SIMBAD : a sequence-independent molecular-replacement pipeline

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Simpkin, Adam J.; Simkovic, Felix; Thomas, Jens M. H.

The conventional approach to finding structurally similar search models for use in molecular replacement (MR) is to use the sequence of the target to search against those of a set of known structures. Sequence similarity often correlates with structure similarity. Given sufficient similarity, a known structure correctly positioned in the target cell by the MR process can provide an approximation to the unknown phases of the target. An alternative approach to identifying homologous structures suitable for MR is to exploit the measured data directly, comparing the lattice parameters or the experimentally derived structure-factor amplitudes with those of known structures. Here,more » SIMBAD , a new sequence-independent MR pipeline which implements these approaches, is presented. SIMBAD can identify cases of contaminant crystallization and other mishaps such as mistaken identity (swapped crystallization trays), as well as solving unsequenced targets and providing a brute-force approach where sequence-dependent search-model identification may be nontrivial, for example because of conformational diversity among identifiable homologues. The program implements a three-step pipeline to efficiently identify a suitable search model in a database of known structures. The first step performs a lattice-parameter search against the entire Protein Data Bank (PDB), rapidly determining whether or not a homologue exists in the same crystal form. The second step is designed to screen the target data for the presence of a crystallized contaminant, a not uncommon occurrence in macromolecular crystallography. Solving structures with MR in such cases can remain problematic for many years, since the search models, which are assumed to be similar to the structure of interest, are not necessarily related to the structures that have actually crystallized. To cater for this eventuality, SIMBAD rapidly screens the data against a database of known contaminant structures. Where the first two steps fail to yield a solution, a final step in SIMBAD can be invoked to perform a brute-force search of a nonredundant PDB database provided by the MoRDa MR software. Through early-access usage of SIMBAD , this approach has solved novel cases that have otherwise proved difficult to solve.« less

Assesment of access to bibliographic databases and telemetry databases in Astronomy: A groundswell for development.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diaz-Merced, Wanda Liz; Casado, Johanna; Garcia, Beatriz; Aarnio, Alicia; Knierman, Karen; Monkiewicz, Jacqueline; Alicia Aarnio.

2018-01-01

Big Data" is a subject that has taken special relevance today, particularly in Astrophysics, where continuous advances in technology are leading to ever larger data sets. A multimodal approach in perception of astronomical data data (achieved through sonification used for the processing of data) increases the detection of signals in very low signal-to-noise ratio limits and is of special importance to achieve greater inclusion in the field of Astronomy. In the last ten years, different software tools have been developed that perform the sonification of astronomical data from tables or databases, among them the best known and in multiplatform development are Sonification Sandbox, MathTrack, and xSonify.In order to determine the accessibility of software we propose to start carrying out a conformity analysis of ISO (International Standard Organization) 9241-171171: 2008. This standard establishes the general guidelines that must be taken into account for accessibility in software design, and it is applied to software used in work, public places, and at home. To analyze the accessibility of web databases, we take into account the "Web Content Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0", accepted and published by ISO in the ISO / IEC 40500: 2012 standard.In this poster, we present a User Centered Design (UCD), Human Computer Interaction (HCI), and User Experience (UX) framework to address a non-segregational provision of access to bibliographic databases and telemetry databases in Astronomy. Our framework is based on an ISO evaluation on a selection of data bases such as ADS, Simbad and SDSS. The WCAG 2.0 and ISO 9241-171171: 2008 should not be taken as absolute accessibility standards: these guidelines are very general, are not absolute, and do not address particularities. They are not to be taken as a substitute for UCD, HCI, UX design and evaluation. Based on our results, this research presents the framework for a focus group and qualitative data analysis aimed to lay the foundations for the employment of UCD functionalities on astronomical databases.

Optical Characteristics of Astrometric Radio Sources OCARS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malkin, Z.

2013-04-01

In this paper, the current status of the catalog of Optical Characteristics of Astrometric Radio Sources OCARS is presented. The catalog includes radio sources observed in various astrometric and geodetic VLBI programs in 1979-2012. For these sources the physical object type, redshift and visual or infrared magnitude is given when available. Detailed comments are provided when some problems with published data were encountered. Since the first version created in December 2007, the catalog is continuously developed and expanded in respect to inclusion of new radio sources and addition of new or correction of old astrophysical data. Several sources of information are used for OCARS. The main of them are the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) and SIMBAD astronomical databases. Besides several astronomical journals and arXiv depository are regularly monitored, so that new data is included in OCARS just after publication. The redshift for about 150 sources have been determined from dedicated optical spectroscopic observations. As of October 2012, OCARS catalog includes 7173 radio sources. 3898 sources have known redshift, and 4860 sources have known magnitude. In 2009, it was used as a supplement material to the ICRF2. The list of radio sources with a good observational history but lacking astrophysical information is provide for planning of optical observations of the most important astrometric sources. The OCARS catalog is updated, in average every several weeks and is available at http://www.gao.spb.ru/english/as/ac_vlbi/ocars.txt.

Archive interoperability in the Virtual Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Genova, Françoise

2003-02-01

Main goals of Virtual Observatory projects are to build interoperability between astronomical on-line services, observatory archives, databases and results published in journals, and to develop tools permitting the best scientific usage from the very large data sets stored in observatory archives and produced by large surveys. The different Virtual Observatory projects collaborate to define common exchange standards, which are the key for a truly International Virtual Observatory: for instance their first common milestone has been a standard allowing exchange of tabular data, called VOTable. The Interoperability Work Area of the European Astrophysical Virtual Observatory project aims at networking European archives, by building a prototype using the CDS VizieR and Aladin tools, and at defining basic rules to help archive providers in interoperability implementation. The prototype is accessible for scientific usage, to get user feedback (and science results!) at an early stage of the project. ISO archive participates very actively to this endeavour, and more generally to information networking. The on-going inclusion of the ISO log in SIMBAD will allow higher level links for users.

Recent Evolution of the CDS Services - SIMBAD, VizieR and Aladin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Genova, F.; Allen, M. G.; Bienayme, O.; Boch, T.; Bonnarel, F.; Cambresy, L.; Derriere, S.; Dubois, P.; Fernique, P.; Lesteven, S.; Loup, C.; Ochsenbein, F.; Schaaff, A.; Vollmer, B.; Wenger, M.; Louys, M.; Jasniewicz, G.; Davoust, E.

2005-12-01

The Centre de Donnees astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) maintains several widely used databases and services. Among significant recent evolutions: - a new version of SIMBAD (SIMBAD 4), based on the PostgreSQL database system, has been developed, to replace the current version which has been operational since 1990. It allows new query and sampling possibilities. For accessing SIMBAD from other applications, a full Web Service will be made available in addition to the client-server program which is presently used as name resolver by many services. - VizieR, which gives access to major surveys, observation logs and tables published in journals, is continuously updated in collaboration with journals and ground- and space-based observatories. The diversity of information in VizieR makes it an excellent test-bed for the Virtual Observatory, in particular for the definition of astronomy semantics and of query language, and the implementation of registries. - a major update of Aladin (Aladin V3 Multiview) was released in April 2005. It integrates in particular a multiview display, image resampling, blinking, access to real pixel values (not only 8 bits), compatibility with common image formats such as GIF, JPEG and PNG, scaling functions for better pixel contrasts, a 'Region of Interest Generator' which automatically builds small views around catalog objects, a cross-match function, the possibility to compute new catalog colums via algebraic expressions, extended script commands for batch mode use, and access to additional data such as SDSS. Aladin is routinely used as a portal to the Virtual Observatory. Many of the new functions have been prototyped in the frame of the European Astrophysical Virtual Observatory project, and other are tested for the VO-TECH project.

Internet Astrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caballero, Rafael; Argyle, R. W.

Amateur astronomers can carry out scientific research in many different ways. Some activities require expensive telescopes, cameras, and often access to dark skies. But those who live in highly polluted areas, or do not have access to very specialized equipment, still have many possibilities; amongst which is using the online resources available from the internet. In this chapter we explore Aladin, Simbad, and VizieR, three resources created and maintained by the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS). Although these applications are intended for professional astronomers, they are also freely available for amateurs. They allow us to find and measure old neglected difficult pairs, discover new double stars, and in general have a better understanding of those tiny pairs of points of light that we love to observe, photograph and measure.

Astronomy: On the Bleeding Edge of Scholarly Infrastructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borgman, Christine; Sands, A.; Wynholds, L. A.

2013-01-01

The infrastructure for scholarship has moved online, making data, articles, papers, journals, catalogs, and other scholarly resources nodes in a deeply interconnected network. Astronomy has led the way on several fronts, developing tools such as ADS to provide unified access to astronomical publications and reaching agreement on a common data file formats such as FITS. Astronomy also was among the first fields to establish open access to substantial amounts of observational data. We report on the first three years of a long-term research project to study knowledge infrastructures in astronomy, funded by the NSF and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Early findings indicate that the availability and use of networked technologies for integrating scholarly resources varies widely within astronomy. Substantial differences arise in the management of data between ground-based and space-based missions and between subfields of astronomy, for example. While large databases such as SDSS and MAST are essential resources for many researchers, much pointed, ground-based observational data exist only on local servers, with minimal curation. Some astronomy data are easily discoverable and usable, but many are not. International coordination activities such as IVOA and distributed access to high-level data products servers such as SIMBAD and NED are enabling further integration of published data. Astronomers are tackling yet more challenges in new forms of publishing data, algorithms, visualizations, and in assuring interoperability with parallel infrastructure efforts in related fields. New issues include data citation, attribution, and provenance. Substantial concerns remain for the long term discoverability, accessibility, usability, and curation of astronomy data and other scholarly resources. The presentation will outline these challenges, how they are being addressed by astronomy and related fields, and identify concerns and accomplishments expressed by the astronomers we have interviewed and observed.

Status of the CDS Services, SIMBAD, VizieR and Aladin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Genova, Francoise; Allen, M. G.; Bienayme, O.; Boch, T.; Bonnarel, F.; Cambresy, L.; Derriere, S.; Dubois, P.; Fernique, P.; Landais, G.; Lesteven, S.; Loup, C.; Oberto, A.; Ochsenbein, F.; Schaaff, A.; Vollmer, B.; Wenger, M.; Louys, M.; Davoust, E.; Jasniewicz, G.

2006-12-01

Major evolutions have been implemented in the three main CDS databases in 2006. SIMBAD 4, a new version of SIMBAD developed with Java and PostgreSQL, has been released. Il is much more flexible than the previous version and offers in particular full search capabilities on all parameters. Wild card can also be used in object names, which should ease searching for a given object in the frequent case of 'fuzzy' nomenclature. New information is progressively added, in particular a set of multiwavelength magnitudes (in progress), and other information from the Dictionnary of Nomenclature such as the list of object types attached to each object name (available), or hierarchy and associations (in progress). A new version of VizieR, also in the open source PostgreSQL DBMS, has been completed, in order to simplify mirroring. The master database at CDS currently remains in the present Sybase implementation. A new simplified interface will be demonstrated, providing a more user-friendly navigation while retaining the multiple browsing capabilities. A new release of the Aladin Sky Atlas offers new capabilities, like the management of multipart FITS files and of data cubes, construction and execution of macros for processing a list of targets, and improved navigation within an image plane. This new version also allows easy and efficient manipulation of very large (>108 pixels) images, support for solar images display, and direct access to SExtractor to perform source extraction on displayed images.

The ISO Data Archive and Interoperability with Other Archives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salama, Alberto; Arviset, Christophe; Hernández, José; Dowson, John; Osuna, Pedro

The ESA's Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), an unprecedented observatory for infrared astronomy launched in November 1995, successfully made nearly 30,000 scientific observations in its 2.5-year mission. The ISO data can be retrieved from the ISO Data Archive, available at ISO Data Archive , and comprised of about 150,000 observations, including parallel and serendipity mode observations. A user-friendly Java interface permits queries to the database and data retrieval. The interface currently offers a wide variety of links to other archives, such as name resolution with NED and SIMBAD, access to electronic articles from ADS and CDS/VizieR, and access to IRAS data. In the past year development has been focused on improving the IDA interoperability with other astronomical archives, either by accessing other relevant archives or by providing direct access to the ISO data for external services. A mechanism of information transfer has been developed, allowing direct query to the IDA via a Java Server Page, returning quick look ISO images and relevant, observation-specific information embedded in an HTML page. This method has been used to link from the CDS/Vizier Data Centre and ADS, and work with IPAC to allow access to the ISO Archive from IRSA, including display capabilities of the observed sky regions onto other mission images, is in progress. Prospects for further links to and from other archives and databases are also addressed.

Measurement of the Radial Velocity of Vega and SAO 104807 by high resolution spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosas, F.; Ordoñez, J.; Suarez, W.; Quijano, A.

2017-07-01

The radial velocity is the component of the velocity with which a celestial object approaches (blueshift) or go away (redshift) of the observer. The precise measurement of the redshift allowed to Humason and Hubble discover the expansion of the Universe. In 1998 two research teams simultaneously discovered that this expansion is accelerated, for that reason the hypothesis of the dark energy has been raised to explain the existing repulsion. The present work shows the measurement of the radial velocity of Vega and SAO104807 by high resolution spectrometry. Using the instruments of the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Nariño, located in the south of Colombia, was measured the displacement that the spectral lines of both celestial objects suffer due to the Doppler effect. The results obtained were quite close to those recorded in databases such as SIMBAD, according to the used equipment. The instruments used were: Celestron CGE Pro 1400 Telescope, Shelyak LHIRES III High Resolution Spectrometer and SBIG ST-8300 CCD Camera. The characteristics of the spectrometer are: Diffraction grating: 2400 lines/mm, Spectral dispersion (H alpha): 0:012 nm/pixel, Radial velocity resolution: 5 km/s.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: G0-G3 main-sequence stars with V<15 (Lopez-Valdivia+, 2014)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopez-Valdivia, R.; Bertone, E.; Chavez, M.; Tapia-Schiavon, C.; Hernandez-Aguila, J. B.; Valdes, J. R.; Chavushyan, V.

2015-04-01

We selected in late 2008 a sample of stars from the Set of Identifications, Measurements, and Bibliography for Astronomical Data (SIMBAD) data base using the following criteria: (i) spectral type between G0 and G3; (ii) luminosity class V; (iii) visible magnitude V<15mag; (iv) declination δ>-10°. The selection resulted in about 1200 objects. We report here the results for 233 stars. We carried out the spectroscopic observations at the 2.12-m telescope of the Observatorio Astrofisico Guillermo Haro (Sonora, Mexico) between 2008 and 2013, with a Boller & Chivens spectrograph, equipped with a Versarray 1300x1340 CCD. (3 data files).

Development of ISO connection-oriented/correctionless gateways

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Landweber, Lawrence H.

1991-01-01

The project had two goals, establishment of a gateway between French and U.S. academic networks and studies of issues related to the development of ISO connection-oriented/connectionless (CO/CL) gateways. The first component involved installation of a 56K bps line between Princeton Univ. and INRIA in France. The end-points of these lines were connected by Vitalink link level bridges. The Princeton end was then connected to the NSFNET via the John Von Neumann Supercomputer Center. The French end was connected to Transpac, the French X.25 public data network and to the French IP research internet. U.S. users may communicate with users of the French internet by e-mail and may access computational and data resources in France by use of remote login and file transfer. The connection to Transpac enables U.S. users to access the SIMBAD astronomical database outside of Paris. Access to this database from the U.S. can be via TCP/IP or DECNET (via a DECNET to TCP/IP gateway) protocols utilizing a TCP/IP to X.25 gateway developed and operated by INRIA. The second component of the project involved experiments aimed at understanding the issues involved is ISO CO/CL gateways. An experimental gateway was developed at Wisconsin and a preliminary report was prepared. Because of the need to devote most resources to the first component of the project, work in this area did not go beyond development of a prototype gateway.

Guasom Analysis Of The Alhambra Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garabato, Daniel; Manteiga, Minia; Dafonte, Carlos; Álvarez, Marco A.

2017-10-01

GUASOM is a data mining tool designed for knowledge discovery in large astronomical spectrophotometric archives developed in the framework of Gaia DPAC (Data Processing and Analysis Consortium). Our tool is based on a type of unsupervised learning Artificial Neural Networks named Self-organizing maps (SOMs). SOMs permit the grouping and visualization of big amount of data for which there is no a priori knowledge and hence they are very useful for analyzing the huge amount of information present in modern spectrophotometric surveys. SOMs are used to organize the information in clusters of objects, as homogeneously as possible according to their spectral energy distributions, and to project them onto a 2D grid where the data structure can be visualized. Each cluster has a representative, called prototype which is a virtual pattern that better represents or resembles the set of input patterns belonging to such a cluster. Prototypes make easier the task of determining the physical nature and properties of the objects populating each cluster. Our algorithm has been tested on the ALHAMBRA survey spectrophotometric observations, here we present our results concerning the survey segmentation, visualization of the data structure, separation between types of objects (stars and galaxies), data homogeneity of neurons, cluster prototypes, redshift distribution and crossmatch with other databases (Simbad).

The la Plata Astronomical Data Center

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marraco, H. G.

1990-11-01

RESUMEN. El Centro de Datos Astron6micos tiene su sede en la Facuitad de Ciencias Astron6micas y Geofisicas d la Universidad Nacional de La Plata y funciona por convenio entre esta facultad y el Centre des Stellaires de la Universite' Louis Pasteur en Estrasburgo (CDS), Francia. La finalidad de este centro es la de proveer a los astr6nomos del area con copias de los alrededor de 500 acumulados y/o preparados por el CDS a la vez que promover la producci6n y/o acumulaci6n de en el rea. Para la realizaci6n de esta tarea se cuenta con el apoyo del Centro Superior para el Procesamiento de la Informaci6n (CESPI) de la UNLP cuyos equipos se describen. Las tareas que se estan realizando incluyen la distribuci6n de SIMBAD a los astr6nomos argentinos y se efectuan ensayos de distribuci6n en linea de CD-ROM TEST DISK del Astronomical Data Center (ADC) de la NASA que contiene los 31 mas solicitados por los astr6nomos de todo el mundo. ABSTRACl The La Plata Astronomical Data Center operates by an agreement between the Facultad de Ciencias Astron6micas y Geofisicas at La Plata University and the Centre des Donnees Stellaires of Louis Pasteur University at Strasbourg (CDS), France. The purpose of the Center is to provide to the area astronomers with copies of the catalogs they need amongst those stored and/or prepared at CDS. At the same time the center will act of the astronomical data produced within its area. K words: DATA ANALYSIS

Automated Data Tagging in the HLA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaffney, N. I.; Miller, W. W.

2008-08-01

One of the more powerful and popular forms of data organization implemented in most popular information sharing web applications is data tagging. With a rich user base from which to gather and digest tags, many interesting and often unanticipated yet very useful associations are revealed. With regard to an existing information, the astronomical community has a rich pool of existing digitally stored and searchable data than any of the currently popular web community, such as You Tube or My Space, had when they started. In initial experiments with the search engine for the Hubble Legacy Archive, we have created a simple yet powerful scheme by which the information from a footprint service, the NED and SIMBAD catalog services, and the ADS abstracts and keywords can be used to initially tag data with standard keywords. By then ingesting this into a public ally available information search engine, such as Apache Lucene, one can create a simple and powerful data tag search engine and association system. By then augmenting this with user provided keys and usage pattern analysis, one can produce a powerful modern data mining system for any astronomical data warehouse.

From Flamsteed to Piazzi and Lalande: new standards in 18th century astrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lequeux, James

2014-07-01

Aims: The present high accuracy of stellar positions and proper motions allows us to determine the positional accuracy of old stellar catalogues. This has already been done for the most important catalogues from before the 18th century. Our aim is to extend this study to several 18th century catalogues. Methods: To do this, I studied ten catalogues: those of Flamsteed and Rømer, four catalogues of La Caille, and catalogues of Tobias Mayer, Bradley, Piazzi, and Lalande. A comparison with modern data, mostly from Hipparcos, compiled in the Simbad database of the CDS allowed me to determine the position errors of these catalogues. I also compared the stellar visual magnitudes given in eight of these catalogues with photometric V magnitudes. Results: Thanks to novel instruments, the rms positional accuracy improved from thousands to hundreds of arcsec in older catalogues to less than one minute in that of Flamsteed, and to 2-6 arcsec in the other catalogues I examined. These improvements allowed for the first time relatively accurate proper motions to be determined by 19th century astronomers. The catalogues with some corrections are available in digital form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/567/A26

Networking of Bibliographical Information: Lessons learned for the Virtual Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Genova, Françoise; Egret, Daniel

Networking of bibliographic information is particularly remarkable in astronomy. On-line journals, the ADS bibliographic database, SIMBAD and NED are everyday tools for research, and provide easy navigation from one resource to another. Tables are published on line, in close collaboration with data centers. Recent new developments include the links between observatory archives and the ADS, as well as the large scale prototyping of object links between Astronomy and Astrophysics and SIMBAD, following those implemented a few years ago with New Astronomy and the International Bulletin of Variable stars . This networking has been made possible by close collaboration between the ADS, data centers such as the CDS and NED, and the journals, and this partnership being now extended to observatory archives. Simple, de facto exchange standards, like the bibcode to refer to a published paper, have been the key for building links and exchanging data. This partnership, in which practitioners from different disciplines agree to link their resources and to work together to define useful and usable standards, has produced a revolution in scientists' practice. It is an excellent model for the Virtual Observatory projects.

Stargate: An Open Stellar Catalog for NASA Exoplanet Exploration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanner, Angelle

NASA is invested in a number of space- and ground-based efforts to find extrasolar planets around nearby stars with the ultimate goal of discovering an Earth 2.0 viable for searching for bio-signatures in its atmosphere. With both sky-time and funding resources extremely precious it is crucial that the exoplanet community has the most efficient and functional tools for choosing which stars to observe and then deriving the physical properties of newly discovered planets via the properties of their host stars. Historically, astronomers have utilized a piecemeal set of archives such as SIMBAD, the Washington Double Star Catalog, various exoplanet encyclopedias and electronic tables from the literature to cobble together stellar and planetary parameters in the absence of corresponding images and spectra. The mothballed NStED archive was in the process of collecting such data on nearby stars but its course may have changed if it comes back to NASA mission specific targets and NOT a volume limited sample of nearby stars. This means there is void. A void in the available set of tools many exoplanet astronomers would appreciate to create comprehensive lists of the stellar parameters of stars in our local neighborhood. Also, we need better resources for downloading adaptive optics images and published spectra to help confirm new discoveries and find ideal target stars. With so much data being produced by the stellar and exoplanet community we have decided to propose for the creation of an open access archive in the spirit of the open exoplanet catalog and the Kepler Community Follow-up Program. While we will highly regulate and constantly validate the data being placed into our archive the open nature of its design is intended to allow the database to be updated quickly and have a level of versatility which is necessary in today's fast moving, big data exoplanet community. Here, we propose to develop the Stargate Open stellar catalog for NASA exoplanet exploration.

Digitizing Villanova University's Eclipsing Binary Card Catalogue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guzman, Giannina; Dalton, Briana; Conroy, Kyle; Prsa, Andrej

2018-01-01

Villanova University’s Department of Astrophysics and Planetary Science has years of hand-written archival data on Eclipsing Binaries at its disposal. This card catalog began at Princeton in the 1930’s with notable contributions from scientists such as Henry Norris Russel. During World War II, the archive was moved to the University of Pennsylvania, which was one of the world centers for Eclipsing Binary research, consequently, the contributions to the catalog during this time were immense. It was then moved to University of Florida at Gainesville before being accepted by Villanova in the 1990’s. The catalog has been kept in storage since then. The objective of this project is to digitize this archive and create a fully functional online catalog that contains the information available on the cards, along with the scan of the actual cards. Our group has built a database using a python-powered infrastructure to contain the collected data. The team also built a prototype web-based searchable interface as a front-end to the catalog. Following the data-entry process, information like the Right Ascension and Declination will be run against SIMBAD and any differences between values will be noted as part of the catalog. Information published online from the card catalog and even discrepancies in information for a star, could be a catalyst for new studies on these Eclipsing Binaries. Once completed, the database-driven interface will be made available to astronomers worldwide. The group will also acquire, from the database, a list of referenced articles that have yet to be found online in order to further pursue their digitization. This list will be comprised of references in the cards that were neither found on ADS nor online during the data-entry process. Pursuing the integration of these references to online queries such as ADS will be an ongoing process that will contribute and further facilitate studies on Eclipsing Binaries.

Satellite Ocean-Color Validation Using Ships of Opportunity. Chapter 5

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frouin, Robert; Cutchin, David L.; Gross-Colzy, Lydwine; Poteau, Antoine; Deschamps, Pierre-Yves

2003-01-01

The investigation s main objective is to collect from platforms of opportunity (merchant ships, research vessels) concomitant normalized water-leaving radiance and aerosol optical thickness data over the world s oceans. A global, long-term data set of these variables is needed to verify whether satellite retrievals of normalized water-leaving radiance are within acceptable error limits and, eventually, to adjust atmospheric correction schemes. To achieve this objective, volunteer officers, technicians, and scientists onboard the selected ships collect data from portable SIMBAD and Advanced SIMBAD (SIMBADA) radiometers. These instruments are specifically designed for evaluation of satellite-derived ocean color. They measure radiance in spectral bands typical of ocean-color sensors. The SIMBAD version measures in 5 spectral bands centered at 443, 490, 560, 670, and 870 nm, and the Advanced SIMBAD version in 11 spectral bands centered at 350, 380, 412, 443, 490, 510, 565, 620, 670, 750, and 870 nm. Aerosol optical thickness is obtained by viewing the sun disk like a classic sun photometer. Normalized water-leaving radiance, or marine reflectance, is obtained by viewing the ocean surface through a vertical polarizer in a specific geometry (nadir angle of 45o and relative azimuth angle of 135deg) to minimize direct sun glint and reflected sky radiation. The SIMBAD and SIMBADA data, after proper quality control and processing, are delivered to the SIMBIOS project office for inclusion in the SeaBASS archive. They complement data collected in a similar way by the Laboratoire d'Optique Atmospherique of the University of Lille, France. The SIMBAD and SIMBADA data are used to check the radiometric calibration of satellite ocean-color sensors after launch and to evaluate derived ocean-color variables (i.e., normalized water-leaving radiance, aerosol optical thickness, and aerosol type). Analysis of the SIMBAD and SIMBADA data provides information on the accuracy of satellite retrievals of normalized water-leaving radiance, an understanding of the discrepancies between satellite and in situ data, and algorithms that reduce the discrepancies, contributing to more accurate and consistent global ocean color data sets.

Atlas of Vega: 3850-6860 Å

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Hyun-Sook; Han, Inwoo; Valyavin, G.; Lee, Byeong-Cheol; Shimansky, V.; Galazutdinov, G. A.

2009-10-01

We present a high resolving power (λ/Δλ = 90,000) and high signal-to-noise ratio (˜700) spectral atlas of Vega covering the 3850-6860 Å wavelength range. The atlas is a result of averaging of spectra recorded with the aid of the echelle spectrograph BOES fed by the 1.8 m telescope at Bohyunsan Observatory (Korea). The atlas is provided only in machine-readable form (electronic data file) and will be available in the SIMBAD database upon publication. Based on data collected with the 1.8 m telescope operated at BOAO Observatory, Korea.

Starbase Data Tables: An ASCII Relational Database for Unix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roll, John

2011-11-01

Database management is an increasingly important part of astronomical data analysis. Astronomers need easy and convenient ways of storing, editing, filtering, and retrieving data about data. Commercial databases do not provide good solutions for many of the everyday and informal types of database access astronomers need. The Starbase database system with simple data file formatting rules and command line data operators has been created to answer this need. The system includes a complete set of relational and set operators, fast search/index and sorting operators, and many formatting and I/O operators. Special features are included to enhance the usefulness of the database when manipulating astronomical data. The software runs under UNIX, MSDOS and IRAF.

The frequency and distribution of high-velocity gas in the Galaxy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nichols, Joy S.

1995-01-01

The purpose of this study was to estimate the frequency and distribution of high-velocity gas in the Galaxy using UV absorption line measurements from archival high-dispersion IUE spectra and to identify particularly interesting regions for future study. Approximately 500 spectra have been examined. The study began with the creation of a database of all 0 and B stars with b less than or = to 30 deg observed with IUE at high dispersion over its 18-year lifetime. The original database of 2500 unique objects was reduced to 1200 objects which had optimal exposures available. The next task was to determine the distances of these stars so the high-velocity structures could be mapped in the Galaxy. Spectroscopic distances were calculated for each star for which photometry was available. The photometry was acquired for each star using the SIMBAD database. Preference was given to the ubvy system where available; otherwise the UBV system was used.

Popular Astronomy in the World and in Armenia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mickaelian, A. M.

2014-10-01

A review on the popular astronomy and astronomy outreach in the world and in Armenia is given. Various ways and methods of popularization of astronomy are described. The International Year of Astronomy (IYA-2009), amateur astronomy, publication of books and other materials, the database of astronomical books, AstroBook exhibition, science-popular articles, "Astghagitak" online science-popular astronomical journal, calendar of astronomical events, databases of Solar and Lunar eclipses 2001-2050, planetary triple conjunctions 2001-2050, and of periodic comets at ArAS webpage, ArAS School Lectures Program, public lectures, "Universe" club at "Mkhitar Sebastatsi" educational ensemble, the online database of Armenian astronomers, biographies of famous Armenian astronomers, astronomers' anniversaries, scientific journalism of Armenia, and "Mass media news" section at ArAS webpage are described and discussed.

The Starchive: An open access, open source archive of nearby and young stars and their planets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanner, Angelle; Gelino, Chris; Elfeki, Mario

2015-12-01

Historically, astronomers have utilized a piecemeal set of archives such as SIMBAD, the Washington Double Star Catalog, various exoplanet encyclopedias and electronic tables from the literature to cobble together stellar and exo-planetary parameters in the absence of corresponding images and spectra. As the search for planets around young stars through direct imaging, transits and infrared/optical radial velocity surveys blossoms, there is a void in the available set of to create comprehensive lists of the stellar parameters of nearby stars especially for important parameters such as metallicity and stellar activity indicators. For direct imaging surveys, we need better resources for downloading existing high contrast images to help confirm new discoveries and find ideal target stars. Once we have discovered new planets, we need a uniform database of stellar and planetary parameters from which to look for correlations to better understand the formation and evolution of these systems. As a solution to these issues, we are developing the Starchive - an open access stellar archive in the spirit of the open exoplanet catalog, the Kepler Community Follow-up Program and many others. The archive will allow users to download various datasets, upload new images, spectra and metadata and will contain multiple plotting tools to use in presentations and data interpretations. While we will highly regulate and constantly validate the data being placed into our archive the open nature of its design is intended to allow the database to be expanded efficiently and have a level of versatility which is necessary in today's fast moving, big data community. Finally, the front-end scripts will be placed on github and users will be encouraged to contribute new plotting tools. Here, I will introduce the community to the content and expected capabilities of the archive and query the audience for community feedback.

Astronomical databases of Nikolaev Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Protsyuk, Y.; Mazhaev, A.

2008-07-01

Several astronomical databases were created at Nikolaev Observatory during the last years. The databases are built by using MySQL search engine and PHP scripts. They are available on NAO web-site http://www.mao.nikolaev.ua.

A catalogue of AKARI FIS BSC extragalactic objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marton, Gabor; Toth, L. Viktor; Gyorgy Balazs, Lajos

2015-08-01

We combined photometric data of about 70 thousand point sources from the AKARI Far-Infrared Surveyor Bright Source Catalogue with AllWISE catalogue data to identify galaxies. We used Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (QDA) to classify our sources. The classification was based on a 6D parameter space that contained AKARI [F65/F90], [F90/F140], [F140/F160] and WISE W1-W2 colours along with WISE W1 magnitudes and AKARI [F140] flux values. Sources were classified into 3 main objects types: YSO candidates, evolved stars and galaxies. The training samples were SIMBAD entries of the input point sources wherever an associated SIMBAD object was found within a 30 arcsecond search radius. The QDA resulted more than 5000 AKARI galaxy candidate sources. The selection was tested cross-correlating our AKARI extragalactic catalogue with the Revised IRAS-FSC Redshift Catalogue (RIFSCz). A very good match was found. A further classification attempt was also made to differentiate between extragalactic subtypes using Support Vector Machines (SVMs). The results of the various methods showed that we can confidently separate cirrus dominated objects (type 1 of RIFSCz). Some of our “galaxy candidate” sources are associated with 2MASS extended objects, and listed in the NASA Extragalactic Database so far without clear proofs of their extragalactic nature. Examples will be presented in our poster. Finally other AKARI extragalactic catalogues will be also compared to our statistical selection.

Enhancing and Archiving the APS Catalog of the POSS I

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Humphreys, Roberta M.

2003-01-01

We have worked on two different projects: 1) Archiving the APS Catalog of the POSS I for distribution to NASA's NED at IPAC, SIMBAD in France, and individual astronomers and 2) The automated morphological classification of galaxies. We have completed archiving the Catalog into easily readable binary files. The database together with the software to read it has been distributed on DVD's to the national and international data centers and to individual astronomers. The archived Catalog contains more than 89 million objects in 632 fields in the first epoch Palomar Observatory Sky Survey. Additional image parameters not available in the original on-line version are also included in the archived version. The archived Catalog is also available and can be queried at the APS web site (URL: http://aps.umn.edu) which has been improved with a much faster and more efficient querying system. The Catalog can be downloaded as binary datafiles with the source code for reading it. It is also being integrated into the SkyQuery system which includes the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, 2MASS, and the FIRST radio sky survey. We experimented with different classification algorithms to automate the morphological classification of galaxies. This is an especially difficult problem because there are not only a large number of attributes or parameters and measurement uncertainties, but also the added complication of human disagreement about the adopted types. To solve this problem we used 837 galaxy images from nine POSS I fields at the North Galactic Pole classified by two independent astronomers for which they agree on the morphological types. The initial goal was to separate the galaxies into the three broad classes relevant to issues of large scale structure and galaxy formation and evolution: early (ellipticals and lenticulars), spirals, and late (irregulars) with an accuracy or success rate that rivals the best astronomer classifiers. We also needed to identify a set of parameters derived from the digitized images that separate the galaxies by type. The human eye can easily recognize complicated patterns in images such as spiral arms which can be spotty, blotchy affairs that are difficult for automated techniques. A galaxy image can potentially be described by hundreds of parameters, all of which may have some relation to the morphological type. In the set of initial experiments we used 624 such parameters, in two colors, blue and red. These parameters include the surface brightness and color measured at different radii, ratios of these parameters at different radii, concentration indices, Fourier transforms and wavelet decomposition coefficients. We experimented with three different classes of classification algorithms; decision trees, k-nearest neighbors, and support vector machines (SVM). A range of experiments were conducted and we eventually narrowed the parameters to 23 selected parameters. SVM consistently outperformed the other algorithms with both sets of features. By combining the results from the different algorithms in a weighted scheme we achieved an overall classification success of 86%.

The database of the Nikolaev Astronomical Observatory as a unit of an international virtual observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Protsyuk, Yu.; Pinigin, G.; Shulga, A.

2005-06-01

Results of the development and organization of the digital database of the Nikolaev Astronomical Observatory (NAO) are presented. At present, three telescopes are connected to the local area network of NAO. All the data obtained, and results of data processing are entered into the common database of NAO. The daily average volume of new astronomical information obtained from the CCD instruments ranges from 300 MB up to 2 GB, depending on the purposes and conditions of observations. The overwhelming majority of the data are stored in the FITS format. Development and further improvement of storage standards, procedures of data handling and data processing are being carried out. It is planned to create an astronomical web portal with the possibility to have interactive access to databases and telescopes. In the future, this resource may become a part of an international virtual observatory. There are the prototypes of search tools with the use of PHP and MySQL. Efforts for getting more links to the Internet are being made.

Astronomical Archive at Tartu Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Annuk, K.

2007-10-01

Archiving astronomical data is important task not only at large observatories but also at small observatories. Here we describe the astronomical archive at Tartu Observatory. The archive consists of old photographic plate images, photographic spectrograms, CCD direct--images and CCD spectroscopic data. The photographic plate digitizing project was started in 2005. An on-line database (based on MySQL) was created. The database includes CCD data as well photographic data. A PHP-MySQL interface was written for access to all data.

What is WorldWide Telescope, and Why Should Researchers Care?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goodman, Alyssa A.

2016-01-01

As of 2015, about 20 million people have downloaded the computer program called "WorldWide Telescope," and even more have accessed it via the web, at http://worldwidetelescope.org. But, the vast majority of these millions are not professional astronomers. This talk will explain why WorldWide Telescope (WWT) is also a powerful tool for research astronomers. I will focus on how WWT can be, and is, being built-in to Journals, and into day-to-day research environments. By way of example, I will show how WWT already: allows users to display images, including those in Journals, in the context of multi-wavelength full-sky imagery; allows for the display of which parts of the Sky have been studied, when, how, and for what reason (see http://adsass.org); allows, via right-click, immediate access to ADS, SIMBAD, and other professional research tools. I will also highlight new work, currently in development, that is using WWT as a tool for observation planning, and as a display mode for advanced high-dimensional data visualization tools, like glue (see http://glueviz.org). WWT is now well-known in the education community (see http://wwtambassadors.org), so the explicit goal of this talk will be to make researchers more aware of its full power. I will explain how WWT transitioned, over 8 years, from a Microsoft Research project to its current open-source state (see https://github.com/WorldWideTelescope), and I will conclude with comments on the future of WWT, and its relationship to how research should be carried out in the future (see http://tinyurl.com/aas-potf).

Astronomical Software Directory Service

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hanisch, R. J.; Payne, H.; Hayes, J.

1998-01-01

This is the final report on the development of the Astronomical Software Directory Service (ASDS), a distributable, searchable, WWW-based database of software packages and their related documentation. ASDS provides integrated access to 56 astronomical software packages, with more than 16,000 URL's indexed for full-text searching.

The AAS Working Group on Accessibility and Disability (WGAD) Year 1 Highlights and Database Access

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knierman, Karen A.; Diaz Merced, Wanda; Aarnio, Alicia; Garcia, Beatriz; Monkiewicz, Jacqueline A.; Murphy, Nicholas Arnold

2017-06-01

The AAS Working Group on Accessibility and Disability (WGAD) was formed in January of 2016 with the express purpose of seeking equity of opportunity and building inclusive practices for disabled astronomers at all educational and career stages. In this presentation, we will provide a summary of current activities, focusing on developing best practices for accessibility with respect to astronomical databases, publications, and meetings. Due to the reliance of space sciences on databases, it is important to have user centered design systems for data retrieval. The cognitive overload that may be experienced by users of current databases may be mitigated by use of multi-modal interfaces such as xSonify. Such interfaces would be in parallel or outside the original database and would not require additional software efforts from the original database. WGAD is partnering with the IAU Commission C1 WG Astronomy for Equity and Inclusion to develop such accessibility tools for databases and methods for user testing. To collect data on astronomical conference and meeting accessibility considerations, WGAD solicited feedback from January AAS attendees via a web form. These data, together with upcoming input from the community and analysis of accessibility documents of similar conferences, will be used to create a meeting accessibility document. Additionally, we will update the progress of journal access guidelines and our social media presence via Twitter. We recommend that astronomical journals form committees to evaluate the accessibility of their publications by performing user-centered usability studies.

Astronomical data analysis software and systems I; Proceedings of the 1st Annual Conference, Tucson, AZ, Nov. 6-8, 1991

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Worrall, Diana M. (Editor); Biemesderfer, Chris (Editor); Barnes, Jeannette (Editor)

1992-01-01

Consideration is given to a definition of a distribution format for X-ray data, the Einstein on-line system, the NASA/IPAC extragalactic database, COBE astronomical databases, Cosmic Background Explorer astronomical databases, the ADAM software environment, the Groningen Image Processing System, search for a common data model for astronomical data analysis systems, deconvolution for real and synthetic apertures, pitfalls in image reconstruction, a direct method for spectral and image restoration, and a discription of a Poisson imagery super resolution algorithm. Also discussed are multivariate statistics on HI and IRAS images, a faint object classification using neural networks, a matched filter for improving SNR of radio maps, automated aperture photometry of CCD images, interactive graphics interpreter, the ROSAT extreme ultra-violet sky survey, a quantitative study of optimal extraction, an automated analysis of spectra, applications of synthetic photometry, an algorithm for extra-solar planet system detection and data reduction facilities for the William Herschel telescope.

Linear proportional relationship between N(OH) and N(CH) in the diffuse interstellar medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Seung Yeong; Kwak, Kyujin

2018-04-01

It has been known that there is a linearly proportional relationship between the column densities of CH and OH measured toward bright UV-emitting stars, although there are four outliers in this relationship among the total 24 measured targets. By using the Simbad database, we investigate reasonable configurations of diffuse interstellar medium (ISM) which could explain the observed relationship. We first identify the locations of 24 targets on the celestial sphere getting the distances to them and then count the number of molecular clouds, nebulae, and peculiar stars toward the targets which could contribute to the production of OH and CH. We present the results of our search by testing three hypothetical configurations of diffuse ISM which may explain the observed relationship.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Calibrator stars catalog for interferometers (Swihart+, 2017)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swihart, S. J.; Garcia, E. V.; Stassun, K. G.; van Belle, G.; Mutterspaugh, M. W.; Elias, N.

2017-04-01

In order to obtain accurate stellar angular sizes, each star was fit with a model SED using the fitting routine sedFit, written by A. Boden (van Belle & von Braun, 2009, Cat. J/ApJ/694/1085; van Belle et al. 2016, Cat. J/AJ/152/16). We compiled a list of positions, spectral types and visual magnitudes for ~3000 bright (Vmag<6) stars in the northern hemisphere with declinations -15°<δ<82° using the SIMBAD database (Wenger et al., 2000A&AS..143....9W). We chose a brightness limit (Vmag<6) given that most visible light interferometers can obtain scientifically useful data on bright stars. We also removed any stars which appear in the JMMC bad calibrator list. (4 data files).

Deep near-infrared survey of the Southern Sky (DENIS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deul, E.

1992-01-01

DENIS (Deep Near-Infrared Survey of the Southern Sky) will be the first complete census of astronomical sources in the near-infrared spectral range. The challenges of this novel survey are both scientific and technical. Phenomena radiating in the near-infrared range from brown dwarfs to galaxies in the early stages of cosmological evolution, the scientific exploitation of data relevant over such a wide range requires pooling expertise from several of the leading European astronomical centers. The technical challenges of a project which will provide an order of magnitude more sources than given by the IRAS space mission, and which will involve advanced data-handling and image-processing techniques, likewise require pooling of hardware and software resources, as well as of human expertise. The DENIS project team is composed of some 40 scientists, computer specialists, and engineers located in 5 European Community countries (France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, and Spain), with important contributions from specialists in Australia, Brazil, Chile, and Hungary. DENIS will survey the entire southern sky in 3 colors, namely in the I band at a wavelength of 0.8 micron, in the 1.25 micron J band, and in the 2.15 micron K' band. The sensitivity limits will be 18th magnitude in the I band, 16th in the J band, and 14.5th in the K' band. The angular resolution achieved will be 1 arcsecond in the I band, and 3.0 arcseconds in the J and K' bands. The European Southern Observatory 1 m telescope on La Silla will be dedicated to survey use during operations expected to last four years, commencing in late 1993. DENIS aims to provide the astronomical community with complete digitized infrared images of the full southern sky and a catalogue of extracted objects, both of the best quality and in readily accessible form. This will be achieved through dedicated software packages and specialized catalogues, and with assistance from the Leiden and Paris Data Analysis Centers. The data will be mailed on DAT tapes from La Silla to the two Data Analysis Centers for further processing. Two centers are necessary because of the shear quantity of data and because of the complementary roles the Centers will develop, each exploiting its own particular expertise. The Leiden Data Analysis Center (LDAC) will extract objects, establish their parameters, and archive them into a source catalogue. The LDAC will collaborate with the Groningen Space Research group that has gained experience in infrared image handling from the IRAS satellite. The Paris Data Analysis Center (PDAC) will be responsible for archiving and preprocessing the raw data to provide a homogeneous set of data suitable for further reduction in both the Leiden and Paris data analysis streams. The PDAC will also extract and archive images for the sources flagged by the LDAC as extended, and create a catalogue of galaxies. In exploiting the DENIS data we foresee the collaboration with other data analysis centers, such as the Observatoire de Lyon where the relevant DENIS catalogue of galaxies can be incorporated into their extragalactic database. The Point Sources and the Small Extended Sources catalogues could be incorporated in the Late Type Star database at Montpellier, and in the SIMBAD database as CDS. At Groningen the IRAS Point Source catalogue and/or image data can be merged with the DENIS catalogues. At Meudon algorithms and software will be developed with main goal assessing the limits reachable for the homogeneity and intrinsic consistency between the ensemble of the images in the data base (flat-fielding, relative positioning of the fields, bootstrapped flux calibration) but also for the data analysis.

New Life for Astronomical Instruments of the Past at the Astronomical Observatory of Taras Shevchenko

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kazantseva, Liliya

2012-09-01

Astronomical instruments of the past are certainly valuable artifacts of the history of science and education. Like other collections of scientific equipment, they also demonstrate i) development of scientific and technical ideas, ii) technological features of the historical period, iii) professional features of artists or companies -- manufacturers, and iv) national and local specificity of production. However, astronomical instruments are also devices made for observations of rare phenomena -- solar eclipses, transits of planets of the solar disk, etc. Instruments used to study these rare events were very different for each event, since the science changed quickly between events. The Astronomical Observatory of Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University has a collection of tools made by leading European and local shops from the early nineteenth century. These include tools for optically observing the first artificial Earth satellites, photography, chronometry, and meteorology. In addition, it has assembled a library of descriptions of astronomical instruments and makers'price-lists. Of particular interest are the large stationary tools that are still active in their pavilions. Almost every instrument has a long interesting history. Museification of astronomical instruments gives them a second life, expanding educational programs and tracing the development of astronomy in general and scientific institution and region in particular. It would be advisable to first create a regional database of these rare astronomical instruments (which is already being done in Ukraine), then a common global database. By combining all the historical information about astronomical instruments with the advantages of the Internet, you can show the full evolution of an astronomical instrument with all its features. Time is relentless, and much is destroyed, badly kept and thrown in the garbage. We need time to protect, capture, and tell about it.

SAADA: Astronomical Databases Made Easier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michel, L.; Nguyen, H. N.; Motch, C.

2005-12-01

Many astronomers wish to share datasets with their community but have not enough manpower to develop databases having the functionalities required for high-level scientific applications. The SAADA project aims at automatizing the creation and deployment process of such databases. A generic but scientifically relevant data model has been designed which allows one to build databases by providing only a limited number of product mapping rules. Databases created by SAADA rely on a relational database supporting JDBC and covered by a Java layer including a lot of generated code. Such databases can simultaneously host spectra, images, source lists and plots. Data are grouped in user defined collections whose content can be seen as one unique set per data type even if their formats differ. Datasets can be correlated one with each other using qualified links. These links help, for example, to handle the nature of a cross-identification (e.g., a distance or a likelihood) or to describe their scientific content (e.g., by associating a spectrum to a catalog entry). The SAADA query engine is based on a language well suited to the data model which can handle constraints on linked data, in addition to classical astronomical queries. These constraints can be applied on the linked objects (number, class and attributes) and/or on the link qualifier values. Databases created by SAADA are accessed through a rich WEB interface or a Java API. We are currently developing an inter-operability module implanting VO protocols.

UkrVO astronomical WEB services

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazhaev, A.

2017-02-01

Ukraine Virtual Observatory (UkrVO) has been a member of the International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) since 2011. The virtual observatory (VO) is not a magic solution to all problems of data storing and processing, but it provides certain standards for building infrastructure of astronomical data center. The astronomical databases help data mining and offer to users an easy access to observation metadata, images within celestial sphere and results of image processing. The astronomical web services (AWS) of UkrVO give to users handy tools for data selection from large astronomical catalogues for a relatively small region of interest in the sky. Examples of the AWS usage are showed.

THE NASA AMES POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON INFRARED SPECTROSCOPIC DATABASE: THE COMPUTED SPECTRA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bauschlicher, C. W.; Ricca, A.; Boersma, C.

The astronomical emission features, formerly known as the unidentified infrared bands, are now commonly ascribed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The laboratory experiments and computational modeling done at the NASA Ames Research Center to create a collection of PAH IR spectra relevant to test and refine the PAH hypothesis have been assembled into a spectroscopic database. This database now contains over 800 PAH spectra spanning 2-2000 {mu}m (5000-5 cm{sup -1}). These data are now available on the World Wide Web at www.astrochem.org/pahdb. This paper presents an overview of the computational spectra in the database and the tools developed to analyzemore » and interpret astronomical spectra using the database. A description of the online and offline user tools available on the Web site is also presented.« less

What Lies Behind NSF Astronomer Demographics? Subjectivities of Women, Minorities and Foreign-born Astronomers within Meshworks of Big Science Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guillen, Reynal; Gu, D.; Holbrook, J.; Murillo, L. F.; Traweek, S.

2011-01-01

Our current research focuses on the trajectory of scientists working with large-scale databases in astronomy, following them as they strategically build their careers, digital infrastructures, and make their epistemological commitments. We look specifically at how gender, ethnicity, nationality intersect in the process of subject formation in astronomy, as well as in the process of enrolling partners for the construction of instruments, design and implementation of large-scale databases. Work once figured as merely technical support, such assembling data catalogs, or as graphic design, generating pleasing images for public support, has been repositioned at the core of the field. Some have argued that such databases enable a new kind of scientific inquiry based on data exploration, such as the "fourth paradigm" or "data-driven" science. Our preliminary findings based on oral history interviews and ethnography provide insights into meshworks of women, African-American, "Hispanic," Asian-American and foreign-born astronomers. Our preliminary data suggest African-American men are more successful in sustaining astronomy careers than Chicano and Asian-American men. A distinctive theme in our data is the glocal character of meshworks available to and created by foreign-born women astronomers working at US facilities. Other data show that the proportion of Asian to Asian American and foreign-born Latina/o to Chicana/o astronomers is approximately equal. Futhermore, Asians and Latinas/os are represented in significantly greater numbers than Asian Americans and Chicanas/os. Among professional astronomers in the US, each ethnic minority group is numbered on the order of tens, not hundreds. Project support is provided by the NSF EAGER program to University of California, Los Angeles under award 0956589.

Cross-Matching Source Observations from the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laher, Russ; Grillmair, C.; Surace, J.; Monkewitz, S.; Jackson, E.

