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

1. The Australian Virtual Observatory(a.k.a. eAstronomy Australia) Ray Norris CSIRO ATNF

2. Overview • Aims – what can Australia contribute to the IVO • Data • Techniques • Status • The role of small countries in the IVO

3. 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

4. Lya CIV CIII] MgII Hb 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

5. 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)

6. 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)

7. 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)

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. HDF-S WFPC field 7 mJy rms 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

14. 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

15. Instruction format Capability database Translator Translator Simulation Telescope proposal system Processor Database Theory/model What are the elements of the IVO? User IVOtool Interchange format Translator Database

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. Australian weakness • Small size compared to US, Europe • Distance between Australia and everywhere else

21. Principles of engagementof a small country in a large international project • Identify any strengths or special roles the country may have in the international context • Identify what the major international partners gain from the involvement of the small country • Identify what the small country gains from its involvement in the project • Identify a niche where the country can realistically contribute in a significant way • If any of 1-4 cannot be identified, then small country should not participate in the project

22. Principles of engagementof a small country in a large international project Data availability,optical/radio links,astronomy/ICT links • Identify any strengths or special roles the country may have in the international context • Identify what the major international partners gain from the involvement of the small country • Identify what the small country gains from its involvement in the project • Identify a niche where the country can realistically contribute in a significant way • If any of 1-4 cannot be identified, then small country should not participate in the project Data, technical input Partnership, linkages ?

23. What is the niche in which Australia can best contribute to the IVO?