12-05T13:30:00+8, Tucson History Misc. attempts at a general-purpose astronomical ontologies, e.g. –2002 AstroGrid meeting @ Edinburgh –Talbot/U.Ottawa (http://www.site.uottawa.ca/astronomy)http://www.site.uottawa.ca/astronomy –Shaya/GSFC (http://archive.astro.umd.edu/ont/)http://archive.astro.umd.edu/ont/ –CDS/IVOA UCDs for VOTable –2005 local meeting @ CDS/Strasbourg VOEvent I @ CalTech –Response/description of events incomplete/error prone without common object vocabulary (SN or supernova? Unknown visual flash or Orphan optical transient ) –Cant always depend upon common usage, computers stupid

3. VOConcepts @ VOEvent 2005-12-05T13:30:00+8, Tucson RTML 3.x Similar problem to VOEvent: need standardized classification of targets in an anonymous observation request has gone through several forms in the search for an optimum solution for classifying targets –First, adoption of Hands-On Universe image database list using normal strings like globular cluster and galaxy –Extension of HOU list –Adoption of UCD-like form (e.g. stars.supernova, galaxies.spiral) –Currently (temporarily) an Eclipse+Java-friendly GUI-like form stars_:_supernova(Dont ask - a long, long, story.....) Example: – stars_:_supernova galaxies_:_spiral...

4. VOConcepts @ VOEvent 2005-12-05T13:30:00+8, Tucson VOConcepts Attempt to produce a UCD-like target classification scheme for RTML, HTN & VOEvent and perhaps IVOA Use of UCD-like syntax (compatibility) Based upon ApJ/A&A/MNRAS keyword lists Extensive enough to be useful (Barely) Short enough to be initially acceptable Published April 2005 @ monet.uni-goettingen.de/twiki/bin/view/VOEvent Submitted to IVOA UCD core discussion forum, but very limited response or even interest at first More recent email discussions with Andrea Preite-Martinez (her versions 0.1 and 0.2) resulted in her proposed IVOA Standard Vocabulary Version 0.3 of Andreas IVOA proposal distributed

5. VOConcepts @ VOEvent 2005-12-05T13:30:00+8, Tucson Syntactical Basis of VOConcepts Use of normal vocabulary, minimal abbreviations, standard hyphenation and capitalization (Herbig-Haro, supernovaRemnant) Primary list of (mostly plural) general groupings –process (physical processes, events, features), Sun, solarSystem, stars, ISM, Galaxy, galaxies, cosmology List of (mostly singular) sub-groupings (e.g. stars.cluster) Concatenation with semi-colons (just like UCDs) –e.g. process.burst;em.gamma = em.gamma;process.burst = GRB –Enables cross-referencing of concepts, but shouldnt be overdone! Object classes with architypes use appended -class to avoid identification with individual named objects –e.g. stars.variable.deltaCep-class = Cepheids Set of atoms for real-world purposes –e.g. obj.calib.* (UCD uses obj), obs.calib.*, weather.*,...

6. VOConcepts @ VOEvent 2005-12-05T13:30:00+8, Tucson VOConcepts Examples Gamma-Ray Burst = process.burst;em.gamma Classical Dwarf Nova = stars.variable.cataclysmic.dwarfNova.UGem Type Ia Supernova = stars.supernova.typeIa Orphan Optical Transient = process.burst;em.opt RR Lyrae star = process.pulsation;stars.variable.RRLyr-class Exoplanet transit = process.eclipse;stars;planets Pulsar glitch = process.glitch;em.radio;stars.neutron Starburst galaxy = galaxies.starBurst Closely interacting galaxies = galaxies;process.merging Guide star = obj.calib.guide Flatfield observation = obs.calib.flatfield Lunar occultation = process.occultation;stars;planets.satellite

7. VOConcepts @ VOEvent 2005-12-05T13:30:00+8, Tucson VOConcepts IVOA Standard Vocabulary ? Version 0.3 makes IMHO some good and some bad modifications, e.g. Gravitation previously absent from UCD1 –process.gravitation.wave, *.lensing & *.microlensing Cumbersome class.* group, inconsistently applied –stars.variable.deltaCep-class (VOConcepts) stars.variable;class.deltaCep (IVOA/SV) –stars.Be stars;class.Be but not stars.AGB stars;class.AGB –stars.supernova.typeIa stars.superNova;class.Ia Redundant/inconsistent notation –ISM.cloud vs. ISM.nebula vs. ISM.region (difference?) –ISM.nebula.planetary ISM.planetaryNebula (do we want to preserve hierarchies?) Strange atoms like source.VeryRed, source.ExtremelyRed Still missing important things like –phys.particle.* –obj.calib.* to classify calibration objects (photometric, guide-stars,...) –obs.calib.* to classify calibration observations

8. VOConcepts @ VOEvent 2005-12-05T13:30:00+8, Tucson The Problems with Speaking IVOA/UCDish Precise but not very succinct –e.g. QSO jet = galaxies.active.AGN.quasar;em.radio;process.mass-loss.jet –Probably no problem if standardized - this is all mostly for computers How to handle special objects? E.g. –source.Sun;process.protuberance or Sun.protuberance? –Source.Earth;planetarySystems.satellite or Earth.Moon? –ISM.nebula.galactic or Galaxy;ISM.nebula? Do we need a separate vocabulary list /dictionary for human-readable / succinct concepts? –If so, who maintains which ones for whom? Longevity for long-term querying? –VOEvent could maintain its own list, if really needed. Can express only global concatenation of concepts –e.g. in source;em.red;stat.extreme is the source or the redness extreme? What about formal ontologies (e.g. XML-based OWL) –Will they eventually replace a UCD-like solution or run parallel? Should we care? Will the IVOA adopt an acceptable initial Standard Vocabulary fast enough for VOEvent and RTML to adopt it or do we have to keep pushing ahead on our own?

9. VOConcepts @ VOEvent 2005-12-05T13:30:00+8, Tucson My Suggestion Submit LOTS of constructive suggestions/corrections for IVOA/SV pre-proposal to Andrea from broad potential user-base: she is our best guide/path through the IVOA jungle Insist upon consistency, reasonableness, and real-life usefulness Insist upon a system which can be extended using a clear set of rules (e.g. IMHO dump class.* atoms since they cant be applied consistently; avoid unnecessarily parallel hierarchies) Insist upon a deadline for the adoption of an initial Standard Vocabulary with the 100 most needed concepts which can immediately be adopted by VOEvent, RTML, and HTN, thus creating facts for the rest of the IVOA community –e.g. compile a list and simply vote! Worry about general acceptance / IAU later : everyone will simply have to follow!

10. VOConcepts @ VOEvent 2005-12-05T13:30:00+8, Tucson (RTML slide)

11. VOConcepts @ VOEvent 2005-12-05T13:30:00+8, Tucson Remote Telescope Markup Language Original goal : describe simple observing imaging proposal using XML (DTD Version 2.1) Now (Schema Version 3.1) : –describes complex imaging/spectroscopic observing proposals –can serve as the medium for reserving remote observing time-blocks –represents complex scheduling constraints –represents Phase I & II information –documents available telescope/observatory resources –documents most important details of a completed observation –can be used as input/output of generalized exposure simulators –can serve as the medium for arbitration of services (HTN)