2009-01-01

Over the four-year lifetime of the PTF project, approximately 40 billion instances of astronomical-source observations will be extracted from the image data. The instances will correspond to the same astronomical objects being observed at roughly 25-50 different times, and so a very large catalog containing important object-variability information will be the chief PTF product. Organizing astronomical-source catalogs is conventionally done by dividing the catalog into declination zones and sorting by right ascension within each zone (e.g., the USNOA star catalog), in order to facilitate catalog searches. This method was reincarnated as the "zones" algorithm in a SQL-Server database implementation (Szalay et al., MSR-TR-2004-32), with corrections given by Gray et al. (MSR-TR-2006-52). The primary advantage of this implementation is that all of the work is done entirely on the database server and client/server communication is eliminated. We implemented the methods outlined in Gray et al. for a PostgreSQL database. We programmed the methods as database functions in PL/pgSQL procedural language. The cross-matching is currently based on source positions, but we intend to extend it to use both positions and positional uncertainties to form a chi-square statistic for optimal thresholding. The database design includes three main tables, plus a handful of internal tables. The Sources table stores the SExtractor source extractions taken at various times; the MergedSources table stores statistics about the astronomical objects, which are the result of cross-matching records in the Sources table; and the Merges table, which associates cross-matched primary keys in the Sources table with primary keys in the MergedSoures table. Besides judicious database indexing, we have also internally partitioned the Sources table by declination zone, in order to speed up the population of Sources records and make the database more manageable. The catalog will be accessible to the public after the proprietary period through IRSA (irsa.ipac.caltech.edu).

BAO plate archive digitization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mickaelian, A. M.; Nikoghosyan, E. H.; Gigoyan, K. S.; Paronyan, G. M.; Abrahamyan, H. V.; Andreasyan, H. R.; Azatyan, N. M.; Kostandyan, G. R.; Khachatryan, K. G.; Vardanyan, A. V.; Gyulzadyan, M. V.; Mikayelyan, G. A.; Farmanyan, S. V.; Knyazyan, A. V.

Astronomical plate archives created on the basis of numerous observations at many observatories are important part of the astronomical heritage. Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) plate archive consists of 37,000 photographic plates and films, obtained at 2.6m telescope, 1m and 0.5m Schmidt telescopes and other smaller ones during 1947-1991. In 2015, we have started a project on the whole BAO Plate Archive digitization, creation of electronic database and its scientific usage. A Science Program Board is created to evaluate the observing material, to investigate new possibilities and to propose new projects based on the combined usage of these observations together with other world databases. The Executing Team consists of 11 astronomers and 2 computer scientists and will use 2 EPSON Perfection V750 Pro scanners for the digitization. The project will run during 3 years in 2015-2017 and the final result will be an electronic database and online interactive sky map to be used for further research projects.

The International Outer Planets Watch atmospheres node database of giant-planet images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hueso, R.; Legarreta, J.; Sánchez-Lavega, A.; Rojas, J. F.; Gómez-Forrellad, J. M.

2011-10-01

The Atmospheres Node of the International Outer Planets Watch (IOPW) is aimed to encourage the observations and study of the atmospheres of the Giant Planets. One of its main activities is to provide an interaction between the professional and amateur astronomical communities maintaining an online and fully searchable database of images of the giant planets obtained from amateur astronomers and available to both professional and amateurs [1]. The IOPW database contains about 13,000 image observations of Jupiter and Saturn obtained in the visible range with a few contributions of Uranus and Neptune. We describe the organization and structure of the database as posted in the Internet and in particular the PVOL software (Planetary Virtual Observatory & Laboratory) designed to manage the site and based in concepts from Virtual Observatory projects.

Astronomical database and VO-tools of Nikolaev Astronomical Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazhaev, A. E.; Protsyuk, Yu. I.

2010-05-01

Results of work in 2006-2009 on creation of astronomical databases aiming at development of Nikolaev Virtual Observatory (NVO) are presented in this abstract. Results of observations and theirreduction, which were obtained during the whole history of Nikolaev Astronomical Observatory (NAO), are included in the databases. The databases may be considered as a basis for construction of a data centre. Images of different regions of the celestial sphere have been stored in NAO since 1929. About 8000 photo plates were obtained during observations in the 20th century. Observations with CCD have been started since 1996. Annually, telescopes of NAO, using CCD cameras, create data volume of several tens of gigabytes (GB) in the form of CCD images and up to 100 GB of video records. At the end of 2008, the volume of accumulated data in the form of CCD images was about 300 GB. Problems of data volume growth are common in astronomy, nuclear physics and bioinformatics. Therefore, the astronomical community needs to use archives, databases and distributed grid computing to cope with this problem in astronomy. The International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) was formed in June 2002 with a mission to "enable the international utilization of astronomical archives..." The NVO was created at the NAO website in 2008, and consists of three main parts. The first part contains 27 astrometric stellar catalogues with short descriptions. The files of catalogues were compiled in the standard VOTable format using eXtensible Markup Language (XML), and they are available for downloading. This is an example of the so-called science-ready product. The VOTable format was developed by the International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) for exchange of tabular data. A user may download these catalogues and open them using any standalone application that supports standards of the IVOA. There are several directions of development for such applications, for example, search of catalogues and images, search and visualisation of spectra, spectral energy distribution (SED) building, search of cross-correlation between objects in different catalogues, statistical data processing of large data volumes etc. The second part includes database of observations, accumulated in NAO, with access via a browser. The database has a common interface for searching of textual and graphical information concerning photographic and CCD observations. The database contains: textual information about 7437 plates as well as 2700 preview images in JPEG format with resolution of 300 DPI (dots per inch); textual information about 16660 CCD frames as well as 1100 preview images in JPEG format. Absent preview images will be added to the database as soon as they will be ready after plates scanning and CCD frames processing. The user has to define the equatorial coordinates of search centre, a search radius and a period of observations. Then he or she may also specify additional filters, such as: any combination of objects given separately for plates and CCD frames, output parameters for plates, telescope names for CCD observations. Results of search are generated in the form of two tables for photographic and CCD observations. To obtain access to the source images in FITS format with support of World Coordinate System (WCS), the user has to fill and submit electronic form given after the tables. The third part includes database of observations with access via a standalone application such as Aladin, which has been developed by Strasbourg Astronomical Data Centre. To obtain access to the database, the user has to perform a series of simple actions, which are described on a corresponding site page. Then he or she may get access to the database via a server selector of Aladin, which has a menu with wide range of image and catalogue servers located world wide, including two menu items for photographic and CCD observations of a NVO image server. The user has to define the equatorial coordinates of search centre and a search radius. The search results are outputted into a main window of Aladin in textual and graphical forms using XML and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP). In this way, the NVO image server is integrated with other astronomical servers, using a special configuration file. The user may conveniently request information from many servers using the same server selector of Aladin, although the servers are located in different countries. Aladin has a wide range of special tools for data analysis and handling, including connection with other standalone applications. As a conclusion, we should note that a research team of a data centre, which provides the infrastructure for data output to the internet, is responsible for creation of corresponding archives. Therefore, each observatory or data centre has to provide an access to its archives in accordance with the IVOA standards and a resolution adopted by the IAU XXV General Assembly #B.1, titled: Public Access to Astronomical Archives. A research team of NAO copes successfully with this task and continues to develop the NVO. Using our databases and VO-tools, we also take part in development of the Ukrainian Virtual Observatory (UkrVO). All three main parts of the NVO are used as prototypes for the UkrVO. Informational resources provided by other astronomical institutions from Ukraine will be included in corresponding databases and VO interfaces.

A billion stars, a few million galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Humphreys, Roberta M.; Thurmes, Peter M.

1994-05-01

The creation of an all-sky computerized astronomical catalog is discussed. The data source for the catalog was the first National Geographic Society-Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS 1). Most of the plates produced in POSS 1 with the Oschin 48-inch Schmidt telescope were recently scanned by a team of astronomers using an automated plate scanner (APS) which is a high-speed laser scanner designed specifically to digitized information on astronomical photographs. To access the cataloged information easily, a specialized database program called StarBase was written. The expected size of the complete database (the catalog of objects plus the pixel data for the detected images) is 400 gigabytes. Scanning of 644 pairs of blue and red plates, covering the entire sky except for the crowded region within 20 deg of the galactic plane, has been completed. been completed.

BAO Plate Archive Project: Digitization, Electronic Database and Research Programmes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mickaelian, A. M.; Abrahamyan, H. V.; Andreasyan, H. R.; Azatyan, N. M.; Farmanyan, S. V.; Gigoyan, K. S.; Gyulzadyan, M. V.; Khachatryan, K. G.; Knyazyan, A. V.; Kostandyan, G. R.; Mikayelyan, G. A.; Nikoghosyan, E. H.; Paronyan, G. M.; Vardanyan, A. V.

2016-06-01

The most important part of the astronomical observational heritage are astronomical plate archives created on the basis of numerous observations at many observatories. Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) plate archive consists of 37,000 photographic plates and films, obtained at 2.6m telescope, 1m and 0.5m Schmidt type and other smaller telescopes during 1947-1991. In 2002-2005, the famous Markarian Survey (also called First Byurakan Survey, FBS) 1874 plates were digitized and the Digitized FBS (DFBS) was created. New science projects have been conducted based on these low-dispersion spectroscopic material. A large project on the whole BAO Plate Archive digitization, creation of electronic database and its scientific usage was started in 2015. A Science Program Board is created to evaluate the observing material, to investigate new possibilities and to propose new projects based on the combined usage of these observations together with other world databases. The Executing Team consists of 11 astronomers and 2 computer scientists and will use 2 EPSON Perfection V750 Pro scanners for the digitization, as well as Armenian Virtual Observatory (ArVO) database will be used to accommodate all new data. The project will run during 3 years in 2015-2017 and the final result will be an electronic database and online interactive sky map to be used for further research projects, mainly including high proper motion stars, variable objects and Solar System bodies.

BAO Plate Archive digitization, creation of electronic database and its scientific usage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mickaelian, Areg M.

2015-08-01

Astronomical plate archives created on the basis of numerous observations at many observatories are important part of the astronomical heritage. Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) plate archive consists of 37,500 photographic plates and films, obtained at 2.6m telescope, 1m and 0.5m Schmidt telescopes and other smaller ones during 1947-1991. In 2002-2005, the famous Markarian Survey (First Byurakan Survey, FBS) 2000 plates were digitized and the Digitized FBS (DFBS, http://www.aras.am/Dfbs/dfbs.html) was created. New science projects have been conducted based on these low-dispersion spectroscopic material. In 2015, we have started a project on the whole BAO Plate Archive digitization, creation of electronic database and its scientific usage. A Science Program Board is created to evaluate the observing material, to investigate new possibilities and to propose new projects based on the combined usage of these observations together with other world databases. The Executing Team consists of 9 astronomers and 3 computer scientists and will use 2 EPSON Perfection V750 Pro scanners for the digitization, as well as Armenian Virtual Observatory (ArVO) database to accommodate all new data. The project will run during 3 years in 2015-2017 and the final result will be an electronic database and online interactive sky map to be used for further research projects.

Observational Mishaps - a Database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

von Braun, K.; Chiboucas, K.; Hurley-Keller, D.

1999-05-01

We present a World-Wide-Web-accessible database of astronomical images which suffer from a variety of observational problems. These problems range from common phenomena, such as dust grains on filters and/or dewar window, to more exotic cases like, for instance, deflated support airbags underneath the primary mirror. The purpose of this database is to enable astronomers at telescopes to save telescope time by discovering the nature of the trouble they might be experiencing with the help of this online catalog. Every observational mishap contained in this collection is presented in the form of a GIF image, a brief explanation of the problem, and, to the extent possible, a suggestion of what might be done to solve the problem and improve the image quality.

Exploratory visualization of astronomical data on ultra-high-resolution wall displays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pietriga, Emmanuel; del Campo, Fernando; Ibsen, Amanda; Primet, Romain; Appert, Caroline; Chapuis, Olivier; Hempel, Maren; Muñoz, Roberto; Eyheramendy, Susana; Jordan, Andres; Dole, Hervé

2016-07-01

Ultra-high-resolution wall displays feature a very high pixel density over a large physical surface, which makes them well-suited to the collaborative, exploratory visualization of large datasets. We introduce FITS-OW, an application designed for such wall displays, that enables astronomers to navigate in large collections of FITS images, query astronomical databases, and display detailed, complementary data and documents about multiple sources simultaneously. We describe how astronomers interact with their data using both the wall's touchsensitive surface and handheld devices. We also report on the technical challenges we addressed in terms of distributed graphics rendering and data sharing over the computer clusters that drive wall displays.

FATS: Feature Analysis for Time Series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nun, Isadora; Protopapas, Pavlos; Sim, Brandon; Zhu, Ming; Dave, Rahul; Castro, Nicolas; Pichara, Karim

2017-11-01

FATS facilitates and standardizes feature extraction for time series data; it quickly and efficiently calculates a compilation of many existing light curve features. Users can characterize or analyze an astronomical photometric database, though this library is not necessarily restricted to the astronomical domain and can also be applied to any kind of time series data.

Astroinformatics as a New Research Field. UkrVO Astroinformation Resources: Tasks and Prospective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vavilova, I. B.

The data-oriented astronomy has allowed classifying the Astroinformatics as a new academic research field, which covers various multi-disciplinary applications of the e-Astronomy. Among them are the data modeling, data mining, metadata standards development, data access, digital astronomical databases, image archives and visualization, machine learning, statistics and other computational methods and software for work with astronomical survey and catalogues with their teta- topeta-scale astroinformation resource. In this review we describe briefly the astroinformatics applications and software/services performed for different astronomical tasks in frame of the VIrtual Roentgen and Gamma Observatory (VIRGO) and Ukrainian VirtualObservatory (UkrVO). Among them there are projects based on the archival space-born data of X-ray and gamma space observatories and on the Joint Digitized Archive (JDA) database of astroplate network collections. The UkrVO JDA DR1 deals with the star catalogues (FON, Polar zone, open clusters, GRB star fields) as well as the UkrVO JDA DR2 deals with the Solar System bodies (giant and small planets, satellites, astronomical heritage images).

Integrating the IA2 Astronomical Archive in the VO: The VO-Dance Engine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molinaro, M.; Laurino, O.; Smareglia, R.

2012-09-01

Virtual Observatory (VO) protocols and standards are getting mature and the astronomical community asks for astrophysical data to be easily reachable. This means data centers have to intensify their efforts to provide the data they manage not only through proprietary portals and services but also through interoperable resources developed on the basis of the IVOA (International Virtual Observatory Alliance) recommendations. Here we present the work and ideas developed at the IA2 (Italian Astronomical Archive) data center hosted by the INAF-OATs (Italian Institute for Astrophysics - Trieste Astronomical Observatory) to reach this goal. The core point is the development of an application that from existing DB and archive structures can translate their content to VO compliant resources: VO-Dance (written in Java). This application, in turn, relies on a database (potentially DBMS independent) to store the translation layer information of each resource and auxiliary content (UCDs, field names, authorizations, policies, etc.). The last token is an administrative interface (currently developed using the Django python framework) to allow the data center administrators to set up and maintain resources. This deployment, platform independent, with database and administrative interface highly customizable, means the package, when stable and easily distributable, can be also used by single astronomers or groups to set up their own resources from their public datasets.

SkyDOT: a publicly accessible variability database, containing multiple sky surveys and real-time data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Starr, D. L.; Wozniak, P. R.; Vestrand, W. T.

2002-01-01

SkyDOT (Sky Database for Objects in Time-Domain) is a Virtual Observatory currently comprised of data from the RAPTOR, ROTSE I, and OGLE I1 survey projects. This makes it a very large time domain database. In addition, the RAPTOR project provides SkyDOT with real-time variability data as well as stereoscopic information. With its web interface, we believe SkyDOT will be a very useful tool for both astronomers, and the public. Our main task has been to construct an efficient relational database containing all existing data, while handling a real-time inflow of data. We also provide a useful web interface allowing easymore » access to both astronomers and the public. Initially, this server will allow common searches, specific queries, and access to light curves. In the future we will include machine learning classification tools and access to spectral information.« less

Proceedings of Colloquium 110 of the International Astronomical Union on Library and Information Services in Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilkins, George A.; Stevens-Rayburn, Sarah

This report provides an overview of the presentations and summaries of discussions at IAU Colloquium 110, which was held in Washington, D.C., on 26-30 July 1988 and at the Goddard Space Flight Center on 1 August 1988. The topics included: the publication and acquisition of books and journals; searching for astronomical information; the handling and use of special-format materials; conservation; archiving of unpublished documents; uses of computers in libraries; astronomical databases and various aspects of the administration of astronomy libraries and services. Particular attention was paid to new developments, but the problems of astronomers and institutions in developing countries were also considered.

Far-ultraviolet stellar photometry: A field in Orion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, Edward G.; Carruthers, George R.

1993-12-01

Far-ultraviolet photometry for 625 objects in Orion is presented. These data were extracted from electrographic camera images obtained during sounding rocket flights in 1975 and 1982. The 1975 images were centered close to the belt of Orion while the 1982 images were centered approximately 9 deg further north. One hundred and fifty stars fell in the overlapping region and were observed with both cameras. Sixty-eight percent of the objects were tentatively identified with known stars using the SIMBAD database while another 24% are blends of objects too close together to separate with our resolution. As in previous studies, the majority of the identified ultraviolet sources are early-type stars. However, there are a significant number for which no such identification was possible, and we suggest that these are interesting objects which should be further investigated. Seven stars were found which were bright in the ultraviolet but faint in the visible. We suggest that some of these are nearby white dwarfs.

Galactic SNR Candidates in the ROSAT All-Sky Survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schaudel, Daniel; Becker, Werner; Voges, Wolfgand; Reich, Wolfgang; Weisskopf, Martin; Six, N. Frank (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Identified radio supernova remnants (SNRS) in the Galaxy comprise an incomplete sample of the SNR population due to various selection effects. ROSAT performed the first all-sky survey with an imaging X-ray telescope, and thus provides another window for finding SNRS and compact objects that may reside within them. Performing a search for extended X-ray sources in the ROSAT all-sky survey database about 350 objects were identified as SNR candidates in recent years. Continuing this systematic search, we have reanalyzed the ROSAT all-sky survey (BASS) data of these candidates and correlated the results with radio surveys like NVSS, ATNF, Molonglo, and Effelsberg. A further correlation with SIMBAD and NED were used for subsequent identification purpose. About 50 of the 350 candidates turned out to be likely galaxies or clusters of galaxies. We found 14 RASS sources which are very promising SNR candidates and are currently subject of further follow-up studies. We will provide the details of the identification campaign and present first results.

The System for Quick Search of the Astronomical Objects and Events in the Digital Plate Archives.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sergeev, A. V.; Sergeeva, T. P.

From the middle of the XIX century observatories all over the world have accumulated about three millions astronomical plates contained the unique information about the Universe which can not be obtained or restored with the help of any newest facilities and technologies but may be useful for many modern astronomical investigations. The threat of astronomical plate archives loss caused by economical, technical or some other causes have put before world astronomical community a problem: the preservation of the unique information kept on those plates. The problem can be solved by transformation of the information from plates to digital form and keeping it on electronic data medium. We began a creation of a system for quick search and analysing of astronomical events and objects in digital plate archive of the Ukrainian Main astronomical observatory of NAS. Connection of the system to Internet will allow a remote user (astronomer or observer) to have access to digital plate archive and to work with it. For providing of the high efficiency of this work the plate database (list of the plates with all information about them and access software) are preparing. Modular structure of the system basic software and standard format of the plate image files allow future development of problem-oriented software for special astronomical researches.

The AAVSO as a Resource for Variable Star Research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kafka, Stella

2016-07-01

The AAVSO was formed in 1911 as a group of US-based amateur observers obtaining data in support of professional astronomy projects. Now, it has evolved into an International Organization with members and observers from both the professional and non-professional astronomical community, contributing photometry to a public photometric database of about 22,000 variable objects, and using it for research projects. As such, the AAVSO's main claim to fame is that it successfully engages backyard Astronomers, educators, students and professional astronomers in astronomical research. I will present the main aspects of the association and how it has evolved with time to become a premium resource for variable star researchers. I will also discuss the various means that the AAVSO is using to support cutting-edge variable star science, and how it engages its members in projects building a stronger international astronomical community.

The Amateurs' Love Affair with Large Datasets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Price, Aaron; Jacoby, S. H.; Henden, A.

2006-12-01

Amateur astronomers are professionals in other areas. They bring expertise from such varied and technical careers as computer science, mathematics, engineering, and marketing. These skills, coupled with an enthusiasm for astronomy, can be used to help manage the large data sets coming online in the next decade. We will show specific examples where teams of amateurs have been involved in mining large, online data sets and have authored and published their own papers in peer-reviewed astronomical journals. Using the proposed LSST database as an example, we will outline a framework for involving amateurs in data analysis and education with large astronomical surveys.

Spectroscopic Data for an Astronomy Data Base

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parkinson, W. H.; Smith, Peter L.

1997-01-01

When we began this work, very few of the atomic and molecular data used by astronomers in the analysis of astronomical spectra were available in on-line searchable databases. Our principal goal was to: make the most useful of the atomic data files of R.L. Kurucuz (1995a,b) available on the WWW; and also to make the atomic data of R.L. Kelly for ultraviolet lines (i.e., essentially the same as the data in Kelly (1979) and Kelly (1987)) similarly available. In addition, we proposed to improve access to parameters for simple molecules of interest to astronomers.

The NASA Ames PAH IR Spectroscopic Database: Computational Version 3.00 with Updated Content and the Introduction of Multiple Scaling Factors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bauschlicher, Charles W., Jr.; Ricca, A.; Boersma, C.; Allamandola, L. J.

2018-02-01

Version 3.00 of the library of computed spectra in the NASA Ames PAH IR Spectroscopic Database (PAHdb) is described. Version 3.00 introduces the use of multiple scale factors, instead of the single scaling factor used previously, to align the theoretical harmonic frequencies with the experimental fundamentals. The use of multiple scale factors permits the use of a variety of basis sets; this allows new PAH species to be included in the database, such as those containing oxygen, and yields an improved treatment of strained species and those containing nitrogen. In addition, the computed spectra of 2439 new PAH species have been added. The impact of these changes on the analysis of an astronomical spectrum through database-fitting is considered and compared with a fit using Version 2.00 of the library of computed spectra. Finally, astronomical constraints are defined for the PAH spectral libraries in PAHdb.

The AAS Working Group on Accessibility and Disability (WGAD): progress, current projects, and prospects for making astronomy accessible to all

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aarnio, Alicia; Diaz-Merced, Wanda; Monkiewicz, Jacqueline; Knierman, Karen; AAS WGAD

2018-01-01

Representation of astronomers with disabilities is low at the earliest career stages and losses compound with career stage thereafter; single-digit and lower percentage representation statistics are in large part due to systemic barriers to access and failure to accommodate the needs of users of a wide range of abilities. In this presentation, we discuss the barriers currently inhibiting broad access to astronomical publications, databases, and conferences. The WGAD was formed in January of 2016 to work toward removal of these barriers to make our field inclusive of astronomers with disabilities at all career stages. We have productively engaged with publishers and accessibility audits have been performed. Database accessibility evaluation is underway, and we are working with the AAS and other professional organizations on conference accessibility. We are keeping users centrally focused via surveys and user test groups, and holding paramount the overarching idea that meeting present accessibility standards is a necessary but insufficient condition for full access.

NVST Data Archiving System Based On FastBit NoSQL Database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Ying-bo; Wang, Feng; Ji, Kai-fan; Deng, Hui; Dai, Wei; Liang, Bo

2014-06-01

The New Vacuum Solar Telescope (NVST) is a 1-meter vacuum solar telescope that aims to observe the fine structures of active regions on the Sun. The main tasks of the NVST are high resolution imaging and spectral observations, including the measurements of the solar magnetic field. The NVST has been collecting more than 20 million FITS files since it began routine observations in 2012 and produces a maximum observational records of 120 thousand files in a day. Given the large amount of files, the effective archiving and retrieval of files becomes a critical and urgent problem. In this study, we implement a new data archiving system for the NVST based on the Fastbit Not Only Structured Query Language (NoSQL) database. Comparing to the relational database (i.e., MySQL; My Structured Query Language), the Fastbit database manifests distinctive advantages on indexing and querying performance. In a large scale database of 40 million records, the multi-field combined query response time of Fastbit database is about 15 times faster and fully meets the requirements of the NVST. Our study brings a new idea for massive astronomical data archiving and would contribute to the design of data management systems for other astronomical telescopes.

ORCID Uptake in the Astronomical Community

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holmquist, Jane

2015-08-01

The IAU General Assembly provides librarians with a unique opportunity to interact with astronomers from all over the world. From the perspective of an ORCID Ambassador, the Focus Group Meeting on "Scholarly Publication in Astronomy" also provides an opportunity to demonstrate the cooperation and collaboration needed by individual astronomers, societies, librarians, publishers and bibliographic database providers to achieve universal adoption of ORCID, a standard unique identifier for authors, just as the DOI (digital object identifier) has been adopted for each journal article published.I propose to 1) present at the Focus Group Meeting an update on the uptake of ORCID by members of the astronomical community and 2) set up a small station (TBA) near the IAU registration area where librarians can show researchers how to register for an ORCID in 30 seconds.

The Cologne Database for Molecular Spectroscopy, CDMS, in the Virtual Atomic and Molecular Data Centre, VAMDC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Endres, Christian P.; Schlemmer, Stephan; Schilke, Peter; Stutzki, Jürgen; Müller, Holger S. P.

2016-09-01

The Cologne Database for Molecular Spectroscopy, CDMS, was founded 1998 to provide in its catalog section line lists of mostly molecular species which are or may be observed in various astronomical sources (usually) by radio astronomical means. The line lists contain transition frequencies with qualified accuracies, intensities, quantum numbers, as well as further auxiliary information. They have been generated from critically evaluated experimental line lists, mostly from laboratory experiments, employing established Hamiltonian models. Separate entries exist for different isotopic species and usually also for different vibrational states. As of December 2015, the number of entries is 792. They are available online as ascii tables with additional files documenting information on the entries. The Virtual Atomic and Molecular Data Centre, VAMDC, was founded more than 5 years ago as a common platform for atomic and molecular data. This platform facilitates exchange not only between spectroscopic databases related to astrophysics or astrochemistry, but also with collisional and kinetic databases. A dedicated infrastructure was developed to provide a common data format in the various databases enabling queries to a large variety of databases on atomic and molecular data at once. For CDMS, the incorporation in VAMDC was combined with several modifications on the generation of CDMS catalog entries. Here we introduce related changes to the data structure and the data content in the CDMS. The new data scheme allows us to incorporate all previous data entries but in addition allows us also to include entries based on new theoretical descriptions. Moreover, the CDMS entries have been transferred into a mySQL database format. These developments within the VAMDC framework have in part been driven by the needs of the astronomical community to be able to deal efficiently with large data sets obtained with the Herschel Space Telescope or, more recently, with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array.

The Expansion of the Astronomical Photographic Data Archive at PARI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cline, J. Donald; Barker, Thurburn; Castelaz, Michael

2017-01-01

A diverse set of photometric, astrometric, spectral and surface brightness data exist on decades of photographic glass plates. The Astronomical Photographic Data Archive (APDA) at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) was established in November 2007 and is dedicated to the task of collecting, restoring, preserving and storing astronomical photographic data and PARI continues to accept collections. APDA is also tasked with scanning each image and establishing a database of images that can be accessed via the Internet by the global community of scientists, researchers and students. APDA is a new type of astronomical observatory - one that harnesses analog data of the night sky taken for more than a century and making that data available in a digital format.In 2016, APDA expanded from 50 collections with about 220,000 plates to more than 55 collections and more than 340,000 plates and films. These account for more than 30% of all astronomical photographic data in the United States. The largest of the new acquisitions are the astronomical photographic plates in the Yale University collection. We present details of the newly added collections and review of other collections in APDA.

Catalog of infrared observations. Part 2: Appendixes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gezari, Daniel Y.; Schmitz, Marion; Mead, Jaylee M.

1987-01-01

The Catalog of Infrared Observations (CIO) is a compilation of infrared astronomical observational data obtained from an extensive literature search of astronomical journals and major astronomical catalogs and surveys. The literature searches are complete for years 1965 to 1986. Supporting appendixes are published in this part. The appendices include an atlas of infrared source positions, two bibliographies of infrared literature upon which the search was based, and, keyed to the main Catalog listings (organized alphabetically by first author, and by date), an atlas of infrared spectral ranges, and IRAS data for the CIO sources. The complete CIO database is available to qualified users in printed microfiche and magnetic tape formats.

Internet Services for Professional Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andernach, H.

A (subjective) overview of Internet resources relevant to professional astronomers is given. Special emphasis is put on databases of astronomical objects and servers providing general information, e.g. on astronomical catalogues, finding charts from sky surveys, bibliographies, directories, browsers through multi-wavelength observational archives, etc. Archives of specific observational data will be discussed in more detail in other chapters of this book, dealing with the corresponding part of the electromagnetic spectrum. About 200 different links are mentioned, and every attempt was made to make this report as up-to-date as possible. As the field is rapidly growing with improved network technology, it will be just a snapshot of the situation in mid-1998.

Astronomical Network for Teachers in Thailand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kramer Hutawarakorn, Busaba; Soonthornthum, Boonraksar; Poshyachinda, Saran

We report the latest development of a pilot project in establishing the astronomical network for teachers in Thailand. The project has been recently granted by the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology Thailand and operated by Sirindhorn Observatory Chiangmai University. The objectives of the project are (1) to establish a16-inch semi-robotic telescope which can be accessed from schools nationwide; and (2) to establish an educational website in Thai language which contains electronic textbook of astronomy online encyclopedia of astronomy observing projects astronomical database and links to other educational websites worldwide. The network will play important role in the development of teaching and learning astronomy in Thailand.

Spectroscopic data for an astronomy database

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parkinson, W. H.; Smith, Peter L.

1995-01-01

Very few of the atomic and molecular data used in analyses of astronomical spectra are currently available in World Wide Web (WWW) databases that are searchable with hypertext browsers. We have begun to rectify this situation by making extensive atomic data files available with simple search procedures. We have also established links to other on-line atomic and molecular databases. All can be accessed from our database homepage with URL: http:// cfa-www.harvard.edu/ amp/ data/ amdata.html.

Image-based query-by-example for big databases of galaxy images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shamir, Lior; Kuminski, Evan

2017-01-01

Very large astronomical databases containing millions or even billions of galaxy images have been becoming increasingly important tools in astronomy research. However, in many cases the very large size makes it more difficult to analyze these data manually, reinforcing the need for computer algorithms that can automate the data analysis process. An example of such task is the identification of galaxies of a certain morphology of interest. For instance, if a rare galaxy is identified it is reasonable to expect that more galaxies of similar morphology exist in the database, but it is virtually impossible to manually search these databases to identify such galaxies. Here we describe computer vision and pattern recognition methodology that receives a galaxy image as an input, and searches automatically a large dataset of galaxies to return a list of galaxies that are visually similar to the query galaxy. The returned list is not necessarily complete or clean, but it provides a substantial reduction of the original database into a smaller dataset, in which the frequency of objects visually similar to the query galaxy is much higher. Experimental results show that the algorithm can identify rare galaxies such as ring galaxies among datasets of 10,000 astronomical objects.

ADF/ADC Web Tools for Browsing and Visualizing Astronomical Catalogs and NASA Astrophysics Mission Metadata

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaya, E.; Kargatis, V.; Blackwell, J.; Borne, K.; White, R. A.; Cheung, C.

1998-05-01

Several new web based services have been introduced this year by the Astrophysics Data Facility (ADF) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. IMPReSS is a graphical interface to astrophysics databases that presents the user with the footprints of observations of space-based missions. It also aids astronomers in retrieving these data by sending requests to distributed data archives. The VIEWER is a reader of ADC astronomical catalogs and journal tables that allows subsetting of catalogs by column choices and range selection and provides database-like search capability within each table. With it, the user can easily find the table data most appropriate for their purposes and then download either the subset table or the original table. CATSEYE is a tool that plots output tables from the VIEWER (and soon AMASE), making exploring the datasets fast and easy. Having completed the basic functionality of these systems, we are enhancing the site to provide advanced functionality. These will include: market basket storage of tables and records of VIEWER output for IMPReSS and AstroBrowse queries, non-HTML table responses to AstroBrowse type queries, general column arithmetic, modularity to allow entrance into the sequence of web pages at any point, histogram plots, navigable maps, and overplotting of catalog objects on mission footprint maps. When completed, the ADF/ADC web facilities will provide astronomical tabled data and mission retrieval information in several hyperlinked environments geared for users at any level, from the school student to the typical astronomer to the expert datamining tools at state-of-the-art data centers.

WWW database of optical constants for astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henning, Th.; Il'In, V. B.; Krivova, N. A.; Michel, B.; Voshchinnikov, N. V.

1999-04-01

The database we announce contains references to the papers, data files and links to the Internet resources related to measurements and calculations of the optical constants of the materials of astronomical interest: different silicates, ices, oxides, sulfides, carbides, carbonaceous species from amorphous carbon to graphite and diamonds, etc. We describe the general structure and content of the database which has now free access via Internet: http://www.astro.spbu.ru/JPDOC/entry.html\\ or \\ http:// www. astro.uni-jena.de/Users/database/entry.html

THE NATURE AND FREQUENCY OF OUTFLOWS FROM STARS IN THE CENTRAL ORION NEBULA CLUSTER

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

O’Dell, C. R.; Ferland, G. J.; Henney, W. J.

Recent Hubble Space Telescope images have allowed the determination with unprecedented accuracy of motions and changes of shocks within the inner Orion Nebula. These originate from collimated outflows from very young stars, some within the ionized portion of the nebula and others within the host molecular cloud. We have doubled the number of Herbig–Haro objects known within the inner Orion Nebula. We find that the best-known Herbig–Haro shocks originate from relatively few stars, with the optically visible X-ray source COUP 666 driving many of them. While some isolated shocks are driven by single collimated outflows, many groups of shocks aremore » the result of a single stellar source having jets oriented in multiple directions at similar times. This explains the feature that shocks aligned in opposite directions in the plane of the sky are usually blueshifted because the redshifted outflows pass into the optically thick photon-dominated region behind the nebula. There are two regions from which optical outflows originate for which there are no candidate sources in the SIMBAD database.« less

Challenges in the automated classification of variable stars in large databases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Graham, Matthew; Drake, Andrew; Djorgovski, S. G.; Mahabal, Ashish; Donalek, Ciro

2017-09-01

With ever-increasing numbers of astrophysical transient surveys, new facilities and archives of astronomical time series, time domain astronomy is emerging as a mainstream discipline. However, the sheer volume of data alone - hundreds of observations for hundreds of millions of sources - necessitates advanced statistical and machine learning methodologies for scientific discovery: characterization, categorization, and classification. Whilst these techniques are slowly entering the astronomer's toolkit, their application to astronomical problems is not without its issues. In this paper, we will review some of the challenges posed by trying to identify variable stars in large data collections, including appropriate feature representations, dealing with uncertainties, establishing ground truths, and simple discrete classes.

Polishers around the globe: an overview on the market of large astronomical mirrors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Döhring, Thorsten

2014-07-01

Astronomical mirrors are key elements in modern optical telescopes, their dimensions are usually large and their specifications are demanding. Only a limited number of skilled companies respectively institutions around the world are able to master the challenge to polish an individual astronomical mirror, especially in dimensions above one meter. This paper presents an overview on the corresponding market including a listing of polishers around the globe. Therefore valuable information is provided to the astronomical community: Polishers may use the information as a global competitor database, astronomers and project managers may get more transparency on potential suppliers, and suppliers of polishing equipment may learn about unknown potential customers in other parts of the world. An evaluation of the historical market demand on large monolithic astronomical mirrors is presented. It concluded that this is still a niche market with a typical mean rate of 1-2 mirrors per year. Polishing of such mirrors is an enabling technology with impact on the development of technical know-how, public relation, visibility and reputation of the supplier. Within a corresponding technical discussion different polishing technologies are described. In addition it is demonstrated that strategic aspects and political considerations are influencing the selection of the optical finisher.

Distributing Variable Star Data to the Virtual Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kinne, Richard C.; Templeton, M. R.; Henden, A. A.; Zografou, P.; Harbo, P.; Evans, J.; Rots, A. H.; LAZIO, J.

2013-01-01

Effective distribution of data is a core element of effective astronomy today. The AAVSO is the home of several different unique databases. The AAVSO International Database (AID) contains over a century of photometric and time-series data on thousands of individual variable stars comprising over 22 million observations. The AAVSO Photometric All-Sky Survey (APASS) is a new photometric catalog containing calibrated photometry in Johnson B, V and Sloan g', r' and i' filters for stars with magnitudes of 10 < V < 17. The AAVSO is partnering with researchers and technologists at the Virtual Astronomical Observatory (VAO) to solve the data distribution problem for these datasets by making them available via various VO tools. We give specific examples of how these data can be accessed through Virtual Observatory (VO) toolsets and utilized for astronomical research.

Web-Resources for Astronomical Data in the Ultraviolet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sachkov, M. E.; Malkov, O. Yu.

2017-12-01

In this paper we describe databases of space projects that are operating or have operated in the ultraviolet spectral region. We give brief descriptions and links to major sources for UV data on the web: archives, space mission sites, databases, catalogues. We pay special attention to the World Space Observatory—Ultraviolet mission that will be launched in 2021.

Variable Star and Exoplanet Section of the Czech Astronomical Society

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brát, L.; Zejda, M.

2010-12-01

We present activities of Czech variable star observers organized in the Variable Star and Exoplanet Section of the Czech Astronomical Society. We work in four observing projects: B.R.N.O. - eclipsing binaries, MEDUZA - intrinsic variable stars, TRESCA - transiting exoplanets and candidates, HERO - objects of high energy astrophysics. Detailed information together with O-C gate (database of eclipsing binaries minima timings) and OEJV (Open European Journal on Variable stars) are available on our internet portal http://var.astro.cz.

Construction of Database for Pulsating Variable Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, B. Q.; Yang, M.; Jiang, B. W.

2011-07-01

A database for the pulsating variable stars is constructed for Chinese astronomers to study the variable stars conveniently. The database includes about 230000 variable stars in the Galactic bulge, LMC and SMC observed by the MACHO (MAssive Compact Halo Objects) and OGLE (Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment) projects at present. The software used for the construction is LAMP, i.e., Linux+Apache+MySQL+PHP. A web page is provided to search the photometric data and the light curve in the database through the right ascension and declination of the object. More data will be incorporated into the database.

Satellite Ocean Color Validation Using Merchant Ships. Chapter 10

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frouin, Robert; Cutchin, David L.; Deschamps, Pierre-Yves

2001-01-01

A collaborative measurement program for evaluating satellite-derived ocean color has been developed based on ships of opportunity (merchant, oceanographic) and specific instrumentation, the SIMBAD radiometer. The purpose of the measurement program is to complement, in a cost-effective way, dedicated evaluation experiments at sea, which are expensive, cannot be carried out over the full range of expected oceanic and atmospheric conditions, and generally provide a few match-ups. Ships participate in the program on a volunteer basis or at a very small cost, and measurement procedures do not interfere with other ship activities. The SIMBAD radiometer is a portable, easy-to-operate instrument that measures the basic ocean color variables, namely aerosol optical thickness and water-leaving radiance, in typical spectral bands of ocean-color sensors, i.e., 443, 490, 560, 670, and 870 nm. Measuring these variables at the time of satellite overpass is usually sufficient to verify satellite-derived ocean color and to evaluate atmospheric correction algorithms. Any ordinary crew can learn quickly how to make measurements. Importantly, the ship is not required to stop, making it possible to collect data along regular routes traveled by merchant ships in the world's oceans.

THE NASA AMES PAH IR SPECTROSCOPIC DATABASE VERSION 2.00: UPDATED CONTENT, WEB SITE, AND ON(OFF)LINE TOOLS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Boersma, C.; Mattioda, A. L.; Allamandola, L. J.

A significantly updated version of the NASA Ames PAH IR Spectroscopic Database, the first major revision since its release in 2010, is presented. The current version, version 2.00, contains 700 computational and 75 experimental spectra compared, respectively, with 583 and 60 in the initial release. The spectra span the 2.5-4000 μm (4000-2.5 cm{sup -1}) range. New tools are available on the site that allow one to analyze spectra in the database and compare them with imported astronomical spectra as well as a suite of IDL object classes (a collection of programs utilizing IDL's object-oriented programming capabilities) that permit offline analysismore » called the AmesPAHdbIDLSuite. Most noteworthy among the additions are the extension of the computational spectroscopic database to include a number of significantly larger polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the ability to visualize the molecular atomic motions corresponding to each vibrational mode, and a new tool that allows one to perform a non-negative least-squares fit of an imported astronomical spectrum with PAH spectra in the computational database. Finally, a methodology is described in the Appendix, and implemented using the AmesPAHdbIDLSuite, that allows the user to enforce charge balance during the fitting procedure.« less

The Next Generation of NASA Night Sky Network: A Searchable Nationwide Database of Astronomy Events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ames, Z.; Berendsen, M.; White, V.

2010-08-01

With support from NASA, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) first developed the Night Sky Network (NSN) in 2004. The NSN was created in response to research conducted by the Institute for Learning Innovation (ILI) to determine what type of support amateur astronomers could use to increase the efficiency and extent of their educational outreach programs. Since its creation, the NSN has grown to include an online searchable database of toolkit resources, Presentation Skills Videos covering topics such as working with kids and how to answer difficult questions, and a searchable nationwide calendar of astronomy events that supports club organization. The features of the NSN have allowed the ASP to create a template that amateur science organizations might use to create a similar support network for their members and the public.

Report on the ''ESO Python Boot Camp — Pilot Version''

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dias, B.; Milli, J.

2017-03-01

The Python programming language is becoming very popular within the astronomical community. Python is a high-level language with multiple applications including database management, handling FITS images and tables, statistical analysis, and more advanced topics. Python is a very powerful tool both for astronomical publications and for observatory operations. Since the best way to learn a new programming language is through practice, we therefore organised a two-day hands-on workshop to share expertise among ESO colleagues. We report here the outcome and feedback from this pilot event.

Information System through ANIS at CeSAM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moreau, C.; Agneray, F.; Gimenez, S.

2015-09-01

ANIS (AstroNomical Information System) is a web generic tool developed at CeSAM to facilitate and standardize the implementation of astronomical data of various kinds through private and/or public dedicated Information Systems. The architecture of ANIS is composed of a database server which contains the project data, a web user interface template which provides high level services (search, extract and display imaging and spectroscopic data using a combination of criteria, an object list, a sql query module or a cone search interfaces), a framework composed of several packages, and a metadata database managed by a web administration entity. The process to implement a new ANIS instance at CeSAM is easy and fast : the scientific project has to submit data or a data secure access, the CeSAM team installs the new instance (web interface template and the metadata database), and the project administrator can configure the instance with the web ANIS-administration entity. Currently, the CeSAM offers through ANIS a web access to VO compliant Information Systems for different projects (HeDaM, HST-COSMOS, CFHTLS-ZPhots, ExoDAT,...).

AAS Publishing: What Can WorldWide Telescope Do for You?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohler, Susanna

2016-01-01

During the 227th American Astronomical Society meeting last week in Kissimmee, the AAS announced the exciting news that it will become the new institutional home of Microsofts WorldWide Telescope (WWT) astronomy software.WWT is a scriptable and interactive way of browsing the multi-wavelength sky as it is seen from Earth, and the universe as we would travel within it. WWT can be run either as a desktop app or from within an internet browser. And of interest to researchers especially its an incredibly useful way to visualize and contextualize astronomical data.What does WWTs transition to the AAS as its new host mean? WWT was open-sourced by Microsoft Research last year, and hosting by the AAS will permit broad community involvement in the form of contribution of both code and guidance in WWTs further development.All of this begs the question: why might YOU want to use WWT? That depends on whether your goal is to use it for research, education, or just for fun.WWT for ResearchIfyou thought WWT was just for education and outreach, think again! Here are just a few things you can do with WWT to advance your astronomical research1:1) Put surveys into context, on top of more than 40 different all-sky images, spanning the electromagnetic spectrum.2) Perform literature searches from the sky.3) Compare images and catalogs at different wavelengths, on-the-fly in seconds.4) Show your own online data to the world, in an API that allows users to see it on the sky in their browsers.5) Communicate to colleagues and learners about the sky using interactive tours of your data and ideas.An example of WWT used to perform astronomy research is the recently highlighted work on the bones of the Milky Way, in which the authors used WWT to overlay multiple data sets and visually identify and then search for infrared dark clouds along the predicted positions of Milky Way spiral arms.An example of WWT used to communicate research is given in this paper, wherein a link in the caption of a figure takes the reader to WWT, where the figure has been placed into context of the sky, allowing the reader to navigate around and within the figure. The reader can even identify individual objects within the image (by right-clicking) and access the objects information in astronomical databases like SIMBAD or NED, or find publications about the object on ADS. Try it out for yourself!This gif shows how a link from a figure caption takes the reader to WWT to see the figure data in context. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eiUffqU8QI]A final example of WWTs use for communicating research is thevideo abstract below. If you want instructions on how to make your own video abstract using WWT, you can find them here.Click here to view the video on YouTube.WWT for EducationStudents using WWT for a Moon phases lab. [http://wwtambassadors.org/science-education-research]WWT is an incredibly powerful visualization tool that can be used to bring context to lesson topics in K-12 education as well as university classes. It can be used in a lecture setting to talk about an enormous variety of astronomy topics from Spitzer data sets to phases of the Moon and in a lab setting to encourage students to explore on their own and ask questions.Sample, pre-made tours for teaching various topics can be found here.A few sample lesson plans can be found here.WWT for FunHopefully youve already been convinced by the descriptions of WWTs capabilities that its worth checking out. If you dont have a specific goal in mind, you can visit WWT to simply browse the universe, examining anything from planets to nebulae, from constellations to the CMB, from supernovae to galaxy clusters. If you want a little more guidance, try one of the guided tours available. If youre feeling adventurous, try to make your own!The fact that WWT will be developed and guided by the broader community of astronomers will only increase its capabilities. We at the AAS are excited to provide WWTs new home, and we look forward to watching its evolution.You can access WWT in your browser here.You can download the WWT desktop application here (for Windows).More information on how to use WWT for education and outreach can be found at the WWT Ambassadors webpage.1Recommendations from Alyssa Goodman

The LSST Data Mining Research Agenda

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borne, K.; Becla, J.; Davidson, I.; Szalay, A.; Tyson, J. A.

2008-12-01

We describe features of the LSST science database that are amenable to scientific data mining, object classification, outlier identification, anomaly detection, image quality assurance, and survey science validation. The data mining research agenda includes: scalability (at petabytes scales) of existing machine learning and data mining algorithms; development of grid-enabled parallel data mining algorithms; designing a robust system for brokering classifications from the LSST event pipeline (which may produce 10,000 or more event alerts per night) multi-resolution methods for exploration of petascale databases; indexing of multi-attribute multi-dimensional astronomical databases (beyond spatial indexing) for rapid querying of petabyte databases; and more.

IAU South West Asian ROAD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mickaelian, Areg; Azatyan, Naira; Farmanyan, Sona; Mikayelyan, Gor

2016-10-01

Armenia is hosting the IAU South West Asian (SWA) Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (ROAD). It is a county of ancient astronomy and is also rich in modern astronomical facilities and infrastructures, hence may successfully serve as a regional center for various activities. Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) has 2.6m and 1m Schmidt, as well as a number of smaller telescopes that are an observational basis for joint projects and collaborations. Armenian Virtual Observatory (ArVO) is hosting astronomical databases, such as the Digitized First Byurakan Survey (DFBS) and may also serve as a basis for development of VO structures in this region. Recently we have conducted a number of new activities; a meeting on ``Relation of Astronomy to other Sciences, Culture and Society" (RASCS) was organized by BAO and Armenian Astronomical Society (ArAS) in Oct 2014 in Byurakan. Activities related to Archaeoastronomy and Astronomy in Culture (AAC) were initiated as well. Discussions on future Armenian-Iranian collaboration in astronomy were carried out, including an Armenian-Iranian Astronomical Workshop held in Oct 2015 in Byurakan. Similar workshops have been carried out between BAO and Abastumani Astronomical Observatory (AbAO, Georgia) since 1974.

Best Practices for Data Publication to Facilitate Integration into NED: A Reference Guide for Authors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmitz, Marion; Mazzarella, J. M.; Madore, B. F.; Ogle, P. M.; Ebert, R.; Baker, K.; Chan, H.; Chen, X.; Fadda, D.; Frayer, C.; Jacobson, J. D.; LaGue, C.; Lo, T. M.; Pevunova, O.; Terek, S.; Steer, I.

2014-01-01

At the urging of the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) Users Committee, the NED Team has prepared and published on its website a new document titled "Best Practices for Data Publication to Facilitate Integration into NED: A Reference Guide for Authors" (http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/docs/BPDP/NED_BPDP.pdf). We hope that journal publishers will incorporate links to this living document in their Instructions to Authors to provide a practical reference for authors, referees, and science editors so as to help avoid various pitfalls that often impede the interpretation of data and metadata, and also delay their integration into NED, SIMBAD, ADS and other systems. In particular, we discuss the importance of using proper naming conventions, providing the epoch and system of coordinates, including units and uncertainties, and giving sufficient metadata for the unambiguous interpretation of tabular, imaging, and spectral data. The biggest impediments to the assimilation of new data from the literature into NED are ambiguous object names and non-unique, coordinate-based identifiers. A Checklist of Recommendations will be presented which includes links to sections of the Best Practices document that provide further examples, explanation, and rationale.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Catalogue enriched with R CrB stars (Tisserand, 2012)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tisserand, P.

2012-01-01

For each object, the equatorial and Galactic coordinates are given, as well as all four WISE (Wright et al., 2010AJ....140.1868W, Cat. II/307), three 2MASS (Skrutskie et al., 2006, Cat. VII/233), three DENIS (Epchtein et al., 1994Ap&SS.217....3E, Cat. B/denis) magnitudes, and their related 1-sigma errors. The five USNO-B1 magnitudes (Monet et al., 2003, Cat. I/284) are also listed, but not the individual measurement error since they were not delivered in the original catalogue. If one magnitude was not available, its value was replaced by the number -99. Also, if more than one epoch were available in the DENIS or USNO-B1 catalogues for one particular object, only the epoch related to the brightest magnitudes were kept. The last column of the catalogue gives the SIMBAD classification, as of July 2011, found using a 5 arcsec matching radius. An underscore character was given to the objects that had no classification in SIMBAD. WISE data acquisition and reduction are discussed in Wright et al. (2010AJ....140.1868W) and in the Explanatory Supplement to the WISE Preliminary Data Release Products. There are four WISE bands, with central wavelengths at 3.4, 4.6, 12, and 22um. (2 data files).

The Production Rate and Employment of Ph.D. Astronomers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Metcalfe, Travis S.

2007-05-01

As in many sciences, the production rate of new Ph.D. astronomers is decoupled from the global demand for trained scientists. As noted by Thronson (1991, PASP, 103, 90), overproduction appears to be built into the system, making the mathematical formulation of surplus astronomer production similar to that for industrial pollution models -- an unintended side effect of the process. Following Harris (1994, ASP Conf., 57, 12), I document the production of Ph.D. astronomers from 1990 to 2005 using the online Dissertation Abstracts database. To monitor the changing patterns of employment, I examine the number of postdoctoral, tenure-track, and other jobs advertised in the AAS Job Register during this same period. Although the current situation is clearly unsustainable, it was much worse a decade ago with nearly 7 new Ph.D. astronomers in 1995 for every new tenure-track job. While the number of new permanent positions steadily increased throughout the late 1990's, the number of new Ph.D. recipients gradually declined. After the turn of the century, the production of new astronomers leveled off, but new postdoctoral positions grew dramatically. There has also been recent growth in the number of non-tenure-track lecturer, research, and support positions. This is just one example of a larger cultural shift to temporary employment that is happening throughout society -- it is not unique to astronomy.

THz Spectroscopy and Spectroscopic Database for Astrophysics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pearson, John C.; Drouin, Brian J.

2006-01-01

Molecule specific astronomical observations rely on precisely determined laboratory molecular data for interpretation. The Herschel Heterodyne Instrument for Far Infrared, a suite of SOFIA instruments, and ALMA are each well placed to expose the limitations of available molecular physics data and spectral line catalogs. Herschel and SOFIA will observe in high spectral resolution over the entire far infrared range. Accurate data to previously unimagined frequencies including infrared ro-vibrational and ro-torsional bands will be required for interpretation of the observations. Planned ALMA observations with a very small beam will reveal weaker emission features requiring accurate knowledge of higher quantum numbers and additional vibrational states. Historically, laboratory spectroscopy has been at the front of submillimeter technology development, but now astronomical receivers have an enormous capability advantage. Additionally, rotational spectroscopy is a relatively mature field attracting little interest from students and funding agencies. Molecular database maintenance is tedious and difficult to justify as research. This severely limits funding opportunities even though data bases require the same level of expertise as research. We report the application of some relatively new receiver technology into a simple solid state THz spectrometer that has the performance required to collect the laboratory data required by astronomical observations. Further detail on the lack of preparation for upcoming missions by the JPL spectral line catalog is given.

Second Annual Conference on Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems. Abstracts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1992-01-01

Abstracts from the conference are presented. The topics covered include the following: next generation software systems and languages; databases, catalogs, and archives; user interfaces/visualization; real-time data acquisition/scheduling; and IRAF/STSDAS/PROS status reports.

Introduction to SQL. Ch. 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McGlynn, T.; Santisteban, M.

2007-01-01

This chapter provides a very brief introduction to the Structured Query Language (SQL) for getting information from relational databases. We make no pretense that this is a complete or comprehensive discussion of SQL. There are many aspects of the language the will be completely ignored in the presentation. The goal here is to provide enough background so that users understand the basic concepts involved in building and using relational databases. We also go through the steps involved in building a particular astronomical database used in some of the other presentations in this volume.

Saada: A Generator of Astronomical Database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michel, L.

2011-11-01

Saada transforms a set of heterogeneous FITS files or VOtables of various categories (images, tables, spectra, etc.) in a powerful database deployed on the Web. Databases are located on your host and stay independent of any external server. This job doesn’t require writing code. Saada can mix data of various categories in multiple collections. Data collections can be linked each to others making relevant browsing paths and allowing data-mining oriented queries. Saada supports 4 VO services (Spectra, images, sources and TAP) . Data collections can be published immediately after the deployment of the Web interface.

C++, objected-oriented programming, and astronomical data models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Farris, A.

1992-01-01

Contemporary astronomy is characterized by increasingly complex instruments and observational techniques, higher data collection rates, and large data archives, placing severe stress on software analysis systems. The object-oriented paradigm represents a significant new approach to software design and implementation that holds great promise for dealing with this increased complexity. The basic concepts of this approach will be characterized in contrast to more traditional procedure-oriented approaches. The fundamental features of objected-oriented programming will be discussed from a C++ programming language perspective, using examples familiar to astronomers. This discussion will focus on objects, classes and their relevance to the data type system; the principle of information hiding; and the use of inheritance to implement generalization/specialization relationships. Drawing on the object-oriented approach, features of a new database model to support astronomical data analysis will be presented.

Asteroseismology and the Virtual Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suárez, J. C.

2010-12-01

Virtual Observatory is an international project aiming at solving the problem of interoperability among astronomical archives and the scalability in the classical methods of retrieving and analyzing astronomical data in order to deal with huge amounts of datasets. This is being tackled thanks to the standardization of astronomical archives favoring their access in a efficient manner. This project, which is nowadays a reality, is more and more adopted by many fields of Science. In the present paper I will describe the origin of a new era in Stellar Physics whose main role is played by the relationship between asteroseismology and V.O. I will summarize the main concerns of both fields and the current development of VO tools for the development of what we could name as asteroseismology online, in which not only observed datasets are concerned but also the management of model databases.

The Contribution of Ionizing Stars to the Far-Infrared and Radio Emission in the Galaxy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cao, Yu; Terebey, Susan; Prince, Thomas A.; Beichman, Charles A.

1997-01-01

This is the first report of a new contract. However, this project represents ongoing work, so there are completed tasks as well as newly started tasks to report. The project involves the completion of the IRAS Galaxy Atlas (IGA), a large image database produced using data from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). In this phase, the project switches from the production and characterization of the IGA to its use in astronomical research studies of massive star formation. The research utilizes the IGA as well as two other large data sets being produced by research partners.

Algorithms for classification of astronomical object spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wasiewicz, P.; Szuppe, J.; Hryniewicz, K.

2015-09-01

Obtaining interesting celestial objects from tens of thousands or even millions of recorded optical-ultraviolet spectra depends not only on the data quality but also on the accuracy of spectra decomposition. Additionally rapidly growing data volumes demands higher computing power and/or more efficient algorithms implementations. In this paper we speed up the process of substracting iron transitions and fitting Gaussian functions to emission peaks utilising C++ and OpenCL methods together with the NOSQL database. In this paper we implemented typical astronomical methods of detecting peaks in comparison to our previous hybrid methods implemented with CUDA.

feets: feATURE eXTRACTOR for tIME sERIES

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cabral, Juan; Sanchez, Bruno; Ramos, Felipe; Gurovich, Sebastián; Granitto, Pablo; VanderPlas, Jake

2018-06-01

feets characterizes and analyzes light-curves from astronomical photometric databases for modelling, classification, data cleaning, outlier detection and data analysis. It uses machine learning algorithms to determine the numerical descriptors that characterize and distinguish the different variability classes of light-curves; these range from basic statistical measures such as the mean or standard deviation to complex time-series characteristics such as the autocorrelation function. The library is not restricted to the astronomical field and could also be applied to any kind of time series. This project is a derivative work of FATS (ascl:1711.017).

Through Kazan ASPERA to Modern Projects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gusev, Alexander; Kitiashvili, Irina; Petrova, Natasha

Now the European Union form the Sixth Framework Programme. One of its the objects of the EU Programme is opening national researches and training programmes. The Russian PhD students and young astronomers have business and financial difficulties in access to modern databases and astronomical projects and so they has not been included in European overview of priorities. Modern requirements to the organization of observant projects on powerful telescopes assumes painstaking scientific computer preparation of the application. A rigid competition for observation time assume preliminary computer modeling of target object for success of the application. Kazan AstroGeoPhysics Partnership

A Guided Tour of Saada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michel, L.; Motch, C.; Nguyen Ngoc, H.; Pineau, F. X.

2009-09-01

Saada (http://amwdb.u-strasbg.fr/saada) is a tool for helping astronomers build local archives without writing any code (Michel et al. 2004). Databases created by Saada can host collections of heterogeneous data files. These data collections can also be published in the VO. An overview of the main Saada features is presented in this demo: creation of a basic database, creation of relationships, data searches using SaadaQL, metadata tagging, and use of VO services.

The Production Rate and Employment of Ph.D. Astronomers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Metcalfe, Travis S.

2008-02-01

In an effort to encourage self-regulation of the astronomy job market, I examine the supply of, and demand for, astronomers over time. On the supply side, I document the production rate of Ph.D. astronomers from 1970 to 2006 using the UMI Dissertation Abstracts database, along with data from other independent sources. I compare the long-term trends in Ph.D. production with federal astronomy research funding over the same time period, and I demonstrate that additional funding is correlated with higher subsequent Ph.D. production. On the demand side, I monitor the changing patterns of employment using statistics about the number and types of jobs advertised in the AAS Job Register from 1984 to 2006. Finally, I assess the sustainability of the job market by normalizing this demand by the annual Ph.D. production. The most recent data suggest that there are now annual advertisements for about one postdoctoral job, half a faculty job, and half a research/support position for every new domestic Ph.D. recipient in astronomy and astrophysics. The average new astronomer might expect to hold up to 3 jobs before finding a steady position.

Computer-Based Method for On-Line Service and Compact Storage of Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vasilyev, S. V.

New method for compressing some types of astronomical data is proposed and discussed. The method is intended to provide astronomers more convenient technique for data retrieval from observational databases. The technique is based on the principal component method (PCM) of data analysis and their representation by characteristic vectors and eigenvalues. It allows to change the variety of data records by relatively small number of parameters. The initial data can be restored simply by linear combinations of obtained characteristic vectors. This approach can essentially reduce the dimensions of data being stored in databases and transferred through a netware. Our study shows that resulting volumes of data depend on the required accuracy of the representation and can be several times less than the initial ones. We note that using this method does not prevent applying the widely-used software for further data compressing. As the PCM is able to represent data analytically it can be used for proper adaptation of the requested information to the researcher's aims. Finally, taking into account that the method itself is a powerful tool for data smoothing, modelling and comparison we find it having good prospects for use in computer databases. Some examples of the PCM applications are described.

Electronic Catalog Of Extragalactic Objects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Helou, George; Madore, Barry F.

1993-01-01

NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) is publicly accessible computerized catalog of published information about extragalactic observations. Developed to accommodate increasingly large sets of data from surveys, exponentially growing literature, and trend among astronomers to take multispectral approach to astrophysical problems. Accessible to researchers and librarians.

Introduction to Cosmology, Proceedings of the Polish Astronomical Society volume 4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biernacka, Monika; Bajan, Katarzyna; Stachowski, Grzegorz; Pollo, Agnieszka

2016-07-01

On 11-23 July 2016, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce was the host of the Second Cosmological School "Introduction to Cosmology". The main purpose of the School was to provide an introduction to a selection of the most interesting topics in modern cosmology, both in theory and observations. The program included a series of mini-workshops on cosmological simulations, Virtual Observatory database and tools and Spectral Energy Distribution tting. The School was intended for undergraduate, MSc and PhD students, as well as young postdoctoral researchers. The School was co-organized by the Polish Astronomical Society, the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, the Nuclear Centre for Nuclear Research and the N. Copernicus Astronomical Center in Warsaw. The Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical and Computational Modeling kindly provided us with the possibility to remotely use their computing facilities.

Introduction to Cosmology, Proceedings of the Polish Astronomical Society volume 4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biernacka, Monika; Bajan, Katarzyna; Stachowski, Grzegorz; Pollo, Agnieszka

2017-08-01

On 11-23 July 2016, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce was the host of the Second Cosmological School "Introduction to Cosmology". The main purpose of the School was to provide an introduction to a selection of the most interesting topics in modern cosmology, both in theory and observations. The program included a series of mini-workshops on cosmological simulations, Virtual Observatory database and tools and Spectral Energy Distribution tting. The School was intended for undergraduate, MSc and PhD students, as well as young postdoctoral researchers. The School was co-organized by the Polish Astronomical Society, the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, the Nuclear Centre for Nuclear Research and the N. Copernicus Astronomical Center in Warsaw. The Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical and Computational Modeling kindly provided us with the possibility to remotely use their computing facilities.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lees, R. M.; Xu, Li-Hong; Appadoo, D. R. T.

New astronomical facilities such as HIFI on the Herschel Space Observatory, the SOFIA airborne IR telescope and the ALMA sub-mm telescope array will yield spectra from interstellar and protostellar sources with vastly increased sensitivity and frequency coverage. This creates the need for major enhancements to laboratory databases for the more prominent interstellar 'weed' species in order to model and account for their lines in observed spectra in the search for new and more exotic interstellar molecular 'flowers'. With its large-amplitude internal torsional motion, methanol has particularly rich spectra throughout the FIR and IR regions and, being very widely distributed throughoutmore » the galaxy, is perhaps the most notorious interstellar weed. Thus, we have recorded new spectra for a variety of methanol isotopic species on the high-resolution FTIR spectrometer on the CLS FIR beamline. The aim is to extend quantum number coverage of the data, improve our understanding of the energy level structure, and provide the astronomical community with better databases and models of the spectral patterns with greater predictive power for a range of astrophysical conditions.« less

Wide-Field Plate Database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsvetkov, M. K.; Stavrev, K. Y.; Tsvetkova, K. P.; Semkov, E. H.; Mutatov, A. S.

The Wide-Field Plate Database (WFPDB) and the possibilities for its application as a research tool in observational astronomy are presented. Currently the WFPDB comprises the descriptive data for 400 000 archival wide field photographic plates obtained with 77 instruments, from a total of 1 850 000 photographs stored in 269 astronomical archives all over the world since the end of last century. The WFPDB is already accessible for the astronomical community, now only in batch mode through user requests sent by e-mail. We are working on on-line interactive access to the data via INTERNET from Sofia and parallel from the Centre de Donnees Astronomiques de Strasbourg. (Initial information can be found on World Wide Web homepage URL http://www.wfpa.acad.bg.) The WFPDB may be useful in studies of a variety of astronomical objects and phenomena, andespecially for long-term investigations of variable objects and for multi-wavelength research. We have analysed the data in the WFPDB in order to derive the overall characteristics of the totality of wide-field observations, such as the sky coverage, the distributions by observation time and date, by spectral band, and by object type. We have also examined the totality of wide-field observations from point of view of their quality, availability and digitisation. The usefulness of the WFPDB is demonstrated by the results of identification and investigation of the photometrical behaviour of optical analogues of gamma-ray bursts.

Enhancing AstroInformatics and Science Discovery from Data in Journal Articles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazzarella, Joseph

2011-05-01

Traditional methods of publishing scientific data and metadata in journal articles are in need of major upgrades to reach the full potential of astronomical databases and astroinformatics techniques to facilitate semi-automated, and eventually autonomous, methods of science discovery. I will review a growing collaboration involving the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED), the Astrophysics Data System (ADS), the Virtual Astronomical Observatory (VAO), the AAS Journals and IOP, and the Data Conservancy that is aimed toward transforming the methodology used to publish, capture and link data associated with astrophysics journal articles. We are planning a web-based workflow to assist astronomers during the publication of journal articles. The primary goals are to facilitate the application of structure and standards to (meta)data, reduce errors, remove ambiguities in the identification of astrophysical objects and regions of sky, capture and preserve the images and spectral data files used to make plots, and accelerate the ingestion of the data into relevant repositories, search engines and integration services. The outcome of this community wide effort will address a recent public policy mandate to publish scientific data in open formats to allow reproducibility of results and to facilitate new discoveries. Equally important, this work has the potential to usher in a new wave of science discovery based on seamless connectivity between data relationships that are continuously growing in size and complexity, and increasingly sophisticated data visualization and analysis applications.

The CHARA Array Database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, Jeremy; Schaefer, Gail; ten Brummelaar, Theo; Gies, Douglas; Farrington, Christopher

2018-01-01

We are building a searchable database for the CHARA Array data archive. The Array consists of six telescopes linked together as an interferometer, providing sub-milliarcsecond resolution in the optical and near-infrared. The Array enables a variety of scientific studies, including measuring stellar angular diameters, imaging stellar shapes and surface features, mapping the orbits of close binary companions, and resolving circumstellar environments. This database is one component of an NSF/MSIP funded program to provide open access to the CHARA Array to the broader astronomical community. This archive goes back to 2004 and covers all the beam combiners on the Array. We discuss the current status of and future plans for the public database, and give directions on how to access it.

What Astronomers and the AAS Need to be Doing to Curb Light Pollution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Green, D. W. E.

2001-12-01

Astronomers and especially the AAS are doing apalling little in the war on light pollution. This is quite surprising, considering that optical groundbased astronomy may become nearly extinct in the 21st century if we don't get more serious about the loss of our night skies to artificial lighting. Part of the blame must be placed on astronomers throughout the 20th century (particularly before 1980), as very few of them seem to have set an example by starting an early crusade against bad outdoor night lighting (save for a handful of important individuals near large U.S. observatories, and a few connected with smaller observatories); this apathy of earlier generations of astronomers fueled the current general apathy within the AAS and aided the opening of the floodgates in terms of the disastrous lighting situation now upon us in terms of drowning out the night sky. There are possible solutions, and they need to be discussed and acted upon quickly. For example, the AAS should require that all members include a useful amount (say, \\$30) in annual membership fees to be directly transmitted to the International Dark Sky Association, and the AAS should make constant visible strides to educate the public and government officials of the absolute need to reduce outdoor lighting levels and to fully shield all outdoor lighting. There are many other areas of research into outdoor lighting that the AAS should fund or officially/strongly support, so that the astronomical community can better be educated (and can better educate the public) on the evils of bad and thoughtless outdoor-lighting practices; such research includes developing a comprehensive database of national statistics on numbers and types of different outdoor lamps, as a function of time (thus, historical), and also a comprehensive database including all local, state, and federal lighting laws and ordinances together with legal court cases (and their outcomes) involving outdoor night lighting. And professional astronomers realistically have an obligation to their colleagues to discuss the problems of (and solutions to) light pollution at any and all talks concerning astronomy or astrophysics to the general public. All general astronomy textbooks and school/college courses should have considerable (not merely token) space and time devoted to the problem of bad outdoor-lighting practices.

Aided generation of search interfaces to astronomical archives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zorba, Sonia; Bignamini, Andrea; Cepparo, Francesco; Knapic, Cristina; Molinaro, Marco; Smareglia, Riccardo

2016-07-01

Astrophysical data provider organizations that host web based interfaces to provide access to data resources have to cope with possible changes in data management that imply partial rewrites of web applications. To avoid doing this manually it was decided to develop a dynamically configurable Java EE web application that can set itself up reading needed information from configuration files. Specification of what information the astronomical archive database has to expose is managed using the TAP SCHEMA schema from the IVOA TAP recommendation, that can be edited using a graphical interface. When configuration steps are done the tool will build a war file to allow easy deployment of the application.

Astronomical Data Processing Using SciQL, an SQL Based Query Language for Array Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Y.; Scheers, B.; Kersten, M.; Ivanova, M.; Nes, N.

2012-09-01

SciQL (pronounced as ‘cycle’) is a novel SQL-based array query language for scientific applications with both tables and arrays as first class citizens. SciQL lowers the entrance fee of adopting relational DBMS (RDBMS) in scientific domains, because it includes functionality often only found in mathematics software packages. In this paper, we demonstrate the usefulness of SciQL for astronomical data processing using examples from the Transient Key Project of the LOFAR radio telescope. In particular, how the LOFAR light-curve database of all detected sources can be constructed, by correlating sources across the spatial, frequency, time and polarisation domains.

Surveys, Fields, and Collections in the Astronomical Photographic Data Archive at PARI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cline, J. D.; Castelaz, M. W.; Barker, T.

2014-01-01

A diverse set of photometric, astrometric, spectral and surface brightness data exist on more than 100 years of photographic glass plates. About 20 percent of the plates in North America are located in the Astronomical Photographic Data Archive (APDA) at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI). APDA was established in November 2007 and is dedicated to the task of collecting, restoring, preserving and storing astronomical photographic data and PARI continues to accept collections. APDA is also tasked with scanning each image and establishing a database of images that can be accessed via the Internet by the global community of scientists, researchers and students. APDA is a new type of astronomical observatory - one that harnesses analog data of the night sky taken for more than a century and making that data available in a digital format. APDA currently has 50 collections with more than 250,000 plates taken for QSO identification, parallax measurements, spectral classification and monitoring, Magellanic Cloud studies, H-alpha emission star surveys, novae evolution, and astrometry of asteroids, outer planet satellites and Pluto. Some examples of collections include the complete set of the Henize H-alpha Southern Survey plates taken between 1949 and 1952 (Henize 1954, AJ, 59, 325), the Case Western Objective Prism All Sky Survey from 1958-1976 (e.g. Pesch, Sanduleak, and Stephenson 1996, ApJS, 103, 513), and QSO Survey from 1980 to 1991 (e.g. Pesch and Stephenson 1983, ApJS, 51, 171). We feature the contents of the APDA collections to provide the opportunity to the astronomical community to advance new and established areas of study.

Parallel Processable Cryptographic Methods with Unbounded Practical Security.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rothstein, Jerome

Addressing the problem of protecting confidential information and data stored in computer databases from access by unauthorized parties, this paper details coding schemes which present such astronomical work factors to potential code breakers that security breaches are hopeless in any practical sense. Two procedures which can be used to encode for…

Searching for New Double Stars with a Computer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bryant, T. V.

2015-04-01

The advent of computers with large amounts of RAM memory and fast processors, as well as easy internet access to large online astronomical databases, has made computer searches based on astrometric data practicable for most researchers. This paper describes one such search that has uncovered hitherto unrecognized double stars.

The HyperLeda project en route to the astronomical virtual observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golev, V.; Georgiev, V.; Prugniel, Ph.

2002-07-01

HyperLeda (Hyper-Linked Extragalactic Databases and Archives) is aimed to study the evolution of galaxies, their kinematics and stellar populations and the structure of Local Universe. HyperLeda is involved in catalogue and software production, data-mining and massive data processing. The products are serviced to the community through web mirrors. The development of HyperLeda is distributed between different sites and is based on the background experience of the LEDA and Hypercat databases. The HyperLeda project is focused both on the European iAstro colaboration and as a unique database for studies of the physics of the extragalactic objects.

Reconnaissance of the Nearby Stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Henry, Todd

1999-01-01

Accomplishments by the PI during this grant period include: 1. Creating, enhancing, and testing the NStars Database website. During the spring and summer of 1999, the PI performed roughly a dozen extensive "stress tests" of the website. Each test included checking data for individual stars and conducting searches that produced lists of stars from the Database to verify that each entry was correct. In the process, errors were discovered and rectified before the website was made public in July 1999. 2. "Advertising" NStars as a Project to astronomers worldwide. 3. Providing data that has been incorporated into the NStars Database. 4. Observations in Support of the NStars Project.

Quality control of EUVE databases

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

John, L. M.; Drake, J.

1992-01-01

The publicly accessible databases for the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer include: the EUVE Archive mailserver; the CEA ftp site; the EUVE Guest Observer Mailserver; and the Astronomical Data System node. The EUVE Performance Assurance team is responsible for verifying that these public EUVE databases are working properly, and that the public availability of EUVE data contained therein does not infringe any data rights which may have been assigned. In this poster, we describe the Quality Assurance (QA) procedures we have developed from the approach of QA as a service organization, thus reflecting the overall EUVE philosophy of Quality Assurance integrated into normal operating procedures, rather than imposed as an external, post facto, control mechanism.

AstroCloud, a Cyber-Infrastructure for Astronomy Research: Data Archiving and Quality Control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, B.; Cui, C.; Fan, D.; Li, C.; Xiao, J.; Yu, C.; Wang, C.; Cao, Z.; Chen, J.; Yi, W.; Li, S.; Mi, L.; Yang, S.

2015-09-01

AstroCloud is a cyber-Infrastructure for Astronomy Research initiated by Chinese Virtual Observatory (China-VO) under funding support from NDRC (National Development and Reform commission) and CAS (Chinese Academy of Sciences)1(Cui et al. 2014). To archive the astronomical data in China, we present the implementation of the astronomical data archiving system (ADAS). Data archiving and quality control are the infrastructure for the AstroCloud. Throughout the data of the entire life cycle, data archiving system standardized data, transferring data, logging observational data, archiving ambient data, And storing these data and metadata in database. Quality control covers the whole process and all aspects of data archiving.

A VO-Driven Astronomical Data Grid in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, C.; He, B.; Yang, Y.; Zhao, Y.

2010-12-01

With the implementation of many ambitious observation projects, including LAMOST, FAST, and Antarctic observatory at Doom A, observational astronomy in China is stepping into a brand new era with emerging data avalanche. In the era of e-Science, both these cutting-edge projects and traditional astronomy research need much more powerful data management, sharing and interoperability. Based on data-grid concept, taking advantages of the IVOA interoperability technologies, China-VO is developing a VO-driven astronomical data grid environment to enable multi-wavelength science and large database science. In the paper, latest progress and data flow of the LAMOST, architecture of the data grid, and its supports to the VO are discussed.

Classification System and Information Services in the Library of SAO RAS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shvedova, G. S.

The classification system used at SAO RAS is described. It includes both special determinants from UDC (Universal Decimal Classification) and newer tables with astronomical terms from the Library-Bibliographical Classification (LBC). The classification tables are continually modified, and new astronomical terms are introduced. At the present time the information services of the scientists is fulfilled with the help of the Abstract Journal Astronomy, Astronomy and Astrophysics Abstracts, catalogues and card indexes of the library. Based on our classification system and The Astronomy Thesaurus completed by R.M. Shobbrook and R.R. Shobbrook the development of a database for the library has been started, which allows prompt service of the observatory's staff members.

The VO-Dance web application at the IA2 data center

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molinaro, Marco; Knapic, Cristina; Smareglia, Riccardo

2012-09-01

Italian center for Astronomical Archives (IA2, http://ia2.oats.inaf.it) is a national infrastructure project of the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (Istituto Nazionale di AstroFisica, INAF) that provides services for the astronomical community. Besides data hosting for the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) Corporation, the Galileo National Telescope (Telescopio Nazionale Galileo, TNG) Consortium and other telescopes and instruments, IA2 offers proprietary and public data access through user portals (both developed and mirrored) and deploys resources complying the Virtual Observatory (VO) standards. Archiving systems and web interfaces are developed to be extremely flexible about adding new instruments from other telescopes. VO resources publishing, along with data access portals, implements the International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) protocols providing astronomers with new ways of analyzing data. Given the large variety of data flavours and IVOA standards, the need for tools to easily accomplish data ingestion and data publishing arises. This paper describes the VO-Dance tool, that IA2 started developing to address VO resources publishing in a dynamical way from already existent database tables or views. The tool consists in a Java web application, potentially DBMS and platform independent, that stores internally the services' metadata and information, exposes restful endpoints to accept VO queries for these services and dynamically translates calls to these endpoints to SQL queries coherent with the published table or view. In response to the call VO-Dance translates back the database answer in a VO compliant way.

The Einstein database of IPC x-ray observations of optically selected and radio-selected quasars, 1.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilkes, Belinda J.; Tananbaum, Harvey; Worrall, D. M.; Avni, Yoram; Oey, M. S.; Flanagan, Joan

1994-01-01

We present the first volume of the Einstein quasar database. The database includes estimates of the X-ray count rates, fluxes, and luminosities for 514 quasars and Seyfert 1 galaxies observed with the Imaging Proportional Counter (IPC) aboard the Einstein Observatory. All were previously known optically selected or radio-selected objects, and most were the targets of the X-ray observations. The X-ray properties of the Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) have been derived by reanalyzing the IPC data in a systematic manner to provide a uniform database for general use by the astronomical community. We use the database to extend earlier quasar luminosity studies which were made using only a subset of the currently available data. The database can be accessed on internet via the SAO Einstein on-line system ('Einline') and is available in ASCII format on magnetic tape and DOS diskette.

Catalog of infrared observations. Part 1: Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gezari, Daniel Y.; Schmitz, Marion; Mead, Jaylee M.

1987-01-01

The Catalog of Infrared Observations (CIO) is a compilation of infrared astronomical observational data obtained from an extensive literature search of astronomical journals and major astronomical catalogs and surveys. The literature searches are complete for 1965 through 1986 in this Second Edition. The Catalog is published in two parts, with the observational data (roughly 200,000 observations of 20,000 individual sources) listed in Part I, and supporting appendices in Part II. The expanded Second Edition contains a new feature: complete IRAS 4-band data for all CIO sources detected, listed with the main Catalog observations, as well as in complete detail in the Appendix. The appendices include an atlas of infrared source positions, two bibliographies of infrared literature upon which the search was based, and, keyed to the main Catalog listings (organized alphabetically by author and then chronologically), an atlas of infrared spectral ranges, and IRAS data from the CIO sources. The complete CIO database is available to qualified users in printed microfiche and magnetic tape formats.

The Electronic Astrophysical Journal Letters Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalterio, H. J.; Boyce, P. B.; Biemesderfer, C.; Warnock, A., III; Owens, E.; Fullton, J.

The American Astronomical Society has developed a comprehensive system for the electronic dissemination of refereed astronomical research results. Our current focus is the production of an electronic version of the Astrophysical Journal Letters. With the help of a recent National Science Foundation grant, we have developed a system that includes: LATEX-based manuscript preparation, electronic submission, peer review, production, development of a database of SGML-tagged manuscripts, collection of page charges and other fees, and electronic manuscript storage and delivery. Delivery options include World-Wide Web access through HTML browsers such as Mosaic and Netscape, an email gateway, and a stand-alone client accessible through astronomical software packages such as IRAF. Our goal is to increase the access and usefulness of the journal by providing enhanced features such as faster publication, advanced search capabilities, forward and backward referencing, links to underlying data and links to adjunct materials in a variety of media. We have based our journal on open standards and freely available network tools wherever possible.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Sloan magnitudes for the brightest stars, V2 (Mallama, 2018)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mallama, A.

2018-05-01

A new version of the Catalog containing Sloan magnitudes for the brightest stars is presented. The accuracy of the data indicates that the Catalog is a reliable source of comparison star magnitudes for astronomical photometry. Version 2 complements the APASS database of fainter stars. (1 data file).

Automatic Reacquisition of Satellite Positions by Detecting Their Expected Streaks in Astronomical Images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levesque, M.

Artificial satellites, and particularly space junk, drift continuously from their known orbits. In the surveillance-of-space context, they must be observed frequently to ensure that the corresponding orbital parameter database entries are up-to-date. Autonomous ground-based optical systems are periodically tasked to observe these objects, calculate the difference between their predicted and real positions and update object orbital parameters. The real satellite positions are provided by the detection of the satellite streaks in the astronomical images specifically acquired for this purpose. This paper presents the image processing techniques used to detect and extract the satellite positions. The methodology includes several processing steps including: image background estimation and removal, star detection and removal, an iterative matched filter for streak detection, and finally false alarm rejection algorithms. This detection methodology is able to detect very faint objects. Simulated data were used to evaluate the methodology's performance and determine the sensitivity limits where the algorithm can perform detection without false alarm, which is essential to avoid corruption of the orbital parameter database.

RAPTOR-scan: Identifying and Tracking Objects Through Thousands of Sky Images

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Davidoff, Sherri; Wozniak, Przemyslaw

2004-09-28

The RAPTOR-scan system mines data for optical transients associated with gamma-ray bursts and is used to create a catalog for the RAPTOR telescope system. RAPTOR-scan can detect and track individual astronomical objects across data sets containing millions of observed points.Accurately identifying a real object over many optical images (clustering the individual appearances) is necessary in order to analyze object light curves. To achieve this, RAPTOR telescope observations are sent in real time to a database. Each morning, a program based on the DBSCAN algorithm clusters the observations and labels each one with an object identifier. Once clustering is complete, themore » analysis program may be used to query the database and produce light curves, maps of the sky field, or other informative displays.Although RAPTOR-scan was designed for the RAPTOR optical telescope system, it is a general tool designed to identify objects in a collection of astronomical data and facilitate quick data analysis. RAPTOR-scan will be released as free software under the GNU General Public License.« less

Developing a Multi-Dimensional Hydrodynamics Code with Astrochemical Reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwak, Kyujin; Yang, Seungwon

2015-08-01

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) revealed high resolution molecular lines some of which are still unidentified yet. Because formation of these astrochemical molecules has been seldom studied in traditional chemistry, observations of new molecular lines drew a lot of attention from not only astronomers but also chemists both experimental and theoretical. Theoretical calculations for the formation of these astrochemical molecules have been carried out providing reaction rates for some important molecules, and some of theoretical predictions have been measured in laboratories. The reaction rates for the astronomically important molecules are now collected to form databases some of which are publically available. By utilizing these databases, we develop a multi-dimensional hydrodynamics code that includes the reaction rates of astrochemical molecules. Because this type of hydrodynamics code is able to trace the molecular formation in a non-equilibrium fashion, it is useful to study the formation history of these molecules that affects the spatial distribution of some specific molecules. We present the development procedure of this code and some test problems in order to verify and validate the developed code.

High Resolution FIR and IR Spectroscopy of Methanol Isotopologues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lees, R. M.; Xu, Li-Hong; Appadoo, D. R. T.; Billinghurst, B.

2010-02-01

New astronomical facilities such as HIFI on the Herschel Space Observatory, the SOFIA airborne IR telescope and the ALMA sub-mm telescope array will yield spectra from interstellar and protostellar sources with vastly increased sensitivity and frequency coverage. This creates the need for major enhancements to laboratory databases for the more prominent interstellar "weed" species in order to model and account for their lines in observed spectra in the search for new and more exotic interstellar molecular "flowers." With its large-amplitude internal torsional motion, methanol has particularly rich spectra throughout the FIR and IR regions and, being very widely distributed throughout the galaxy, is perhaps the most notorious interstellar weed. Thus, we have recorded new spectra for a variety of methanol isotopic species on the high-resolution FTIR spectrometer on the CLS FIR beamline. The aim is to extend quantum number coverage of the data, improve our understanding of the energy level structure, and provide the astronomical community with better databases and models of the spectral patterns with greater predictive power for a range of astrophysical conditions.

Recent Activity at the Astronomical Photographic Data Archive

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cline, J. Donald; Castelaz, M.; Barker, T.

2011-01-01

The Astronomical Photographic Data Archive (APDA) located at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) was established in November 2007. APDA is dedicated to the task of collecting, restoring, preserving and storing astronomical photographic data. APDA is also tasked with scanning each image and establishing a database of images that can be accessed via the Internet by the global community of scientists, researchers and students. APDA is a new type of astronomical observatory - one that harnesses analog data of the night sky taken for more than a century and making that data digitally available. APDA is housed in a newly renovated Research Building on the PARI campus. An award from the NSF allowed renovation of the heating and air conditioning. Plates in APDA are kept in a 20 C +/- 1 C area with humidity at 38% +/- 3%. Renovation of the electrical system with backup power allows for support of a data center with a networked storage system and software donated from EMC Corp. The storage system can hold more than 300 terabytes of research data which can be accessed through multiple gigabyte connectivity to the Internet. APDA has a collection of more than 100,000 photographic plates and film collections, as well as major instrumentation, from NASA, the STScI, the US Naval Observatory, the Harvard Smithsonian CfA and others. APDA possesses two high precision glass plate scanners, GAMMA I and GAMMA II, that were built for NASA and the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). The scanners were used to develop the HST Guide Star Catalog and Digitized Sky Survey. We will present the status of GAMMA II and the recent donations of astronomical plates and current research projects.

Amateur-Professional Collaborations in the AAVSO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hawkins, G.; Mattei, J. A.; Waagen, E. O.

2000-05-01

The AAVSO coordinates, collects, evaluates, and archives variable star observations made largely by amateur astronomers around the world, and publishes and disseminates these observations to researchers and educators worldwide. Its electronic database of nearly 10 million visual variable star observations contributed by 6,000 amateur astronomers in over 40 countries since 1911 is the world's largest and longest-running. The AAVSO has a long history of collaborations between its amateur astronomer observers and professional astronomers. Many of the over 275 requests received yearly from astronomers for AAVSO data and services result in collaborative projects - particularly in multiwavelength observations of variable stars using ground-based telescopes and/or satellites - to help schedule observing runs; provide sumultaneous optical coverage of observing targets and immediate notification of their activity during particular satellite observations; correlate multiwavelength data; and analyze long-term variable star behavior. Among the more dramatic collaborations AAVSO observers have participated in are numerous multi-satellite observing runs on specific variable stars triggered in response to real-time alerts to stellar activity from AAVSO observers; and the variable star observations made during the Astro-2 mission, in which real-time observations by AAVSO observers directed shuttle astronauts to observing targets, and resulted in seminal new information about the cataclysmic variable Z Camelopardalis. The AAVSO is embarking on an exciting new collaboration with Gamma-Ray astronomers at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center. The AAVSO and the MSFC Gamma-Ray Burst Team have established a Gamma-Ray Burst Network, in which participating AAVSO observers will be alerted immediately via pagers and email to the detection of gamma-ray bursts and will use their own CCD-equipped telescopes to search for the optical counterpart. We gratefully acknowledge partial funding of this network by NASA. Contact the AAVSO at aavso@aavso.org or http://www.aavso.org.

The Research Tools of the Virtual Astronomical Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hanisch, Robert J.; Berriman, G. B.; Lazio, T. J.; Project, VAO

2013-01-01

Astronomy is being transformed by the vast quantities of data, models, and simulations that are becoming available to astronomers at an ever-accelerating rate. The U.S. Virtual Astronomical Observatory (VAO) has been funded to provide an operational facility that is intended to be a resource for discovery and access of data, and to provide science services that use these data. Over the course of the past year, the VAO has been developing and releasing for community use five science tools: 1) "Iris", for dynamically building and analyzing spectral energy distributions, 2) a web-based data discovery tool that allows astronomers to identify and retrieve catalog, image, and spectral data on sources of interest, 3) a scalable cross-comparison service that allows astronomers to conduct pair-wise positional matches between very large catalogs stored remotely as well as between remote and local catalogs, 4) time series tools that allow astronomers to compute periodograms of the public data held at the NASA Star and Exoplanet Database (NStED) and the Harvard Time Series Center, and 5) A VO-aware release of the Image Reduction and Analysis Facility (IRAF) that provides transparent access to VO-available data collections and is SAMP-enabled, so that IRAF users can easily use tools such as Aladin and Topcat in conjuction with IRAF tasks. Additional VAO services will be built to make it easy for researchers to provide access to their data in VO-compliant ways, to build VO-enabled custom applications in Python, and to respond generally to the growing size and complexity of astronomy data. Acknowledgements: The Virtual Astronomical Observatory (VAO) is managed by the VAO, LLC, a non-profit company established as a partnership of the Associated Universities, Inc. and the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. The VAO is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Scientific Astronomical School by Professor Volodymyr P. Tsesevich on the Physics of Variable Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vavilova, I. B.

This paper is dedicated to the Prof. Volodymyr Platonovych Tsesevich (1907-1983), an outstanding scientist and legendary personality of the XX century. We describe briefly the Kyiv period of his life and activity taken from his Personal Dossier from the Archive of the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine. A particular attention is paid to the role by V.P. Tsesevich in the development of astrophysical research at the Main Astronomical Observatory of the Academy of Sciences of UkrSSR, when he served as the Director (19.11.1948-03.05.1951), and to the fruitful cooperation between Kyiv and Odesa astronomers. We present briefly a "tree" of the scientific astronomical school by Prof. V.P. Tsesevich on the physics of stars. The data were obtained from different archives (Astronomical Observatory of the I.I. Mechnikov National University of Odesa, Main Astronomical Observatory of the NAS of Ukraine, Archive of the Vernadsky National Library, Archive of the Russian AS, and other institutions). The full database contains of a brief information on the about 100 representatives of this school as follows: name, title and year of thesis's defense, past/present affiliation). The scientific school is formed since 1950-ies till now having its greatest continuation in the work of such astronomers as N.S.Komarov, V.G.Karetnikov, Yu.S. Romanov, and I.L.Andronov (a branch of this school after V.P. Tsesevich), as well as S.M.Andrievsky as the follower by V.G. Karetnikov and T.V. Mishenina, V.F. Gopka, V.V. Kovtykh as the followers by N.S. Komarov. The given information on the school by V.P. Tsesevich is not absolutely full, for example, 1) there are no the data on thesis's defense under his supervision before 1948; 2) information on the astronomical school developed by A.M. Stafeev and some other scientists is a very poor; 3) some inaccuracies may be present. We will grateful for all the additions and corrections to update a tree of this scientific school, which played and plays a prominent role in the development of our knowledge on physics of stars.

Object classification and outliers analysis in the forthcoming Gaia mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ordóñez-Blanco, D.; Arcay, B.; Dafonte, C.; Manteiga, M.; Ulla, A.

2010-12-01

Astrophysics is evolving towards the rational optimization of costly observational material by the intelligent exploitation of large astronomical databases from both terrestrial telescopes and spatial mission archives. However, there has been relatively little advance in the development of highly scalable data exploitation and analysis tools needed to generate the scientific returns from these large and expensively obtained datasets. Among the upcoming projects of astronomical instrumentation, Gaia is the next cornerstone ESA mission. The Gaia survey foresees the creation of a data archive and its future exploitation with automated or semi-automated analysis tools. This work reviews some of the work that is being developed by the Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium for the object classification and analysis of outliers in the forthcoming mission.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: The Gemini Observation Log (CADC, 2001-)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Association of Universities For Research in Astronomy

2018-01-01

This database contains a log of the Gemini Telescope observations since 2001, managed by the Canadian Astronomical Data Center (CADC). The data are regularly updated (see the date of the last version at the end of this file). The Gemini Observatory consists of twin 8.1-meter diameter optical/infrared telescopes located on two of the best observing sites on the planet. From their locations on mountains in Hawai'i and Chile, Gemini Observatory's telescopes can collectively access the entire sky. Gemini is operated by a partnership of five countries including the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and Chile. Any astronomer in these countries can apply for time on Gemini, which is allocated in proportion to each partner's financial stake. (1 data file).

Discovering new variable stars at Key Stage 3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chubb, Katy; Hood, Rosie; Wilson, Thomas; Holdship, Jonathan; Hutton, Sarah

2017-05-01

Details of the London pilot of the ‘Discovery Project’ are presented, where university-based astronomers were given the chance to pass on some real and applied knowledge of astronomy to a group of selected secondary school pupils. It was aimed at students in Key Stage 3 of their education, allowing them to be involved in real astronomical research at an early stage of their education, the chance to become the official discoverer of a new variable star, and to be listed in the International Variable Star Index database (The International Variable Star Index, Version 1.1, American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO), 2016, http://aavso.org/vsx), all while learning and practising research-level skills. Future plans are discussed.

Discovery of Optical Transient in M82 : P60-M82-081119

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasliwal, M. M.; Cenko, S. B.; Rau, A.; Ofek, E. O.; Quimby, R.; Kulkarni, S. R.

2008-11-01

On UT 2008 Nov 19.536, P60-FasTING (Palomar 60-inch Fast Transients In Nearby Galaxies) discovered a possible nova in M82 at RA(J2000) = 09:55:58.390 DEC(J2000) = +69:40:56.17, offset from the nucleus by 29.5"E, 10.4"N. P60-M82-081119 had a brightness of g = 20.0 +/- 0.1 at peak corresponding to Mg = -7.8 at the distance of M82 (uncorrected for extinction). There is no counterpart in SDSS or SIMBAD.

New Software for Ensemble Creation in the Spitzer-Space-Telescope Operations Database

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Laher, Russ; Rector, John

2004-01-01

Some of the computer pipelines used to process digital astronomical images from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope require multiple input images, in order to generate high-level science and calibration products. The images are grouped into ensembles according to well documented ensemble-creation rules by making explicit associations in the operations Informix database at the Spitzer Science Center (SSC). The advantage of this approach is that a simple database query can retrieve the required ensemble of pipeline input images. New and improved software for ensemble creation has been developed. The new software is much faster than the existing software because it uses pre-compiled database stored-procedures written in Informix SPL (SQL programming language). The new software is also more flexible because the ensemble creation rules are now stored in and read from newly defined database tables. This table-driven approach was implemented so that ensemble rules can be inserted, updated, or deleted without modifying software.

The Steward Observatory asteroid relational database

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sykes, Mark V.; Alvarezdelcastillo, Elizabeth M.

1991-01-01

The Steward Observatory Asteroid Relational Database (SOARD) was created as a flexible tool for undertaking studies of asteroid populations and sub-populations, to probe the biases intrinsic to asteroid databases, to ascertain the completeness of data pertaining to specific problems, to aid in the development of observational programs, and to develop pedagogical materials. To date, SOARD has compiled an extensive list of data available on asteroids and made it accessible through a single menu-driven database program. Users may obtain tailored lists of asteroid properties for any subset of asteroids or output files which are suitable for plotting spectral data on individual asteroids. The program has online help as well as user and programmer documentation manuals. The SOARD already has provided data to fulfill requests by members of the astronomical community. The SOARD continues to grow as data is added to the database and new features are added to the program.

An approach to the analysis of SDSS spectroscopic outliers based on self-organizing maps. Designing the outlier analysis software package for the next Gaia survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fustes, D.; Manteiga, M.; Dafonte, C.; Arcay, B.; Ulla, A.; Smith, K.; Borrachero, R.; Sordo, R.

2013-11-01

Aims: A new method applied to the segmentation and further analysis of the outliers resulting from the classification of astronomical objects in large databases is discussed. The method is being used in the framework of the Gaia satellite Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC) activities to prepare automated software tools that will be used to derive basic astrophysical information that is to be included in final Gaia archive. Methods: Our algorithm has been tested by means of simulated Gaia spectrophotometry, which is based on SDSS observations and theoretical spectral libraries covering a wide sample of astronomical objects. Self-organizing maps networks are used to organize the information in clusters of objects, as homogeneously as possible according to their spectral energy distributions, and to project them onto a 2D grid where the data structure can be visualized. Results: We demonstrate the usefulness of the method by analyzing the spectra that were rejected by the SDSS spectroscopic classification pipeline and thus classified as "UNKNOWN". First, our method can help distinguish between astrophysical objects and instrumental artifacts. Additionally, the application of our algorithm to SDSS objects of unknown nature has allowed us to identify classes of objects with similar astrophysical natures. In addition, the method allows for the potential discovery of hundreds of new objects, such as white dwarfs and quasars. Therefore, the proposed method is shown to be very promising for data exploration and knowledge discovery in very large astronomical databases, such as the archive from the upcoming Gaia mission.

Architectural Implications for Spatial Object Association Algorithms*

PubMed Central

Kumar, Vijay S.; Kurc, Tahsin; Saltz, Joel; Abdulla, Ghaleb; Kohn, Scott R.; Matarazzo, Celeste

2013-01-01

Spatial object association, also referred to as crossmatch of spatial datasets, is the problem of identifying and comparing objects in two or more datasets based on their positions in a common spatial coordinate system. In this work, we evaluate two crossmatch algorithms that are used for astronomical sky surveys, on the following database system architecture configurations: (1) Netezza Performance Server®, a parallel database system with active disk style processing capabilities, (2) MySQL Cluster, a high-throughput network database system, and (3) a hybrid configuration consisting of a collection of independent database system instances with data replication support. Our evaluation provides insights about how architectural characteristics of these systems affect the performance of the spatial crossmatch algorithms. We conducted our study using real use-case scenarios borrowed from a large-scale astronomy application known as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). PMID:25692244

Corral framework: Trustworthy and fully functional data intensive parallel astronomical pipelines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cabral, J. B.; Sánchez, B.; Beroiz, M.; Domínguez, M.; Lares, M.; Gurovich, S.; Granitto, P.

2017-07-01

Data processing pipelines represent an important slice of the astronomical software library that include chains of processes that transform raw data into valuable information via data reduction and analysis. In this work we present Corral, a Python framework for astronomical pipeline generation. Corral features a Model-View-Controller design pattern on top of an SQL Relational Database capable of handling: custom data models; processing stages; and communication alerts, and also provides automatic quality and structural metrics based on unit testing. The Model-View-Controller provides concept separation between the user logic and the data models, delivering at the same time multi-processing and distributed computing capabilities. Corral represents an improvement over commonly found data processing pipelines in astronomysince the design pattern eases the programmer from dealing with processing flow and parallelization issues, allowing them to focus on the specific algorithms needed for the successive data transformations and at the same time provides a broad measure of quality over the created pipeline. Corral and working examples of pipelines that use it are available to the community at https://github.com/toros-astro.

ON THE ORIGIN OF THE 11.3 MICRON UNIDENTIFIED INFRARED EMISSION FEATURE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sadjadi, SeyedAbdolreza; Zhang, Yong; Kwok, Sun, E-mail: sunkwok@hku.hk

2015-07-01

The 11.3 μm emission feature is a prominent member of the family of unidentified infrared emission (UIE) bands and is frequently attributed to out-of-plane bending modes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules. We have performed quantum mechanical calculations of 60 neutral PAH molecules and found that it is difficult to reconcile the observed astronomical feature with any or a mix of these PAH molecules. We have further analyzed the fitting of spectra of several astronomical objects by the NASA PAH database program and found that reasonable fittings to the observed spectra are only possible by including significant contributions from oxygen-more » and/or magnesium-containing molecules in the mix. A mix of pure PAH molecules, even including units of different sizes, geometry, and charged states, is unable to fit the astronomical spectra. Preliminary theoretical results on the vibrational spectra of simple molecules with mixed aromatic/aliphatic structures show that these structures have consistent clusters of vibrational modes and could be viable carriers of the UIE bands.« less

A SURVEY OF ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH: A BASELINE FOR ASTRONOMICAL DEVELOPMENT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ribeiro, V. A. R. M.; Russo, P.; Cárdenas-Avendaño, A., E-mail: vribeiro@ast.uct.ac.za, E-mail: russo@strw.leidenuniv.nl

Measuring scientific development is a difficult task. Different metrics have been put forward to evaluate scientific development; in this paper we explore a metric that uses the number of peer-reviewed, and when available non-peer-reviewed, research articles as an indicator of development in the field of astronomy. We analyzed the available publication record, using the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory/NASA Astrophysics Database System, by country affiliation in the time span between 1950 and 2011 for countries with a gross national income of less than 14,365 USD in 2010. This represents 149 countries. We propose that this metric identifies countries in ''astronomical development'' withmore » a culture of research publishing. We also propose that for a country to develop in astronomy, it should invest in outside expert visits, send its staff abroad to study, and establish a culture of scientific publishing. Furthermore, we propose that this paper may be used as a baseline to measure the success of major international projects, such as the International Year of Astronomy 2009.« less

VizieR Online Data Catalog: AGB stars with GALEX observations (Montez+, 2017)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montez, R.; Ramstedt, S.; Kastner, J. H.; Vlemmings, W.; Sanchez, E.

2018-01-01

Our sample of AGB stars is derived from numerous AGB samples found in the literature and was originally compiled by Ramstedt+ (2012A&A...543A.147R) to search for X-ray detections associated with AGB stars. The GALEX mission performed a two-band survey of the UV sky. Using a dichromatic beam splitter, GALEX simultaneously observed far-UV (FUV; λeff~1528Å; 1344-1786Å) and near-UV (NUV; λeff~2310Å; 1771-2831Å) in surveys with different depths. The spatial resolution is 4.3" in FUV and 5.3" in NUV. As described in further detail in Morrissey+ (2007ApJS..173..682M), spectroscopic observations place a grism into the converging beam of the telescope to simultaneously disperse all sources onto the detector plane. According to Morrissey+ (2007), the usable ranges of the grism spectra are 1300-1820Å and 1820-3000Å in the FUV and NUV, with average resolutions of 8Å and 20Å, respectively. To supplement our study of the GALEX observations of AGB stars, we collected photometric data from across the electromagnetic spectrum for all the AGB stars considered using SIMBAD and VizieR tools. We aslo collected AAVSO light curves that span the GALEX mission lifetime (2003 May 28 to 2013 June 28) from the AAVSO International Database. (3 data files).

Design and Implementation of CNEOST Image Database Based on NoSQL System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, X.

2013-07-01

The China Near Earth Object Survey Telescope (CNEOST) is the largest Schmidt telescope in China, and it has acquired more than 3 TB astronomical image data since it saw the first light in 2006. After the upgradation of the CCD camera in 2013, over 10 TB data will be obtained every year. The management of massive images is not only an indispensable part of data processing pipeline but also the basis of data sharing. Based on the analysis of requirement, an image management system is designed and implemented by employing the non-relational database.

Design and Implementation of CNEOST Image Database Based on NoSQL System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xin

2014-04-01

The China Near Earth Object Survey Telescope is the largest Schmidt telescope in China, and it has acquired more than 3 TB astronomical image data since it saw the first light in 2006. After the upgrade of the CCD camera in 2013, over 10 TB data will be obtained every year. The management of the massive images is not only an indispensable part of data processing pipeline but also the basis of data sharing. Based on the analysis of requirement, an image management system is designed and implemented by employing the non-relational database.

Information integration for a sky survey by data warehousing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, A.; Zhang, Y.; Zhao, Y.

The virtualization service of data system for a sky survey LAMOST is very important for astronomers The service needs to integrate information from data collections catalogs and references and support simple federation of a set of distributed files and associated metadata Data warehousing has been in existence for several years and demonstrated superiority over traditional relational database management systems by providing novel indexing schemes that supported efficient on-line analytical processing OLAP of large databases Now relational database systems such as Oracle etc support the warehouse capability which including extensions to the SQL language to support OLAP operations and a number of metadata management tools have been created The information integration of LAMOST by applying data warehousing is to effectively provide data and knowledge on-line

The Scientific Uplink and User Support System for SIRTF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heinrichsen, I.; Chavez, J.; Hartley, B.; Mei, Y.; Potts, S.; Roby, T.; Turek, G.; Valjavec, E.; Wu, X.

The Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) is one of NASA's Great Observatory missions, scheduled for launch in 2001. As such its ground segment design is driven by the requirement to provide strong support for the entire astronomical community starting with the call for Legacy Proposals in early 2000. In this contribution, we present the astronomical user interface and the design of the server software that comprises the Scientific Uplink System for SIRTF. The software architecture is split into three major parts: A front-end Java application deployed to the astronomical community providing the capabilities to visualize and edit proposals and the associated lists of observations. This observer toolkit provides templates to define all parameters necessary to carry out the required observations. A specialized version of this software, based on the same overall architecture, is used internal to the SIRTF Science Center to prepare calibration and engineering observations. A Weblogic (TM) based middleware component brokers the transactions with the servers, astronomical image and catalog sources as well as the SIRTF operational databases. Several server systems perform the necessary computations, to obtain resource estimates, target visibilities and to access the instrument models for signal to noise calculations. The same server software is used internally at a later stage to derive the detailed command sequences needed by the SIRTF instruments and spacecraft to execute a given observation.

NEWS: Hands-on telescopes!

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2000-05-01

As part of the International Astronomical Union Meeting taking place in Manchester in August, the Education Committee of the Royal Astronomical Society is organizing a day conference on using robotic telescopes in schools. `Astronomy research projects for schools and university students' will commence at 10.30 on Friday 18 August 2000. This discussion meeting will explore ways in which students at school and university can participate in research projects, and at the same time increase their understanding of astronomy and develop useful skills. The increase in access to robotic telescopes and to astronomy databases is making research by school and undergraduate students ever more feasible. In addition, useful research can be done with very modest telescope systems, of the sort a school could afford. A range of international speakers will describe and demonstrate the possibilities, as well as leading the discussion. This meeting is being organized by the Education Committee of the Royal Astronomical Society and by Commission 46 of the International Astronomical Union. It is being held at the end of the IAU General Assembly. Those who pay the registration fee for the General Assembly need pay no further fee for attending the discussion meeting; otherwise there is a fee of £10. Refreshments will be provided at no charge. To obtain a registration form for this discussion meeting please contact Alan Pickwick (Alan_C_Pickwick@compuserve.com).

Science Initiatives of the US Virtual Astronomical Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hanisch, R. J.

2012-09-01

The United States Virtual Astronomical Observatory program is the operational facility successor to the National Virtual Observatory development project. The primary goal of the US VAO is to build on the standards, protocols, and associated infrastructure developed by NVO and the International Virtual Observatory Alliance partners and to bring to fruition a suite of applications and web-based tools that greatly enhance the research productivity of professional astronomers. To this end, and guided by the advice of our Science Council (Fabbiano et al. 2011), we have focused on five science initiatives in the first two years of VAO operations: 1) scalable cross-comparisons between astronomical source catalogs, 2) dynamic spectral energy distribution construction, visualization, and model fitting, 3) integration and periodogram analysis of time series data from the Harvard Time Series Center and NASA Star and Exoplanet Database, 4) integration of VO data discovery and access tools into the IRAF data analysis environment, and 5) a web-based portal to VO data discovery, access, and display tools. We are also developing tools for data linking and semantic discovery, and have a plan for providing data mining and advanced statistical analysis resources for VAO users. Initial versions of these applications and web-based services are being released over the course of the summer and fall of 2011, with further updates and enhancements planned for throughout 2012 and beyond.

SpecDB: The AAVSO’s Public Repository for Spectra of Variable Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kafka, Stella; Weaver, John; Silvis, George; Beck, Sara

2018-01-01

SpecDB is the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) spectral database. Accessible to any astronomer with the capability to perform spectroscopy, SpecDB provides an unprecedented scientific opportunity for amateur and professional astronomers around the globe. Backed by the Variable Star Index, one of the most utilized variable star catalogs, SpecDB is expected to become one of the world leading databases of its kind. Once verified by a team of expert spectroscopists, an observer can upload spectra of variable stars target easily and efficiently. Uploaded spectra can then be searched for, previewed, and downloaded for inclusion in publications. Close community development and involvement will ensure a user-friendly and versatile database, compatible with the needs of 21st century astrophysics. Observations of 1D spectra are submitted as FITS files. All spectra are required to be preprocessed for wavelength calibration and dark subtraction; Bias and flat are strongly recommended. First time observers are required to submit a spectrum of a standard (non-variable) star to be checked for errors in technique or equipment. Regardless of user validation, FITS headers must include several value cards detailing the observation, as well as information regarding the observer, equipment, and observing site in accordance with existing AAVSO records. This enforces consistency and provides necessary details for follow up analysis. Requirements are provided to users in a comprehensive guidebook and accompanying technical manual. Upon submission, FITS headers are automatically checked for errors and any anomalies are immediately fed back to the user. Successful candidates can then submit at will, including multiple simultaneous submissions. All published observations can be searched and interactively previewed. Community involvement will be enhanced by an associated forum where users can discuss observation techniques and suggest improvements to the database.

Astronomical virtual observatory and the place and role of Bulgarian one

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrov, Georgi; Dechev, Momchil; Slavcheva-Mihova, Luba; Duchlev, Peter; Mihov, Bojko; Kochev, Valentin; Bachev, Rumen

2009-07-01

Virtual observatory could be defined as a collection of integrated astronomical data archives and software tools that utilize computer networks to create an environment in which research can be conducted. Several countries have initiated national virtual observatory programs that combine existing databases from ground-based and orbiting observatories, scientific facility especially equipped to detect and record naturally occurring scientific phenomena. As a result, data from all the world's major observatories will be available to all users and to the public. This is significant not only because of the immense volume of astronomical data but also because the data on stars and galaxies has been compiled from observations in a variety of wavelengths-optical, radio, infrared, gamma ray, X-ray and more. In a virtual observatory environment, all of this data is integrated so that it can be synthesized and used in a given study. During the autumn of the 2001 (26.09.2001) six organizations from Europe put the establishment of the Astronomical Virtual Observatory (AVO)-ESO, ESA, Astrogrid, CDS, CNRS, Jodrell Bank (Dolensky et al., 2003). Its aims have been outlined as follows: - To provide comparative analysis of large sets of multiwavelength data; - To reuse data collected by a single source; - To provide uniform access to data; - To make data available to less-advantaged communities; - To be an educational tool. The Virtual observatory includes: - Tools that make it easy to locate and retrieve data from catalogues, archives, and databases worldwide; - Tools for data analysis, simulation, and visualization; - Tools to compare observations with results obtained from models, simulations and theory; - Interoperability: services that can be used regardless of the clients computing platform, operating system and software capabilities; - Access to data in near real-time, archived data and historical data; - Additional information - documentation, user-guides, reports, publications, news and so on. This large growth of astronomical data and the necessity of an easy access to those data led to the foundation of the International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA). IVOA was formed in June 2002. By January 2005, the IVOA has grown to include 15 funded VO projects from Australia, Canada, China, Europe, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. At the time being Bulgaria is not a member of European Astronomical Virtual Observatory and as the Bulgarian Virtual Observatory is not a legal entity, we are not members of IVOA. The main purpose of the project is Bulgarian Virtual Observatory to join the leading virtual astronomical institutions in the world. Initially the Bulgarian Virtual Observatory will include: - BG Galaxian virtual observatory; - BG Solar virtual observatory; - Department Star clusters of IA, BAS; - WFPDB group of IA, BAS. All available data will be integrated in the Bulgarian centers of astronomical data, conducted by the Wide Field Plate Archive data centre. For the above purpose POSTGRESQL or/and MySQL will be installed on the server of BG-VO and SAADA tools, ESO-MEX or/and DAL ToolKit to transform our FITS files in standard format for VO-tools. A part of the participants was acquainted with the principles of these products during the "Days of virtual observatory in Sofia" January, 2008.

Developing the Infrared PAH Emission Bands Into Calibrated Probes of Astrophysical Conditions with The NASA Ames PAH IR Spectroscopic Database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boersma, Christiaan

We propose to quantitatively calibrate the PAH band strength ratios that have been traditionally used as qualitative proxies of PAH properties and linking PAH observables with local astrophysical conditions, thus developing PAHs into quantitative probes of astronomical environments. This will culminate in a toolbox (calibration charts) that can be used by PAH experts and non-PAH experts alike to unlock the information hidden in PAH emission sources that are part of the Spitzer and ISO archives. Furthermore, the proposed work is critical to mine the treasure trove of information JWST will return as it will capture, for the first time, the complete mid-infrared (IR) PAH spectrum with fully resolved features, through a single aperture, and along single lines-of-sight; making it possible to fully extract the information contained in the PAH spectra. In short, the work proposed here represents a major step in enabling the astronomical PAH model to reach its full potential as a diagnostic of the physical and chemical conditions in objects spanning the Universe. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a common and important reservoir of accessible carbon across the Universe, play an intrinsic part in the formation of stars, planets and possibly even life itself. While most PAH spectra appear quite similar, they differ in detail and contain a wealth of untapped information. Thanks to recent advances in laboratory studies and computer-based calculations of PAH spectra, the majority of which have been made at NASA Ames, coupled with the astronomical modeling tools we have developed, we can interpret the spectral details at levels never before possible. This enables us to extract local physical conditions and track subtle changes in these conditions at levels previously impossible. Building upon the tools and paradigms developed as part of the publicly available NASA Ames PAH IR Spectroscopic Database (PAHdb; www.astrochem.org/pahdb/), the purpose of our proposed research is to extend and test the applicability of the PAH proxy (band strength ratio) calibrations we have developed that are based on a single object, the reflection nebula (RN) NGC7023, to, and within, a variety of objects, each representing different types of astronomical environments. Starting with the results for NGC7023, our initial focus will be placed on other RNe for which high-quality Spitzer spectral maps are available. After this, the focus will shift to Spitzer and ISO catalogs holding PAH spectra from different object types and extragalactic sources at different quality levels. We will first fit the astronomical spectra using the PAH spectra and tools in PAHdb, a database and toolset developed by the proposers and perfectly suited for dealing with large spectral data sets. This approach quantitatively breaks down the emission into the different subclasses, of, PAH size, charge, structure and composition. Following this, the data will be analyzed using the traditional, qualitative, proxy approach in which the PAH bands are isolated and their strengths measured. Combining the results of these two approaches enables us to test the validity of, and to quantitatively calibrate, the PAH proxies that have been traditionally used to probe astronomical environments, and make a quantitative link between PAH observables and local astrophysical conditions. Previous work on NGC7023 demonstrated the potential of this approach, and applying it to different object types at varying quality levels will establish whether his approach holds in general or if adjustments must be made to tackle the full range of PAH-emitting astronomical environments. In parallel, we will perform stability analysis on the fits; establish quality requirements for spectral resolution, spectral range, and signal-to-noise; and make uncertainty estimates for the derived parameters. This is of particular importance for extragalactic sources, as it will establish a data quality threshold.

Astronomical Software Directory Service

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hanisch, Robert J.; Payne, Harry; Hayes, Jeffrey

1997-01-01

With the support of NASA's Astrophysics Data Program (NRA 92-OSSA-15), we have developed the Astronomical Software Directory Service (ASDS): a distributed, searchable, WWW-based database of software packages and their related documentation. ASDS provides integrated access to 56 astronomical software packages, with more than 16,000 URLs indexed for full-text searching. Users are performing about 400 searches per month. A new aspect of our service is the inclusion of telescope and instrumentation manuals, which prompted us to change the name to the Astronomical Software and Documentation Service. ASDS was originally conceived to serve two purposes: to provide a useful Internet service in an area of expertise of the investigators (astronomical software), and as a research project to investigate various architectures for searching through a set of documents distributed across the Internet. Two of the co-investigators were then installing and maintaining astronomical software as their primary job responsibility. We felt that a service which incorporated our experience in this area would be more useful than a straightforward listing of software packages. The original concept was for a service based on the client/server model, which would function as a directory/referral service rather than as an archive. For performing the searches, we began our investigation with a decision to evaluate the Isite software from the Center for Networked Information Discovery and Retrieval (CNIDR). This software was intended as a replacement for Wide-Area Information Service (WAIS), a client/server technology for performing full-text searches through a set of documents. Isite had some additional features that we considered attractive, and we enjoyed the cooperation of the Isite developers, who were happy to have ASDS as a demonstration project. We ended up staying with the software throughout the project, making modifications to take advantage of new features as they came along, as well as influencing the software development. The Web interface to the search engine is provided by a gateway program written in C++ by a consultant to the project (A. Warnock).

Application of XML to Journal Table Archiving

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaya, E. J.; Blackwell, J. H.; Gass, J. E.; Kargatis, V. E.; Schneider, G. L.; Weiland, J. L.; Borne, K. D.; White, R. A.; Cheung, C. Y.

1998-12-01

The Astronomical Data Center (ADC) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is a major archive for machine-readable astronomical data tables. Many ADC tables are derived from published journal articles. Article tables are reformatted to be machine-readable and documentation is crafted to facilitate proper reuse by researchers. The recent switch of journals to web based electronic format has resulted in the generation of large amounts of tabular data that could be captured into machine-readable archive format at fairly low cost. The large data flow of the tables from all major North American astronomical journals (a factor of 100 greater than the present rate at the ADC) necessitates the development of rigorous standards for the exchange of data between researchers, publishers, and the archives. We have selected a suitable markup language that can fully describe the large variety of astronomical information contained in ADC tables. The eXtensible Markup Language XML is a powerful internet-ready documentation format for data. It provides a precise and clear data description language that is both machine- and human-readable. It is rapidly becoming the standard format for business and information transactions on the internet and it is an ideal common metadata exchange format. By labelling, or "marking up", all elements of the information content, documents are created that computers can easily parse. An XML archive can easily and automatically be maintained, ingested into standard databases or custom software, and even totally restructured whenever necessary. Structuring astronomical data into XML format will enable efficient and focused search capabilities via off-the-shelf software. The ADC is investigating XML's expanded hyperlinking power to enhance connectivity within the ADC data/metadata and developing XSL display scripts to enhance display of astronomical data. The ADC XML Definition Type Document can be viewed at http://messier.gsfc.nasa.gov/dtdhtml/DTD-TREE.html

Astronomy from the chair - the application of the Internet in promoting of Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tomic, Zoran

2014-05-01

Internet and modern communication technologies are an indispensable part of modern life. The use of the Internet makes it possible to enhance the education and expand opportunities for acquiring new knowledge. One example is Astronomy, where today thanks to the Internet, we can control telescopes that are distant from us and listen to lectures from Universities in other countries. "Astronomy from the chair" is the name for a concept where amateur astronomers can deal with astronomy from their homes using the Internet. The concept can be divided into four sections depending on the content being offered: Robotic Observatory, Virtual Observatory, Online astronomy broadcasting and Online courses. Robotic observatory is defined as an astronomical instrument and detection system that enables efficient observation without the need of a person's physical intervention. Virtual Observatory is defined as a collection of databases and software tools that use the Internet as a platform for scientific research. Online astronomy broadcasting is part of concept "Astronomy from the chair" which gives users the opportunity to get directly involved in astronomical observation organized by an amateur astronomer from somewhere in the world. Online courses are groups of sites and organizations that provide the opportunity to amateur astronomers to attend lectures, save and watch video materials from lectures, do homework, communicate with other seminar participants and in that way become familiar with the various areas of Astronomy. This paper discusses a new concept that describes how the Internet can be applied in modern education. In this paper will be described projects that allows a large number of astronomy lovers to do their own research without the need to own a large and expensive set of astronomical equipment (Virtual Telescope from Italy, Observatory "Night Hawk" from Serbia and project "Astronomy from an armchair" at Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics in Nis), to help professional astronomers in research of galaxies, extrasolar systems, Moon etc. without the need of owning the official certificate in Astronomy (Planet Hunters, Moon Zoo) and the possibility to attend online courses in Astronomy (Introduction to Astronomy from the site Coursera). In the end, will be discussion about economic analysis of using robotic observatory in contemporary education and the implementation of research projects, rather than Institutions to invest huge amounts of funds in the purchase and maintenance of the same astronomical equipment.

Architectural Implications for Spatial Object Association Algorithms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumar, V S; Kurc, T; Saltz, J

2009-01-29

Spatial object association, also referred to as cross-match of spatial datasets, is the problem of identifying and comparing objects in two or more datasets based on their positions in a common spatial coordinate system. In this work, we evaluate two crossmatch algorithms that are used for astronomical sky surveys, on the following database system architecture configurations: (1) Netezza Performance Server R, a parallel database system with active disk style processing capabilities, (2) MySQL Cluster, a high-throughput network database system, and (3) a hybrid configuration consisting of a collection of independent database system instances with data replication support. Our evaluation providesmore » insights about how architectural characteristics of these systems affect the performance of the spatial crossmatch algorithms. We conducted our study using real use-case scenarios borrowed from a large-scale astronomy application known as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST).« less

Astronomy Education Research Observations from the iSTAR international Study of Astronomical Reasoning Database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tatge, C. B.; Slater, S. J.; Slater, T. F.; Schleigh, S.; McKinnon, D.

2016-12-01

Historically, an important part of the scientific research cycle is to situate any research project within the landscape of the existing scientific literature. In the field of discipline-based astronomy education research, grappling with the existing literature base has proven difficult because of the difficulty in obtaining research reports from around the world, particularly early ones. In order to better survey and efficiently utilize the wide and fractured range and domain of astronomy education research methods and results, the iSTAR international Study of Astronomical Reasoning database project was initiated. The project aims to host a living, online repository of dissertations, theses, journal articles, and grey literature resources to serve the world's discipline-based astronomy education research community. The first domain of research artifacts ingested into the iSTAR database were doctoral dissertations. To the authors' great surprise, nearly 300 astronomy education research dissertations were found from the last 100-years. Few, if any, of the literature reviews from recent astronomy education dissertations surveyed even come close to summarizing this many dissertations, most of which have not been published in traditional journals, as re-publishing one's dissertation research as a journal article was not a widespread custom in the education research community until recently. A survey of the iSTAR database dissertations reveals that the vast majority of work has been largely quantitative in nature until the last decade. We also observe that modern-era astronomy education research writings reaches as far back as 1923 and that the majority of dissertations come from the same eight institutions. Moreover, most of the astronomy education research work has been done covering learners' grasp of broad knowledge of astronomy rather than delving into specific learning targets, which has been more in vogue during the last two decades. The surprisingly wide breadth of largely unknown research revealed in the iSTAR database motivates us to begin to synthesize the research and look for broader themes using widely accepted meta analysis techniques.

Astronomy Legacy Project - Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barker, Thurburn; Castelaz, Michael W.; Rottler, Lee; Cline, J. Donald

2016-01-01

Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) is a not-for-profit public foundation in North Carolina dedicated to providing hands-on educational and research opportunities for a broad cross-section of users in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines. In November 2007 a Workshop on a National Plan for Preserving Astronomical Photographic Data (2009ASPC,410,33O, Osborn, W. & Robbins, L) was held at PARI. The result was the establishment of the Astronomical Photographic Data Archive (APDA) at PARI. In late 2013 PARI began ALP (Astronomy Legacy Project). ALP's purpose is to digitize an extensive set of twentieth century photographic astronomical data housed in APDA. Because of the wide range of types of plates, plate dimensions and emulsions found among the 40+ collections, plate digitization will require a versatile set of scanners and digitizing instruments. Internet crowdfunding was used to assist in the purchase of additional digitization equipment that were described at AstroPlate2014 Plate Preservation Workshop (www.astroplate.cz) held in Prague, CZ, March, 2014. Equipment purchased included an Epson Expression 11000XL scanner and two Nikon D800E cameras. These digital instruments will compliment a STScI GAMMA scanner now located in APDA. GAMMA will be adapted to use an electroluminescence light source and a digital camera with a telecentric lens to achieve high-speed high-resolution scanning. The 1μm precision XY stage of GAMMA will allow very precise positioning of the plate stage. Multiple overlapping CCD images of small sections of each plate, tiles, will be combined using a photo-mosaic process similar to one used in Harvard's DASCH project. Implementation of a software pipeline for the creation of a SQL database containing plate images and metadata will be based upon APPLAUSE as described by Tuvikene at AstroPlate2014 (www.astroplate.cz/programs/).

Measuring the speed of light using Jupiter's moons: a global citizen science project for International Year of Light 2015

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hendry, Martin A.; Hammond, Giles; Simmons, Mike

2015-08-01

2015 represents both the centenary of General Relativity and International Year of Light - the latter marking the 150th anniversary of James Clerk Maxwell's ground-breaking paper on "A dynamical theory of the electromagnetic field". These landmark dates provide an exciting opportunity to set up a global citizen science project that re-enacts the seminal 1675 experiment of Ole Romer: to measure the speed of light by observing the time eclipses of the satellites of Jupiter. This project - which has been set up by astronomers at the University of Glasgow, UK in partnership with Astronomers without Borders - is an ideal platform for engaging the amateur astronomy community, schools and the wider public across the globe. It requires only simple observations, with a small spotting scope or telescope, and can be carried out straightforwardly in both cities and dark-sky locations. It highlights a fascinating chapter in astronomical history, as well as the ongoing importance of accurate astrometry, orbital motion, the concept of longitude and knowing one's position on the Earth. In the context of the GR centenary, it also links strongly to the science behind GPS satellites and a range of important topics in the high school curriculum - from the electromagnetic spectrum to the more general principles of the scientific method.In this presentation we present an overview of our global citizen science project for IYL2015: its scope and motivation, the total number and global distribution of its participants to date and how astronomers around the world can get involved. We also describe the intended legacy of the project: a extensive database of observations that can provide future astronomy educators with an accessible and historically important context in which to explore key principles for analysing large astronomical datasets.

Meeting Archival Standards in the Astronomical Photographic Data Archive at PARI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cline, J. D.; Castelaz, M. W.; Barker, T.; Rottler, L.

2013-01-01

The Astronomical Photographic Data Archive (APDA) located at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) was established in November 2007. APDA is dedicated to the task of collecting, restoring, preserving and storing astronomical photographic data and continues to accept collections. APDA is also tasked with scanning each image and establishing a database of images that can be accessed via the Internet by the global community of scientists, researchers and students. APDA is a new type of astronomical observatory - one that harnesses analog data of the night sky taken for more than a century and making that data digitally available. APDA is housed in a newly renovated Research Building on the PARI campus. An award from the NSF allowed renovation of the heating and air conditioning. Plates in APDA are kept in a 20 C +/- 1 C area with humidity at 38% +/- 3%. Renovation of the electrical system with backup power allows for support of a data center with a networked storage system and software donated from EMC Corp. The storage system can hold more than 400 terabytes of research data which can be accessed through multiple gigabyte connectivity to the Internet. APDA has a collection of more than 200,000 photographic plates and films from more than 40 collections, as well as major instrumentation, from NASA, the STScI, the US Naval Observatory, the Harvard Smithsonian CfA and others. APDA possesses two high precision glass plate scanners, GAMMA I and GAMMA II, built for NASA and the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). The scanners were used to develop the HST Guide Star Catalog and Digitized Sky Survey. GAMMA II has been rebuilt and we will report on its status as an astrometric measuring instrument.

Virtual Observatories, Data Mining, and Astroinformatics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borne, Kirk

The historical, current, and future trends in knowledge discovery from data in astronomy are presented here. The story begins with a brief history of data gathering and data organization. A description of the development ofnew information science technologies for astronomical discovery is then presented. Among these are e-Science and the virtual observatory, with its data discovery, access, display, and integration protocols; astroinformatics and data mining for exploratory data analysis, information extraction, and knowledge discovery from distributed data collections; new sky surveys' databases, including rich multivariate observational parameter sets for large numbers of objects; and the emerging discipline of data-oriented astronomical research, called astroinformatics. Astroinformatics is described as the fourth paradigm of astronomical research, following the three traditional research methodologies: observation, theory, and computation/modeling. Astroinformatics research areas include machine learning, data mining, visualization, statistics, semantic science, and scientific data management.Each of these areas is now an active research discipline, with significantscience-enabling applications in astronomy. Research challenges and sample research scenarios are presented in these areas, in addition to sample algorithms for data-oriented research. These information science technologies enable scientific knowledge discovery from the increasingly large and complex data collections in astronomy. The education and training of the modern astronomy student must consequently include skill development in these areas, whose practitioners have traditionally been limited to applied mathematicians, computer scientists, and statisticians. Modern astronomical researchers must cross these traditional discipline boundaries, thereby borrowing the best of breed methodologies from multiple disciplines. In the era of large sky surveys and numerous large telescopes, the potential for astronomical discovery is equally large, and so the data-oriented research methods, algorithms, and techniques that are presented here will enable the greatest discovery potential from the ever-growing data and information resources in astronomy.

The Steward Observatory asteroid relational database

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sykes, Mark V.; Alvarezdelcastillo, Elizabeth M.

1992-01-01

The Steward Observatory Asteroid Relational Database (SOARD) was created as a flexible tool for undertaking studies of asteroid populations and sub-populations, to probe the biases intrinsic to asteroid databases, to ascertain the completeness of data pertaining to specific problems, to aid in the development of observational programs, and to develop pedagogical materials. To date SOARD has compiled an extensive list of data available on asteroids and made it accessible through a single menu-driven database program. Users may obtain tailored lists of asteroid properties for any subset of asteroids or output files which are suitable for plotting spectral data on individual asteroids. A browse capability allows the user to explore the contents of any data file. SOARD offers, also, an asteroid bibliography containing about 13,000 references. The program has online help as well as user and programmer documentation manuals. SOARD continues to provide data to fulfill requests by members of the astronomical community and will continue to grow as data is added to the database and new features are added to the program.

Seven Near-Earth Asteroids at Asteroids Observers (OBAS) - MMPD: 2017 Jan-May

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fornas, Gonzalo; Carreño, Alfonso; Arce, Enrique; Flores, Angel; Mas, Vincente; Rodrigo, Onofre; Brines, Pedro; Fornas, Alvaro; Herrero, David; Lozano, Juan

2018-01-01

We report on the photometric analysis result of seven near-Earth asteroids (NEA) by Asteroides Observers (OBAS). This work is part of the Minor Planet Photometric Database effort that was initiated by a group of Spanish amateur astronomers. We have managed to obtain a number of accurate and complete lightcurves as well as some additional incomplete lightcurves to help analysis at future oppositions.

New Variable Stars found in the NSVS Database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicholson, Martin; Sutherland, Jane; Sutherland, Charles

2005-12-01

A search for previously unreported variable stars was conducted by members of the Remote Astronomical Society in the publicly available data of the Northern Sky Variability Survey (NSVS, Wozniak et al., 2004). NSVS fields were searched for candidates with both a sufficient number of observations to allow valid analysis and also with a significantly higher magnitude scatter than normal for stars of their magnitude.

Nova Delphini 2013: Backyard Analysis of a Classical Nova

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reid, Piper

2014-01-01

On August 14, 2013, Nova Delphini was discovered by Koichi Itagaki. This nova erupted to a maximum brightness of magnitude 4.4 by August 16, 2013. The extraordinary brightness of this event has allowed many amateur astronomers to have the chance to study it. More than 750 amateur astronomers have contributed to the AAVSO photometry database of Nova Delphini.1 The amount and quality of spectroscopic data gathered is unprecedented as well, as over 700 individual spectra have been collected so far in the ARAS database.2 A nova is a class of variable star that undergoes a cataclysmic eruption, which can be observed through a sudden increase in brightness that declines over a series of months or years. At the center of a nova is an accreting white dwarf star which is collecting hydrogen from its surroundings. The accreting mass causes a nuclear reaction on the surface of the white dwarf and as the pressure increases the reaction becomes super-critical and a thermonuclear runaway is ignited causing the brightness increase as well as triggering the ejection of a shell of material form the star. The stages of a classical nova outburst are outlined along with techniques available to amateur astronomers for study of these phenomena. The author’s equipment and software setup are detailed. Results obtained using a low resolution grating, Schmidt-cassegrain telescope and CCD camera that were acquired while Nova Delphini was in the “fireball stage” 3 and subsequent “iron curtain phase”3 are compared and discussed. Results obtained using a high resolution spectroscope, Schmidt-cassegrain telescope and CCD camera that were acquired during the “lifting of the iron curtain phase”3 are also presented. References 1. Turner, Rebecca. “AAVSO - Nova Del 2013” 20 Aug 2013 Web. 8 Sep 2013 2. Tessier, Francois. “ARAS Spectral Database - Nova-Del-2013” 22 Sep 2013 Web. 22 Sep 2013 3. Shore, Steven N. “Spectroscopy of Novae - A User’s Manual” arXiv:1211.3176 [astro-ph.SR] 14 Nov 2012

VizieR Online Data Catalog: URAT Parallax Catalog (UPC) (Finch+, 2016)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Finch, C. T.; Zacharias, N.

2016-04-01

The URAT Parallax Catalog (UPC) consists of 112177 parallaxes. The catalog utilizes all Northern Hemisphere epoch data from the United States Naval Observatory (USNO) Robotic Astrometric Telescope (URAT). This data includes all individual exposures from April 2012 to June 2015 giving a larger epoch baseline for determining parallaxes over the 2-year span of the First USNO Robotic Astrometric Telescope Catalog (URAT1) (Zacharias et al., 2015, Cat. I/329) published data. The URAT parallax pipeline is custom code that utilizes routines from (Jao, C.-W., 2004, PhD thesis Georgia Stat), the JPL DE405 ephemeris and Green's parallax factor (Green, R.M., 1985, Spherical Astronomy) for determining parallaxes from a weighted least-squares reduction. The relative parallaxes have been corrected to absolute by using the distance color relation described in (Finch et. al, 2014, Cat. J/AJ/148/119) to determine a mean distance of all UCAC4 reference stars (R=8-16 mag) used in the astrometric reductions. Presented here are all significant parallaxes from the URAT Northern Hemisphere epoch data comprising of 2 groups: a) URAT parallax results for stars with prior published parallax, and b) first time trigonometric parallaxes as obtained from URAT data of stars without prior published parallax. Note, more stringent selection criteria have been applied to the second group than the first in order to keep the rate of false detections low. For specific information about the astrometric reductions please see 'The First U.S. Naval Observatory Robotic Astrometric Telescope Catalog' published paper (Zacharias et al., 2015AJ....150..101Z, Cat. I/329). For complete details regarding the parallax pipeline please see 'Parallax Results From URAT Epoch Data' (Finch and Zacharias, 2016, AJ, in press). This catalog gives all positions on the ICRS at Epoch J2014.0; it covers the magnitude range 6.56 to 16.93 in the URAT band-pass, with an average parallax precision of 4.3mas for stars having no known parallax and 10.8mas for stars matched to external parallax sources. This catalog covers the sky from about North of -12.75° declination. This catalog was matched with the Hipparcos catalog, Yale Parallax Catalog, (Finch & Zacharias, 2016, AJ, in press), MEarth (Dittmann et. al., 2014ApJ...784..156D) and the SIMBAD database to obtain known parallax and star names. For stars matched to SIMBAD using the automated search feature, only the parallaxes are given so no information on the parallax errors or source for the parallax are reported for those stars in this catalog. A flag is included to show which catalog or database the URAT parallax was matched with. Only the data from the first catalog that was matched is reported here according to the following priority list. This means for example, if a star was matched with Hipparcos, that information was used while possible other catalog data are not listed here. -------------------------------------------------------- # stars flg catalog -------------------------------------------------------- 53500 0 no catalog match 55549 1 Hipparcos 254 2 Yale Parallax Catalog 1041 3 Finch and Zacharias 2016 (UPM NNNN-NNNN) 1431 4 MEarth parallaxes 402 5 SIMBAD Database (w/parallax) -------------------------------------------------------- 112177 total number stars in catalog -------------------------------------------------------- Not all parallaxes from the URAT epoch data are included in this catalog. Only those data meeting the following criteria have been included. For the epoch data we only used data having a FWHM<=7.0pixel; amplitude between 500 and 30000ADU; sigma x,y <=90.0mas; number of observations >=20 and epoch span>=1.0 years. The limits imposed on individual image amplitude, image profile width (FWHM) and position fit errors (sigma) are set to not allow saturated stars, stars with too few photons or poorly determined positions to be used in the parallax solution. We present all URAT parallax solutions having a known parallax from an external data source regardless of the quality of the solution (srcflg=1-5). This was done for the user to better understand the limitations for determining parallaxes with the current URAT epoch data. For the remaining URAT parallaxes without a match to any published trigonometric parallax (srcflg=0) we only present a parallax solutions having: 1) a parallax error <=10mas 2) a parallax error <=1/4 the relative parallax 3) epoch span >=1.5 years 4) number of observations used >=30 5) fit sigma<=1.4 (unit weight) 6) average image elongation <1.1. All of these cuts have been implemented in an attempt to lower the number of possible erroneous parallax solutions entering our catalog. However, the URAT reduction process does not take provisions for close doubles (blended images) of arcsecond-level separations. Many of the parallaxes, particularly those with large mean elongation, large parallax error, large fit sigma and many rejected observations are possibly blended images leading to a higher chance of an erroneous parallax solutions. A visual inspection of all residual plots and real sky images would not be practical for the entire catalog. However, we have included information in the catalog to help the user to determine if a solution should be investigated further. (1 data file).

Neural networks in astronomy.

PubMed

Tagliaferri, Roberto; Longo, Giuseppe; Milano, Leopoldo; Acernese, Fausto; Barone, Fabrizio; Ciaramella, Angelo; De Rosa, Rosario; Donalek, Ciro; Eleuteri, Antonio; Raiconi, Giancarlo; Sessa, Salvatore; Staiano, Antonino; Volpicelli, Alfredo

2003-01-01

In the last decade, the use of neural networks (NN) and of other soft computing methods has begun to spread also in the astronomical community which, due to the required accuracy of the measurements, is usually reluctant to use automatic tools to perform even the most common tasks of data reduction and data mining. The federation of heterogeneous large astronomical databases which is foreseen in the framework of the astrophysical virtual observatory and national virtual observatory projects, is, however, posing unprecedented data mining and visualization problems which will find a rather natural and user friendly answer in artificial intelligence tools based on NNs, fuzzy sets or genetic algorithms. This review is aimed to both astronomers (who often have little knowledge of the methodological background) and computer scientists (who often know little about potentially interesting applications), and therefore will be structured as follows: after giving a short introduction to the subject, we shall summarize the methodological background and focus our attention on some of the most interesting fields of application, namely: object extraction and classification, time series analysis, noise identification, and data mining. Most of the original work described in the paper has been performed in the framework of the AstroNeural collaboration (Napoli-Salerno).

A Study of the Efficiency of Spatial Indexing Methods Applied to Large Astronomical Databases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donaldson, Tom; Berriman, G. Bruce; Good, John; Shiao, Bernie

2018-01-01

Spatial indexing of astronomical databases generally uses quadrature methods, which partition the sky into cells used to create an index (usually a B-tree) written as database column. We report the results of a study to compare the performance of two common indexing methods, HTM and HEALPix, on Solaris and Windows database servers installed with a PostgreSQL database, and a Windows Server installed with MS SQL Server. The indexing was applied to the 2MASS All-Sky Catalog and to the Hubble Source catalog. On each server, the study compared indexing performance by submitting 1 million queries at each index level with random sky positions and random cone search radius, which was computed on a logarithmic scale between 1 arcsec and 1 degree, and measuring the time to complete the query and write the output. These simulated queries, intended to model realistic use patterns, were run in a uniform way on many combinations of indexing method and indexing level. The query times in all simulations are strongly I/O-bound and are linear with number of records returned for large numbers of sources. There are, however, considerable differences between simulations, which reveal that hardware I/O throughput is a more important factor in managing the performance of a DBMS than the choice of indexing scheme. The choice of index itself is relatively unimportant: for comparable index levels, the performance is consistent within the scatter of the timings. At small index levels (large cells; e.g. level 4; cell size 3.7 deg), there is large scatter in the timings because of wide variations in the number of sources found in the cells. At larger index levels, performance improves and scatter decreases, but the improvement at level 8 (14 min) and higher is masked to some extent in the timing scatter caused by the range of query sizes. At very high levels (20; 0.0004 arsec), the granularity of the cells becomes so high that a large number of extraneous empty cells begin to degrade performance. Thus, for the use patterns studied here the database performance is not critically dependent on the exact choices of index or level.

3122 Florence Lightcurve Analysis at Asteroids Observers (OBAS)- MPPD: 2017 Sep

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodrigo, Onofre; Fornas, Gonzalo; Arce, Enrique; Mas, Vicente; Carreño, Alfonso; Brines, Pedro; Fornas, Alvaro; Herrro, David; Lozano, Juan; Garcia, Faustino

2018-04-01

We report on the results of photometric analysis of 3122 Florence, a near-Earth asteroid (NEA) by Asteroids Observers (OBAS). This work is part of the Minor Planet Photometric Database effort that was initiated by a group of Spanish amateur astronomers. We have managed to obtain a number of accurate and complete lightcurves as well as some additional incomplete lightcurves to help analysis at future oppositions.

Twenty-one Asteroid Lightcurves at Asteroids Observers (OBAS) - MPPD: Nov 2016 - May 2017

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mas, Vicente; Fornas, G.; Lozano, Juan; Rodrigo, Onofre; Fornas, A.; Carreño, A.; Arce, Enrique; Brines, Pedro; Herrero, David

2018-01-01

We report on the analysis of photometric observations of 21 main-belt asteroids (MBA) done by Asteroids Observers (OBAS). This work is part of the Minor Planet Photometric Database task that was initiated by a group of Spanish amateur astronomers. We have managed to obtain a number of accurate and complete lightcurves as well as some additional incomplete lightcurves to help analysis at future oppositions.

Large Aperture Systems: 2000-2004

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2004-01-01

This custom bibliography from the NASA Scientific and Technical Information Program lists a sampling of records found in the NASA Aeronautics and Space Database. The scope of this topic includes technologies for next generation astronomical telescopes and detectors. This area of focus is one of the enabling technologies as defined by NASA s Report of the President s Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy, published in June 2004.

Machine learning in infrared object classification - an all-sky selection of YSO candidates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marton, Gabor; Zahorecz, Sarolta; Toth, L. Viktor; Magnus McGehee, Peregrine; Kun, Maria

2015-08-01

Object classification is a fundamental and challenging problem in the era of big data. I will discuss up-to-date methods and their application to classify infrared point sources.We analysed the ALLWISE catalogue, the most recent public source catalogue of the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) to compile a reliable list of Young Stellar Object (YSO) candidates. We tested and compared classical and up-to-date statistical methods as well, to discriminate source types like extragalactic objects, evolved stars, main sequence stars, objects related to the interstellar medium and YSO candidates by using their mid-IR WISE properties and associated near-IR 2MASS data.In the particular classification problem the Support Vector Machines (SVM), a class of supervised learning algorithm turned out to be the best tool. As a result we classify Class I and II YSOs with >90% accuracy while the fraction of contaminating extragalactic objects remains well below 1%, based on the number of known objects listed in the SIMBAD and VizieR databases. We compare our results to other classification schemes from the literature and show that the SVM outperforms methods that apply linear cuts on the colour-colour and colour-magnitude space. Our homogenous YSO candidate catalog can serve as an excellent pathfinder for future detailed observations of individual objects and a starting point of statistical studies that aim to add pieces to the big picture of star formation theory.

Discovery of Possible Nova in M81 : P60-M81-081027

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasliwal, M. M.; Cenko, S. B.; Rau, A.; Ofek, E. O.; Quimby, R.; Kulkarni, S. R.

2008-11-01

On UT 2008 Oct 27.402, P60-FasTING (Palomar 60-inch Fast Transients In Nearby Galaxies) discovered a nova in M81 at RA(J2000) = 09:55:36.105 DEC(J2000) = +69:03:22.04, offset from the nucleus by 15.8"E, 33.1"S. P60- M81-081027 had a peak brightness of g = 20.6 +/- 0.1 at discovery and has since faded to g = 21.5 +/- 0.3 on Oct 30.501. There is no counterpart in SDSS or SIMBAD. It is not detected to g > 21.8 on Oct 20.453.

The Hong Kong/AAO/Strasbourg Hα (HASH) Planetary Nebula Database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bojičić, Ivan S.; Parker, Quentin A.; Frew, David J.

2017-10-01

The Hong Kong/AAO/Strasbourg Hα (HASH) planetary nebula database is an online research platform providing free and easy access to the largest and most comprehensive catalogue of known Galactic PNe and a repository of observational data (imaging and spectroscopy) for these and related astronomical objects. The main motivation for creating this system is resolving some of long standing problems in the field e.g. problems with mimics and dubious and/or misidentifications, errors in observational data and consolidation of the widely scattered data-sets. This facility allows researchers quick and easy access to the archived and new observational data and creating and sharing of non-redundant PN samples and catalogues.

News and Views: Kleopatra a pile of rubble, shedding moons; Did plasma flow falter to stretch solar minimum? Amateurs hit 20 million variable-star observations; Climate maths; Planetary priorities; New roles in BGA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2011-04-01

Metallic asteroid 216 Kleopatra is shaped like a dog's bone and has two tiny moons - which came from the asteroid itself - according to a team of astronomers from France and the US, who also measured its surprisingly low density and concluded that it is a collection of rubble. The recent solar minimum was longer and lower than expected, with a low polar field and an unusually large number of days with no sunspots visible. Models of the magnetic field and plasma flow within the Sun suggest that fast, then slow meridional flow could account for this pattern. Variable stars are a significant scientific target for amateur astronomers. The American Association of Variable Star Observers runs the world's largest database of variable star observations, from volunteers, and reached 20 million observations in February.

Istoriko-Astronomicheskie Issledovaniya %t Studies in the History of Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Idlis, G. M.

This collection of papers contains essays on a wide scope of problems in the history of astronomy, both domestic and worldwide. It includes the following basic subdivisions: Astronomy, cosmology and cosmogony of the 20th century; researches and findings; cosmology; philosophical problems; astronomy and society; publications and memoirs. Among the most interesting problems considered in the present issue: the life and achievements of the famous French astronomer C. Flammarion; theories of spiral structures of galaxies of the 1960s; a history of alternative trends in planetary cosmogony; Kant's philosophy and the anthropic principle; the development of star mapping in 16th century Europe; database preparation from the results of Russian space programs; the troublesome fates of Russian astronomers in memoirs and researches; and many others. The book is addressed to professional scientists, astronomy amateurs, teachers, and everybody interested in the history of science.

Far infrared supplement. Third edition: Catalog of infrared observations (lambda greater than or equal to 4.6 micrometers)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gezari, Daniel Y.; Schmitz, Marion; Pitts, Patricia S.; Mead, Jaylee M.

1993-01-01

The Far Infrared Supplement contains a subset of the data in the full Catalog of Infrared Observations (all observations at wavelengths greater than 4.6 microns). The Catalog of Infrared Observations (CIO), NASA RP-1294, is a compilation of infrared astronomical observational data obtained from an extensive literature search of scientific journals and major astronomical catalogs and surveys. The literature search is complete for years 1965 through 1990 in this third edition. The catalog contains about 210,000 observations of roughly 20,000 individual sources, and supporting appendices. The expanded third edition contains coded IRAS 4-band data for all CIO sources detected by IRAS. The appendices include an atlas of infrared source positions (also included in this volume), two bibliographies of catalog listings, and an atlas of infrared spectral ranges. The complete CIO database is available to qualified users in printed, microfiche, and magnetic tape formats.

Catalog of Infrared Observations, Third Edition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gezari, Daniel Y.; Schmitz, Marion; Pitts, Patricia S.; Mead, Jaylee M.

1993-01-01

The Far Infrared Supplement contains a subset of the data in the full Catalog of Infrared Observations (all observations at wavelengths greater than 4.6 microns). The Catalog of Infrared Observations (CIO), NASA RP-1294, is a compilation of infrared astronomical observational data obtained from an extensive literature search of scientific journals and major astronomical catalogs and surveys. The literature search is complete for years 1965 through 1990 in this Third Edition. The Catalog contains about 210,000 observations of roughly 20,000 individual sources and supporting appendices. The expanded Third Edition contains coded IRAS 4-band data for all CIO sources detected by IRAS. The appendices include an atlas of infrared source positions (also included in this volume), two bibliographies of Catalog listings, and an atlas of infrared spectral ranges. The complete CIO database is available to qualified users in printed, microfiche, and magnetic-tape formats.

HEASARC Software Archive

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

White, Nicholas (Technical Monitor); Murray, Stephen S.

2003-01-01

(1) Chandra Archive: SAO has maintained the interfaces through which HEASARC gains access to the Chandra Data Archive. At HEASARC's request, we have implemented an anonymous ftp copy of a major part of the public archive and we keep that archive up-to- date. SAO has participated in the ADEC interoperability working group, establishing guidelines or interoperability standards and prototyping such interfaces. We have provided an NVO-based prototype interface, intending to serve the HEASARC-led NVO demo project. HEASARC's Astrobrowse interface was maintained and updated. In addition, we have participated in design discussions surrounding HEASARC's Caldb project. We have attended the HEASARC Users Group meeting and presented CDA status and developments. (2) Chandra CALDB: SA0 has maintained and expanded the Chandra CALDB by including four new data file types, defining the corresponding CALDB keyword/identification structures. We have provided CALDB upgrades for the public (CIAO) and for Standard Data Processing. Approximately 40 new files have been added to the CALDB in these version releases. There have been in the past year ten of these CALDB upgrades, each with unique index configurations. In addition, with the inputs from software, archive, and calibration scientists, as well as CIAO/SDP software developers, we have defined a generalized expansion of the existing CALDB interface and indexing structure. The purpose of this is to make the CALDB more generally applicable and useful in new and future missions that will be supported archivally by HEASARC. The generalized interface will identify additional configurational keywords and permit more extensive calibration parameter and boundary condition specifications for unique file selection. HEASARC scientists and developers from SAO and GSFC have become involved in this work, which is expected to produce a new interface for general use within the current year. (3) DS9: One of the decisions that came from last year's HEADCC meeting was to make the ds9 image display program the primary vehicle for displaying line graphics (as well as images). The first step required to make this possible was to enhance the line graphics capabilities of ds9. SAO therefore spent considerable effort upgrading ds9 to use Tcl 8.4 so that the BLT line graphics package could be built and imported into ds9 from source code, rather than from a pre-built (and generally outdated) shared library. This task, which is nearly complete, allows us to extend BLT as needed for the HEAD community. Following HEADCC discussion concerning archiving and the display of archived data, we extended ds9 to support full access to many astronomical Web-based archives sites, including HEASARC, MAST, CHANDRA, SKYVIEW, ADS, NED, SIMBAD, IRAS, NVRO, SAO TDC, and FIRST. Using ds9's new internal Web access capabilities, these archives can be accessed via their Web page. FITS images, plots, spectra, and journal abstracts can be referenced, down-loaded, and displayed directly and easily in ds9. For more information, see: http://hea-www.harvard.edu/saord/ds9. Also after the HEADCC discussion concerning region filtering, we extended the Funtools sample implementation of region filtering as described in: http://hea-www.harvard.edu/saord/funtools/regions.html. In particular, we added several new composite regions for event and image filtering, including elliptical and box annuli. We also extended the panda (Pie AND Annulus) region support to include box pandas and elliptical pandas. These new composite regions are especially useful in programs that need to count photons in each separate region using only a single pass through the data. Support for these new regions was added to ds9. In the same vein, we developed new region support for filtering images using simple FITS image masks, i.e. 8-bit or 16-bit FITS images where the value of a pixel is the region id number for that pixel. Other important enhancements to DS9 this year, include supporor multiple world coordinate systems, three dimensional event file binning, image smoothing, region groups and tags, the ability to save images in a number of image formats (such as JPEG, TIFF, PNG, FITS), improvements in support for integrating external analysis tools, and support for the virtual observatory. In particular, a full-featured web browser has been implemented within D S 9 . This provides support for full access to HEASARC archive sites such as SKYVIEW and W3BROWSE, in addition to other astronomical archives sites such as MAST, CHANDRA, ADS, NED, SIMBAD, IRAS, NVRO, SA0 TDC, and FIRST. From within DS9, the archives can be searched, and FITS images, plots, spectra, and journal abstracts can be referenced, downloaded and displayed The web browser provides the basis for the built-in help facility. All DS9 documentation, including the reference manual, FAQ, Know Features, and contact information is now available to the user without the need for external display applications. New versions of DS9 maybe downloaded and installed using this facility. Two important features used in the analysis of high energy astronomical data have been implemented in the past year. The first is support for binning photon event data in three dimensions. By binning the third dimension in time or energy, users are easily able to detect variable x-ray sources and identify other physical properties of their data. Second, a number of fast smoothing algorithms have been implemented in DS9, which allow users to smooth their data in real time. Algorithms for boxcar, tophat, and gaussian smoothing are supported.

The Planetary Virtual Observatory and Laboratory (PVOL) and its integration into the Virtual European Solar and Planetary Access (VESPA)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hueso, R.; Juaristi, J.; Legarreta, J.; Sánchez-Lavega, A.; Rojas, J. F.; Erard, S.; Cecconi, B.; Le Sidaner, Pierre

2018-01-01

Since 2003 the Planetary Virtual Observatory and Laboratory (PVOL) has been storing and serving publicly through its web site a large database of amateur observations of the Giant Planets (Hueso et al., 2010a). These images are used for scientific research of the atmospheric dynamics and cloud structure on these planets and constitute a powerful resource to address time variable phenomena in their atmospheres. Advances over the last decade in observation techniques, and a wider recognition by professional astronomers of the quality of amateur observations, have resulted in the need to upgrade this database. We here present major advances in the PVOL database, which has evolved into a full virtual planetary observatory encompassing also observations of Mercury, Venus, Mars, the Moon and the Galilean satellites. Besides the new objects, the images can be tagged and the database allows simple and complex searches over the data. The new web service: PVOL2 is available online in http://pvol2.ehu.eus/.

Exoplanet Observing: From Art to Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Conti, Dennis M.; Gleeson, Jack

2017-06-01

This paper will review the now well-established best practices for conducting high precision exoplanet observing with small telescopes. The paper will also review the AAVSO's activities in promoting these best practices among the amateur astronomer community through training material and online courses, as well as through the establishment of an AAVSO Exoplanet Database. This latter development will be an essential element in supporting followup exoplanet observations for upcoming space telescope missions such as TESS and JWST.

Spatial Statistics of Large Astronomical Databases: An Algorithmic Approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Szapudi, Istvan

2004-01-01

In this AISRP, the we have demonstrated that the correlation function i) can be calculated for MAP in minutes (about 45 minutes for Planck) on a modest 500Mhz workstation ii) the corresponding method, although theoretically suboptimal, produces nearly optimal results for realistic noise and cut sky. This trillion fold improvement in speed over the standard maximum likelihood technique opens up tremendous new possibilities, which will be persued in the follow up.

IPHAS and the symbiotic stars . II. New discoveries and a sample of the most common mimics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corradi, R. L. M.; Valentini, M.; Munari, U.; Drew, J. E.; Rodríguez-Flores, E. R.; Viironen, K.; Greimel, R.; Santander-García, M.; Sabin, L.; Mampaso, A.; Parker, Q.; DePew, K.; Sale, S. E.; Unruh, Y. C.; Vink, J. S.; Rodríguez-Gil, P.; Barlow, M. J.; Lennon, D. J.; Groot, P. J.; Giammanco, C.; Zijlstra, A. A.; Walton, N. A.

2010-01-01

Context. Knowledge of the total population of symbiotic stars in the Galaxy is important for understanding basic aspects of stellar evolution in interacting binaries and the relevance of this class of objects in the formation of supernovae of type Ia. Aims: In a previous paper, we presented the selection criteria needed to search for symbiotic stars in IPHAS, the INT Hα survey of the Northern Galactic plane. IPHAS gives us the opportunity to make a systematic, complete search for symbiotic stars in a magnitude-limited volume. Methods: Follow-up spectroscopy at different telescopes worldwide of a sample of sixty two symbiotic star candidates is presented. Results: Seven out of nineteen S-type candidates observed spectroscopically are confirmed to be genuine symbiotic stars. The spectral type of their red giant components, as well as reddening and distance, were computed by modelling the spectra. Only one new D-type symbiotic system, out of forty-three candidates observed, was found. This was as expected (see discussion in our paper on the selection criteria). The object shows evidence for a high density outflow expanding at a speed ≥65 km s-1. Most of the other candidates are lightly reddened classical T Tauri stars and more highly reddened young stellar objects that may be either more massive young stars of HAeBe type or classical Be stars. In addition, a few notable objects have been found, such as three new Wolf-Rayet stars and two relatively high-luminosity evolved massive stars. We also found a helium-rich source, possibly a dense ejecta hiding a WR star, which is surrounded by a large ionized nebula. Conclusions: These spectroscopic data allow us to refine the selection criteria for symbiotic stars in the IPHAS survey and, more generally, to better understand the behaviour of different Hα emitters in the IPHAS and 2MASS colour-colour diagrams. Based on observations obtained at; the 2.6 m Nordic Optical Telescope operated by NOTSA; the 2.5 m INT and 4.2 m WHT telescopes of the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes in the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias; the 2.3 m ANU telescope at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia; the Asiago 1.82 m telescope of the INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padova, Italy; and the 2.1 m telescope at San Pedro Martir, Mexico. Some of the INT spectra incorporated into this paper were obtained as part of a CCI International Time Programme awarded to the IPHAS collaboration. This publication makes use of data products from the Two Micron All Sky Survey, which is a joint project of the University of Massachusetts and the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center/California Institute of Technology, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation. This research has also made use of the SIMBAD database, operated at CDS, Strasbourg, France.

AKARI's infrared view on nearby stars. Using AKARI infrared camera all-sky survey, 2MASS, and Hipparcos catalogs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ita, Y.; Matsuura, M.; Ishihara, D.; Oyabu, S.; Takita, S.; Kataza, H.; Yamamura, I.; Matsunaga, N.; Tanabé, T.; Nakada, Y.; Fujiwara, H.; Wada, T.; Onaka, T.; Matsuhara, H.

2010-05-01

Context. The AKARI, a Japanese infrared space mission, has performed an All-Sky Survey in six infrared-bands from 9 to 180 μm with higher spatial resolutions and better sensitivities than IRAS. Aims: We investigate the mid-infrared (9 and 18 μm) point source catalog (PSC) obtained with the infrared camera (IRC) onboard AKARI, in order to understand the infrared nature of the known objects and to identify previously unknown objects. Methods: Color-color diagrams and a color-magnitude diagram were plotted with the AKARI-IRC PSC and other available all-sky survey catalogs. We combined the Hipparcos astrometric catalog and the 2MASS all-sky survey catalog with the AKARI-IRC PSC. We furthermore searched literature and SIMBAD astronomical database for object types, spectral types, and luminosity classes. We identified the locations of representative stars and objects on the color-magnitude and color-color diagram schemes. The properties of unclassified sources can be inferred from their locations on these diagrams. Results: We found that the (B-V) vs. (V-S9W) color-color diagram is useful for identifying the stars with infrared excess emerged from circumstellar envelopes or disks. Be stars with infrared excess are separated well from other types of stars in this diagram. Whereas (J-L18W) vs. (S9W-L18W) diagram is a powerful tool for classifying several object types. Carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and OH/IR stars form distinct sequences in this color-color diagram. Young stellar objects (YSOs), pre-main sequence (PMS) stars, post-AGB stars, and planetary nebulae (PNe) have the largest mid-infrared color excess and can be identified in the infrared catalog. Finally, we plot the L18W vs. (S9W-L18W) color-magnitude diagram, using the AKARI data together with Hipparcos parallaxes. This diagram can be used to identify low-mass YSOs and AGB stars. We found that this diagram is comparable to the [24] vs. ([8.0]-[24]) diagram of Large Magellanic Cloud sources using the Spitzer Space Telescope data. Our understanding of Galactic objects will be used to interpret color-magnitude diagram of stellar populations in the nearby galaxies that Spitzer Space Telescope observed. Conclusions: Our study of the AKARI color-color and color-magnitude diagrams will be used to explore properties of unknown objects in the future. In addition, our analysis highlights a future key project to understand stellar evolution with a circumstellar envelope, once the forthcoming astronometrical data with GAIA are available. Catalog (full Tables 3 and 4) are only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/514/A2

The Updated IAU MDC Catalogue of Photographic Meteor Orbits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Porubcan, V.; Svoren, J.; Neslusan, L.; Schunova, E.

2011-01-01

The database of photographic meteor orbits of the IAU Meteor Data Center at the Astronomical Institute SAS has gradually been updated. To the 2003 version of 4581 photographic orbits compiled from 17 different stations and obtained in the period 1936-1996, additional new 211 orbits compiled from 7 sources have been added. Thus, the updated version of the catalogue contains 4792 photographic orbits (equinox J2000.0) available either in two separate orbital and geophysical data files or a file with the merged data. All the updated files with relevant documentation are available at the web of the IAU Meteor Data Center. Keywords astronomical databases photographic meteor orbits 1 Introduction Meteoroid orbits are a basic tool for investigation of distribution and spatial structure of the meteoroid population in the close surroundings of the Earth s orbit. However, information about them is usually widely scattered in literature and often in publications with limited circulation. Therefore, the IAU Comm. 22 during the 1976 IAU General Assembly proposed to establish a meteor data center for collection of meteor orbits recorded by photographic and radio techniques. The decision was confirmed by the next IAU GA in 1982 and the data center was established (Lindblad, 1987). The purpose of the data center was to acquire, format, check and disseminate information on precise meteoroid orbits obtained by multi-station techniques and the database gradually extended as documented in previous reports on the activity of the Meteor Data Center by Lindblad (1987, 1995, 1999 and 2001) or Lindblad and Steel (1993). Up to present, the database consists of 4581 photographic meteor orbits (Lindblad et al., 2005), 63.330 radar determined orbit: Harvard Meteor Project (1961-1965, 1968-1969), Adelaide (1960-1961, 1968-1969), Kharkov (1975), Obninsk (1967-1968), Mogadish (1969-1970) and 1425 video-recordings (Lindblad, 1999) to which additional 817 video meteors orbits published by Koten el al. (2003) were

THz Spectroscopy and Spectroscopic Database for Astrophysics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pearson, John C.; Drouin, Brian J.

2006-01-01

Molecule specific astronomical observations rely on precisely determined laboratory molecular data for interpretation. The Herschel Heterodyne Instrument for Far Infrared, a suite of SOFIA instruments, and ALMA are each well placed to expose the limitations of available molecular physics data and spectral line catalogs. Herschel and SOFIA will observe in high spectral resolution over the entire far infrared range. Accurate data to previously unimagined frequencies including infrared ro-vibrational and ro-torsional bands will be required for interpretation of the observations. Planned ALMA observations with a very small beam will reveal weaker emission features requiring accurate knowledge of higher quantum numbers and additional vibrational states. Historically, laboratory spectroscopy has been at the front of submillimeter technology development, but now astronomical receivers have an enormous capability advantage. Additionally, rotational spectroscopy is a relatively mature field attracting little interest from students and funding agencies. Molecular data base maintenance is tedious and difficult to justify as research. This severely limits funding opportunities even though data bases require the same level of expertise as research. We report the application of some relatively new receiver technology into a simple solid state THz spectrometer that has the performance required to collect the laboratory data required by astronomical observations. Further detail on the lack of preparation for upcoming missions by the JPL spectral line catalog is given.

NASA Astrophysics Data System's New Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eichhorn, G.; Accomazzi, A.; Demleitner, M.; Grant, C. S.; Kurtz, M. J.; Murray, S. S.

2000-05-01

The NASA Astrophysics Data System has greatly increased its data holdings. The Physics database now contains almost 900,000 references and the Astronomy database almost 550,000 references. The Instrumentation database has almost 600,000 references. The scanned articles in the ADS Article Service are increasing in number continuously. Almost 1 million pages have been scanned so far. Recently the abstracts books from the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference have been scanned and put on-line. The Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society are currently being scanned back to Volume 1. This is the last major journal to be completely scanned and on-line. In cooperation with a conservation project of the Harvard libraries, microfilms of historical observatory literature are currently being scanned. This will provide access to an important part of the historical literature. The ADS can be accessed at: http://adswww.harvard.edu This project is funded by NASA under grant NCC5-189.

Hosting and pulishing astronomical data in SQL databases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galkin, Anastasia; Klar, Jochen; Riebe, Kristin; Matokevic, Gal; Enke, Harry

2017-04-01

In astronomy, terabytes and petabytes of data are produced by ground instruments, satellite missions and simulations. At Leibniz-Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) we host and publish terabytes of cosmological simulation and observational data. The public archive at AIP has now reached a size of 60TB and growing and helps to produce numerous scientific papers. The web framework Daiquiri offers a dedicated web interface for each of the hosted scientific databases. Scientists all around the world run SQL queries which include specific astrophysical functions and get their desired data in reasonable time. Daiquiri supports the scientific projects by offering a number of administration tools such as database and user management, contact messages to the staff and support for organization of meetings and workshops. The webpages can be customized and the Wordpress integration supports the participating scientists in maintaining the documentation and the projects' news sections.

Plans for future on-line access to the historical astronomical literature through the Astrophysics Data System.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eichhorn, G.; Kurtz, M. J.; Coletti, D.

1997-09-01

The NASA Astrophysics Data System provides access to about 1 million abstracts and 50,000 journal articles. This service is funded by NASA and is accessible world-wide through the World Wide Web free without restrictions at: http://adswww.harvard.edu We currently have on-line journals starting with 1975. We plan to extend the coverage for the journals and also include scans from observatory publications in our database. Eventually we plan to provide access to scans of the complete journal literature and as much observatory literature as possible. In order to accomplish this, we have started discussions with the preservation group at the Harvard University Library. Harvard University Library, together with the Library at the Center for Astrophysics is in the process of microfilming their collection of observatory publications. We are working together with this project to prepare for scanning the microfilms and make these scans available through the ADS. We are also collecting older journals and preparing them for scanning. We already have the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society in hand from Volume 1, and have been promised a large part of the Astronomische Nachrichten prior to 1945. We will start scanning these volumes soon. All volumes that can be fed automatically through the scanning machine should be scanned and put on-line within the next 6 - 12 months. In order to scan volumes that are too brittle, we need additional funding. We hope to obtain additional funding to cover such scanning for 1998. In order to cover more of the astronomical literature, we need donations of astronomical literature. We have a web page that lists the volumes that we need so we can scan them. If you have any of these journals (or other astronomical literature), please contact us. the web page is at: http://adshome.harvard.edu/pubs/missing_journals.html We would appreciate any contributions, even smaller sets, since it will be more and more difficult to find complete sets.

First Light for ASTROVIRTEL Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2000-04-01

Astronomical data archives increasingly resemble virtual gold mines of information. A new project, known as ASTROVIRTEL aims to exploit these astronomical treasure troves by allowing scientists to use the archives as virtual telescopes. The competition for observing time on large space- and ground-based observatories such as the ESA/NASA Hubble Space Telescope and the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) is intense. On average, less than a quarter of applications for observing time are successful. The fortunate scientist who obtains observing time usually has one year of so-called proprietary time to work with the data before they are made publicly accessible and can be used by other astronomers. Precious data from these large research facilities retain their value far beyond their first birthday and may still be useful decades after they were first collected. The enormous quantity of valuable astronomical data now stored in the archives of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the Space Telescope-European Coordinating Facility (ST-ECF) is increasingly attracting the attention of astronomers. Scientists are aware that one set of observations can serve many different scientific purposes, including some that were not considered at all when the observations were first made. Data archives as "gold mines" for research [ASTROVIRTEL Logo; JPEG - 184 k] Astronomical data archives increasingly resemble virtual gold mines of information. A new project, known as ASTROVIRTEL or "Accessing Astronomical Archives as Virtual Telescopes" aims to exploit these astronomical treasure troves. It is supported by the European Commission (EC) within the "Access to Research Infrastructures" action under the "Improving Human Potential & the Socio-economic Knowledge Base" of the EC (under EU Fifth Framework Programme). ASTROVIRTEL has been established on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in response to rapid developments currently taking place in the fields of telescope and detector construction, computer hardware, data processing, archiving, and telescope operation. Nowadays astronomical telescopes can image increasingly large areas of the sky. They use more and more different instruments and are equipped with ever-larger detectors. The quantity of astronomical data collected is rising dramatically, generating a corresponding increase in potentially interesting research projects. These large collections of valuable data have led to the useful concept of "data mining", whereby large astronomical databases are exploited to support original research. However, it has become obvious that scientists need additional support to cope efficiently with the massive amounts of data available and so to exploit the true potential of the databases. The strengths of ASTROVIRTEL ASTROVIRTEL is the first virtual astronomical telescope dedicated to data mining. It is currently being established at the joint ESO/Space Telescope-European Coordinating Facility Archive in Garching (Germany). Scientists from EC member countries and associated states will be able to apply for support for a scientific project based on access to and analysis of data from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), Very Large Telescope (VLT), New Technology Telescope (NTT), and Wide Field Imager (WFI) archives, as well as a number of other related archives, including the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) archive. Scientists will be able to visit the archive site and collaborate with the archive specialists there. Special software tools that incorporate advanced methods for exploring the enormous quantities of information available will be developed. Statements The project co-ordinator, Piero Benvenuti , Head of ST-ECF, elaborates on the advantages of ASTROVIRTEL: "The observations by the ESA/NASA Hubble Space Telescope and, more recently, by the ESO Very Large Telescope, have already been made available on-line to the astronomical community, once the proprietary period of one year has elapsed. ASTROVIRTEL is different, in that astronomers are now invited to regard the archive as an "observatory" in its own right: a facility that, when properly used, may provide an answer to their specific scientific questions. The architecture of the archives as well as their suite of software tools may have to evolve to respond to the new demand. ASTROVIRTEL will try to drive this evolution on the basis of the scientific needs of its users." Peter Quinn , the Head of ESO's Data Management and Operations Division, is of the same opinion: "The ESO/HST Archive Facility at ESO Headquarters in Garching is currently the most rapidly growing astronomical archive resource in the world. This archive is projected to contain more than 100 Terabytes (100,000,000,000,000 bytes) of data within the next four years. The software and hardware technologies for the archive will be jointly developed and operated by ESA and ESO staff and will be common to both HST and ESO data archives. The ASTROVIRTEL project will provide us with real examples of scientific research programs that will push the capabilities of the archive and allow us to identify and develop new software tools for data mining. The growing archive facility will provide the European astronomical community with new digital windows on the Universe." Note [1] This is a joint Press Release by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility (ST-ECF). Additional information More information about ASTROVIRTEL can be found at the dedicated website at: http://www.stecf.org/astrovirtel The European Southern Observatory (ESO) is an intergovernmental organisation, supported by eight European countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. The European Space Agency is an intergovernmental organisation supported by 15 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility (ST-ECF) is a co-operation between the European Space Agency and the European Southern Observatory. The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a project of international co-operation between NASA and ESA.

Astronomical Image Processing with Hadoop

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiley, K.; Connolly, A.; Krughoff, S.; Gardner, J.; Balazinska, M.; Howe, B.; Kwon, Y.; Bu, Y.

2011-07-01

In the coming decade astronomical surveys of the sky will generate tens of terabytes of images and detect hundreds of millions of sources every night. With a requirement that these images be analyzed in real time to identify moving sources such as potentially hazardous asteroids or transient objects such as supernovae, these data streams present many computational challenges. In the commercial world, new techniques that utilize cloud computing have been developed to handle massive data streams. In this paper we describe how cloud computing, and in particular the map-reduce paradigm, can be used in astronomical data processing. We will focus on our experience implementing a scalable image-processing pipeline for the SDSS database using Hadoop (http://hadoop.apache.org). This multi-terabyte imaging dataset approximates future surveys such as those which will be conducted with the LSST. Our pipeline performs image coaddition in which multiple partially overlapping images are registered, integrated and stitched into a single overarching image. We will first present our initial implementation, then describe several critical optimizations that have enabled us to achieve high performance, and finally describe how we are incorporating a large in-house existing image processing library into our Hadoop system. The optimizations involve prefiltering of the input to remove irrelevant images from consideration, grouping individual FITS files into larger, more efficient indexed files, and a hybrid system in which a relational database is used to determine the input images relevant to the task. The incorporation of an existing image processing library, written in C++, presented difficult challenges since Hadoop is programmed primarily in Java. We will describe how we achieved this integration and the sophisticated image processing routines that were made feasible as a result. We will end by briefly describing the longer term goals of our work, namely detection and classification of transient objects and automated object classification.

New Variable Stars found in the NSVS Database (2)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicholson, Martin; Sutherland, Jane

2006-01-01

In 2004 and 2005 a search for variable stars not listed in the General Catalogue of Variable Stars or in Sinbad was conducted by members of the Remote Astronomical Society in the publicly available data of the Northern Sky Variability Survey (NSVS, Wozniak et al., 2004). NSVS fields were searched for candidates with both a sufficient number of observations to allow valid analysis and also with a significantly higher magnitude scatter than normal for stars of their magnitude.

Sensors and detectors based on superconducting devices. (Latest citations from the Aerospace database). Published Search

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

1993-09-01

The bibliography contains citations concerning gradiometers, magnetometers, and infrared detectors which use superconductors to improve sensitivity. Applications include biomagnetic measurements for medical studies, gravity wave experiments, geomagnetism and ocean bottom magnetic exploration, galvanometers and voltmeters, astronomical telescopes, and bolometers and radiometers. Some articles refer to design considerations for cooling systems for the sensors and detectors. (Contains a minimum of 97 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)

Exoplanet Observing: from Art to Science (Abstract)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Conti, D. M.; Gleeson, J.

2017-12-01

(Abstract only) This paper will review the now well-established best practices for conducting high precision exoplanet observing with small telescopes. The paper will also review the AAVSO's activities in promoting these best practices among the amateur astronomer community through training material and online courses, as well as through the establishment of an AAVSO Exoplanet Database. This latter development will be an essential element in supporting followup exoplanet observations for upcoming space telescope missions such as TESS and JWST.

Cryogenic Fluid Management: 2000-2004

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2004-01-01

This custom bibliography from the NASA Scientific and Technical Information Program lists a sampling of records found in the NASA Aeronautics and Space Database. The scope of this topic includes cooling technologies for precision astronomical sensors and advanced spacecraft, as well as propellant storage and transfer in space. This area of focus is one of the enabling technologies as defined by NASA's Report of the President's Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy, published in June 2004.

Generalized Calibration of the Polarimetric Albedo Scale of Asteroids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lupishko, D. F.

2018-03-01

Six different calibrations of the polarimetric albedo scale of asteroids have been published so far. Each of them contains its particular random and systematic errors and yields its values of geometric albedo. On the one hand, this complicates their analysis and comparison; on the other hand, it becomes more and more difficult to decide which of the proposed calibrations should be used. Moreover, in recent years, new databases on the albedo of asteroids obtained from the radiometric surveys of the sky with the orbital space facilities (the InfraRed Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), the Japanese astronomical satellite AKARI (which means "light"), the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), and the Near-Earth Object Wide-field Survey Explorer (NEOWISE)) have appeared; and the database on the diameters and albedos of asteroids obtained from their occultations of stars has substantially increased. Here, we critically review the currently available calibrations and propose a new generalized calibration derived from the interrelations between the slope h and the albedo and between P min and the albedo. This calibration is based on all of the available series of the asteroid albedos and the most complete data on the polarization parameters of asteroids. The generalized calibration yields the values of the polarimetric albedo of asteroids in the system unified with the radiometric albedos and the albedos obtained from occultations of stars by asteroids. This, in turn, removes the difficulties in their comparison, joint analysis, etc.

Hubble's makes a double galaxy gaze

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-12-08

Some astronomical objects have endearing or quirky nicknames, inspired by mythology or their own appearance. Take, for example, the constellation of Orion (The Hunter), the Sombrero Galaxy, the Horsehead Nebula, or even the Milky Way. However, the vast majority of cosmic objects appear in astronomical catalogs and are given rather less poetic names based on the order of their discovery. Two galaxies are clearly visible in this Hubble image, the larger of which is NGC 4424. This galaxy is cataloged in the New General Catalog of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars (NGC), which was compiled in 1888. The NGC is one of the largest astronomical catalogs, which is why so many Hubble Pictures of the Week feature NGC objects. In total there are 7,840 entries in the catalog and they are also generally the larger, brighter, and more eye-catching objects in the night sky, and hence the ones more easily spotted by early stargazers. The smaller, flatter, bright galaxy sitting just below NGC 4424 is named LEDA 213994. The Lyon-Meudon Extragalactic Database (LEDA) is far more modern than the NGC and contains millions of objects. Many NGC objects still go by their initial names simply because they were christened within the NGC first. However, since astronomers can't resist a good acronym and “Leda” is more appealing than “the LMED,” the smaller galaxy is called "Leda." Leda was a princess in Ancient Greek mythology. Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Find us on Instagram

Status, upgrades, and advances of RTS2: the open source astronomical observatory manager

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kubánek, Petr

2016-07-01

RTS2 is an open source observatory control system. Being developed from early 2000, it continue to receive new features in last two years. RTS2 is a modulat, network-based distributed control system, featuring telescope drivers with advanced tracking and pointing capabilities, fast camera drivers and high level modules for "business logic" of the observatory, connected to a SQL database. Running on all continents of the planet, it accumulated a lot to control parts or full observatory setups.

Astronomical Publishing: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huchra, John

Just in the last few years scientific publishing has moved rapidly away from the modes that served it well for over two centuries. As "digital natives" take over the field and rapid and open access comes to dominate the way we communicate, both scholarly journals and libraries need to adopt new business models to serve their communities. This is best done by identifying new "added value" such as databases, full text searching, full cross indexing while at the same time retaining the high quality of peer reviewed publication.

Bibliographic Resources for the Historian of Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corbin, B. G.

1999-12-01

Many large library collections now have online bibliographic catalogs on the web. These provide many hidden resources for the historian of astronomy. Special searching techniques will allow the historian to scan bibliographic records of hundreds of entries relating to biographies of astronomers, collected works of astronomers, ancient and medieval astronomy and many other historical subjects. Abstract databases such as the Astrophysics Data System and ARIBIB are also adding much historical bibliographic information. ARIBIB will eventually contain scanned images of the Astronomischer Jahresbericht containing bibliographic entries for all literature of astronomy from 1899 to 1968 and Astronomy and Astrophysics Abstracts from 1969 to present. Commercial services such as UnCover and FirstSearch provide a means of reaching bibliographic entries for journal and book literature in the history of astronomy which were not easily located in the past. A broad overview of these collections and services will be given, and searching techniques for finding ``hidden" bibliographic data will be presented. Web page addresses will be given for all sources covered.

Stellar Classification Online - Public Exploration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castelaz, Michael W.; Bedell, W.; Barker, T.; Cline, J.; Owen, L.

2009-01-01

The Michigan Objective Prism Blue Survey (e.g. Sowell et al 2007, AJ, 134, 1089) photographic plates located in the Astronomical Photographic Data Archive at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute hold hundreds of thousands of stellar spectra, many of which have not been classified before. The public is invited to participate in a distributed computing online environment to classify the stars on the objective prism plates. The online environment is called Stellar Classification Online - Public Exploration (SCOPE). Through a website, SCOPE participants are given a tutorial on stellar spectra and their classification, and given the chance to practice their skills at classification. After practice, participants register, login, and select stars for classification from scans of the objective prism plates. Their classifications are recorded in a database where the accumulation of classifications of the same star by many users will be statistically analyzed. The project includes stars with known spectral types to help test the reliability of classifications. The SCOPE webpage and the use of results will be described.

Going Digital - The Transition from Mark IV to DBBC at Onsala

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kareinen, Niko; Haas, Rüdiger; La Porta, Laura; Bertarini, Alessandra

2014-12-01

The Onsala Space Observatory is currently equipped with both a VLBI Mark IV rack and a digital BBC (DBBC). The Mark IV rack at Onsala has been used operationally for both astronomical and geodetic VLBI for more than 40 years. In 2011, Onsala purchased a DBBC and we started to test it and to gain experience with the new device, both for astronomical and geodetic VLBI. The DBBC was upgraded several times and the Field System (FS) interface was implemented. We did parallel recordings, with both the old Mark IV/Mark 5A system and the new DBBC/Mark 5B+ system, during numerous geodetic VLBI sessions. Several R1, T2, and Euro sessions were correlated during the last two years by the Bonn correlator with Onsala being included both as an analog station (two-letter code On) and as a digital station (two-letter code Od). We present results from these parallel sessions, both results from the original correlation and results from the analysis of the corresponding databases.

AstroGrid: the UK's Virtual Observatory Initiative

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mann, Robert G.; Astrogrid Consortium; Lawrence, Andy; Davenhall, Clive; Mann, Bob; McMahon, Richard; Irwin, Mike; Walton, Nic; Rixon, Guy; Watson, Mike; Osborne, Julian; Page, Clive; Allan, Peter; Giaretta, David; Perry, Chris; Pike, Dave; Sherman, John; Murtagh, Fionn; Harra, Louise; Bentley, Bob; Mason, Keith; Garrington, Simon

AstroGrid is the UK's Virtual Observatory (VO) initiative. It brings together the principal astronomical data centres in the UK, and has been funded to the tune of ˜pounds 5M over the next three years, via PPARC, as part of the UK e--science programme. Its twin goals are the provision of the infrastructure and tools for the federation and exploitation of large astronomical (X-ray to radio), solar and space plasma physics datasets, and the delivery of federations of current datasets for its user communities to exploit using those tools. Whilst AstroGrid's work will be centred on existing and future (e.g. VISTA) UK datasets, it will seek solutions to generic VO problems and will contribute to the developing international virtual observatory framework: AstroGrid is a member of the EU-funded Astrophysical Virtual Observatory project, has close links to a second EU Grid initiative, the European Grid of Solar Observations (EGSO), and will seek an active role in the development of the common standards on which the international virtual observatory will rely. In this paper we shall primarily describe the concrete plans for AstroGrid's one-year Phase A study, which will centre on: (i) the definition of detailed science requirements through community consultation; (ii) the undertaking of a ``functionality market survey" to test the utility of existing technologies for the VO; and (iii) a pilot programme of database federations, each addressing different aspects of the general database federation problem. Further information on AstroGrid can be found at AstroGrid .

Evaluation of RDBMS packages for use in astronomy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Page, C. G.; Davenhall, A. C.

1992-01-01

Tabular data sets arise in many areas of astronomical data analysis, from raw data (such as photon event lists) to final results (such as source catalogs). The Starlink catalog access and reporting package, SCAR, was originally developed to handle IRAS data and it has been the principal relational DBMS in the Starlink software collection for several years. But SCAR has many limitations and is VMS-specific, while Starlink is in transition from VMS to Unix. Rather than attempt a major re-write of SCAR for Unix, it seemed more sensible to see whether any existing database packages are suitable for general astronomical use. The authors first drew up a list of desirable properties for such a system and then used these criteria to evaluate a number of packages, both free ones and those commercially available. It is already clear that most commercial DBMS packages are not very well suited to the requirements; for example, most cannot carry out efficiently even fairly basic operations such as joining two catalogs on an approximate match of celestial positions. This paper reports the results of the evaluation exercise and notes the problems in using a standard DBMS package to process scientific data. In parallel with this the authors have started to develop a simple database engine that can handle tabular data in a range of common formats including simple direct-access files (such as SCAR and Exosat DBMS tables) and FITS tables (both ASCII and binary).

Discovery and Classification of Optical Transient in M81 : P60- M81-081203

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasliwal, M. M.; Cenko, S. B.; Quimby, R.; Rau, A.; Ofek, E. O.; Kulkarni, S. R.

2008-12-01

On UT 2008 Dec 3.303, P60-FasTING (Palomar 60-inch Fast Transients In Nearby Galaxies) discovered an optical transient in M81 at RA(J2000) = 09:55:16.920, DEC(J2000)=+69:02:17.68, offset from the nucleus by 87.2"W, 97.4"S. P60-M81-081203 had a brightness of g = 20.5 +/- 0.1 at discovery. It was not detected by P60 to g > 22.3 on Nov 30.410. There is no counterpart in SDSS or SIMBAD. Follow-up spectroscopy with the Double Beam Spectrograph on the Palomar Hale telescope showed a featureless spectrum on Dec 4 UT and Dec 5 UT.

Discovery and Classification of Nova in M31 : P60-M31-081230

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasliwal, M. M.; Rau, A.; Salvato, M.; Cenko, S. B.; Ofek, E. O.; Quimby, R.; Kulkarni, S. R.

2009-01-01

On UT 2008 Dec 30.207, P60-FasTING (Palomar 60-inch Fast Transients In Nearby Galaxies) discovered an optical transient in M31 at RA(J2000) = 00:43:05.027, DEC(J2000)=+41:17:52.25, offset from the nucleus by 233.4"E,103.8"N. P60-M31-081230 had a brightness of g = 20.5 +/- 0.2 at discovery. It was not detected by P60 to g > 22.0 on Dec 29.140. There is no counterpart in SIMBAD. Follow-up spectroscopy with the Double Beam Spectrograph on the Palomar Hale telescope on Dec 31.104 revealed prominent Balmer emission and strong P Cygni profiles of several Fe II lines.

Exorcising the Ghost in the Machine: Synthetic Spectral Data Cubes for Assessing Big Data Algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Araya, M.; Solar, M.; Mardones, D.; Hochfärber, T.

2015-09-01

The size and quantity of the data that is being generated by large astronomical projects like ALMA, requires a paradigm change in astronomical data analysis. Complex data, such as highly sensitive spectroscopic data in the form of large data cubes, are not only difficult to manage, transfer and visualize, but they make traditional data analysis techniques unfeasible. Consequently, the attention has been placed on machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques, to develop approximate and adaptive methods for astronomical data analysis within a reasonable computational time. Unfortunately, these techniques are usually sub optimal, stochastic and strongly dependent of the parameters, which could easily turn into “a ghost in the machine” for astronomers and practitioners. Therefore, a proper assessment of these methods is not only desirable but mandatory for trusting them in large-scale usage. The problem is that positively verifiable results are scarce in astronomy, and moreover, science using bleeding-edge instrumentation naturally lacks of reference values. We propose an Astronomical SYnthetic Data Observations (ASYDO), a virtual service that generates synthetic spectroscopic data in the form of data cubes. The objective of the tool is not to produce accurate astrophysical simulations, but to generate a large number of labelled synthetic data, to assess advanced computing algorithms for astronomy and to develop novel Big Data algorithms. The synthetic data is generated using a set of spectral lines, template functions for spatial and spectral distributions, and simple models that produce reasonable synthetic observations. Emission lines are obtained automatically using IVOA's SLAP protocol (or from a relational database) and their spectral profiles correspond to distributions in the exponential family. The spatial distributions correspond to simple functions (e.g., 2D Gaussian), or to scalable template objects. The intensity, broadening and radial velocity of each line is given by very simple and naive physical models, yet ASYDO's generic implementation supports new user-made models, which potentially allows adding more realistic simulations. The resulting data cube is saved as a FITS file, also including all the tables and images used for generating the cube. We expect to implement ASYDO as a virtual observatory service in the near future.

Design and implementation of the NPOI database and website

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newman, K.; Jorgensen, A. M.; Landavazo, M.; Sun, B.; Hutter, D. J.; Armstrong, J. T.; Mozurkewich, David; Elias, N.; van Belle, G. T.; Schmitt, H. R.; Baines, E. K.

2014-07-01

The Navy Precision Optical Interferometer (NPOI) has been recording astronomical observations for nearly two decades, at this point with hundreds of thousands of individual observations recorded to date for a total data volume of many terabytes. To make maximum use of the NPOI data it is necessary to organize them in an easily searchable manner and be able to extract essential diagnostic information from the data to allow users to quickly gauge data quality and suitability for a specific science investigation. This sets the motivation for creating a comprehensive database of observation metadata as well as, at least, reduced data products. The NPOI database is implemented in MySQL using standard database tools and interfaces. The use of standard database tools allows us to focus on top-level database and interface implementation and take advantage of standard features such as backup, remote access, mirroring, and complex queries which would otherwise be time-consuming to implement. A website was created in order to give scientists a user friendly interface for searching the database. It allows the user to select various metadata to search for and also allows them to decide how and what results are displayed. This streamlines the searches, making it easier and quicker for scientists to find the information they are looking for. The website has multiple browser and device support. In this paper we present the design of the NPOI database and website, and give examples of its use.

Press Meeting 20 January 2003: First Light for Europe's Virtual Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2002-12-01

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 Données 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: 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 Données 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.

STELAR: An experiment in the electronic distribution of astronomical literature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Warnock, A.; Vansteenburg, M. E.; Brotzman, L. E.; Gass, J.; Kovalsky, D.

1992-01-01

STELAR (Study of Electronic Literature for Astronomical Research) is a Goddard-based project designed to test methods of delivering technical literature in machine readable form. To that end, we have scanned a five year span of the ApJ, ApJ Supp, AJ and PASP, and have obtained abstracts for eight leading academic journals from NASA/STI CASI, which also makes these abstracts available through the NASA RECON system. We have also obtained machine readable versions of some journal volumes from the publishers, although in many instances, the final typeset versions are no longer available. The fundamental data object for the STELAR database is the article, a collection of items associated with a scientific paper - abstract, scanned pages (in a variety of formats), figures, OCR extractions, forward and backward references, errata and versions of the paper in various formats (e.g., TEX, SGML, PostScript, DVI). Articles are uniquely referenced in the database by journal name, volume number and page number. The selection and delivery of articles is accomplished through the WAIS (Wide Area Information Server) client/server models requiring only an Internet connection. Modest modifications to the server code have made it capable of delivering the multiple data types required by STELAR. WAIS is a platform independent and fully open multi-disciplinary delivery system, originally developed by Thinking Machines Corp. and made available free of charge. It is based on the ISO Z39.50 standard communications protocol. WAIS servers run under both UNIX and VMS. WAIS clients run on a wide variety of machines, from UNIX-based Xwindows systems to MS-DOS and macintosh microcomputers. The WAIS system includes full-test indexing and searching of documents, network interface and easy access to a variety of document viewers. ASCII versions of the CASI abstracts have been formatted for display and the full test of the abstracts has been indexed. The entire WAIS database of abstracts is now available for use by the astronomical community. Enhancements of the search and retrieval system are under investigation to include specialized searches (by reference, author or keyword, as opposed to full test searches), improved handling of word stems, improvements in relevancy criteria and other retrieval techniques, such as factor spaces. The STELAR project has been assisted by the full cooperation of the AAS, the ASP, the publishers of the academic journals, librarians from GSFC, NRAO and STScI, the Library of Congress, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Renaissance of the Web

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCarty, M.

2009-09-01

The renaissance of the web has driven development of many new technologies that have forever changed the way we write software. The resulting tools have been applied to both solve problems and creat new ones in a wide range of domains ranging from monitor and control user interfaces to information distribution. This discussion covers which of and how these technologies are being used in the astronomical computing community. Topics include JavaScript, Cascading Style Sheets, HTML, XML, JSON, RSS, iCalendar, Java, PHP, Python, Ruby on Rails, database technologies, and web frameworks/design patterns.

Inclusiveness program - a SWOT analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dósa, M.; Szegő, K.

2017-09-01

The Inclusiveness Program was created with the aim to integrate currently under-represented countries into the mainstream of European planetary research. Main stages of the working plan include setting up a database containing all the research institutes and universities where astronomical or geophysical research is carried out. It is necessary to identify their problems and needs. Challenging part of the project is to find exact means that help their work in a sustainable way. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the program were identified based on feedback from the inclusiveness community. Our conclusions, further suggestions are presented.

Matching CCD images to a stellar catalog using locality-sensitive hashing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Bo; Yu, Jia-Zong; Peng, Qing-Yu

2018-02-01

The usage of a subset of observed stars in a CCD image to find their corresponding matched stars in a stellar catalog is an important issue in astronomical research. Subgraph isomorphic-based algorithms are the most widely used methods in star catalog matching. When more subgraph features are provided, the CCD images are recognized better. However, when the navigation feature database is large, the method requires more time to match the observing model. To solve this problem, this study investigates further and improves subgraph isomorphic matching algorithms. We present an algorithm based on a locality-sensitive hashing technique, which allocates quadrilateral models in the navigation feature database into different hash buckets and reduces the search range to the bucket in which the observed quadrilateral model is located. Experimental results indicate the effectivity of our method.

Facilitating Science Discoveries from NED Today and in the 2020s

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazzarella, Joseph M.; NED Team

2018-06-01

I will review recent developments, work in progress, and major challenges that lie ahead as we enhance the capabilities of the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) to facilitate and accelerate multi-wavelength research on objects beyond our Milky Way galaxy. The recent fusion of data for over 470 million sources from the 2MASS Point Source Catalog and approximately 750 million sources from the AllWISE Source Catalog (next up) with redshifts from the SDSS and other data in NED is increasing the holdings to over a billion distinct objects with cross-identifications, providing a rich resource for multi-wavelength research. Combining data across such large surveys, as well as integrating data from over 110,000 smaller but scientifically important catalogs and journal articles, presents many challanges including the need to update the computing infrastructure and re-tool production and operations on a regular basis. Integration of the Firefly toolkit into the new user interface is ushering in a new phase of interative data visualization in NED, with features and capabilities familiar to users of IRSA and the emerging LSST science user interface. Graphical characterizations of NED content and estimates of completeness in different sky and spectral regions are also being developed. A newly implemented service that follows the Table Access Protocol (TAP) enables astronomers to issue queries to the NED object directory using Astronomical Data Language (ADQL), a standard shared in common with the NASA mission archives and other virtual observatories around the world. A brief review will be given of new science capabilities under development and planned for 2019-2020, as well as initiatives underway involving deployment of a parallel database, cloud technologies, machine learning, and first steps in bringing analysis capabilities close to the database in collaboration with IRSA. I will close with some questions for the community to consider in helping us plan future science capabilities and directions for NED in the 2020s.

Some practicable applications of quadtree data structures/representation in astronomy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pasztor, L.

1992-01-01

Development of quadtree as hierarchical data structuring technique for representing spatial data (like points, regions, surfaces, lines, curves, volumes, etc.) has been motivated to a large extent by storage requirements of images, maps, and other multidimensional (spatially structured) data. For many spatial algorithms, time-efficiency of quadtrees in terms of execution may be as important as their space-efficiency concerning storage conditions. Briefly, the quadtree is a class of hierarchical data structures which is based on the recursive partition of a square region into quadrants and sub-quadrants until a predefined limit. Beyond the wide applicability of quadtrees in image processing, spatial information analysis, and building digital databases (processes becoming ordinary for the astronomical community), there may be numerous further applications in astronomy. Some of these practicable applications based on quadtree representation of astronomical data are presented and suggested for further considerations. Examples are shown for use of point as well as region quadtrees. Statistics of different leaf and non-leaf nodes (homogeneous and heterogeneous sub-quadrants respectively) at different levels may provide useful information on spatial structure of astronomical data in question. By altering the principle guiding the decomposition process, different types of spatial data may be focused on. Finally, a sampling method based on quadtree representation of an image is proposed which may prove to be efficient in the elaboration of sampling strategy in a region where observations were carried out previously either with different resolution or/and in different bands.

Radio emission from dusty galaxies observed by AKARI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pepiak, A.; Pollo, A.; Takeuchi, T. T.; Solarz, A.; Jurusik, W.

2014-10-01

We probe radio-infrared correlation for two samples of extragalactic sources from the local Universe from the AKARI All-Sky Catalogue. The first, smaller sample (1053 objects) was constructed by the cross-correlation of the AKARI/FIS All-Sky Survey Bright Source Catalogue, the AKARI IRC All-Sky Survey Point Source Catalogue and the NRAO VLA Sky Survey, i.e. it consists of sources detected in the mid- and far-infrared by AKARI, and at the 1.4 GHz radio frequency by NRAO. The second, larger sample (13,324 objects) was constructed by the cross-correlation of only the AKARI/FIS All-Sky Survey Bright Source Catalogue and the NRAO VLA Sky Survey, i.e. it consists of sources detected in the far-infrared and radio, without a condition to be detected in the mid-infrared. Additionally, all objects in both samples were identified as galaxies in the NED and/or SIMBAD databases, and a part of them is known to host active galactic nuclei (AGNs). For the present analysis, we have restricted our samples only to sources with known redshift z. In this paper, we analyse the far-infrared-radio correlation for both of these samples. We compare the ratio of infrared and radio emission from normal star-forming dusty galaxies and AGNs in both samples. For the smaller sample we obtained =2.14 for AGNs and =2.27 for normal galaxies, while for the larger sample =2.15 for AGNs and =2.22 for normal galaxies. An average value of the slope in both samples is ~2.2, which is consistent with the previous measurements from the literature.

SOFIA EXES Observations of Herschel’s Garnet Star and the two α Red Supergiants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harper, Graham M.; DeWitt, Curtis N.; Richter, Matthew; Guinan, Edward F.; Montiel, Edward; Bennett, Philip D.; EXES Instrument Team

2018-06-01

We report EXES Cycle 4 and 5 observations of M supergiants, made at high spectral resolution (R > 50,000), and obtained from NASA-DLR SOFIA.Emission profiles from Herschel’s Garnet Star (μ Cephei: M2 Ia) show distinct structure and asymmetry in the [S I] 25.25 micron and [Fe II] 25.99 micron lines. These profiles are unlike the remarkably symmetric [Fe II] profile observed from Betelgeuse (α Orionis: M2 Iab) at R=65,000. These diagnostics both arise from upper energy levels with Eup ≈ 550 K and they probe the inner circumstellar envelope. The flux ratios of [S I]/[Fe II] are very different for μ Cep, α Ori, and Antares (α Scorpii: M1.5 Iab), suggesting that the intrinsic far ultraviolet photoionization field of μ Cep is weaker than that of α Ori, and that α Sco’s hot companion may contribute to ionizing neutral sulfur. We find that the mid-IR emission from μ Cep is centered close to the optical radial velocity of V(LSR)=33.0 km s-1 [V(Helio)=19.3 km s-1] reported in the General Catalogue of Stellar Radial Velocities (Wilson 1953), and which is substantially different to that inferred from low-J CO radio emission, i.e. V(LSR)=25 km s-1. It appears that Herschel's Garnet Star has undergone discrete events of asymmetric mass loss.Acknowledgements: This work has made extensive use of the SAO/NASA ADS and VizieR search tools, and the ASTRAL and SIMBAD databases. Financial support has been provided by NASA SOFIA Cycle 4 and 5 grants SOF 04-0136 and 05-0073 issued by USRA.

Taking the Observatory to the Astronomer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bisque, T. M.

1997-05-01

Since 1992, Software Bisque's Remote Astronomy Software has been used by the Mt. Wilson Institute to allow interactive control of a 24" telescope and digital camera via modem. Software Bisque now introduces a comparable, relatively low-cost observatory system that allows powerful, yet "user-friendly" telescope and CCD camera control via the Internet. Utilizing software developed for the Windows 95/NT operating systems, the system offers point-and-click access to comprehensive celestial databases, extremely accurate telescope pointing, rapid download of digital CCD images by one or many users and flexible image processing software for data reduction and analysis. Our presentation will describe how the power of the personal computer has been leveraged to provide professional-level tools to the amateur astronomer, and include a description of this system's software and hardware components. The system software includes TheSky Astronomy Software?, CCDSoft CCD Astronomy Software?, TPoint Telescope Pointing Analysis System? software, Orchestrate? and, optionally, the RealSky CDs. The system hardware includes the Paramount GT-1100? Robotic Telescope Mount, as well as third party CCD cameras, focusers and optical tube assemblies.

The Future of the ASP Conference Series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jensen, Joseph B.; Barnes, Jonathan; Moody, J. Ward; Szkody, Paula

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) has been publishing the proceedings of conferences in astronomy and astrophysics for more than 20 years. The ASP Conference Series (ASPCS) is widely known for its affordable and high quality printed volumes. The ASPCS is adapting to the changing market by making electronically published volumes available to subscribers around the world, including papers in the Astrophysics Data System (ADS) database, and allowing authors to post papers on e-print archives. We discuss the role of the printed book in our future plans, and how electronic publishing affects the types of products and services we offer. Recently there has been increasing pressure in the academic world for open access (electronic copies of scholarly publications made freely-available immediately after publication), and we discuss how the ASPCS is responding to the needs of the professional astronomical community, the ASP, and humanity at large. While we cannot yet provide full open access and stay in business, we are actively pursuing several initiatives to improve the quality of our product and the impact of the papers we publish.

SUMO: operation and maintenance management web tool for astronomical observatories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mujica-Alvarez, Emma; Pérez-Calpena, Ana; García-Vargas, María. Luisa

2014-08-01

SUMO is an Operation and Maintenance Management web tool, which allows managing the operation and maintenance activities and resources required for the exploitation of a complex facility. SUMO main capabilities are: information repository, assets and stock control, tasks scheduler, executed tasks archive, configuration and anomalies control and notification and users management. The information needed to operate and maintain the system must be initially stored at the tool database. SUMO shall automatically schedule the periodical tasks and facilitates the searching and programming of the non-periodical tasks. Tasks planning can be visualized in different formats and dynamically edited to be adjusted to the available resources, anomalies, dates and other constrains that can arise during daily operation. SUMO shall provide warnings to the users notifying potential conflicts related to the required personal availability or the spare stock for the scheduled tasks. To conclude, SUMO has been designed as a tool to help during the operation management of a scientific facility, and in particular an astronomical observatory. This is done by controlling all operating parameters: personal, assets, spare and supply stocks, tasks and time constrains.

Pointing History Engine for the Spitzer Space Telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bayard, David; Ahmed, Asif; Brugarolas, Paul

2007-01-01

The Pointing History Engine (PHE) is a computer program that provides mathematical transformations needed to reconstruct, from downlinked telemetry data, the attitude of the Spitzer Space Telescope (formerly known as the Space Infrared Telescope Facility) as a function of time. The PHE also serves as an example for development of similar pointing reconstruction software for future space telescopes. The transformations implemented in the PHE take account of the unique geometry of the Spitzer telescope-pointing chain, including all data on relative alignments of components, and all information available from attitude-determination instruments. The PHE makes it possible to coordinate attitude data with observational data acquired at the same time, so that any observed astronomical object can be located for future reference and re-observation. The PHE is implemented as a subroutine used in conjunction with telemetry-formatting services of the Mission Image Processing Laboratory of NASA s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to generate the Boresight Pointing History File (BPHF). The BPHF is an archival database designed to serve as Spitzer s primary astronomical reference documenting where the telescope was pointed at any time during its mission.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Basic properties of Kepler and CoRoT targets (Yildiz+, 2016)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yildiz, M.; Celik Orhan, Z.; Kayhan, C.

2018-01-01

The basic data of certain Kepler (79 stars) and CoRoT (seven stars) target stars, compiled from the literature, are listed in Table A1. Oscillation frequencies of three stars (Procyon A, HD 2151 and HD 146233) were obtained from ground-based observations (Bedding et al., 2010ApJ...713..935B; Bedding et al., 2007ApJ...663.1315B and Bazot et al. 2012, Cat. J/A+A/544/A106, respectively). These stars are also listed in this table, with data for the Sun for comparison. For most stars, we provide B-V and V-K colours (SIMBAD data base) from photometric observations, and surface gravity [log(g)], effective temperature (TeS) and metallicity ([Fe/H]) from spectroscopic observations. (2 data files).

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Mid-infrared study of RR Lyrae stars (Gavrilchenko+, 2014)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gavrilchenko, T.; Klein, C. R.; Bloom, J. S.; Richards, J. W.

2015-02-01

The first goal was to find a large sample of WISE-observed RR Lyrae stars. A data base of previously identified RR Lyrae stars was created, combining information from General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS), All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS), SIMBAD, VizieR, and individual papers. For many of the sources in this data base the only available data were the coordinates and RR Lyrae classification. When provided, information about the period, distance, subclass, and magnitude for several different wavebands was also stored. If a single source appeared in multiple surveys or papers, information from all relevant surveys was included, with markers indicating contradicting measurements between surveys. The resulting data base contains about 17000 sources, of which about 5000 sources have documented V-band periods. (3 data files).

Infrared spectra of complex organic molecules in astronomically relevant ice matrices. I. Acetaldehyde, ethanol, and dimethyl ether

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terwisscha van Scheltinga, J.; Ligterink, N. F. W.; Boogert, A. C. A.; van Dishoeck, E. F.; Linnartz, H.

2018-03-01

Context. The number of identified complex organic molecules (COMs) in inter- and circumstellar gas-phase environments is steadily increasing. Recent laboratory studies show that many such species form on icy dust grains. At present only smaller molecular species have been directly identified in space in the solid state. Accurate spectroscopic laboratory data of frozen COMs, embedded in ice matrices containing ingredients related to their formation scheme, are still largely lacking. Aim. This work provides infrared reference spectra of acetaldehyde (CH3CHO), ethanol (CH3CH2OH), and dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3) recorded in a variety of ice environments and for astronomically relevant temperatures, as needed to guide or interpret astronomical observations, specifically for upcoming James Webb Space Telescope observations. Methods: Fourier transform transmission spectroscopy (500-4000 cm-1/20-2.5 μm, 1.0 cm-1 resolution) was used to investigate solid acetaldehyde, ethanol and dimethyl ether, pure or mixed with water, CO, methanol, or CO:methanol. These species were deposited on a cryogenically cooled infrared transmissive window at 15 K. A heating ramp was applied, during which IR spectra were recorded until all ice constituents were thermally desorbed. Results: We present a large number of reference spectra that can be compared with astronomical data. Accurate band positions and band widths are provided for the studied ice mixtures and temperatures. Special efforts have been put into those bands of each molecule that are best suited for identification. For acetaldehyde the 7.427 and 5.803 μm bands are recommended, for ethanol the 11.36 and 7.240 μm bands are good candidates, and for dimethyl ether bands at 9.141 and 8.011 μm can be used. All spectra are publicly available in the Leiden Database for Ice.

A Database of Young Star Clusters for Five Hundred Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whitmore, Brad

2009-07-01

We propose to use the source lists developed as part of the Hubble Legacy Archive {HLA: Data Release 1 - February 8, 2008} to obtain a large {N 50 galaxies for multi-wavelength, N 500 galaxies for ACS F814W}, uniform {ACS + WFPC2 + NICMOS: DAOphot used for object detection} database of super star clusters in nearby star-forming galaxies in order to address two fundamental astronomical questions: 1} To what degree is the cluster luminosity {and mass} function of star clusters universal ? 2} What fraction of super star clusters are "missing" in optical studies {i.e., are hidden by dust}? This database will also support comparisons with new Monte-Carlo simulations that have independently been developed in the past few years by co-I Larsen and PI Whitmore, and will be used to test the Whitmore, Chandar, Fall {2007} framework designed to understand the demographics of star clusters in all star forming galaxies. The catalogs will increase the number of galaxies with measured mass and luminosity functions by an order of magnitude, and will provide a powerful new tool for comparative studies, both ours and the community's.

Galaxy Classifications with Deep Learning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lukic, Vesna; Brüggen, Marcus

2017-06-01

Machine learning techniques have proven to be increasingly useful in astronomical applications over the last few years, for example in object classification, estimating redshifts and data mining. One example of object classification is classifying galaxy morphology. This is a tedious task to do manually, especially as the datasets become larger with surveys that have a broader and deeper search-space. The Kaggle Galaxy Zoo competition presented the challenge of writing an algorithm to find the probability that a galaxy belongs in a particular class, based on SDSS optical spectroscopy data. The use of convolutional neural networks (convnets), proved to be a popular solution to the problem, as they have also produced unprecedented classification accuracies in other image databases such as the database of handwritten digits (MNIST †) and large database of images (CIFAR ‡). We experiment with the convnets that comprised the winning solution, but using broad classifications. The effect of changing the number of layers is explored, as well as using a different activation function, to help in developing an intuition of how the networks function and to see how they can be applied to radio galaxy images.

GAUDI: A Preparatory Archive for the COROT Mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solano, E.; Catala, C.; Garrido, R.; Poretti, E.; Janot-Pacheco, E.; Gutiérrez, R.; González, R.; Mantegazza, L.; Neiner, C.; Fremat, Y.; Charpinet, S.; Weiss, W.; Amado, P. J.; Rainer, M.; Tsymbal, V.; Lyashko, D.; Ballereau, D.; Bouret, J. C.; Hua, T.; Katz, D.; Lignières, F.; Lüftinger, T.; Mittermayer, P.; Nesvacil, N.; Soubiran, C.; van't Veer-Menneret, C.; Goupil, M. J.; Costa, V.; Rolland, A.; Antonello, E.; Bossi, M.; Buzzoni, A.; Rodrigo, C.; Aerts, C.; Butler, C. J.; Guenther, E.; Hatzes, A.

2005-01-01

The GAUDI database (Ground-based Asteroseismology Uniform Database Interface) is a preparatory archive for the COROT (Convection, Rotation, and Planetary Transits) mission developed at the Laboratorio de Astrofísica Espacial y Física Fundamental (Laboratory for Space Astrophysics and Theoretical Physics, Spain). Its intention is to make the ground-based observations obtained in preparation of the asteroseismology program available in a simple and efficient way. It contains spectroscopic and photometric data together with inferred physical parameters for more than 1500 objects gathered since 1998 January 1998 in 6 years of observational campaigns. In this paper, the main functions and characteristics of the system are described. Based on observations collected at La Silla (ESO proposals 67.D-0169, 69.D-0166, and 70.D-0110), Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (proposal 6-20-068), Observatoire de Haute-Provence, the South African Astronomical Observatory, Tautenburg Observatory, and Sierra Nevada Observatory.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: The orbits of Jupiter's irregular satellites (Brozovic+, 2017)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brozovic, M.; Jacobson, R. A.

2018-05-01

The large majority of astrometric observations originate from Earth-based telescopes, although there are a handful of observations of Himalia and Callirrhoe from the New Horizons spacecraft flyby of Jupiter. The modern Hipparcos Catalog (Perryman et al. 1997A&A...323L..49P) based astrometry is reported as positions in the ICRF. We convert the older measurements to the ICRF positions. The references to optical observations up to the year 2000 are documented in Jacobson (2000AJ....120.2679J). We continued to use the Jacobson (2000AJ....120.2679J) observational biases for the early measurements. We have since extended the data set with observations published in the Minor Planet Electronic Circulars (MPEC), the International Astronomical Union Circulars (IAUC), the Natural Satellites Data Center (NSDC) database (Arlot & Emelyanov 2009A&A...503..631A), the United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station catalog, and the Pulkovo Observatory database. (5 data files).

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Catalogue of Stellar Spectral Classifications (Skiff, 2003)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skiff, A. B.

2003-07-01

This file contains spectral classifications for stars collected from the literature, serving as a continuation of the compilations produced by the Jascheks, by Kennedy, and by Buscombe. The source of each spectral type is indicated by a standard 19-digit bibcode citation. The stars are identified either by the name used in each publication or by a valid SIMBAD identifier. Some effort has been made to determine accurate (~1" or better) coordinates for equinox J2000, and these serve as a secondary identifier. Magnitudes are provided as an indication of brightness, but these data are not necessarily accurate, as they often derive from photographic photometry or rough estimates. The classifications include MK types as well as types not strictly on the MK system (white dwarfs, Wolf-Rayet, etc), and in addition simple HD-style temperature types. Luminosity classes in the early Mount Wilson style (e.g. 'd' for dwarf, 'g' for giant) and other similar schemes have been converted to modern notation. Since a citation is provided for each entry, the source paper should be consulted for details about classification schemes, spectral dispersion, and instrumentation used. The file includes only spectral types determined from spectra (viz. line and band strengths or ratios), omitting those determined from photometry (e.g. DDO, Vilnius) or inferred from broadband colors or bulk spectral energy distributions. The catalogue includes for the first time results from many large-scale objective-prism spectral surveys done at Case, Stockholm, Crimea, Abastumani, and elsewhere. The stars in these surveys were usually identified only on charts or by other indirect means, and have been overlooked heretofore because of the difficulty in recovering the stars. More complete results from these separate publications, including notes and identifications, have been made available to the CDS, and are kept at the Lowell Observatory ftp area (ftp://ftp.lowell.edu/pub/bas/starcats). Not all of these stars are present in SIMBAD. As a 'living catalogue', an attempt will be made to keep up with current literature, and to extend the indexing of citations back in time. (1 data file).

A redshift survey of IRAS galaxies. VII - The infrared and redshift data for the 1.936 Jansky sample

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Strauss, Michael A.; Huchra, John P.; Davis, Marc; Yahil, Amos; Fisher, Karl B.; Tonry, John

1992-01-01

We present the data for a redshift survey of galaxies selected from the database of the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). The sample is flux limited to 1.936 Jy at 60 microns and covers 11.01 sr of the sky. It consists of 5014 objects, of which 2658 are galaxies. The remaining 2356 sources are listed in a separate table with identifications. Redshift data are also given for 212 IRAS galaxies which are not part of the complete sample, but were measured in conjunction with this project.

The Methods of Cognitive Visualization for the Astronomical Databases Analyzing Tools Development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vitkovskiy, V.; Gorohov, V.

2008-08-01

There are two kinds of computer graphics: the illustrative one and the cognitive one. Appropriate the cognitive pictures not only make evident and clear the sense of complex and difficult scientific concepts, but promote, --- and not so very rarely, --- a birth of a new knowledge. On the basis of the cognitive graphics concept, we worked out the SW-system for visualization and analysis. It allows to train and to aggravate intuition of researcher, to raise his interest and motivation to the creative, scientific cognition, to realize process of dialogue with the very problems simultaneously.

"Churyumov Unified Network": New, Important Tasks for Astronomical Observatories to Protect Society in the Era of Modern Hybrid Wars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Churyumov, K. I.; Vidmachenko, A. P.; Steklov, A. F.; Dashkiev, N. G.; Romanyuk, Ya. O.; Stepakhno, I. V.

2016-12-01

Authors created and provided the operation of the first version of the "Bolide Network of Churyumov" for continuous recording of twilight and daytime traces of aerial and aerospace intrusions over Kiev and Kiev district during 2013-2016. A total of more than 36000 copyright photos was obtained, their classification was carried out and the first database was created. The authors recorded typical space invading meteoroids, comets nucleus fragments and traces of aerial intrusions, signs of which, as a rule, are observed at lower altitudes comparing with typical space invasions.

A Hannibal's Treck Across The Alps: Geomorphological Analysis Of Sites Of Geoarchaeologicals Interest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahaney, William C.; Kalm, Volli; Dirszowsky, Randy W.; Milner, Michael W.; Sodhi, Rana; Beukens, Roelf; Dorn, Ron; Tricart, Pierre; Schwartz, Stéphane; Chamorro-Perez, Eva; Boccia, Sal; Barendregt, René W.; Krinsley, D. H.; Seaquist, E. R.; Merrick, David; Kapran, Barbara

A ~2200 year-old question related to Hannibal's invasion route across the Alps into Italia, has been argued by classicists without recovery of material evidence. A comparison of topographical descriptions in the ancient literature with environmental parameters in the Alps, attempted here for the first time, provides a database against which various pathways can be assessed. Identification of sites using geological, geomorphological, astronomical, chemical and petrological methods leads to the exclusion of certain transit points and targeting of others where geoarchaeological excavation might yield important evidence related to the military culture of ancient Carthage.

Nine Years of XMM-Newton Pipeline: Experience and Feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michel, Laurent; Motch, Christian

2009-05-01

The Strasbourg Astronomical Observatory is member of the Survey Science Centre (SSC) of the XMM-Newton satellite. Among other responsibilities, we provide a database access to the 2XMMi catalogue and run the part of the data processing pipeline performing the cross-correlation of EPIC sources with archival catalogs. These tasks were all developed in Strasbourg. Pipeline processing is flawlessly in operation since 1999. We describe here the work load and infrastructure setup in Strasbourg to support SSC activities. Our nine year long SSC experience could be used in the framework of the Simbol-X ground segment.

SysML model of exoplanet archive functionality and activities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramirez, Solange

2016-08-01

The NASA Exoplanet Archive is an online service that serves data and information on exoplanets and their host stars to help astronomical research related to search for and characterization of extra-solar planetary systems. In order to provide the most up to date data sets to the users, the exoplanet archive performs weekly updates that include additions into the database and updates to the services as needed. These weekly updates are complex due to interfaces within the archive. I will be presenting a SysML model that helps us perform these update activities in a weekly basis.

The Golosiiv on-line plate archive database, management and maintenance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pakuliak, L.; Sergeeva, T.

2007-08-01

We intend to create online version of the database of the MAO NASU plate archive as VO-compatible structures in accordance with principles, developed by the International Virtual Observatory Alliance in order to make them available for world astronomical community. The online version of the log-book database is constructed by means of MySQL+PHP. Data management system provides a user with user interface, gives a capability of detailed traditional form-filling radial search of plates, obtaining some auxiliary sampling, the listing of each collection and permits to browse the detail descriptions of collections. The administrative tool allows database administrator the data correction, enhancement with new data sets and control of the integrity and consistence of the database as a whole. The VO-compatible database is currently constructing under the demands and in the accordance with principles of international data archives and has to be strongly generalized in order to provide a possibility of data mining by means of standard interfaces and to be the best fitted to the demands of WFPDB Group for databases of the plate catalogues. On-going enhancements of database toward the WFPDB bring the problem of the verification of data to the forefront, as it demands the high degree of data reliability. The process of data verification is practically endless and inseparable from data management owing to a diversity of data errors nature, that means to a variety of ploys of their identification and fixing. The current status of MAO NASU glass archive forces the activity in both directions simultaneously: the enhancement of log-book database with new sets of observational data as well as generalized database creation and the cross-identification between them. The VO-compatible version of the database is supplying with digitized data of plates obtained with MicroTek ScanMaker 9800 XL TMA. The scanning procedure is not total but is conducted selectively in the frames of special projects.

Astronomical Data Center Bulletin, volume 1, no. 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Warren, W. H., Jr. (Editor); Nagy, T. A. (Editor); Mead, J. M. (Editor)

1980-01-01

Information about work in progress on astronomical catalogs is presented. In addition to progress reports, an upadated status list for astronomical catalogs available at the Astronomical Data Center is included. Papers from observatories and individuals involved with astronomical data are also presented.

Digital History: Problem of Creation of Resources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uhlír, Zdenêk

This paper is based on the reference background of historical librarianship, so that it does not address astronomical problems per se. In this respect we can see the historical astronomical material at three different levels: first, as factual data preserved from the past or as that we can take today as factual data; second, as evidence of the acquisition and explication of this factual material, i.e. history of astronomy as science; and third, as the inclusion of astronomical progress into historical material in general, and, in another sense, into the development of intellectual thought. At present we are witnessing a transition from an environment of predominantly printed material into an electronic-digital environment. In connection with this important change in communication there is also a new conceptualization of information and knowledge. This must be responded to by a conversion of existing sources and the creation of new ones. This wider horizon will require fundamental changes in the domain of the historical librarian. Creation of historical resources in the electronic-digital environment has three aspects: first, it is a permanent creation of digital image copies; second, building a catalogue as an access point common for both original and subsidiary documents; third, production of full-text databases of bibliographic and factual databases as well as comments-monographs. Owing to the fact that there does not exist in the electronic-digital environment any document in the strict sense of the word, it increases the importance of the context of data and the information itself becomes an interpretation. Also, due to the fact that the subject itself appears as a theme at more than one level, the knowledge becomes an interpretation at each next level. Thus the resources in the electronic-digital environment have the potential for an indirect, indefinite utilization. So it is not enough to just represent data in an objective way, but it is also necessary to prepare them such that they allow interpretation in various contexts (the sphere of information) and also for various disciplines (the sphere of knowledge). It demands both inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary approaches not just a concentration on a certain discipline and specialization. From all of this follows a need of changing both the library and the information preparation for the information network of the electronic-digital environment.

BRAVO (Brazilian Astrophysical Virtual Observatory): data mining development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Carvalho, R. R.; Capelato, H. V.; Velho, H. C.

2007-08-01

The primary goal of the BRAVO project is to generate investment in information technology, with particular emphasis on datamining and statistical analysis. From a scientific standpoint, the participants assembled to date are engaged in several scientific projects in various fields of cosmology, astrophysics, and data analysis, with significant contributions from international partners. These scientists conduct research on clusters of galaxies, small groups of galaxies, elliptical galaxies, population synthesis, N-body simulations, and a variety of studies in stellar astrophysics. One of the main aspects of this project is the incorporation of these disparate areas of astrophysical research within the context of the coherent development of database technology.Observational cosmology is one of the branches of science experiencing the largest growth in the past few decades. large photometric and spectroscopic surveys have been carried out in both hemispheres. As a result, an extraordinary amount of data in all portions of the electromagnetic spectrum exists, but without standard techniques for storage and distribution. This project will utilize several specific astronomical databases, created to store data generated by several instruments (including SOAR, Gemini, BDA, etc), uniting them within a common framework and with standard interfaces. We are inviting members of the entire Brazilian astronomical community to partake in this effort. This will certainly impact both education and outreach efforts, as well as the future development of astrophysical research. Finally, this project will provide a constant investment in human resources. First, it will do so by stimulating ongoing short technical visits to Johns Hopkins University and Caltech. These will allow us to bring software technology and expertise in datamining back to Brazil. Second, we will organize the Summer School on Software Technology in Astrophysics, which will be designed to ensure that the Brazilian scientific community can take full advantage of the benefits offered by the VO project

Supernova 2011fe in M101 (NGC 5457) = PSN J14030581+5416254

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waagen, Elizabeth O.

2011-08-01

The discovery is reported of Supernova 2011fe in NGC 5457 = PSN J14030581+5416254 by the Type Ia supernova science working group of the Palomar Transient Factory, Peter Nugent et al., on 2011 Aug. 24 UT at magnitude 17.2 (g-band, calibrated with respect to the USNO catalog. (Credit for an independent discovery by Mathew Marulla and Tavi Grenier was later rescinded by D. Green, Gentral Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams.) A spectrum obtained on 2011 Aug. 24 UT indicates that SN 2011fe is probably a Type Ia supernova at a very early phase. SN 2011fe was initially announced in ATEL #3581 (Peter Nugent et al.), AAVSO Special Notice #250 (Matthew Templeton), and Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT) Electronic Telegram 2792 (Daniel W. E. Green, ed.). According to Green, the object was designated PSN J14030581+5416254 when posted on the CBAT Transient Objects Confirmation Page (TOCP) webpage. Finder charts with sequence may be created using the AAVSO Variable Star Plotter (http://www.aavso.org/vsp). Observations should be submitted to the AAVSO International Database. See full Alert Notice for more details, observations, and links to images.

Advances in Exoplanet Observing by Amateur Astronomers (Abstract)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Conti, D. M.

2017-06-01

(Abstract only) This past year has seen a marked increase in amateur astronomer participation in exoplanet research. This has ranged from amateur astronomers helping professional astronomers confirm candidate exoplanets, to helping refine the ephemeris of known exoplanets. In addition, amateur astronomers have been involved in characterizing such exotic objects as disintegrating planetesimals. However, the involvement in such pro/am collaborations has also required that amateur astronomers follow a more disciplined approach to exoplanet observing.

Methods in Astronomical Image Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jörsäter, S.

A Brief Introductory Note History of Astronomical Imaging Astronomical Image Data Images in Various Formats Digitized Image Data Digital Image Data Philosophy of Astronomical Image Processing Properties of Digital Astronomical Images Human Image Processing Astronomical vs. Computer Science Image Processing Basic Tools of Astronomical Image Processing Display Applications Calibration of Intensity Scales Calibration of Length Scales Image Re-shaping Feature Enhancement Noise Suppression Noise and Error Analysis Image Processing Packages: Design of AIPS and MIDAS AIPS MIDAS Reduction of CCD Data Bias Subtraction Clipping Preflash Subtraction Dark Subtraction Flat Fielding Sky Subtraction Extinction Correction Deconvolution Methods Rebinning/Combining Summary and Prospects for the Future

Astronomical Data Center Bulletin, volume 1, number 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nagy, T. A.; Warren, W. H., Jr.; Mead, J. M.

1981-01-01

Work in progress on astronomical catalogs is presented in 16 papers. Topics cover astronomical data center operations; automatic astronomical data retrieval at GSFC; interactive computer reference search of astronomical literature 1950-1976; formatting, checking, and documenting machine-readable catalogs; interactive catalog of UV, optical, and HI data for 201 Virgo cluster galaxies; machine-readable version of the general catalog of variable stars, third edition; galactic latitude and magnitude distribution of two astronomical catalogs; the catalog of open star clusters; infrared astronomical data base and catalog of infrared observations; the Air Force geophysics laboratory; revised magnetic tape of the N30 catalog of 5,268 standard stars; positional correlation of the two-micron sky survey and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory catalog sources; search capabilities for the catalog of stellar identifications (CSI) 1979 version; CSI statistics: blue magnitude versus spectral type; catalogs available from the Astronomical Data Center; and status report on machine-readable astronomical catalogs.

Time-calibrated Milankovitch cycles for the late Permian.

PubMed

Wu, Huaichun; Zhang, Shihong; Hinnov, Linda A; Jiang, Ganqing; Feng, Qinglai; Li, Haiyan; Yang, Tianshui

2013-01-01

An important innovation in the geosciences is the astronomical time scale. The astronomical time scale is based on the Milankovitch-forced stratigraphy that has been calibrated to astronomical models of paleoclimate forcing; it is defined for much of Cenozoic-Mesozoic. For the Palaeozoic era, however, astronomical forcing has not been widely explored because of lack of high-precision geochronology or astronomical modelling. Here we report Milankovitch cycles from late Permian (Lopingian) strata at Meishan and Shangsi, South China, time calibrated by recent high-precision U-Pb dating. The evidence extends empirical knowledge of Earth's astronomical parameters before 250 million years ago. Observed obliquity and precession terms support a 22-h length-of-day. The reconstructed astronomical time scale indicates a 7.793-million year duration for the Lopingian epoch, when strong 405-kyr cycles constrain astronomical modelling. This is the first significant advance in defining the Palaeozoic astronomical time scale, anchored to absolute time, bridging the Palaeozoic-Mesozoic transition.

FITSManager: Management of Personal Astronomical Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Chenzhou; Fan, Dongwei; Zhao, Yongheng; Kembhavi, Ajit; He, Boliang; Cao, Zihuang; Li, Jian; Nandrekar, Deoyani

2011-07-01

With the increase of personal storage capacity, it is easy to find hundreds to thousands of FITS files in the personal computer of an astrophysicist. Because Flexible Image Transport System (FITS) is a professional data format initiated by astronomers and used mainly in the small community, data management toolkits for FITS files are very few. Astronomers need a powerful tool to help them manage their local astronomical data. Although Virtual Observatory (VO) is a network oriented astronomical research environment, its applications and related technologies provide useful solutions to enhance the management and utilization of astronomical data hosted in an astronomer's personal computer. FITSManager is such a tool to provide astronomers an efficient management and utilization of their local data, bringing VO to astronomers in a seamless and transparent way. FITSManager provides fruitful functions for FITS file management, like thumbnail, preview, type dependent icons, header keyword indexing and search, collaborated working with other tools and online services, and so on. The development of the FITSManager is an effort to fill the gap between management and analysis of astronomical data.

TAPAS, a VO archive at the IRAM 30-m telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leon, Stephane; Espigares, Victor; Ruíz, José Enrique; Verdes-Montenegro, Lourdes; Mauersberger, Rainer; Brunswig, Walter; Kramer, Carsten; Santander-Vela, Juan de Dios; Wiesemeyer, Helmut

2012-07-01

Astronomical observatories are today generating increasingly large volumes of data. For an efficient use of them, databases have been built following the standards proposed by the International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA), providing a common protocol to query them and make them interoperable. The IRAM 30-m radio telescope, located in Sierra Nevada (Granada, Spain) is a millimeter wavelength telescope with a constantly renewed, extensive choice of instruments, and capable of covering the frequency range between 80 and 370 GHz. It is continuously producing a large amount of data thanks to the more than 200 scientific projects observed each year. The TAPAS archive at the IRAM 30-m telescope is aimed to provide public access to the headers describing the observations performed with the telescope, according to a defined data policy, making as well the technical data available to the IRAM staff members. A special emphasis has been made to make it Virtual Observatory (VO) compliant, and to offer a VO compliant web interface allowing to make the information available to the scientific community. TAPAS is built using the Django Python framework on top of a relational MySQL database, and is fully integrated with the telescope control system. The TAPAS data model (DM) is based on the Radio Astronomical DAta Model for Single dish radio telescopes (RADAMS), to allow for easy integration into the VO infrastructure. A metadata modeling layer is used by the data-filler to allow an implementation free from assumptions about the control system and the underlying database. TAPAS and its public web interface ( http://tapas.iram.es ) provides a scalable system that can evolve with new instruments and observing modes. A meta description of the DM has been introduced in TAPAS in order to both avoid undesired coupling between the code and the DM and to provide a better management of the archive. A subset of the header data stored in TAPAS will be made available at the CDS.

A Review of Stellar Abundance Databases and the Hypatia Catalog Database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hinkel, Natalie Rose

2018-01-01

The astronomical community is interested in elements from lithium to thorium, from solar twins to peculiarities of stellar evolution, because they give insight into different regimes of star formation and evolution. However, while some trends between elements and other stellar or planetary properties are well known, many other trends are not as obvious and are a point of conflict. For example, stars that host giant planets are found to be consistently enriched in iron, but the same cannot be definitively said for any other element. Therefore, it is time to take advantage of large stellar abundance databases in order to better understand not only the large-scale patterns, but also the more subtle, small-scale trends within the data.In this overview to the special session, I will present a review of large stellar abundance databases that are both currently available (i.e. RAVE, APOGEE) and those that will soon be online (i.e. Gaia-ESO, GALAH). Additionally, I will discuss the Hypatia Catalog Database (www.hypatiacatalog.com) -- which includes abundances from individual literature sources that observed stars within 150pc. The Hypatia Catalog currently contains 72 elements as measured within ~6000 stars, with a total of ~240,000 unique abundance determinations. The online database offers a variety of solar normalizations, stellar properties, and planetary properties (where applicable) that can all be viewed through multiple interactive plotting interfaces as well as in a tabular format. By analyzing stellar abundances for large populations of stars and from a variety of different perspectives, a wealth of information can be revealed on both large and small scales.

On Tokugawa Bakufu's astronomical officials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamada, Keiji

2005-06-01

Tokugawa Bakufu's astronomical office, established in 1684, is the post for calendar reform. The reform was conducted when the calendar did not predict peculiar celestial phenomena, such as solar or lunar eclipses. It was, so to speak, the theme of the ancient astronomy. From removal of the embargo on importing western science books in 1720, Japanese astronomers studied European astronomy and attempted to apply its knowledge to calendar making. Moreover, they knew the Copernican system and also faced several modern astronomical subjects. The French astronomer Lalande's work "ASTRONOMY" exerted particularly strong influence on astronomers. This paper overviews the activities of Paris observatory and French astronomers in the 17th and 18th centuries, and survey what modern astronomical subjects were. Finally, it sketches a role of the Edo observatory played in the Japanese cultural history.

Armenian Astronomical Society (ArAS) activities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mickaelian, A. M.

2016-09-01

A review on the activities and achievements of Armenian Astronomical Society (ArAS) and Armenian astronomy in general during the last years is given. ArAS membership, ArAS electronic newsletters (ArASNews), ArAS webpage, Annual Meetings, Annual Prize for Young Astronomers (Yervant Terzian Prize) and other awards, international relations, presence in international organizations, local and international summer schools, science camps, astronomical Olympiads and other events, matters related to astronomical education, astronomical heritage, amateur astronomy, astronomy outreach and ArAS further projects are described and discussed.

Identification and characterization of low-mass stars and brown dwarfs using Virtual Observatory tools.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aberasturi, M.; Solano, E.; Martín, E.

2015-05-01

Low-mass stars and brown dwarfs (with spectral types M, L, T and Y) are the most common objects in the Milky Way. A complete census of these objects is necessary to understand the theories about their complex structure and formation processes. In order to increase the number of known objects in the Solar neighborhood (d<30 pc), we have made use of the Virtual Observatory which allows an efficient handling of the huge amount of information available in astronomical databases. We also used the WFC3 installed in the Hubble Space Telescope to look for T5+ dwarfs binaries.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Infrared Astrophysics with Spitzer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allamandola, L. J.; Hudgins, D. M.

2004-01-01

PAH spectral features are now being used as new probes of the ISM. PAH ionization states reflect the ionization balance of the medium while PAH size and structure reflect the energetic and chemical history of the medium. This paper will focus on recent applications of the NASA Ames PAH IR spectral Database to interpret astronomical observations made by the Spitzer Space telescope and other space based infrared instruments. Examples will be given showing how changes in the spectral characteristics of different objects reveal interstellar PAH characteristics such as structure, size and composition, as well as provide insight into the chemical history and physical nature of the emission zones.

Interpretation of Blazar Flux Variations as Music

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Webb, J. R.

2003-12-01

Blazars are believed to be distant galaxies in the process of formation. They emit electromagnetic radiation (light) over the entire electromagnetic spectrum from radio waves to gamma-rays. The emission varies with time in most frequency ranges and the causes for the variation are yet to be adequately explained. Astronomers have been monitoring these objects with optical telescopes for over 50 years now and we have collected a large database of brightnesses over these fifty years. This paper presents some of these light curves, and adopts a computational method to translate the brightness fluctuations into musical tones. These tones are then converted to sound using a midi synthesizer on a PC.

PVOL: The Planetary Virtual Observatory & Laboratory. An online database of the Outer Planets images.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morgado, A.; Sánchez-Lavega, A.; Rojas, J. F.; Hueso, R.

2005-08-01

The collaboration between amateurs astronomers and the professional community has been fruitful on many areas of astronomy. The development of the Internet has allowed a better than ever capability of sharing information worldwide and access to other observers data. For many years now the International Jupiter Watch (IJW) Atmospheric discipline has coordinated observational efforts for long-term studies of the atmosphere of Jupiter. The International Outer Planets Watch (IOPW) has extended its labours to the four Outer Planets. Here we present the Planetary Virtual Observatory & Laboratory (PVOL), a website database where we integer IJW and IOPW images. At PVOL observers can submit their data and professionals can search for images under a wide variety of useful criteria such as date and time, filters used, observer, or central meridian longitude. PVOL is aimed to grow as an organized easy to use database of amateur images of the Outer Planets. The PVOL web address is located at http://www.pvol.ehu.es/ and coexists with the traditional IOPW site: http://www.ehu.es/iopw/ Acknowledgements: This work has been funded by Spanish MCYT PNAYA2003-03216, fondos FEDER and Grupos UPV 15946/2004. R. Hueso acknowledges a post-doc fellowship from Gobierno Vasco.

110th Anniversary of the Engelhardt Astronomical Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nefedyev, Y.

2012-09-01

The Engelhardt Astronomical Observatory (EAO) was founded in September 21, 1901. The history of creation of the Engelhard Astronomical Observatory was begun in 1897 with transfer a complimentary to the Kazan University of the unique astronomical equipment of the private observatory in Dresden by known astronomer Vasily Pavlovichem Engelgardt. Having stopped astronomical activity owing to advanced years and illnesses Engelgardt has decided to offer all tools and library of the Astronomical observatory of the Kazan University. Vasily Pavlovich has put the first condition of the donation that his tools have been established as soon as possible and on them supervision are started. In 1898 the decree of Emperor had been allocated means and the ground for construction of the Astronomical observatory is allocated. There is the main historical telescope of the Engelhard Astronomical Observatory the 12-inch refractor which was constructed by English master Grubbom in 1875. The unique tool of the Engelhard Astronomical Observatory is unique in the world now a working telescope heliometer. It's one of the first heliometers, left workshops Repsolda. It has been made in 1874 and established in Engelgardt observatory in 1908 in especially for him the constructed round pavilion in diameter of 3.6 m. Today the Engelhard Astronomical Observatory is the only thing scientifically - educational and cultural - the cognitive astronomical center, located on territory from Moscow up to the most east border of Russia. Currently, the observatory is preparing to enter the protected UNESCO World Heritage List.

Recommendations for a service framework to access astronomical archives

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Travisano, J. J.; Pollizzi, J.

1992-01-01

There are a large number of astronomical archives and catalogs on-line for network access, with many different user interfaces and features. Some systems are moving towards distributed access, supplying users with client software for their home sites which connects to servers at the archive site. Many of the issues involved in defining a standard framework of services that archive/catalog suppliers can use to achieve a basic level of interoperability are described. Such a framework would simplify the development of client and server programs to access the wide variety of astronomical archive systems. The primary services that are supplied by current systems include: catalog browsing, dataset retrieval, name resolution, and data analysis. The following issues (and probably more) need to be considered in establishing a standard set of client/server interfaces and protocols: Archive Access - dataset retrieval, delivery, file formats, data browsing, analysis, etc.; Catalog Access - database management systems, query languages, data formats, synchronous/asynchronous mode of operation, etc.; Interoperability - transaction/message protocols, distributed processing mechanisms (DCE, ONC/SunRPC, etc), networking protocols, etc.; Security - user registration, authorization/authentication mechanisms, etc.; Service Directory - service registration, lookup, port/task mapping, parameters, etc.; Software - public vs proprietary, client/server software, standard interfaces to client/server functions, software distribution, operating system portability, data portability, etc. Several archive/catalog groups, notably the Astrophysics Data System (ADS), are already working in many of these areas. In the process of developing StarView, which is the user interface to the Space Telescope Data Archive and Distribution Service (ST-DADS), these issues and the work of others were analyzed. A framework of standard interfaces for accessing services on any archive system which would benefit archive user and supplier alike is proposed.

GEAS Spectroscopy Tools for Authentic Research Investigations in the Classroom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rector, Travis A.; Vogt, Nicole P.

2018-06-01

Spectroscopy is one of the most powerful tools that astronomers use to study the universe. However relatively few resources are available that enable undergraduates to explore astronomical spectra interactively. We present web-based applications which guide students through the analysis of real spectra of stars, galaxies, and quasars. The tools are written in HTML5 and function in all modern web browsers on computers and tablets. No software needs to be installed nor do any datasets need to be downloaded, enabling students to use the tools in or outside of class (e.g., for online classes).Approachable GUIs allow students to analyze spectra in the same manner as professional astronomers. The stellar spectroscopy tool can fit a continuum with a blackbody and identify spectral features, as well as fit line profiles and determine equivalent widths. The galaxy and AGN tools can also measure redshifts and calcium break strengths. The tools provide access to an archive of hundreds of spectra obtained with the optical telescopes at Kitt Peak National Observatory. It is also possible to load your own spectra or to query the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) database.We have also developed curricula to investigate these topics: spectral classification, variable stars, redshift, and AGN classification. We will present the functionality of the tools and describe the associated curriculum. The tools are part of the General Education Astronomy Source (GEAS) project based at New Mexico State University, with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF, AST-0349155) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA, NNX09AV36G). Curriculum development was supported by the NSF (DUE-0618849 and DUE-0920293).

The ESO astronomical site monitor upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiozzi, Gianluca; Sommer, Heiko; Sarazin, Marc; Bierwirth, Thomas; Dorigo, Dario; Vera Sequeiros, Ignacio; Navarrete, Julio; Del Valle, Diego

2016-08-01

Monitoring and prediction of astronomical observing conditions are essential for planning and optimizing observations. For this purpose, ESO, in the 90s, developed the concept of an Astronomical Site Monitor (ASM), as a facility fully integrated in the operations of the VLT observatory[1]. Identical systems were installed at Paranal and La Silla, providing comprehensive local weather information. By now, we had very good reasons for a major upgrade: • The need of introducing new features to satisfy the requirements of observing with the Adaptive Optics Facility and to benefit other Adaptive Optics systems. • Managing hardware and software obsolescence. • Making the system more maintainable and expandable by integrating off-the-shelf hardware solutions. The new ASM integrates: • A new Differential Image Motion Monitor (DIMM) paired with a Multi Aperture Scintillation Sensor (MASS) to measure the vertical distribution of turbulence in the high atmosphere and its characteristic velocity. • A new SLOpe Detection And Ranging (SLODAR) telescope, for measuring the altitude and intensity of turbulent layers in the low atmosphere. • A water vapour radiometer to monitor the water vapour content of the atmosphere. • The old weather tower, which is being refurbished with new sensors. The telescopes and the devices integrated are commercial products and we have used as much as possible the control system from the vendors. The existing external interfaces, based on the VLT standards, have been maintained for full backward compatibility. All data produced by the system are directly fed in real time into a relational database. A completely new web-based display replaces the obsolete plots based on HP-UX RTAP. We analyse here the architectural and technological choices and discuss the motivations and trade-offs.

John Flamsteed and the turn of the screw: mechanical uncertainty, the skilful astronomer and the burden of seeing correctly at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich.

PubMed

Spiegel, Richard J

2015-03-01

Centring on John Flamsteed (1646-1719), the first Astronomer Royal, this paper investigates the ways in which astronomers of the late seventeenth century worked to build and maintain their reputations by demonstrating, for their peers and for posterity, their proficiency in managing visual technologies. By looking at his correspondence and by offering a graphic and textual analysis of the preface to his posthumous Historia Coelestis Britannica (1725), I argue that Flamsteed based the legitimacy of his life's work on his capacity to serve as a skilful astronomer who could coordinate the production and proper use of astronomical sighting instruments. Technological advances in astrometry were, for Flamsteed, a necessary but not a sufficient condition for the advancement of astronomy. Technological resources needed to be used by the right person. The work of the skilful astronomer was a necessary precondition for the mobilization and proper management of astronomical technologies. Flamsteed's understanding of the astronomer as a skilled actor importantly shifted the emphasis in precision astronomical work away from the individual observer's ability to see well and toward the astronomer's ability to ensure that instruments guaranteed accurate vision.

The Sky is for Everyone — Outreach and Education with the Virtual Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Freistetter, F.; Iafrate, G.; Ramella, M.; Aida-Wp5 Team

2010-12-01

The Virtual Observatory (VO) is an international project to collect astronomical data (images, spectra, simulations, mission-logs, etc.), organise them and develop tools that let astronomers access this huge amount of information. The VO not only simplifies the work of professional astronomers, it is also a valuable tool for education and public outreach. For teachers and astronomers who actively promote astronomy to the public, the VO is a great opportunity to access and use real astronomical data, and have a taste of the daily life of astronomers.

Thirty Years, One Million Spectra: Public Access to the SAO Spectral Archives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mink, J.; Moran, S.

2015-09-01

Over the last 30 years, the SAO Telescope Data Center has reduced and archived over 1,000,000 spectra, consisting of 287,000 spectra from five high dispersion Echelle spectrographs and 717,000 spectra from four low dispersion spectrographs, across three telescopes. 151,000 spectra from six instruments are currently online and publicly available, covering many interesting objects in the northern sky, including most of the galaxies in the Updated Zwicky Catalog which are reachable through NED or Simbad. A majority of the high dispersion spectra will soon be made public, as will more data from the MMT multi-fiber spectrographs. Many objects in the archive have multiple spectra over time, which make them a valuable resource for archival time-domain studies. We are now developing a system to make all of the public spectra more easily searchable and viewable through the Virtual Observatory.

Astronomical Heritage in the National Culture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harutyunian, H. A.; Mickaelian, A. M.; Parsamian, E. S.

2014-10-01

The book contains Proceedings of the Archaeoastronomical Meeting "Astronomical Heritage in the National Culture" Dedicated to Anania Shirakatsi's 1400th Anniversary and XI Annual Meeting of the Armenian Astronomical Society. It consists of 3 main sections: "Astronomical Heritage", "Anania Shirakatsi" and "Modern Astronomy", as well as Literature about Anania Shirakatsi is included. The book may be interesting for astronomers, historians, archaeologists, linguists, students and other readers.

A Measure of Total Research Impact Independent of Time and Discipline

PubMed Central

Pepe, Alberto; Kurtz, Michael J.

2012-01-01

Authorship and citation practices evolve with time and differ by academic discipline. As such, indicators of research productivity based on citation records are naturally subject to historical and disciplinary effects. We observe these effects on a corpus of astronomer career data constructed from a database of refereed publications. We employ a simple mechanism to measure research output using author and reference counts available in bibliographic databases to develop a citation-based indicator of research productivity. The total research impact (tori) quantifies, for an individual, the total amount of scholarly work that others have devoted to his/her work, measured in the volume of research papers. A derived measure, the research impact quotient (riq), is an age-independent measure of an individual's research ability. We demonstrate that these measures are substantially less vulnerable to temporal debasement and cross-disciplinary bias than the most popular current measures. The proposed measures of research impact, tori and riq, have been implemented in the Smithsonian/NASA Astrophysics Data System. PMID:23144782

AQUAdexIM: highly efficient in-memory indexing and querying of astronomy time series images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Zhi; Yu, Ce; Wang, Jie; Xiao, Jian; Cui, Chenzhou; Sun, Jizhou

2016-12-01

Astronomy has always been, and will continue to be, a data-based science, and astronomers nowadays are faced with increasingly massive datasets, one key problem of which is to efficiently retrieve the desired cup of data from the ocean. AQUAdexIM, an innovative spatial indexing and querying method, performs highly efficient on-the-fly queries under users' request to search for Time Series Images from existing observation data on the server side and only return the desired FITS images to users, so users no longer need to download entire datasets to their local machines, which will only become more and more impractical as the data size keeps increasing. Moreover, AQUAdexIM manages to keep a very low storage space overhead and its specially designed in-memory index structure enables it to search for Time Series Images of a given area of the sky 10 times faster than using Redis, a state-of-the-art in-memory database.

Database-Driven Analyses of Astronomical Spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cami, Jan

2012-03-01

Spectroscopy is one of the most powerful tools to study the physical properties and chemical composition of very diverse astrophysical environments. In principle, each nuclide has a unique set of spectral features; thus, establishing the presence of a specific material at astronomical distances requires no more than finding a laboratory spectrum of the right material that perfectly matches the astronomical observations. Once the presence of a substance is established, a careful analysis of the observational characteristics (wavelengths or frequencies, intensities, and line profiles) allows one to determine many physical parameters of the environment in which the substance resides, such as temperature, density, velocity, and so on. Because of this great diagnostic potential, ground-based and space-borne astronomical observatories often include instruments to carry out spectroscopic analyses of various celestial objects and events. Of particular interest is molecular spectroscopy at infrared wavelengths. From the spectroscopic point of view, molecules differ from atoms in their ability to vibrate and rotate, and quantum physics inevitably causes those motions to be quantized. The energies required to excite vibrations or rotations are such that vibrational transitions generally occur at infrared wavelengths, whereas pure rotational transitions typically occur at sub-mm wavelengths. Molecular vibration and rotation are coupled though, and thus at infrared wavelengths, one commonly observes a multitude of ro-vibrational transitions (see Figure 13.1). At lower spectral resolution, all transitions blend into one broad ro-vibrational molecular band. The isotope. Molecular spectroscopy thus allows us to see a difference of one neutron in an atomic nucleus that is located at astronomical distances! Since the detection of the first interstellar molecules (the CH [21] and CN [14] radicals), more than 150 species have been detected in space, ranging in size from diatomic species to the fullerene species C60 and C70 [4]. Given the large number and variety of molecules detected in space, molecular infrared spectroscopy can be used to study pretty much any astrophysical environment that is not too energetic to dissociate the molecules. At the lowest energies, it is interesting to note that molecules such as CN have been used to measure the temperature of the Cosmic Microwave Background (see e.g., Ref. 15). The great diagnostic potential of infrared molecular spectroscopy comes at a price though. Extracting the physical parameters from the observations requires expertise in knowing how various physical processes and instrumental characteristics play together in producing the observed spectra. In addition to the astronomical aspects, this often includes interpreting and understanding the limitations of laboratory data and quantum-chemical calculations; the study of the interaction of matter with radiation at microscopic scales (called radiative transfer, akin to ray tracing) and the effects of observing (e.g., smoothing and resampling) on the resulting spectra and possible instrumental effects (e.g., fringes). All this is not trivial. To make matters worse, observational spectra often contain many components, and might include spectral contributions stemming from very different physical conditions. Fully analyzing such observations is thus a time-consuming task that requires mastery of several techniques. And with ever-increasing rates of observational data acquisition, it seems clear that in the near future, some form of automation is required to handle the data stream. It is thus appealing to consider what part of such analyses could be done without too much human intervention. Two different aspects can be separated: the first step involves simply identifying the molecular species present in the observations. Once the molecular inventory is known, we can try to extract the physical parameters from the observed spectral properties. For both steps, good databases of molecular spectroscopic information is vital; the second step furthermore requires a good understanding of how these spectral properties change for each of the physical parameters of interest. Here, we will first present a general strategy using a convenient and powerful computational tool. We will then show two different, specific examples of analyses where some fundamental spectroscopic information is available in (a) database(s), and where that information has been successfully used to analyze observations. Whereas these examples do not directly address the question of automated analyses, they offer some insight into the possibilities and difficulties one can expect to encounter on this quest. In Section 13.2, we first describe the general formalism and method that we will be using, and we offer a few general considerations about what is involved in modeling. In Section 13.3, we illustrate our method for the case of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In Section 13.4,we show how the same approach can be slightly modified to extract physical parameters from infrared observations of red giant stars. We then come back to the question of automated spectral analyses in Section 13.5. precise shape of molecular bands depends primarily on the temperature of the gas, and infrared observations of molecular bands can thus be used to probe gas at temperatures as low as 10 K and up to a few thousand K. Similarly, molecular band shapes contain some information about the gas densities. The resulting ro-vibrational spectrum is truly unique for each molecular species, just as is the case for atoms.As a telling example, Figure 13.2 illustrates how we can even discriminate between different isotopologues - two species with the same chemical formula and structure, but where one (or more) of the atoms is a different

Integrated optics applied to astronomical aperture synthesis III: simulation of components optimized for astronomical interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nabias, Laurent; Schanen, Isabelle; Berger, Jean-Philippe; Kern, Pierre; Malbet, Fabien; Benech, Pierre

2018-04-01

This paper, "Integrated optics applied to astronomical aperture synthesis III: simulation of components optimized for astronomical interferometry," was presented as part of International Conference on Space Optics—ICSO 1997, held in Toulouse, France.

Armenian Astronomical Society Annual Activities in 2014

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mickaelian, A. M.

2015-07-01

A report is given on the achievements of the Armenian astronomy during the last year and on the present activities of the Armenian Astronomical Society (ArAS). ArAS membership, ArAS electronic newsletters (ArASNews), ArAS webpage, annual meetings, Annual Prize for Young Astronomers (Yervant Terzian Prize) and other awards, international relations, presence in international organizations, summer schools, astronomical Olympiads and other events, matters related to astronomical education, astronomical heritage, astronomy outreach and ArAS further projects are discussed. The present meeting, BAO Science Camp, ArAS School lectures are among 2014 events as well.

Amateur Astronomers As Public Outreach Partners

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bennett, M. A.

2006-08-01

Amateur astronomers involved in public outreach represent a huge, largely untapped source of energy and enthusiasm to help astronomers reach the general public. Even though many astronomy educators already work with amateur astronomers, the potential educational impact of amateur astronomers as public outreach ambassadors remains largely unrealized. Surveys and other work by the ASP in the US show that more than 20% of astronomy club members routinely participate in public engagement and educational events, such as public star parties, classroom visits, work with youth and community groups, etc. Amateur astronomers who participate in public outreach events are knowledgeable about astronomy and passionate about sharing their hobby with other people. They are very willing to work with astronomers and astronomy educators. They want useful materials, support, and training. In the USA, the ASP operates "The Night Sky Network," (funded by NASA). We have developed specialized materials and training, tested by and used by amateur astronomers. This project works with nearly 200 local astronomy clubs in 50 states to help them conduct more effective public outreach events. It has resulted in nearly 3,600 outreach events (reaching nearly 300,000 people) in just two years. In this presentation we examine key success factors, lessons learned, and suggest how astronomers outside the US can recruit and work with "outreach amateur astronomers" in their own countries.

The Russian-Ukrainian Observatories Network for the European Astronomical Observatory Route Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrievsky, S. M.; Bondar, N. I.; Karetnikov, V. G.; Kazantseva, L. V.; Nefedyev, Y. A.; Pinigin, G. I.; Pozhalova, Zh. A.; Rostopchina-Shakhovskay, A. N.; Stepanov, A. V.; Tolbin, S. V.

2011-09-01

In 2004,the Center of UNESCO World Heritage has announced a new initiative "Astronomy & World Heritage" directed for search and preserving of objects,referred to astronomy,its history in a global value,historical and cultural properties. There were defined a strategy of thematic programme "Initiative" and general criteria for selecting of ancient astronomical objects and observatories. In particular, properties that are situated or have significance in relation to celestial objects or astronomical events; representations of sky and/or celestial bodies and astronomical events; observatories and instruments; properties closely connected with the history of astronomy. In 2005-2006,in accordance with the program "Initiative", information about outstanding properties connected with astronomy have been collected.In Ukraine such work was organized by astronomical expert group in Nikolaev Astronomical Observatory. In 2007, Nikolaev observatory was included to the Tentative List of UNESCO under # 5116. Later, in 2008, the network of four astronomical observatories of Ukraine in Kiev,Crimea, Nikolaev and Odessa,considering their high authenticities and integrities,was included to the Tentative List of UNESCO under # 5267 "Astronomical Observatories of Ukraine". In 2008-2009, a new project "Thematic Study" was opened as a successor of "Initiative". It includes all fields of astronomical heritage from earlier prehistory to the Space astronomy (14 themes in total). We present the Ukraine-Russian Observatories network for the "European astronomical observatory Route project". From Russia two observatories are presented: Kazan Observatory and Pulkovo Observatory in the theme "Astronomy from the Renaissance to the mid-twentieth century".The description of astronomical observatories of Ukraine is given in accordance with the project "Thematic study"; the theme "Astronomy from the Renaissance to the mid-twentieth century" - astronomical observatories in Kiev,Nikolaev and Odessa; the theme "Contemporary Astronomy" - Crimean Astrophysical Observatory. Also on the basis of collaboration between Ukraine and Russia the Russian-Ukrainian network of astronomical observatories was organized. The participation in Paris conference, on September 20-22, will be a good opportunity to present and to discuss some questions of selection, protection and preparation of Russian-Ukrainian -network to the List of UNESCO within the topic of the Project "Route of European astronomical observatories ".

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Spitzer Atlas of Stellar Spectra (SASS) (Ardila+, 2010)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ardila, D. R.; van Dyk, S. D.; Makowiecki, W.; Stauffer, J.; Song, I.; Rho, J.; Fajardo-Acosta, S.; Hoard, D. W.; Wachter, S.

2010-11-01

From IRS Staring observations in the Spitzer archive we selected those stellar targets that had been observed with all the low-resolution IRS modules. We did not include known young stars with circumstellar material, stars known to harbor debris disks, or objects classified in SIMBAD as RS CVn, Be stars, or eclipsing binaries. We have also avoided classes already fully described with IRAS, ISO, or Spitzer, such as Asymptotic Giant Branch stars and rejected targets presenting IR excesses. However, note that in the case of very massive and/or evolved stars there are few objects presenting a pure photospheric spectrum. A few stars are specifically selected for their intrinsic interest regardless of their IR excess and even if the Atlas already contained another star with the same spectral type. The spectral coverage only reaches to 14um in the case of very late spectral classes (late M, L and T dwarfs) and some WR stars for which the long wavelength modules are unusable or not present in the archive. The spectral types have been taken from (in order of priority): * NStED (http://nsted.ipac.caltech.edu/), * NStars (http://nstars.nau.edu/nau_nstars/about.htm), * the Tycho-2 Spectral Type Catalog (Cat. III/231) * SIMBAD. For certain types of objects, we have used specialized catalogs as the source of the spectral types. The data were processed with the Spitzer Science Center S18.7.0 pipelined and corrected for teardrop effects, slit position uncertainties, residual flat-field errors, residual model errors, 24um flux deficit (1), fringing, and order mismatches. The Atlas files contain an error value for each wavelength, intended to represent the random 1sig error at that wavelength. This is the error provided by the SSC's S18.7.0 pipeline and propagated along the reduction procedure. The treatment of errors remains incomplete in this pipeline (2). The errors provided here should be considered carefully, before propagating them into further calculations. However, the processing insures that the spectra do not have strong spurious emission or absorption lines in large signal-to-noise regions. (1) http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/irs/irsinstrumenthandbook/102/ #Toc253561116 (2) http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/irs/irsinstrumenthandbook/ (4 data files).

Astronomical Books and Charts in the Book of Bibliographie Coreenne

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Ki-Won; Yang, Hong-Jin; Park, Myeong-Gu

2008-06-01

We investigate astronomical materials listed in the book of Bibliographie Coréenne written by Maurice Courant. He classified ancient Korean books into nine Divisions (?) and thirty six Classes (?), and published them as three volumes (ranging from 1894 to 1896) and one supplement (in 1901). In total, 3,821 books including astronomical ones are listed together with information on physical size, possessional place, bibliographical note, and so forth. Although this book is an essential one in the field of Korea bibliography and contains many astronomical materials such as Cheon-Mun-Ryu-Cho ????, Si-Heon-Seo ??????, and Cheon-Sang-Yeol-Cha-Bun-Ya-Ji-Do ????????, it has not been well known to the public nor to astronomical society. Of 3,821 catalogues, we found that about 50 Items (?) are related to astronomy or astrology, and verified that most ! of them are located in the Kyujanggak Royal Library ???. We also found an unknown astronomical chart, Hon-Cheon-Chong-Seong-Yeol-Cha-Bun-Ya-Ji-Do ??????????. Because those astronomical materials are not well known to international astronomical community and there have been few studies on the materials in Korea, we here introduce and review them, particularly with the astronomical viewpoint.

The EXOSAT database and archive

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reynolds, A. P.; Parmar, A. N.

1992-01-01

The EXOSAT database provides on-line access to the results and data products (spectra, images, and lightcurves) from the EXOSAT mission as well as access to data and logs from a number of other missions (such as EINSTEIN, COS-B, ROSAT, and IRAS). In addition, a number of familiar optical, infrared, and x ray catalogs, including the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) guide star catalog are available. The complete database is located at the EXOSAT observatory at ESTEC in the Netherlands and is accessible remotely via a captive account. The database management system was specifically developed to efficiently access the database and to allow the user to perform statistical studies on large samples of astronomical objects as well as to retrieve scientific and bibliographic information on single sources. The system was designed to be mission independent and includes timing, image processing, and spectral analysis packages as well as software to allow the easy transfer of analysis results and products to the user's own institute. The archive at ESTEC comprises a subset of the EXOSAT observations, stored on magnetic tape. Observations of particular interest were copied in compressed format to an optical jukebox, allowing users to retrieve and analyze selected raw data entirely from their terminals. Such analysis may be necessary if the user's needs are not accommodated by the products contained in the database (in terms of time resolution, spectral range, and the finesse of the background subtraction, for instance). Long-term archiving of the full final observation data is taking place at ESRIN in Italy as part of the ESIS program, again using optical media, and ESRIN have now assumed responsibility for distributing the data to the community. Tests showed that raw observational data (typically several tens of megabytes for a single target) can be transferred via the existing networks in reasonable time.

Mining the Galaxy Zoo Database: Machine Learning Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borne, Kirk D.; Wallin, J.; Vedachalam, A.; Baehr, S.; Lintott, C.; Darg, D.; Smith, A.; Fortson, L.

2010-01-01

The new Zooniverse initiative is addressing the data flood in the sciences through a transformative partnership between professional scientists, volunteer citizen scientists, and machines. As part of this project, we are exploring the application of machine learning techniques to data mining problems associated with the large and growing database of volunteer science results gathered by the Galaxy Zoo citizen science project. We will describe the basic challenge, some machine learning approaches, and early results. One of the motivators for this study is the acquisition (through the Galaxy Zoo results database) of approximately 100 million classification labels for roughly one million galaxies, yielding a tremendously large and rich set of training examples for improving automated galaxy morphological classification algorithms. In our first case study, the goal is to learn which morphological and photometric features in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) database correlate most strongly with user-selected galaxy morphological class. As a corollary to this study, we are also aiming to identify which galaxy parameters in the SDSS database correspond to galaxies that have been the most difficult to classify (based upon large dispersion in their volunter-provided classifications). Our second case study will focus on similar data mining analyses and machine leaning algorithms applied to the Galaxy Zoo catalog of merging and interacting galaxies. The outcomes of this project will have applications in future large sky surveys, such as the LSST (Large Synoptic Survey Telescope) project, which will generate a catalog of 20 billion galaxies and will produce an additional astronomical alert database of approximately 100 thousand events each night for 10 years -- the capabilities and algorithms that we are exploring will assist in the rapid characterization and classification of such massive data streams. This research has been supported in part through NSF award #0941610.

Data Mining Research with the LSST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borne, Kirk D.; Strauss, M. A.; Tyson, J. A.

2007-12-01

The LSST catalog database will exceed 10 petabytes, comprising several hundred attributes for 5 billion galaxies, 10 billion stars, and over 1 billion variable sources (optical variables, transients, or moving objects), extracted from over 20,000 square degrees of deep imaging in 5 passbands with thorough time domain coverage: 1000 visits over the 10-year LSST survey lifetime. The opportunities are enormous for novel scientific discoveries within this rich time-domain ultra-deep multi-band survey database. Data Mining, Machine Learning, and Knowledge Discovery research opportunities with the LSST are now under study, with a potential for new collaborations to develop to contribute to these investigations. We will describe features of the LSST science database that are amenable to scientific data mining, object classification, outlier identification, anomaly detection, image quality assurance, and survey science validation. We also give some illustrative examples of current scientific data mining research in astronomy, and point out where new research is needed. In particular, the data mining research community will need to address several issues in the coming years as we prepare for the LSST data deluge. The data mining research agenda includes: scalability (at petabytes scales) of existing machine learning and data mining algorithms; development of grid-enabled parallel data mining algorithms; designing a robust system for brokering classifications from the LSST event pipeline (which may produce 10,000 or more event alerts per night); multi-resolution methods for exploration of petascale databases; visual data mining algorithms for visual exploration of the data; indexing of multi-attribute multi-dimensional astronomical databases (beyond RA-Dec spatial indexing) for rapid querying of petabyte databases; and more. Finally, we will identify opportunities for synergistic collaboration between the data mining research group and the LSST Data Management and Science Collaboration teams.

"Radio Astronomy, Whatever That May Be." The Marginalization of Early Radio Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jarrell, Richard

2005-01-01

Today we see radio astronomy as a fully-integrated part of astronomy; it is now just one of several available wavelength regimes and many astrophysicists who use radio data are not radio astronomers themselves. At the beginning, it was very different. Between 1946 and 1960, radio astronomy emerged as an important speciality but it was an area little understood by mainstream astronomers. Radio astronomers rarely published in astronomical journals, gave papers at astronomical conferences or were accorded much notice. The pioneers in the field were not astronomers themselves and had little in common with astronomers. In this paper I note the various ways in which radio astronomy was alienated from the mainstream in its first decade and some of the reasons this alienation occurred. I will also speculate on when and how the integration began to occur.

150th Anniversary of the Astronomical Observatory Library of Sciences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solntseva, T.

The scientific library of the Astronomical observatory of Kyiv Taras Shevchenko University is one of the oldest ones of such a type in Ukraine. Our Astronomical Observatory and its scientific library will celebrate 150th anniversary of their foundation. 900 volumes of duplicates of Olbers' private library underlay our library. These ones were acquired by Russian Academy of Sciences for Poulkovo observatory in 1841 but according to Struve's order were transmitted to Kyiv Saint Volodymyr University. These books are of great value. There are works edited during Copernicus', Kepler's, Galilei's, Newton's, Descartes' lifetime. Our library contains more than 100000 units of storage - monographs, periodical astronomical editions from the first (Astronomische Nachrichten, Astronomical journal, Monthly Notices etc.), editions of the majority of the astronomical observatories and institutions of the world, unique astronomical atlases and maps

Exploring the Digital Universe with Europe's Astrophysical Virtual Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2001-12-01

Vast Databanks at the Astronomers' Fingertips Summary A new European initiative called the Astrophysical Virtual Observatory (AVO) is being launched to provide astronomers with a breathtaking potential for new discoveries. It will enable them to seamlessly combine the data from both ground- and space-based telescopes which are making observations of the Universe across the whole range of wavelengths - from high-energy gamma rays through the ultraviolet and visible to the infrared and radio. The aim of the Astrophysical Virtual Observatory (AVO) project, which started on 15 November 2001, is to allow astronomers instant access to the vast databanks now being built up by the world's observatories and which are forming what is, in effect, a "digital sky" . Using the AVO, astronomers will, for example, be able to retrieve the elusive traces of the passage of an asteroid as it passes near the Earth and so enable them to predict its future path and perhaps warn of a possible impact. When a giant star comes to the end of its life in a cataclysmic explosion called a supernova, they will be able to access the digital sky and pinpoint the star shortly before it exploded so adding invaluable data to the study of the evolution of stars. Background information on the Astrophysical Virtual Observatory is available in the Appendix. PR Photo 34a/01 : The Astrophysical Virtual Observatory - an artist's impression. The rapidly accumulating database ESO PR Photo 34a/01 ESO PR Photo 34a/01 [Preview - JPEG: 400 x 345 pix - 90k] [Normal - JPEG: 800 x 689 pix - 656k] [Hi-Res - JPEG: 3000 x 2582 pix - 4.3M] ESO PR Photo 34a/01 shows an artist's impression of the Astrophysical Virtual Observatory . Modern observatories observe the sky continuously and data accumulates remorselessly in the digital archives. The growth rate is impressive and many hundreds of terabytes of data - corresponding to many thousands of billions of pixels - are already available to scientists. The real sky is being digitally reconstructed in the databanks! The richness and complexity of data and information available to the astronomers is overwhelming. This has created a major problem as to how astronomers can manage, distribute and analyse this great wealth of data . The Astrophysical Virtual Observatory (AVO) will allow astronomers to overcome the challenges and enable them to "put the Universe online". AVO is supported by the European Commission The AVO is a three-year project, funded by the European Commission under its Research and Technological Development (RTD) scheme, to design and implement a virtual observatory for the European astronomical community. The European Commission awarded a contract valued at 4 million Euro for the AVO project , starting 15 November 2001. AVO will provide software tools to enable astronomers to access the multi-wavelength data archives over the Internet and so give them the capability to resolve fundamental questions about the Universe by probing the digital sky. Equivalent searches of the 'real' sky would, in comparison, be both costly and take far too long. Towards a Global Virtual Observatory The need for virtual observatories has also been recognised by other astronomical communities. The National Science Foundation in the USA has awarded 10 million Dollar (approx. 11.4 million Euro) for a National Virtual Observatory (NVO). The AVO project team has formed a close alliance with the NVO and both teams have representatives on their respective committees. It is clear to the NVO and AVO communities that there are no intrinsic boundaries to the virtual observatory concept and that all astronomers should be working towards a truly global virtual observatory that will enable new science to be carried out on the wealth of astronomical data held in the growing number of first class international astronomical archives. The AVO involves six partner organisations led by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Munich (Germany). The other partner organisations are the European Space Agency (ESA) , the United Kingdom's ASTROGRID consortium, the CNRS-supported Centre de Données Astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) at the University Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg (France), the CNRS-supported TERAPIX astronomical data centre at the Institut d'Astrophysique in Paris and the Jodrell Bank Observatory of the Victoria University of Manchester (UK). 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. A 13 minute background video (broadcast PAL) is available from ESO PR and the Hubble European Space Agency Information Centre (addresses below). This will also be transmitted via satellite Wednesday 12 December 2001 from 12:00 to 12:15 CET on "ESA TV Service", cf. http://television.esa.int. An international conference, "Toward an International Virtual Observatory" will take place at ESO (Garching, Germany) on June 10 - 14, 2002. Contacts AVO Contacts Peter Quinn European Southern Observatory Garching, Germany Tel.: +4989-3200-6509 email: pjq@eso.org Piero Benvenuti Space Telescope-European Coordinating Facility Garching, Germany Tel.: +49-89-3200-6290 email: pbenvenu@eso.org Andy Lawrence (on behalf of The ASTROGRID Consortium) Institute for Astronomy University of Edinburgh United Kingdom Tel.: +44-131-668-8346/56 email: al@roe.ac.uk Francoise Genova Centre de Données Astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) France Tel.: +33-390-24-24-76 email: genova@astro.u-strasbg.fr Yannick Mellier CNRS, Delegation Paris A (CNRSDR01-Terapix)/IAP/INSU France Tel.: +33-1-44-32-81-40 email: mellier@iap.fr Phil Diamond University of Manchester/Jodrell Bank Observatory United Kingdom Tel.: +44-147-757-2625 email: pdiamond@jb.man.ac.uk PR Contacts Richard West European Southern Observatory Garching, Germany Tel.: +49-89-3200-6276 email: rwest@eso.org Lars Lindberg Christensen Hubble European Space Agency Information Centre Garching, Germany Tel.: +49-89-3200-6306 or +49-173-38-72-621 email: lars@eso.org Ray Footman The ASTROGRID Consortium/University of Edinburgh United Kingdom Tel.: +44-131-650-2249 email: r.footman@ed.ac.uk Philippe Chauvin Terapix/CDS CNRS, Delegation Paris A, IAP/INSU France Tel.: +33 1 44 96 43 36 email: philippe.chauvin@cnrs-dir.fr Agnes Villanueva University of Strasbourg France Tel.: +33 3 90 24 11 35 email: agnes.villanueva@adm-ulp.u-strasbg.fr Ian Morison University of Manchester/Jodrell Bank Observatory United Kingdom Tel.: +44 1477 572610 email: im@jb.man.ac.uk Appendix: Introduction to Europe's Astrophysical Virtual Observatory (AVO) The Digital Data Revolution Over the past thirty years, astronomers have moved from photographic and analogue techniques towards the use of high-speed, digital instruments connected to specialised telescopes to study the Universe. Whether these instruments are onboard spacecraft or located at terrestrial observatories, the data they produce are stored digitally on computer systems for later analysis. Two Challenges This data revolution has created two challenges for astronomers. Firstly, as the capability of digital detector systems has advanced, the volume of digital data that astronomical facilities are producing has expanded greatly. The rate of growth of the volume of stored data far exceeds the rate of increase in the performance of computer systems or storage devices. Secondly, astronomers have realised that many important insights into the deepest secrets in the Universe can come from combining information obtained at many wavelengths into a consistent and comprehensive physical picture . However, because the datasets from different parts of the spectrum come from different observatories using different instruments, the data are not easily combined. To unite data from different observatories, bridges must be built between digital archives to allow them to share data and "interoperate" - an important and challenging task. The Human Factor These challenges are not only technological. Our brains are not equipped to for instance analyse simultaneously the millions and millions of images available. Astronomers must adapt and learn to deal with such diverse and extensive sets of data. The "digital sky" has the potential to become a vital tool with novel and fascinating capabilities that are essential for astronomers to make progress in their understanding of the Cosmos. But astronomers must be able to find the relevant information quickly and efficiently. Currently the data needed by a particular research program may well be stored in the archives already, but the tools and methods have not yet been developed to extract the relevant information from the flood of images available. A new way of thinking, a new frame of mind and a new approach are needed. The Astrophysical Virtual Observatory The Astrophysical Virtual Observatory (AVO) will allow astronomers to overcome the challenges and extract data from the digital sky, thus "putting the Universe online" . Like a search engine helps us to find information on the Internet, astronomers need sophisticated "search engines" as well as other tools to find and interpret the information. "We're drowning in information and starving for knowledge", a Yale University librarian once said. Or to paraphrase a popular series on TV: "The information is out there, but you have to find it!" Using the latest in computer technology, data storage and analysis techniques, AVO will maximise the potential for new scientific insights from the stored data by making them available in a readily accessible and seamlessly unified form to professional researchers, amateur astronomers and students. Users of AVO will have immense multi-wavelength vistas of the digital Universe at their fingertips and the potential to make breathtaking new discoveries. Virtual observatories signal a new era, where data collected by a multitude of sophisticated telescopes can be used globally and repeatedly to achieve substantial progress in the quest for knowledge. The AVO project, funded by the European Commission, is a three-year study of the design and implementation of a virtual observatory for European astronomy. A virtual observatory is a collection of connected data archives and software tools that utilise the Internet to form a scientific research environment in which new multi-wavelength astronomical research programs can be conducted. In much the same way as a real observatory consists of telescopes, each with a collection of unique astronomical instruments, the virtual observatory consists of a collection of data centres each with unique collections of astronomical data, software systems and processing capabilities. The programme will implement and test a prototype virtual observatory , focussing on the key areas of scientific requirements, interoperability and new technologies such as the GRID, needed to link powerful computers to the newly formed large data repositories. The GRID and the Future of the Internet The technical problems astronomers have to solve are similar to those being worked on by particle physicists, by biologists, and by commercial companies who want to search and fill customer databases across the world. The emerging idea is that of the GRID where computers collaborate across the Internet. The World Wide Web made words and pictures available to anybody at the click of a mouse. The GRID will do the same for data, and for computer processing power. Anybody can have the power of a supercomputer sitting on their desktop. The Astrophysical Virtual Observatory, and GRID projects like the ASTROGRID project in the United Kingdom (funding 5 million UK Pounds or 8 million Euro), are closely linked to these developments.

EE Cep observations requested for upcoming eclipse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waagen, Elizabeth O.

2014-07-01

The AAVSO requests observations for the upcoming eclipse of EE Cephei, a long-period eclipsing variable. EE Cep has a period of 2,050 days, and shows strong variations in the eclipse light curve from one event to the next. Observations are needed to study the morphology of the upcoming eclipse, which will be used to better understand the shape of the eclipsing disk and how it precesses. Mid-eclipse is predicted to be August 23, 2014, but the early stages of the eclipse may begin as much as a month earlier. EE Cep is being observed by a number of amateur and professional astronomers using multiple telescopes at multiple wavelengths. Among these is a collaboration (see https://sites.google.com/site/eecep2014campaign/) headed by Cezary Galan at the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center in Poland; several individual AAVSO observers are already participating in this effort. The AAVSO is not currently a partner in that campaign, but all data submitted to the AAVSO will be publicly available. The AAVSO strongly encourages observers to begin following this star now, and to continue observations into October 2014 at least. Finder charts with sequence may be created using the AAVSO Variable Star Plotter (http://www.aavso.org/vsp). Observations should be submitted to the AAVSO International Database. See full Alert Notice for more details and observations.

Cosmic Cinematography With the LSSTO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, C. T.; Borne, K.; Stubbs, C.; Tyson, J. A.; LSSTO Collaboration

2001-12-01

The Large-Area Synoptic Survey Telescope Observatory (LSSTO; http://lssto.org) will be an 8.4-meter, 7 square-degree field telescope and camera, and will represent an increase in astronomical survey power more than 20-fold over any observatory now operating or under construction. Each night, LSSTO will image over 1400 square degrees of sky, to a depth of at least 24th magnitude, and make the data publicly available the next day. A co-added deep color image of 14,000 square degrees of the sky to 27th magnitude will also be available. The LSSTO database will be on spinning disks at various sites around the world. At 0.2 arcseconds per pixel, these data will represent unprecedented deep sky images which will follow celestial changes in time. We show some of the plans to broaden the scope of the LSSTO project to include small colleges, amateur astronomers, K-12 and general public astronomy consumers. These include [1] High definition video walls with data feeds of 1000 GB/sec; [2] 3-D virtual reality displays using both personal computers and massive projection systems such as the Hayden Planetarium Digital Dome; and [3] interactive data analysis and viewing in the time dimension, producing a true ``movie of the cosmos."

Radio data archiving system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knapic, C.; Zanichelli, A.; Dovgan, E.; Nanni, M.; Stagni, M.; Righini, S.; Sponza, M.; Bedosti, F.; Orlati, A.; Smareglia, R.

2016-07-01

Radio Astronomical Data models are becoming very complex since the huge possible range of instrumental configurations available with the modern Radio Telescopes. What in the past was the last frontiers of data formats in terms of efficiency and flexibility is now evolving with new strategies and methodologies enabling the persistence of a very complex, hierarchical and multi-purpose information. Such an evolution of data models and data formats require new data archiving techniques in order to guarantee data preservation following the directives of Open Archival Information System and the International Virtual Observatory Alliance for data sharing and publication. Currently, various formats (FITS, MBFITS, VLBI's XML description files and ancillary files) of data acquired with the Medicina and Noto Radio Telescopes can be stored and handled by a common Radio Archive, that is planned to be released to the (inter)national community by the end of 2016. This state-of-the-art archiving system for radio astronomical data aims at delegating as much as possible to the software setting how and where the descriptors (metadata) are saved, while the users perform user-friendly queries translated by the web interface into complex interrogations on the database to retrieve data. In such a way, the Archive is ready to be Virtual Observatory compliant and as much as possible user-friendly.

The First Astronomical Observatory in Cluj-Napoca

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szenkovits, Ferenc

2008-09-01

One of the most important cities of Romania is Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár, Klausenburg). This is a traditional center of education, with many universities and high schools. From the second half of the 18th century the University of Cluj has its own Astronomical Observatory, serving for didactical activities and scientific researches. The famous astronomer Maximillian Hell was one of those Jesuits who put the base of this Astronomical Observatory. Our purpose is to offer a short history of the beginnings of this Astronomical Observatory.

Storing Astronomical Information on the Romanian Territory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stavinschi, M.; Mioc, V.

2004-12-01

Romanian astronomy has a more than 2000-year old tradition, which is, however, little known abroad. The first known archive of astronomical information is the Dacian sanctuary at Sarmizegetusa Regia, erected in the first century AD, having similarities with that of Stonehenge. After a gap of more than 1000 years, more sources of astronomical information become available, mainly records of astronomical events. Monasteries were the safest storage places of these genuine archives. We present a classification of the ways of storing astronomical information, along with characteristic examples.

Far infrared supplement: Catalog of infrared observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gezari, D. Y.; Schmitz, M.; Mead, J. M.

1982-01-01

The development of a new generation of orbital, airborne and ground-based infrared astronomical observatory facilities, including the infrared astronomical satellite (IRAS), the cosmic background explorer (COBE), the NASA Kuiper airborne observatory, and the NASA infrared telescope facility, intensified the need for a comprehensive, machine-readable data base and catalog of current infrared astronomical observations. The Infrared Astronomical Data Base and its principal data product, this catalog, comprise a machine-readable library of infrared (1 micrometer to 1000 micrometers) astronomical observations published in the scientific literature since 1965.

NOAO observing proposal processing system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bell, David J.; Gasson, David; Hartman, Mia

2002-12-01

Since going electronic in 1994, NOAO has continued to refine and enhance its observing proposal handling system. Virtually all related processes are now handled electronically. Members of the astronomical community can submit proposals through email, web form or via Gemini's downloadable Phase-I Tool. NOAO staff can use online interfaces for administrative tasks, technical reviews, telescope scheduling, and compilation of various statistics. In addition, all information relevant to the TAC process is made available online. The system, now known as ANDES, is designed as a thin-client architecture (web pages are now used for almost all database functions) built using open source tools (FreeBSD, Apache, MySQL, Perl, PHP) to process descriptively-marked (LaTeX, XML) proposal documents.

ON THE VIABILITY OF THE PAH MODEL AS AN EXPLANATION OF THE UNIDENTIFIED INFRARED EMISSION FEATURES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Yong; Kwok, Sun, E-mail: zhangy96@hku.hk, E-mail: sunkwok@hku.hk

2015-01-01

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules are widely considered the preferred candidate for the carrier of the unidentified infrared emission bands observed in the interstellar medium and circumstellar envelopes. In this paper, we report the results of fitting a variety of non-PAH spectra (silicates, hydrogenated amorphous carbon, coal, and even artificial spectra) using the theoretical infrared spectra of PAHs from the NASA Ames PAH IR Spectroscopic Database. We show that these non-PAH spectra can be well fitted by PAH mixtures. This suggests that a general match between astronomical spectra and those of PAH mixtures does not necessarily provide definitive support formore » the PAH hypothesis.« less

The ExoMol pressure broadening diet: H2 and He line-broadening parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barton, Emma J.; Hill, C.; Czurylo, M.; Li, H. Y.; Hyslop, A.; Yurchenko, Sergei N.; Tennyson, Jonathan

2017-12-01

In a variety of astronomical objects including gas giant (exo-)planets, brown dwarfs and cool stars, molecular hydrogen and helium are the major line broadeners. However, there is currently no systematic source for these parameters, particularly at the elevated temperatures encountered in many of these objects. The ExoMol project provides comprehensive molecular line lists for exoplanet and other hot atmospheres. The ExoMol database has recently been extended to provide additional data including temperature-dependent, pressure-broadening parameters. Here we assemble H2 and He pressure-broadening datasets for the molecules H2O, NH3, SO2, CH4, PH3, HCN and H2CO using available experimental and theoretical studies.

Searching for Extrasolar Trojan Planets: A Status Report

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caton, D. B.; Davis, S. A.; Kluttz, K. A.; Stamilio, R. J.; Wohlman, K. D.

2001-05-01

We are exploring the light curves of eclipsing binaries for the photometric signature of planets that may exist at the L4 and L5 Lagrange points of the stellar system. While no binaries are known to exist that strictly satisfy the stellar mass ratio constraint for the restricted three-body problem, the general solution would allow a planet formed at the L-point to remain there if there are no major perturbing bodies such as an additional planet. We have coined such objects "Trojan planets." The advantage of this approach is that the phases of the planetary eclipses are known. We picked systems with deep primary eclipses, to maximize the amount of system light eclipsed by the planet when in front of the hotter star. We also scanned the Finding List for Observers of Interactive Binary Stars, for G dwarf systems, but found only a few that were high inclination and detached. The target list includes QY Aql, YZ Aql, V442 Cas, SS Cet, S Cnc, VW Cyg, WW Cyg, RR Dra, RX Gem, RY Gem, VW Hya, Y Leo, TV Mon, BN Sct, UW Vir, AC UMa, and GSC 1657. We have concentrated on V442 Cas and YZ Aql, based on initial results that show anomalies in the light curves near the phases where a Trojan planet eclipse is expected. New work is being done on brighter systems by using a "spot filter," similar to that developed by Castellano (PASP 112, 821-6),2000), to allow longer exposures that provide brighter comparison stars. We will report on the observations made to date on several systems. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the National Science Foundation, through grants AST-9731062 and AST-0089248. We also appreciate the support of the Fund for Astrophysical Research. Gregory Shelton and Brenda Corbin, at the U.S. naval Observatory Library, have been indispensable in providing references for these binary systems. This research has made use of the Simbad database, operated at CDS, Strasbourg, France

Preparation of the COROT mission: fundamental stellar parameters from photometric and spectroscopic analyses of target candidates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lastennet, E.; Lignières, F.; Buser, R.; Lejeune, T.; Lüftinger, T.; Cuisinier, F.; van't Veer-Menneret, C.

2001-09-01

We present a sample of 9 nearby F-type stars with detailed spectroscopic analyses to investigate the Basel Stellar Library (BaSeL) in two photometric systems simultaneously, Johnson UBV and Stromgren uvby. The sample corresponds to potential targets of the central seismology programme of the COROT (COnvection & ROtation) space experiment, which have been recently observed at Observatoire de Haute-Provence (OHP, France). The atmospheric parameters Teff, [Fe/H], and log g obtained from the BaSeL models are compared with spectroscopic determinations as well as with results of other photometric calibrations (the TEMPLOGG method and the catalogue of Marsakov & Shevelev, 1995). Moreover, new rotational velocity determinations are also derived from the spectroscopic analysis and compared with previous results compiled in the SIMBAD database. For a careful interpretation of the BaSeL solutions, we computed confidence regions around the best chi^2-estimates and projected them on Teff-[Fe/H], Teff-log g, and log g-[Fe/H] diagrams. In order to simultaneously and accurately determine the stellar parameters Teff, [Fe/H] and log g, we suggest to use the combination of the synthetic BaSeL indices B-V, U-B and b-y (rather than the full photometric information available for these stars: B-V, U-B, b-y, m1 and c1) and we present complete results in 3 different diagrams, along with the results of other methods (photometric and spectroscopic). All the methods presented give consistent solutions, and the agreement between TEMPLOGG and BaSeL for the hottest stars of the sample could be especially useful in view of the well-known difficulty of spectroscopic determinations for fast rotating stars. Finally, we present current and future developments of the BaSeL models for a systematic application to all the COROT targets.

Preparation of the COROT mission: fundamental stellar parameters from photometric and spectroscopic analyses of target candidates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lastennet, E.; Lignières, F.; Buser, R.; Lejeune, T.; Lüftinger, T.; Cuisinier, F.; van't Veer-Menneret, C.

2001-12-01

We present a sample of 9 nearby F-type stars with detailed spectroscopic analyses to investigate the Basel Stellar Library (BaSeL) in two photometric systems simultaneously, Johnson UBV and Strömgren uvby. The sample corresponds to potential targets of the central seismology programme of the COROT (COnvection & ROtation) space experiment, which have been recently observed at Observatoire de Haute-Provence (OHP, France). The atmospheric parameters Teff, [Fe/H], and log g obtained from the BaSeL models are compared with spectroscopic determinations as well as with results of other photometric calibrations (the TEMPLOGG method and the catalogue of Marsakov & Shevelev, 1995). Moreover, new rotational velocity determinations are also derived from the spectroscopic analysis and compared with previous results compiled in the SIMBAD database. For a careful interpretation of the BaSeL solutions, we computed confidence regions around the best χ2-estimates and projected them on Teff-[Fe/H], Teff-log g, and log g-[Fe/H] diagrams. In order to simultaneously and accurately determine the stellar parameters Teff, [Fe/H] and log g, we suggest to use the combination of the synthetic BaSeL indices B-V, U-B and b-y (rather than the full photometric information available for these stars: B-V, U-B, b-y, m1 and c1) and we present complete results in 3 different diagrams, along with the results of other methods (photometric and spectroscopic). All the methods presented give consistent solutions, and the agreement between TEMPLOGG and BaSeL for the hottest stars of the sample could be especially useful in view of the well-known difficulty of spectroscopic determinations for fast rotating stars. Finally, we present current and future developments of the BaSeL models for a systematic application to all the COROT targets.

IPHAS and the symbiotic stars. I. Selection method and first discoveries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corradi, R. L. M.; Rodríguez-Flores, E. R.; Mampaso, A.; Greimel, R.; Viironen, K.; Drew, J. E.; Lennon, D. J.; Mikolajewska, J.; Sabin, L.; Sokoloski, J. L.

2008-03-01

Context: The study of symbiotic stars is essential to understand important aspects of stellar evolution in interacting binaries. Their observed population in the Galaxy is however poorly known, and is one to three orders of magnitudes smaller than the predicted population size. Aims: IPHAS, the INT Photometric Hα survey of the Northern Galactic plane, gives us the opportunity to make a systematic, complete search for symbiotic stars in a magnitude-limited volume, and discover a significant number of new systems. Methods: A method of selecting candidate symbiotic stars by combining IPHAS and near-IR (2MASS) colours is presented. It allows us to distinguish symbiotic binaries from normal stars and most of the other types of Hα emission line stars in the Galaxy. The only exception are T Tauri stars, which can however be recognized because of their concentration in star forming regions. Results: Using these selection criteria, we discuss the classification of a list of 4338 IPHAS stars with Hα in emission. 1500 to 2000 of them are likely to be Be stars. Among the remaining objects, 1183 fulfill our photometric constraints to be considered candidate symbiotic stars. The spectroscopic confirmation of three of these objects, which are the first new symbiotic stars discovered by IPHAS, proves the potential of the survey and selection method. Based on observations obtained at the 2.5 m INT telescope of the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes in the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias. This publication makes use of data products from the Two Micron All Sky Survey, which is a joint project of the University of Massachusetts and the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center/California Institute of Technology, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation. This research has also made use of the SIMBAD database, operated at CDS, Strasbourg, France. Table 1 is only available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

Atomic Data Needs for X-Ray Astronomy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kallman, Timothy; White, Nicholas E. (Technical Monitor)

1999-01-01

This publication contains written versions of most of the invited talks presented at the workshop on Atomic Data Needs for X-ray Astronomy which was held at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center on December 16-1 7 1999. The idea of hosting such a workshop emerged from an imminent need to update and complete current atomic datasets in anticipation of a new era of high quality X-ray spectra starting with the launching of Chandra and XMM-Newton observatories. At first, our vision of the workshop was of a short and limited attendance event, given the specialization of the topic. But it, was soon realized, from the response to the first workshop announcement, that the topic was of much interest, to researchers working in X-ray spectra (physicists and astronomers). As a result, the workshop grew to approximately 120 participants from several countries. The kind of atomic data that interests us are those parameters needed for analysis and modeling of spectra shortward of about about 100 A and relevant to ionic species of astronomical interest. The physical mechanisms of interest in the formation of spectra include photoionization. collisional ionization, recombination (radiative and dielectronic). collisional excitation (by electrons and protons). and radiative deexcitation. Unique to X-ray spectroscopy are the ionization and excitation processes from inner-closed shells. in addition to the challenges in interpret,ing the medium resolution (epsilon/delta epsilon is about 0.05 - 0.1) data obtained by current X-ray astronomy experiments. Line wavelengths are of interest too, particularly owing to the high resolution spectra from the new experiments. The workshop was divided into five major areas: Observational Spectroscopy, Theoretical Calculations of Atomic Data, Laboratory Measurements of Atomic Parameters. Spectra Modeling, and Atomic Databases. One comforting finding from the work shop is that the enthusiasm felt by X-ray astronomers about the new observational missions seems to be shared by theoretical and experimental physicists. Talks were presented about several exciting new projects and experimental and theoretical techniques devoted to X-ray spectroscopy. Simultaneously, several new tools for spectral analysis and modeling have recently been developed, together with improved atomic databases. These proceeding are expected to be of interests to producers and users of atomic data. Moreover. the contributions presented here have been written in a way that can be used by a general audience of scientists and graduate students in X-ray astronomy, modelling, and in computational and experimental atomic physics.

The study on servo-control system in the large aperture telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Wei; Zhenchao, Zhang; Daxing, Wang

2008-08-01

Large astronomical telescope or extremely enormous astronomical telescope servo tracking technique will be one of crucial technology that must be solved in researching and manufacturing. To control technique feature of large astronomical telescope or extremely enormous astronomical telescope, this paper design a sort of large astronomical telescope servo tracking control system. This system composes a principal and subordinate distributed control system, host computer sends steering instruction and receive slave computer functional mode, slave computer accomplish control algorithm and execute real-time control. Large astronomical telescope servo control use direct drive machine, and adopt DSP technology to complete direct torque control algorithm, Such design can not only increase control system performance, but also greatly reduced volume and costs of control system, which has a significant occurrence. The system design scheme can be proved reasonably by calculating and simulating. This system can be applied to large astronomical telescope.

The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and Post-war Japanese Optical Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tajima, Toshiyuki

This paper depicts some aspects of the formative process of the Japanese optical and infrared astronomical community in the post-war period, featuring the transition of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan(NAOJ). We take up three cases of telescope construction, examining their background and their contribution to the Japanese astronomical community. Through these cases, the characteristics of traditions and cultures of optical and infrared astronomy in Japan are considered. Although the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory (TAO) of the University of Tokyo, the predecessor of NAOJ, was originally founded as an agency for practical astronomical observation such as time and almanac service, it has become an international centre for all types of astrophysical research. Research and development of telescopes and observational instruments have become an important part of the astronomers' practice. Now, however, a number of Japanese universities are planning to have their own large to middle-sized telescopes, and a new style of astronomical research is emerging involving astrophysical studies utilising data acquired from the Virtual Observatory, so there is a distinct possibility that the status of the NAOJ will change even further in the future.

Blind Astronomers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hockey, Thomas A.

2011-01-01

The phrase "blind astronomer” is used as an allegorical oxymoron. However, there were and are blind astronomers. What of famous blind astronomers? First, it must be stated that these astronomers were not martyrs to their craft. It is a myth that astronomers blind themselves by observing the Sun. As early as France's William of Saint-Cloud (circa 1290) astronomers knew that staring at the Sun was ill-advised and avoided it. Galileo Galilei did not invent the astronomical telescope and then proceed to blind himself with one. Galileo observed the Sun near sunrise and sunset or through projection. More than two decades later he became blind, as many septuagenarians do, unrelated to their profession. Even Isaac Newton temporarily blinded himself, staring at the reflection of the Sun when he was a twentysomething. But permanent Sun-induced blindness? No, it did not happen. For instance, it was a stroke that left Scotland's James Gregory (1638-1675) blind. (You will remember the Gregorian telescope.) However, he died days later. Thus, blindness little interfered with his occupation. English Abbot Richard of Wallingford (circa 1291 - circa 1335) wrote astronomical works and designed astronomical instruments. He was also blind in one eye. Yet as he further suffered from leprosy, his blindness seems the lesser of Richard's maladies. Perhaps the most famous professionally active, blind astronomer (or almost blind astronomer) is Dominique-Francois Arago (1786-1853), director until his death of the powerful nineteenth-century Paris Observatory. I will share other _ some poignant _ examples such as: William Campbell, whose blindness drove him to suicide; Leonhard Euler, astronomy's Beethoven, who did nearly half of his life's work while almost totally blind; and Edwin Frost, who "observed” a total solar eclipse while completely sightless.

Serbian Astronomers in Science Citation Index in the XX Century

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dimitrijevic, Milan S.

The book is written paralelly in Serbian and English. The presence of works of Serbian astronomers and works in astronomical journals published by other Serbian scientists, in Science Citation Index within the period from 1945 up to the end of 2000, has been analyzed. Also is presented the list of 38 papers which had some influence on the development of astronomy in the twentieth century. A review of the development of astronomy in Serbia in the last century is given as well. Particular attention is payed to the Astronomical Observatory, the principal astronomical institution in Serbia, where it is one of the oldest scientific organizations and the only autonomous astronomical institute. Its past development forms an important part of the history of science and culture in these regions. In the book is also considered and the history of the university teaching of astronomy in Serbia after the second world war. First of all the development of the Chair of Astronomy at the Faculty of Mathematics in Belgrade, but also the teaching of astronomy at University in Novi Sad, Ni and Kragujevac is discussed. In addition to professional Astronomy, well developed in Serbia is also the amateur Astronomy. In the review is first of all included the largest and the oldest organization of amateur-astronomers in Serbia, founded in 1934. Besides, here are the Astronomical Society "Novi Sad", ADNOS and Research Station "Petnica". In Valjevo, within the framework of the Society of researchers "Vladimir Mandic - Manda", there is active also the Astronomical Group. In Kragujevac, on the roof of the Institute of Physics of the Faculty of Sciences, there is the "Belerofont" Observatory. In Ni, at the close of the sixties and the start of the seventies, there was operating a branch of the Astronomical Society "Rudjer Bokovic", while at the Faculty of Philosophy there existed in the period 1976-1980 the "Astro-Geophysical Society". In the year 1996 there was founded Astronomical Society "Alpha". In 1996 Zrenjanin too got an organization of amateur astronomers, Astronomical Society "Milutin Milankovic". Moreover, in the book is given a selected bibliography of references concerning the history of astronomy among Serbs in XX century.

REDSHIFT-INDEPENDENT DISTANCES IN THE NASA/IPAC EXTRAGALACTIC DATABASE: METHODOLOGY, CONTENT, AND USE OF NED-D

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Steer, Ian; Madore, Barry F.; Mazzarella, Joseph M.

Estimates of galaxy distances based on indicators that are independent of cosmological redshift are fundamental to astrophysics. Researchers use them to establish the extragalactic distance scale, to underpin estimates of the Hubble constant, and to study peculiar velocities induced by gravitational attractions that perturb the motions of galaxies with respect to the “Hubble flow” of universal expansion. In 2006 the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) began making available a comprehensive compilation of redshift-independent extragalactic distance estimates. A decade later, this compendium of distances (NED-D) now contains more than 100,000 individual estimates based on primary and secondary indicators, available for more thanmore » 28,000 galaxies, and compiled from over 2000 references in the refereed astronomical literature. This paper describes the methodology, content, and use of NED-D, and addresses challenges to be overcome in compiling such distances. Currently, 75 different distance indicators are in use. We include a figure that facilitates comparison of the indicators with significant numbers of estimates in terms of the minimum, 25th percentile, median, 75th percentile, and maximum distances spanned. Brief descriptions of the indicators, including examples of their use in the database, are given in an appendix.« less

Storing Astronomical Information on the Romanian Territory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stavinschi, Magda; Mioc, Vasile

The Romanian astronomy has a more than 2000-year old tradition which is however too little known abroad. The first known archive of astronomical information is the Dacian sanctuary at Sarmizegetusa Regia very similar to that of Stonehenge. After a gap of more than 1000 years sources of astronomical information became to be recovered. They consist mainly of records of astronomical events seen on the Romanian territory. The most safe places to store these genuine archives were the monasteries. We present a classification of the manners of storing astronomical information along with characteristic examples.

Evaluating a NoSQL Alternative for Chilean Virtual Observatory Services

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antognini, J.; Araya, M.; Solar, M.; Valenzuela, C.; Lira, F.

2015-09-01

Currently, the standards and protocols for data access in the Virtual Observatory architecture (DAL) are generally implemented with relational databases based on SQL. In particular, the Astronomical Data Query Language (ADQL), language used by IVOA to represent queries to VO services, was created to satisfy the different data access protocols, such as Simple Cone Search. ADQL is based in SQL92, and has extra functionality implemented using PgSphere. An emergent alternative to SQL are the so called NoSQL databases, which can be classified in several categories such as Column, Document, Key-Value, Graph, Object, etc.; each one recommended for different scenarios. Within their notable characteristics we can find: schema-free, easy replication support, simple API, Big Data, etc. The Chilean Virtual Observatory (ChiVO) is developing a functional prototype based on the IVOA architecture, with the following relevant factors: Performance, Scalability, Flexibility, Complexity, and Functionality. Currently, it's very difficult to compare these factors, due to a lack of alternatives. The objective of this paper is to compare NoSQL alternatives with SQL through the implementation of a Web API REST that satisfies ChiVO's needs: a SESAME-style name resolver for the data from ALMA. Therefore, we propose a test scenario by configuring a NoSQL database with data from different sources and evaluating the feasibility of creating a Simple Cone Search service and its performance. This comparison will allow to pave the way for the application of Big Data databases in the Virtual Observatory.

THz Time-Domain Spectroscopy of Interstellar Ice Analogs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ioppolo, Sergio; McGuire, Brett A.; de Vries, Xander; Carroll, Brandon; Allodi, Marco; Blake, Geoffrey

2015-08-01

The unambiguous identification of nearly 200 molecular species in different astronomical environments proves that our cosmos is a ‘Molecular Universe’. The cumulative outcome of recent observations, laboratory studies, and astrochemical models indicates that there is a strong interplay between the gas and the solid phase throughout the process of forming molecules in space. Observations of interstellar ices are generally limited to lines-of-sight along which infrared absorption spectroscopy is possible. Therefore, the identification of more complex prebiotic molecules in the mid-IR is difficult because of their low expected interstellar abundances and the overlap of their absorption features with those from the more abundant species. In the THz region, telescopes can detect Interstellar ices in emission or absorption against dust continuum. Thus, THz searches do not require a background point source. Moreover, since THz spectra are the fingerprint of inter- and intramolecular forces, complex species can present unique modes that do not overlap with those from simpler, more abundant molecules. THz modes are also sensitive to temperature and phase changes in the ice. Therefore, spectroscopy at THz frequencies has the potential to better characterize the physics and chemistry of the ISM. Currently, the Herschel Space Telescope, SOFIA, and ALMA databases contain a vast amount of new THz spectral data that require THz laboratory spectra for interpretation. The latter, however, are largely lacking. We have recently constructed a new THz time-domain spectroscopy system operating in the range between 0.3 - 7.5 THz. This work focuses on the laboratory investigation of the composition and structure of the most abundant interstellar ice analogs compared to some more complex species. Different temperatures, mixing ratios, and matrix isolation experiments will be shown. The ultimate goal of this research is to provide the scientific community with an extensive THz ice-database, which will allow quantitative studies of the ISM, and guide future astronomical observations of species in the solid phase.

Research Based Science Education: Bringing Authentic Scientific Research into the Secondary Classroom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sayers, J.

2003-12-01

Teachers and students at Northview High School in Brazil, Indiana have the opportunity to engage in authentic scientific research through our participation in two national projects, TLRBSE and PEPP. Teacher Leaders in Research Based Science Education (TLRBSE) is a teacher professional development and retention program coupled with authentic scientific research projects in astronomy. Teacher-Leaders are trained in research-based pedagogy and serve as mentors to less experienced colleagues and work with students to develop science research methods and research projects for the classroom. Astronomical data collected at Kitt Peak by astronomers and teachers is made available on CD for classroom use. Northview is in its second year as a TLRBSE school. The Princeton Earth Physics Project (PEPP) trains mentor teachers in fundamentals of research in seismology. Teachers and students then gain hands on experience in science research through operation of a research quality seismic station sited at the high school. Data from the Northview seismometer are stored locally and also transmitted over the Internet to a database at Indiana University. Students have access to local data as well as seismic databases accessible through the Internet to use for research projects. The Northview Seismic Station has been in operation since 1998. In this presentation, I will describe how these projects have been incorporated into the physics and earth science programs at Northview High School. I will discus how our teachers and students have benefited from the opportunity to take part in hands-on scientific research under the guidance of university faculty. In particular, I will describe our participation in a regional seismic network through seismic data acquisition, data analysis using seismological software, and students' experiences in a university-based student research symposium. I reflect on the some of the successes and barriers to high-school teachers' and students' involvement in scientific research programs. I conclude with a discussion of a successful student seismology project that was a finalist in the 2003 INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair

Amateur Planetary Radio Data Archived for Science and Education: Radio Jove

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thieman, J.; Cecconi, B.; Sky, J.; Garcia, L. N.; King, T. A.; Higgins, C. A.; Fung, S. F.

2015-12-01

The Radio Jove Project is a hands-on educational activity in which students, teachers, and the general public build simple radio telescopes, usually from a kit, to observe single frequency decameter wavelength radio emissions from Jupiter, the Sun, the galaxy, and the Earth usually with simple dipole antennas. Some of the amateur observers have upgraded their receivers to spectrographs and their antennas have become more sophisticated as well. The data records compare favorably to more sophisticated professional radio telescopes such as the Long Wavelength Array (LWA) and the Nancay Decametric Array. Since these data are often carefully calibrated and recorded around the clock in widely scattered locations they represent a valuable database useful not only to amateur radio astronomers but to the professional science community as well. Some interesting phenomena have been noted in the data that are of interest to the professionals familiar with such records. The continuous monitoring of radio emissions from Jupiter could serve as useful "ground truth" data during the coming Juno mission's radio observations of Jupiter. Radio Jove has long maintained an archive for thousands of Radio Jove observations, but the database was intended for use by the Radio Jove participants only. Now, increased scientific interest in the use of these data has resulted in several proposals to translate the data into a science community data format standard and store the data in professional archives. Progress is being made in translating Radio Jove data to the Common Data Format (CDF) and also in generating new observations in that format as well. Metadata describing the Radio Jove data would follow the Space Physics Archive Search and Extract (SPASE) standard. The proposed archive to be used for long term preservation would be the Planetary Data System (PDS). Data sharing would be achieved through the PDS and the Paris Astronomical Data Centre (PADC) and the Virtual Wave Observatory (VWO). We believe that Radio Jove represents another fertile area for citizen science to contribute to overall scientific investigation.

Brave New World: Data Intensive Science with SDSS and the VO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thakar, A. R.; Szalay, A. S.; O'Mullane, W.; Nieto-Santisteban, M.; Budavari, T.; Li, N.; Carliles, S.; Haridas, V.; Malik, T.; Gray, J.

2004-12-01

With the advent of digital archives and the VO, astronomy is quickly changing from a data-hungry to a data-intensive science. Local and specialized access to data will remain the most direct and efficient way to get data out of individual archives, especially if you know what you are looking for. However, the enormous sizes of the upcoming archives will preclude this type of access for most institutions, and will not allow researchers to tap the vast potential for discovery in cross-matching and comparing data between different archives. The VO makes this type of interoperability and distributed data access possible by adopting industry standards for data access (SQL) and data interchange (SOAP/XML) with platform independence (Web services). As a sneak preview of this brave new world where astronomers may need to become SQL warriors, we present a look at VO-enabled access to catalog data in the SDSS Catalog Archive Server (CAS): CasJobs - a workbench environment that allows arbitrarily complex SQL queries and your own personal database (MyDB) that you can share with collaborators; OpenSkyQuery - an IVOA (International Virtual Observatory Alliance) compliant federation of multiple archives (OpenSkyNodes) that currently links nearly 20 catalogs and allows cross-match queries (in ADQL - Astronomical Data Query Language) between them; Spectrum and Filter Profile Web services that provide access to an open database of spectra (registered users may add their own spectra); and VO-enabled Mirage - a Java visualizatiion tool developed at Bell Labs and enhanced at JHU that allows side-by-side comparison of SDSS catalog and FITS image data. Anticipating the next generation of Petabyte archives like LSST by the end of the decade, we are developing a parallel cross-match engine for all-sky cross-matches between large surveys, along with a 100-Terabyte data intensive science laboratory with high-speed parallel data access.

Nicolas Donitch. Solved enigmas. (Nicolae Donici. Enigme descifrate)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stavinschi, Magda

2015-12-01

The book is the most complete historical -scientific biography of the astronomer N.N. Donitch (1874, Chisinau, Bessarabia- 1960, Nice, France). It include many photographs, recollections on him by astronomers from many countries, archive documents. Main scientific interests and results has been described in detail. The activity of the astronomer in Astronomical Societies and IAU over the time has been described also. A list of publications has been given with a list of references on his personalty. The book is designed for a large circle of readers - from scientific researchers to students and non-astronomers yet. A number of contributions from philologist Haralambie Corbu, writer Iurie Colesnic, Director of the Odessa Astronomical Observatory S.M. Andrievskii, French astronomers Auduin Charles Dollfus, Gualtiero Olivieri, Paul Danjon, Romanian researchers Mircea Herovanu, Vladimir Boico, Gh. Teodoreanu, Gheorghe Rascu, Zoe Donici in the connection with the biography of N.N. Donitch has been included also. The book is richly illustrated by photographs and documents from archives.

GNAT: A Global Network of Astronomical Telescopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crawford, David L.

1995-12-01

Astronomical resources are increasingly directed toward development of very large telescopes, and many facilities are compelled to cease operations of smaller telescopes. A real concern is emerging with respect to issues of access to astronomical imaging systems for the majority of astronomers who will have little or no opportunity to work with the larger telescopes. Further concern is developing with regard to the means for conducting observationally intensive fundamental astronomical imaging programs, such as surveys, monitoring, and standards calibration. One attractive potential solution is a global network of (automated) astronomical telescopes (GNAT). Initial steps have been taken to turn this network into a reality. GNAT has been incorporated as a nonprofit corporation, membership drives have begun and several institutions have joined. The first two open GNAT meetings have now been held to define hardware and software systems, and an order has been placed for the first of the GNAT automated telescopes. In this presentation we discuss the goals and status of GNAT and its implications for astronomical imaging.

Child Care Gifts to Bolster Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nemiroff, Robert J.; Allen, Alice

2016-01-01

Caring for children should not derail potentially excellent future astronomers. It is therefore suggested that a mechanism be created for established astronomers to voluntarily will 10 percent of their estate to a fund that helps aspiring astronomers reduce child care costs. Statistics indicate that many scientists delay child rearing until they have secure jobs. This delay appears to be based on the early relative cost of child care and the perception that time spent raising children negatively impacts job performance and future employability. Having even a portion of child care expenses covered may increase the efficiency of early-career education and productivity of early-career scientific research. It is hoped that some established astronomers may be inspired to contribute by remembering their own lives as aspiring astronomers, while also wishing to add to their legacy. Only an expression of interest is requested here, both from established astronomers who might be interested in taking such a donation pledge, and from aspiring astronomers who feel their careers would be helped by child care assistance.

Radio Synthesis Imaging - A High Performance Computing and Communications Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crutcher, Richard M.

The National Science Foundation has funded a five-year High Performance Computing and Communications project at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) for the direct implementation of several of the computing recommendations of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey Committee (the "Bahcall report"). This paper is a summary of the project goals and a progress report. The project will implement a prototype of the next generation of astronomical telescope systems - remotely located telescopes connected by high-speed networks to very high performance, scalable architecture computers and on-line data archives, which are accessed by astronomers over Gbit/sec networks. Specifically, a data link has been installed between the BIMA millimeter-wave synthesis array at Hat Creek, California and NCSA at Urbana, Illinois for real-time transmission of data to NCSA. Data are automatically archived, and may be browsed and retrieved by astronomers using the NCSA Mosaic software. In addition, an on-line digital library of processed images will be established. BIMA data will be processed on a very high performance distributed computing system, with I/O, user interface, and most of the software system running on the NCSA Convex C3880 supercomputer or Silicon Graphics Onyx workstations connected by HiPPI to the high performance, massively parallel Thinking Machines Corporation CM-5. The very computationally intensive algorithms for calibration and imaging of radio synthesis array observations will be optimized for the CM-5 and new algorithms which utilize the massively parallel architecture will be developed. Code running simultaneously on the distributed computers will communicate using the Data Transport Mechanism developed by NCSA. The project will also use the BLANCA Gbit/s testbed network between Urbana and Madison, Wisconsin to connect an Onyx workstation in the University of Wisconsin Astronomy Department to the NCSA CM-5, for development of long-distance distributed computing. Finally, the project is developing 2D and 3D visualization software as part of the international AIPS++ project. This research and development project is being carried out by a team of experts in radio astronomy, algorithm development for massively parallel architectures, high-speed networking, database management, and Thinking Machines Corporation personnel. The development of this complete software, distributed computing, and data archive and library solution to the radio astronomy computing problem will advance our expertise in high performance computing and communications technology and the application of these techniques to astronomical data processing.

How accurately can we measure the water vapour content with astronomical spectra?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kausch, Wolfgang; Noll, Stefan; Smette, Alain; Kimeswenger, Stefan; Kerber, Florian; Jones, Amy M.; Szyszka, Cezary; Unterguggenberger, Stefanie

2014-05-01

Light from astronomical objects unavoidably has to pass through the Earth's atmosphere when being observed by ground-based telescopes. Thus, the fingerprint of the atmospheric state at the time of the observation is present in any spectrum taken by astronomical spectrographs due to absorption and emission arising in the atmosphere. The Very Large Telescope (VLT), operated by the European Southern Observatory, is one of the world's largest telescope facilities located at Cerro Paranal in the Chilean Atacama Desert offering a wide selection of various instruments. One of the most versatile instruments is X-Shooter. This medium resolution Echelle spectrograph covers the entire wavelength regime from 0.3 to 2.5 μm and is mounted on one of the 8m-class telescopes of the VLT. Due to its versatility, it is widely used, which leads to a good temporal coverage. We have recently developed the software package molecfit, a tool used to model and correct for atmospheric absorption lines visible in astronomical spectra. It is based on the radiative transfer code LBLRTM, the HITRAN line parameter database, the GDAS atmospheric profiles, and local meteorological data. A by-product is the determination of the amount of precipitable water vapour (PWV) above the observatory, as well as several other molecules, including CO2. In this poster, we investigate the accuracy of this method. We have used a set of X-Shooter spectra of so-called telluric standard stars, which are hot and bright stars showing nearly no intrinsic spectral features in the near infrared regime. Thus, most absorption features present in these spectra are related to the absorption arising in the Earth's atmosphere. For each spectrum, we have determined the PWV with our molecfit code and compared it with direct measurements achieved by the LHATPRO radiometer recently installed at Cerro Paranal. Therefore we have extended the results obtained by Kerber et al. (2012, Proc. SPIE, 8446) on a long time scale. Due to the wide wavelength coverage of X-Shooter, the atmospheric content of CO2 can also successfully be determined. The good accuracy obtained by this method confirms that regular monitoring for a number of other molecules by the various spectrographs installed on the Very Large Telescope is possible.

Astronomical catalog desk reference, 1994 edition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1994-01-01

The Astronomical Catalog Desk Reference is designed to aid astronomers in locating machine readable catalogs in the Astronomical Data Center (ADC) archives. The key reference components of this document are as follows: A listing of shortened titles for all catalogs available from the ADC (includes the name of the lead author and year of publication), brief descriptions of over 300 astronomical catalogs, an index of ADC catalog numbers by subject keyword, and an index of ADC catalog numbers by author. The heart of this document is the set of brief descriptions generated by the ADC staff. The 1994 edition of the Astronomical Catalog Desk Reference contains descriptions for over one third of the catalogs in the ADC archives. Readers are encouraged to refer to this section for concise summaries of those catalogs and their contents.

Amateur Astronomers: Secret Agents of EPO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berendsen, M.; White, V.; Devore, E.; Reynolds, M.

2008-06-01

Amateur astronomers prime the public to be more interested, receptive, and excited about space science, missions, and programs. Through recent research and targeted programs, amateur astronomy outreach is being increasingly recognized by professional astronomers, educators, and other amateurs as a valued and important service. The Night Sky Network program, administered by the ASP, is the first nationwide research-based program specifically targeted to support outreach by amateur astronomers. This Network of trained and informed amateur astronomers can provide a stimulating introduction to your EPO programs as Network members share the night sky with families, students, and youth groups.

Riferimenti, simboli e numerologia astronomica nel Canzoniere di Petrarca

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colona, Paolo

The astronomical knowledge of Petrarch and his use of astronomical references in the renowned Canzoniere are examined with a commented anthology of the most relevant astronomical verses in that work. We discuss the identification of the first two verses of the poetry "Solo et pensoso" as a precise description of the astrological type of Saturn. The repeated presence of an ancient astronomical symbol such as the division of the circle in 12 parts is highlighted. The coded presence in the Canzoniere of the most relevant astronomical numbers 7, 12 and 365 is also discovered and shown.

Astronomical Symbolism in Australian Aboriginal Rock Art

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norris, Ray P.; Hamacher, Duane W.

2011-05-01

Traditional Aboriginal Australian cultures include a significant astronomical component, perpetuated through oral tradition and ceremony. This knowledge has practical navigational and calendrical functions, and sometimes extends to a deep understanding of the motion of objects in the sky. Here we explore whether this astronomical tradition is reflected in the rock art of Aboriginal Australians. We find several plausible examples of depictions of astronomical figures and symbols, and also evidence that astronomical observations were used to set out stone arrangements. However, we recognise that the case is not yet strong enough to make an unequivocal statement, and describe our plans for further research.

Reverend Doctor William Pearson in South Kilworth, Leicestershire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frost, M. A.

2006-12-01

William Pearson (1767-1847) was a 19th-century astronomer, renowned for his work in positional astronomy and the design of astronomical instruments, both practical and instructional. He was a co-founder in 1820 of the Astronomical Society of London, which later became the Royal Astronomical Society, where his portrait hangs. For 30 years of his astronomical career he was the Rector of South Kilworth, a village in Leicestershire, England, where he erected several observatory buildings, as well as extending the village church and building the village schoolroom. This paper documents his activities in South Kilworth.

NIST Databases on Atomic Spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reader, J.; Wiese, W. L.; Martin, W. C.; Musgrove, A.; Fuhr, J. R.

2002-11-01

The NIST atomic and molecular spectroscopic databases now available on the World Wide Web through the NIST Physics Laboratory homepage include Atomic Spectra Database, Ground Levels and Ionization Energies for the Neutral Atoms, Spectrum of Platinum Lamp for Ultraviolet Spectrograph Calibration, Bibliographic Database on Atomic Transition Probabilities, Bibliographic Database on Atomic Spectral Line Broadening, and Electron-Impact Ionization Cross Section Database. The Atomic Spectra Database (ASD) [1] offers evaluated data on energy levels, wavelengths, and transition probabilities for atoms and atomic ions. Data are given for some 950 spectra and 70,000 energy levels. About 91,000 spectral lines are included, with transition probabilities for about half of these. Additional data resulting from our ongoing critical compilations will be included in successive new versions of ASD. We plan to include, for example, our recently published data for some 16,000 transitions covering most ions of the iron-group elements, as well as Cu, Kr, and Mo [2]. Our compilations benefit greatly from experimental and theoretical atomic-data research being carried out in the NIST Atomic Physics Division. A new compilation covering spectra of the rare gases in all stages of ionization, for example, revealed a need for improved data in the infrared. We have thus measured these needed data with our high-resolution Fourier transform spectrometer [3]. An upcoming new database will give wavelengths and intensities for the stronger lines of all neutral and singly-ionized atoms, along with energy levels and transition probabilities for the persistent lines [4]. A critical compilation of the transition probabilities of Ba I and Ba II [5] has been completed and several other compilations of atomic transition probabilities are nearing completion. These include data for all spectra of Na, Mg, Al, and Si [6]. Newly compiled data for selected ions of Ne, Mg, Si and S, will form the basis for a new database intended to assist interpretation of soft x-ray astronomical spectra, such as from the Chandra X-ray Observatory. These data will be available soon on the World Wide Web [7].

2MASS Catalog Server Kit Version 2.1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamauchi, C.

2013-10-01

The 2MASS Catalog Server Kit is open source software for use in easily constructing a high performance search server for important astronomical catalogs. This software utilizes the open source RDBMS PostgreSQL, therefore, any users can setup the database on their local computers by following step-by-step installation guide. The kit provides highly optimized stored functions for positional searchs similar to SDSS SkyServer. Together with these, the powerful SQL environment of PostgreSQL will meet various user's demands. We released 2MASS Catalog Server Kit version 2.1 in 2012 May, which supports the latest WISE All-Sky catalog (563,921,584 rows) and 9 major all-sky catalogs. Local databases are often indispensable for observatories with unstable or narrow-band networks or severe use, such as retrieving large numbers of records within a small period of time. This software is the best for such purposes, and increasing supported catalogs and improvements of version 2.1 can cover a wider range of applications including advanced calibration system, scientific studies using complicated SQL queries, etc. Official page: http://www.ir.isas.jaxa.jp/~cyamauch/2masskit/

Construction of a century solar chromosphere data set for solar activity related research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Ganghua; Wang, Xiao Fan; Yang, Xiao; Liu, Suo; Zhang, Mei; Wang, Haimin; Liu, Chang; Xu, Yan; Tlatov, Andrey; Demidov, Mihail; Borovik, Aleksandr; Golovko, Aleksey

2017-06-01

This article introduces our ongoing project "Construction of a Century Solar Chromosphere Data Set for Solar Activity Related Research". Solar activities are the major sources of space weather that affects human lives. Some of the serious space weather consequences, for instance, include interruption of space communication and navigation, compromising the safety of astronauts and satellites, and damaging power grids. Therefore, the solar activity research has both scientific and social impacts. The major database is built up from digitized and standardized film data obtained by several observatories around the world and covers a time span of more than 100 years. After careful calibration, we will develop feature extraction and data mining tools and provide them together with the comprehensive database for the astronomical community. Our final goal is to address several physical issues: filament behavior in solar cycles, abnormal behavior of solar cycle 24, large-scale solar eruptions, and sympathetic remote brightenings. Significant signs of progress are expected in data mining algorithms and software development, which will benefit the scientific analysis and eventually advance our understanding of solar cycles.

The Astronomical League

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stevens, J. A.; Stevens, B. L.

2000-10-01

Founded over fifty years ago, the League is the largest general astronomy society in the world. It is a recognized non-profit, educational organization, promoting the science of astronomy. This includes astronomical education, research, individual observing of the heavens and coordination between the amateur and professional astronomy communities. The Astronomical League publishes a quarterly newsletter, the "Reflector", which details amateur activities and amateur collaboration with professional astronomers. The League's Observing Clubs hone the skills of the amateur astronomer in using their telescopes. These clubs provide awards to encourge observing and learning the sky. More general awards are presented to encourage amateur astronomy and the science of astronomy. These include the National Young Astronomer Award, amd the Horkheimer Planetary Imaging Award. They also sponsor conventions on both the National and Regional levels. This year's national is in Ventura, California, next year, near Washington, D.C.

Preserving Astronomy's Photographic Legacy: Current State and the Future of North American Astronomical Plates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osborn, W.; Robbins, L.

2009-08-01

This book contains articles on preserving astronomy's valuable heritage of photographic observations, most of which are on glass plates. It is intended to serve as a reference for institutions charged with preserving and managing plate archives and astronomers interested in using archival photographic plates in their research. The first portion of the book focuses on previous activities and recommendations related to plate archiving. These include actions taken by the International Astronomical Union, activities in Europe and a detailed account of a workshop on preserving astronomical photographic data held in 2007 at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, North Carolina. The workshop discussions covered a wide range of issues that must be considered in any effort to archive plates and culminated in a set of recommendations on preserving, cataloging and making publicly available these irreplaceable data. The second part of the book reports on some recent efforts to implement the recommendations. These include essays on the recently established Astronomical Photographic Data Archive, projects to make photographic collections available electronically, evaluations of commercial scanners for digitization of astronomical plates and the case for the continuing value of these data along with a report on the census of astronomical plate collections in North America carried out in 2008. The census cataloged the locations, numbers, and types of astronomical plates in the US and Canada. Comprehensive appendices identify all the significant collections in North America and detail the current contents, state and status of their holdings.

Astronomical Prospecting of Asteroid Resources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elvis, M.

2017-09-01

To make asteroid mining profitable will require professional astronomers using some of the largest telescopes on Earth to make precision measurements. This "astronomical prospecting" information is cheaper to obtain than flying even one or two spacecraft and will drastically cut the number of space probes that have to be sent to find an ore-bearing rock in space. Astronomical prospecting could make the business case for asteroid mining a solid one.

Fast in-database cross-matching of high-cadence, high-density source lists with an up-to-date sky model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scheers, B.; Bloemen, S.; Mühleisen, H.; Schellart, P.; van Elteren, A.; Kersten, M.; Groot, P. J.

2018-04-01

Coming high-cadence wide-field optical telescopes will image hundreds of thousands of sources per minute. Besides inspecting the near real-time data streams for transient and variability events, the accumulated data archive is a wealthy laboratory for making complementary scientific discoveries. The goal of this work is to optimise column-oriented database techniques to enable the construction of a full-source and light-curve database for large-scale surveys, that is accessible by the astronomical community. We adopted LOFAR's Transients Pipeline as the baseline and modified it to enable the processing of optical images that have much higher source densities. The pipeline adds new source lists to the archive database, while cross-matching them with the known cataloguedsources in order to build a full light-curve archive. We investigated several techniques of indexing and partitioning the largest tables, allowing for faster positional source look-ups in the cross matching algorithms. We monitored all query run times in long-term pipeline runs where we processed a subset of IPHAS data that have image source density peaks over 170,000 per field of view (500,000 deg-2). Our analysis demonstrates that horizontal table partitions of declination widths of one-degree control the query run times. Usage of an index strategy where the partitions are densely sorted according to source declination yields another improvement. Most queries run in sublinear time and a few (< 20%) run in linear time, because of dependencies on input source-list and result-set size. We observed that for this logical database partitioning schema the limiting cadence the pipeline achieved with processing IPHAS data is 25 s.

DAMIT: a database of asteroid models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durech, J.; Sidorin, V.; Kaasalainen, M.

2010-04-01

Context. Apart from a few targets that were directly imaged by spacecraft, remote sensing techniques are the main source of information about the basic physical properties of asteroids, such as the size, the spin state, or the spectral type. The most widely used observing technique - time-resolved photometry - provides us with data that can be used for deriving asteroid shapes and spin states. In the past decade, inversion of asteroid lightcurves has led to more than a hundred asteroid models. In the next decade, when data from all-sky surveys are available, the number of asteroid models will increase. Combining photometry with, e.g., adaptive optics data produces more detailed models. Aims: We created the Database of Asteroid Models from Inversion Techniques (DAMIT) with the aim of providing the astronomical community access to reliable and up-to-date physical models of asteroids - i.e., their shapes, rotation periods, and spin axis directions. Models from DAMIT can be used for further detailed studies of individual objects, as well as for statistical studies of the whole set. Methods: Most DAMIT models were derived from photometric data by the lightcurve inversion method. Some of them have been further refined or scaled using adaptive optics images, infrared observations, or occultation data. A substantial number of the models were derived also using sparse photometric data from astrometric databases. Results: At present, the database contains models of more than one hundred asteroids. For each asteroid, DAMIT provides the polyhedral shape model, the sidereal rotation period, the spin axis direction, and the photometric data used for the inversion. The database is updated when new models are available or when already published models are updated or refined. We have also released the C source code for the lightcurve inversion and for the direct problem (updates and extensions will follow).

E-books in Astronomy — If You Buy It Will They Come?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, M.

2010-10-01

Do astronomers want, need, or use online electronic books? At our large institution astronomers have access to a number of e-books, including monographs provided by various e-book vendors. After a marketing and promotion effort astronomers were surveyed on their use and awareness of the available resources, asking about their likes, dislikes and desirable features. Astronomers were queried about digital rights management (DRM) restrictions; did the ease and immediacy of remote electronic access to the content override the problems presented by DRM? Astronomers showed mixed responses to the e-book format. We need to seek continued user feedback as the Libraries' investment in online books grows.

The Practical Astronomer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koester, Jack

"The Practical Astronomer" by Thomas Dick, LLD, E.C. & J. Biddle, Philadelphia, 1849, is reviewed. Information on telescope makers and astronomers can be found. Mentioned are: Fraunhofer; John Herschel; Lawson; Dollond; Tulley; W. & S. Jones; and S.W. Burnham.

Communicating Solar Astronomy to the public

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yaji, Kentaro; Solar Observatory NAOJ, The

2015-08-01

The Sun is the nearest star to us, so that the public is greatly interested in the Sun itself and in solar activity. The Solar Observatory, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan is one of the solar research divisions. Various data of the Sun obtained with our instruments, systematically accumulated more than one hundred years since 1910s, are open to not only researchers but also the public as online database. So, we have many chances that the public request solar images for the education and the media. In addition, we release daily solar observation informations on the web and with social media and guide visitors to our observation facilities. It is reviewed about the public relations and outreach activities of the Solar Observatory, including recent solar observation topics.

Enhancements of Bayesian Blocks; Application to Large Light Curve Databases

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scargle, Jeff

2015-01-01

Bayesian Blocks are optimal piecewise linear representations (step function fits) of light-curves. The simple algorithm implementing this idea, using dynamic programming, has been extended to include more data modes and fitness metrics, multivariate analysis, and data on the circle (Studies in Astronomical Time Series Analysis. VI. Bayesian Block Representations, Scargle, Norris, Jackson and Chiang 2013, ApJ, 764, 167), as well as new results on background subtraction and refinement of the procedure for precise timing of transient events in sparse data. Example demonstrations will include exploratory analysis of the Kepler light curve archive in a search for "star-tickling" signals from extraterrestrial civilizations. (The Cepheid Galactic Internet, Learned, Kudritzki, Pakvasa1, and Zee, 2008, arXiv: 0809.0339; Walkowicz et al., in progress).

Building a VO-compliant Radio Astronomical DAta Model for Single-dish radio telescopes (RADAMS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santander-Vela, Juan de Dios; García, Emilio; Leon, Stephane; Espigares, Victor; Ruiz, José Enrique; Verdes-Montenegro, Lourdes; Solano, Enrique

2012-11-01

The Virtual Observatory (VO) is becoming the de-facto standard for astronomical data publication. However, the number of radio astronomical archives is still low in general, and even lower is the number of radio astronomical data available through the VO. In order to facilitate the building of new radio astronomical archives, easing at the same time their interoperability with VO framework, we have developed a VO-compliant data model which provides interoperable data semantics for radio data. That model, which we call the Radio Astronomical DAta Model for Single-dish (RADAMS) has been built using standards of (and recommendations from) the International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA). This article describes the RADAMS and its components, including archived entities and their relationships to VO metadata. We show that by using IVOA principles and concepts, the effort needed for both the development of the archives and their VO compatibility has been lowered, and the joint development of two radio astronomical archives have been possible. We plan to adapt RADAMS to be able to deal with interferometry data in the future.

Thomas Kuhn's Influence on Astronomers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shipman, Harry L.

2000-01-01

Surveys the astronomical community on their familiarity with the work of Thomas Kuhn. Finds that for some astronomers, Kuhn's thought resonated well with their picture of how science is done and provided perspectives on their scientific careers. (Author/CCM)

Cross-Matching of Very Large Catalogs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martynov, M. V.; Bodryagin, D. V.

Modern astronomical catalogs and sky surveys, that contain billions of objects, belong to the "big data" data class. Existing available services have limited functionality and do not include all required and available catalogs. The software package ACrId (Astronomical Cross Identification) for cross-matching large astronomical catalogs, which uses an sphere pixelation algorithm HEALPix, ReiserFS file system and JSON-type text files for storage, has been developed at the Research Institution "Mykolaiv Astronomical Observatory".

Astronomical Symbolism in Bronze-Age and Iron-Age Rock Art

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

García Quintela, Marco V.; Santos-Estévez, Manuel

The best-known rock art from Late Prehistory is found in Scandinavia, the Alps, and Galicia, North West Spain. In this chapter, we explore its association with astronomical symbolism from three perspectives: the representation of heavenly bodies, the visibility conditions of the carvings, and their position on astronomical alignments. We also consider temporal variables and the impact of aspects of Indo-European ideology on the construction of the representations in their astronomical relationships.

Developing an astronomical observatory in Paraguay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Troche-Boggino, Alexis E.

Background: Paraguay has some heritage from the astronomy of the Guarani Indians. Buenaventura Suarez S.J. was a pioneer astronomer in the country in the XVIII century. He built various astronomical instruments and imported others from England. He observed eclipses of Jupiter's satellites and of the Sun and Moon. He published his data in a book and through letters. The Japanese O.D.A. has collaborated in obtaining equipment and advised their government to assist Paraguay in building an astronomical observatory, constructing a moving-roof observatory and training astronomers as observatory operators. Future: An astronomical center is on the horizon and some possible fields of research are being considered. Goal: To improve education at all possible levels by not only observing sky wonders, but also showing how instruments work and teaching about data and image processing, saving data and building a data base. Students must learn how a modern scientist works.

The Role of Amateur Astronomy to Outreach Astronomical Knowledge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khachatryan, Vachik; Voskanyan, Tsovak

2016-12-01

It is known that in the educational system of republic the astronomy is not taught as a separate subject. Moreover, there are no telescopes in the vast majority of schools. "Goodricke John" NGO of amateur astronomers tries to fill this gap by organizing practical lessons of astronomy in secondary schools. NGO is equipped with high quality portable amateur telescopes and organizes periodic mass observations of planets, Moon, star clusters, nebulae in Yerevan and in regions. In addition, mass observations of rare astronomical phenomena are organized, such as the transit of Venus and Mercury across the disk of the Sun. Being the only NGO of amateur astronomers, it has a goal to contribute to publicizing astronomical knowledge and to ensure the availability of astronomical equipment, telescopes also to those segments of the society who have no opportunity to deal with them, in particular, persons with disabilities, prisoners, persons with disabilities, prisoners, soldiers, children from orphanages, school children and others.

Astronomical Orientation in the Ancient Dacian Sanctuaries of Romania

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stănescu, Florin

Sarmizegetusa Regia, the former capital city of the Dacians' kingdom, is situated in the Şureanu (Orăştie) Mountains in the Southern Carpathians, Romania. This chapter reviews, from the astronomical point of view, two of the monuments located on its Sacred Terrace - the altar known as the "Andesite Sun" and the Central Apse of the Great Round Sanctuary - as well as sanctuaries at the nearby site of Costeşti. Astronomical analyses taking into consideration (a) the astronomical-geometrical methods of the time (the analemma of a sundial after Vitruvius and the stereographical projection in the sense of Hipparchus), (b) astronomical instruments of the time (the gnomon, the sundial and the astrolabe), and (c) other instruments known to the Dacians (the compass), have concluded that these monuments may have enabled the Dacians to carry out a number of astronomical observations. This would confirm several reports by contemporary historians regarding the Dacians' knowledge of astronomy.

Preservation and maintenance of the astronomical sites in Armenia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mickaelian, A. M.

2008-01-01

Astronomy in Armenia was popular since ancient times. There are signs of astronomical observations coming from a few thousands years ago. Two ancient observatories, Karahunge and Metzamor are especially well known. Karahunge is the Armenian twin of the Stonehenge and is even older. However, there is no proper attention from the state authorities and efforts are needed for preservation of such historical-astronomical monuments. The Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) is the modern famous Armenian observatory founded in 1946 by the outstanding scientist Victor Ambartsumian. It was one of the world astronomical centres in 1950-s to 1970-s, and at present is the largest observatory in the Middle East area. As the ancient astronomical sites, Byurakan also needs a proper attitude from the state authorities and corresponding international organizations to preserve its values and importance for the present and future astronomical activities in the region, including its rich observational archive, telescopes, and human resources. Despite all the difficulties, the Armenian astronomers keep high international level of research and display various activities organizing international meetings and schools, preparing new young generation for the future research. The Armenian Astronomical Society (ArAS) is an affiliated member of EAS. Armenia has its Virtual Observatory project (ArVO) as well. The next Joint European and National Astronomy Meeting (JENAM-2007) will be held in Yerevan, Armenia, in August 2007. There are plans to organize astronomical tours to Armenia for making observations from various sites, including the ancient observatories. The future of astronomy in Armenia strongly depends on all of this activities and the proper attention both from state authorities and society.

Galaxy Zoo: Science and Public Engagement Hand in Hand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masters, Karen; Lintott, Chris; Feldt, Julie; Keel, Bill; Skibba, Ramin

2015-08-01

Galaxy Zoo (www.galaxyzoo.org) is familiar to many as a hugely successful citizen science project. Hundreds of thousands of members of the public have contributed to Galaxy Zoo which collects visual classifications of galaxies in images from a variety of surveys (e.g. the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Hubble Space Telescope surveys, and others) using an internet tool. Galaxy Zoo inspired the creation of "The Zooniverse" (www.zooniverse.org) which is now the world's leading online platform for citizens science, hosting a growing number of projects (at the time of writing ~30) making use of crowdsourced data analysis in all areas of academic research, and boasting over 1.3 million participants.Galaxy Zoo has also shown itself, in a series of (now ~60) peer reviewed papers, to be a fantastic database for the study of galaxy evolution. Participation in citizen science is also fantastic public engagement with scientific research. But what do the participants learn while they are involved in crowdsourced data analysis?In this talk I will discuss how public engagement via citizen science can be an effective means of outreach from data intensive astronomical surveys. A citizen science project (if done right) can and should increase the scientific output of an astronomical project, while at the same time inspiring participants to learn more about the science and techniques of astronomy.

Peer Mentoring through eAlliances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blaha, Cindy; Cunningham, Beth; Cox, Anne; Ramos, Idalia; Whitten, Barbara

2018-06-01

Being a woman in astronomy or physics can be a very isolating experience. Peer mentoring has been shown to help combat this isolation. eAlliance, an NSF ADVANCE PLAN-D program hosted by AAPT, is seeking to establish mutual mentoring networks of women faculty within the physics and astronomy community. The eAlliance program will reduce the isolation of participating faculty members and provide support to help members achieve their personal goals and enhance their career development. Participants register at the eAlliance website (ealliance.aapt.org) and complete a personal profile which is used to match them to other registered women faculty with similar mentoring goals. So far, 95 women have registered in the eAlliance database and 22 of the participants are astronomers. Currently the project has five sponsored eAlliances (with 4-5 members each) and several more in the process of forming. As of March 2018, 4 of the 22 sponsored eAlliance members are astronomers. The mentoring cohorts are holding regular electronic meetings and using project funds to support annual face-to-face meetings at national meetings of their own choosing. The first eAlliance Summit Meeting will be held in July 2018 and will bring all the cohorts together to share their peer mentoring experiences and gather advice for future cohorts just starting out. All women faculty in astronomy and physics are invited to join the eAlliance program.

New astronomical references in two Catalonian late medieval documents.

PubMed

Martínez, María José; Marco, Francisco J

2014-01-01

In 2008, after 13 years of preparation, the Generalitat of Catalunya finished the publication of the 10 volumes of the Dietaris de la Generalitat de Catalunya. The Dietaris, as well as a closely related source, the llibre de Jornades 1411/1484 de Jaume Safont, cover the period of 1411 to 1539. In this article, we examine astronomical references contained in these two sources, and place them in their historical context. Our main focus lies on astronomical phenomena that have not previously been published in the astronomical literature. In fact, relatively few astronomical records are accessible in Spanish medieval and early modern history, and our paper intends to fill this gap partially.

The role of Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica Serie de Conferencias in the world of astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torres-Peimbert, Silvia; Allen, Christine

2015-08-01

Forty years ago Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica decided to include the proceedings of astronomical meetings in Mexico and Latin America. In 1995 it became necessary to found the Serie de Conferencias to better differentiate proceedings from refereed papers.So far there have been 58 astronomical meetings published and there are several more in store for the coming years

Achievements of the Armenian Astronomy and the Present Activities of the Armenian Astronomical Society

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mickaelian, A. M.

2014-10-01

A report is given on the achievements of the Armenian astronomy during the last years and on the present activities of the Armenian Astronomical Society (ArAS). ArAS membership, ArAS electronic newsletters (ArASNews), ArAS webpage, international collaboration, Armenian Virtual Observatory (ArVO), membership in international organizations, grants, prizes, meetings, summer schools, astronomical Olympiads, other matters related to astronomical education, archaeoastronomy, astronomy outreach and ArAS further projects are discussed.

Computer version of astronomical ephemerides.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choliy, V. Ya.

A computer version of astronomical ephemerides for bodies of the Solar System, stars, and astronomical phenomena was created at the Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Astronomy and Cosmic Physics Department of the Taras Shevchenko National University. The ephemerides will be distributed via INTERNET or in the file form. This information is accessible via the web servers space.ups.kiev.ua and alfven.ups.kiev.ua or the address choliy@astrophys.ups.kiev.ua.

Johann Leonhard Rost, "novelist" and astronomer; (German Title: Johann Leonhard Rost, "Romanist" und Astronom)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaab, Hans; Simons, Olaf

Johann Leonhard Rost (1688-1727) of Nuremberg studied at Altdorf, Leipzig and Jena. During this time, he earned his living by writing gallant novels. In 1715, he returned to Nuremberg, where he pursued his juvenile inclination towards astronomy and became a serious astronomical observer. His introductions to astronomy, written around this time, contributed a lot to popularize astronomy. This contribution attempts to do justice to both the novelist and the astronomer Rost.

Some new astronomical facilities in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Shouguan

1989-10-01

For the 1990's, plans for some astronomical facilities and related research are being carried out in China. This report describes in some detail plans for radio astronomical facilities, a 150/220 cm Schmidt telescope, and experiments on a porcelain mirror material.

Filling the Astronomical Void - A Visual Medium for a Visual Subject

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryan, J.

1996-12-01

Astronomy is fundamentally a visual subject. The modern science of astronomy has at its foundation the ancient art of observing the sky visually. The visual elements of astronomy are arguably the most important. Every person in the entire world is affected by visually-observed astronomical phenomena such as the seasonal variations in daylight. However, misconceptions abound and the average person cannot recognize the simple signs in the sky that point to the direction, the hour and the season. Educators and astronomy popularizers widely lament that astronomy is not appreciated in our society. Yet, there is a remarkable dearth of popular literature for teaching the visual elements of astronomy. This is what I refer to as *the astronomical void.* Typical works use illustrations sparsely, relying most heavily on text-based descriptions of the visual astronomical phenomena. Such works leave significant inferential gaps to the inexperienced reader, who is unequipped for making astronomical observations. Thus, the astronomical void remains unfilled by much of the currently available literature. I therefore propose the introduction of a visually-oriented medium for teaching the visual elements of Astronomy. To this end, I have prepared a series of astronomy "comic strips" that are intended to fill the astronomical void. By giving the illustrations the central place, the comic strip medium permits the depiction of motion and other sequential activity, thus effectively representing astronomical phenomena. In addition to the practical advantages, the comic strip is a "user friendly" medium that is inviting and entertaining to a reader. At the present time, I am distributing a monthly comic strip entitled *Starman*, which appears in the newsletters of over 120 local astronomy organizations and on the web at http://www.cyberdrive.net/ starman. I hope to eventually publish a series of full-length books and believe that astronomical comic strips will help expand the perimeter of astronomical awareness.

Reporting Astronomical Discoveries: Past, Now, and Future

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamaoka, Hitoshi; Green, Daniel W. E.; Samus, Nikolai N.; West, Richard

2015-08-01

Many new astronomical objects have been discovered over the years by amateur astronomers, and this continues to be the case. They have traditionally reported them (as have professional astronomers) to the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT), which was established in the 19th century. This procedure has worked very well throughout the 20th century, moving under the umbrella of the newly established IAU in 1920. The discoverers have been honored by the formal announcement of their discoveries in the publications of the CBAT.In recent years, some professional research groups have established other ways of announcing their discoveries of explosive objects such as novae and supernovae; some do not now report their discoveries or spectroscopic confirmations of the transients to the CBAT, including often spectroscopic reports of objects posted to the CBAT "Transient Objects Confirmation Page" -- the highly successful TOCP webpage, which assigns official positional designations to new transients posted there by approved, registered users. This leads to a delay in formal announcements of discoveries by amateur astronomers in many cases, as well as inconsistent designations being put into use by individual groups. Amateur astronomers are feeling frustrated about this situation, and they hope that the IAU will help to settle the situation.We have proposed the new IAU commission NC-52, which will treat these phenomena in a continuation of Commission 6, through the CBAT. We hope to continuously support the reporting of the discoveries by amateur astronomers, as well as professional astronomers, who all deserve and desire proper recognition. Our strategy will maintain the firm trust between the amateur and professional astronomers, which is necessary for true collaboration. The plan is for the CBAT to work with collaborators to assure that discoveries posted on the TOCP are promptly designated and announced by the CBAT, even when confirmations are made elsewhere. All discoverers are encouraged to send their discovery information for transients to the CBAT (particularly for those objects brighter than visual or red magnitude 20).

Getting organized: A history of amateur astronomy in the United States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, Thomas R.

2000-10-01

During the twentieth century, American amateur astronomers attempted to form national organizations with structures and intents similar to the British Astronomical Association (BAA), an amateur organization dedicated to the advancement of astronomy and widely admired by American amateurs and professionals alike. The Society for Practical Astronomy (1910), the American Amateur Astronomers Association (1935), and the National Astronomical Association (1945) were each intended to facilitate amateur scientific contributions in BAA-like topical sections, but each of these societies failed. Founded in 1911, the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) and the American Meteor Society (AMS) provided an alternative for amateur astronomers who were interested in those specific topics. However, it was not until 1947, when the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO) formed, that another large segment of amateur astronomers found a home for their interests. A second mode of national organization succeeded at mid- century and grew to include most avocational astronomers. Founded in 1947, the Astronomical League consists of regional associations of local societies, and is oriented largely towards recreational astronomy. The League sponsors annual national and regional conventions, but contributes little to scientific programs. This study concludes that avocational astronomy cannot simply be compared with professional astronomy, and instead must be viewed on its own terms as a complex and variegated field. Although the failure of American amateurs to form a BAA-like organization was at first disappointing, the specialized associations of observers, together with a separate and larger organization devoted to recreational astronomy, have served the American astronomical community well. Professional support for both types of activity was facilitated in this mode of organization. The style in which professional support is rendered appears to be important, with strong volunteer member leadership more effective than a benevolent dictatorship by professionals. A journal in which amateur astronomers may publish observations, discuss techniques and share insights is critical for scientifically oriented associations, and provided a driving force for organizing and maintaining such associations.

International Schools for Young Astronomers Teaching for Astronomy Development: two programmes of the International Astronomical Union

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gerbaldi, Michèle; DeGreve, Jean-Pierre; Guinan, Edward

2011-06-01

This text outlines the main features of two educational programmes of the International Astronomical Union (IAU): the International Schools for Young Astronomers (ISYA) and the Teaching for Astronomy Development programme (TAD), developed since 1967. The main goal of the International Schools for Young Astronomers (ISYA) is to support astronomy (education and research) in developing countries in organizing a 3-week School for students with typically M.Sc. degrees. The context in which the ISYA were developed changed drastically during the last decade. From a time when access to large telescopes was difficult and mainly organized on a nation-basis, nowadays the archives of astronomical data have accumulated at the same time that many major telescope become accessible, and they are accessible from everywhere, the concept of virtual observatory reinforcing this access. A second programme of the IAU, Teaching for Astronomy Development (TAD), partially based on a School, but also of shorter duration (typically one week) has a complementary objective. It is dedicated to assist countries that have little or no astronomical activity, but that wish to enhance their astronomy education. The fast development of the TAD programme over the past years is emphasized.

Astronomical observatories

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ponomarev, D. N.

1983-01-01

The layout and equipment of astronomical observatories, the oldest scientific institutions of human society are discussed. The example of leading observatories of the USSR allows the reader to familiarize himself with both their modern counterparts, as well as the goals and problems on which astronomers are presently working.

Project of space research and technology center in Engelhardt astronomical observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nefedyev, Y.; Gusev, A.; Sherstukov, O.; Kascheev, R.; Zagretdinov, R.

2012-09-01

Today on the basis of Engelhardt astronomical observatory (EAO) is created Space research and technology center as consistent with Program for expansion of the Kazan University. The Centre has the following missions: • EDUCATION • SCIENCE • ASTRONOMICAL TOURISM

Chicago's Dearborn Observatory: a study in survival

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartky, Ian R.

2000-12-01

The Dearborn Observatory, located on the Old University of Chicago campus from 1863 until 1888, was America's most promising astronomical facility when it was founded. Established by the Chicago Astronomical Society and directed by one of the country's most gifted astronomers, it boasted the largest telescope in the world and virtually unlimited operating funds. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed its funding and demolished its research programme. Only via the sale of time signals and the heroic efforts of two amateur astronomers did the Dearborn Observatory survive.

Franklin Edward Kameny (1925-2011, Astronomer)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wright, Jason

2012-01-01

Dr. Frank Kameny is best known today as one of the most important members of the gay rights movement in the United States, but he was also a PhD astronomer. In fact, it was his firing from his civil service position as astronomer for the US Army Map Service on the grounds of homosexuality that sparked his lifelong career of activism. Here, I explore some aspects of his short but interesting astronomical career and the role of the AAS in his life.

The Footprint Database and Web Services of the Herschel Space Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dobos, László; Varga-Verebélyi, Erika; Verdugo, Eva; Teyssier, David; Exter, Katrina; Valtchanov, Ivan; Budavári, Tamás; Kiss, Csaba

2016-10-01

Data from the Herschel Space Observatory is freely available to the public but no uniformly processed catalogue of the observations has been published so far. To date, the Herschel Science Archive does not contain the exact sky coverage (footprint) of individual observations and supports search for measurements based on bounding circles only. Drawing on previous experience in implementing footprint databases, we built the Herschel Footprint Database and Web Services for the Herschel Space Observatory to provide efficient search capabilities for typical astronomical queries. The database was designed with the following main goals in mind: (a) provide a unified data model for meta-data of all instruments and observational modes, (b) quickly find observations covering a selected object and its neighbourhood, (c) quickly find every observation in a larger area of the sky, (d) allow for finding solar system objects crossing observation fields. As a first step, we developed a unified data model of observations of all three Herschel instruments for all pointing and instrument modes. Then, using telescope pointing information and observational meta-data, we compiled a database of footprints. As opposed to methods using pixellation of the sphere, we represent sky coverage in an exact geometric form allowing for precise area calculations. For easier handling of Herschel observation footprints with rather complex shapes, two algorithms were implemented to reduce the outline. Furthermore, a new visualisation tool to plot footprints with various spherical projections was developed. Indexing of the footprints using Hierarchical Triangular Mesh makes it possible to quickly find observations based on sky coverage, time and meta-data. The database is accessible via a web site http://herschel.vo.elte.hu and also as a set of REST web service functions, which makes it readily usable from programming environments such as Python or IDL. The web service allows downloading footprint data in various formats including Virtual Observatory standards.

Hosting an `Ask the Astronomer' Site on the Internet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Odenwald, S. F.

1996-12-01

Since 1995, the World Wide Web has explosively evolved into a significant medium for dispensing astronomical information to the general public. In addition to the numerous image archives that have proliferated, an increasing number of sites invite visitors to pose questions about astronomy and receive answers provided by professional astronomers. In this paper, I describe the operation of an Ask the Astronomer site that was opened on the WWW during August, 1995 as part of an astronomy education resource area called the "Astronomy Cafe" (URL=http://www2.ari.net/home/odenwald/cafe.html). The Astronomy Cafe includes a number of documents describing: a career in astronomy; how research papers are written; essays about cosmology, hyperspace and infrared astronomy; and the results from a 100-question, just for fun, personality test which distinguishes astronomers from non-astronomers. The Ask the Astronomer site is operated by a single astronomer through private donations and is now approaching its 500th day of operation. It contains over 2000+ questions and answers with a growth rate of 5 - 10 questions per day. It has attracted 70,000 visitors who are responsible for nearly 1 million 'hits' during the site's lifetime. The monthly statistics provide a unique survey of the kinds of individuals and organizations who visit Ask the Astronomer-type web sites, moreover, the accumulated questions provide a diagnostic X-ray into the public mind in the area of astronomy. I will present an analysis of the user demographics, and the types of questions that appear to be the most frequently asked. A paper copy of the complete index of these questions will be available for inspection.

Astronomical Instrumentation System Markup Language

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goldbaum, Jesse M.

2016-05-01

The Astronomical Instrumentation System Markup Language (AISML) is an Extensible Markup Language (XML) based file format for maintaining and exchanging information about astronomical instrumentation. The factors behind the need for an AISML are first discussed followed by the reasons why XML was chosen as the format. Next it's shown how XML also provides the framework for a more precise definition of an astronomical instrument and how these instruments can be combined to form an Astronomical Instrumentation System (AIS). AISML files for several instruments as well as one for a sample AIS are provided. The files demonstrate how AISML can be utilized for various tasks from web page generation and programming interface to instrument maintenance and quality management. The advantages of widespread adoption of AISML are discussed.

Cook, Green, Maskelyne and the 1769 transit of Venus: the legacy of the Tahitian observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orchiston, Wayne

2017-04-01

The 1769 transit of Venus was seen by astronomers as an important opportunity to pin down a figure for the solar parallax (P), and thus establish the Astronomical Unit and the size of the Solar System. Britain therefore mounted a number of expeditions, the most important of which was led by Lieutenant James Cook in the Endeavour, with Tahiti as the intended observing location. In this paper we trace the planning that preceded this expedition; provide biographical accounts of the Endeavour's two astronomers and others who also carried out astronomical observations; describe the astronomical instruments taken on the voyage; document the various transit observations; and track the post-transit path of the Endeavour as it returned to England. We then discuss the values of P that derived from this expedition and others, and end the paper by examining a number of research issues relating to the astronomical aspects of Cook's voyage that have yet to be resolved.

Identification and Support of Outstanding Astronomy Students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stoev, A. D.; Bozhurova, E. S.

2006-08-01

The aims, organizational plan and syllabus of a specialized Astronomy School with a subject of training students for participation in the International Astronomy Olympiad, are presented. Thematic frame includes basic educational activities during the preparation and self-preparation of the students and their participation in astronomical Olympiads. A model of identification and selection of outstanding students for astronomical Olympiads has been developed. Examples of didactic systems of problems for development of mathematical, physical and astronomical skills are shown. The programme ends with individual training for solving problems on astronomy and astrophysics. Possibilities, which the characteristic, non-standard astronomical problems give for stimulating the creative and original thinking, are specified. Basic psychological condition for development of the students' creative potential - transformation of the cognitive content in emotional one - is demonstrated. The programme of identification and support of outstanding students on astronomy is realized in collaboration with The Ministry of Education and Science, Public Astronomical Observatories and Planetaria, Institute of Astronomy - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and The Union of Astronomers in Bulgaria.

A Student-Centered Astronomical Research Community of Practice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Genet, Russell; Johnson, Jolyon; Boyce, Pat; Boyce, Grady; Buchheim, obert; Harshaw, Richard; Kenney, John; Collins, Dwight; Rowe, David; Brewer, Mark; Estrada, Reed; Estrada, Chris; Gillette, Sean; Ridgely, John; McNab, Christine; Freed, Rachel; Wallen, Vera

2016-05-01

For over a decade, students from Cuesta College and number of high schools have engaged in astronomical research during one-term seminars. A community of practice - consisting of students, educators, and astronomers - has formed that is centered on supporting the students' astronomical research. The seminar has recently adopted distance education technology and automated telescopes in a hybrid form of on-line and inperson collaborations between students, educators, and astronomers. This hybridization is not only resulting in new areas of growth and opportunity, but has created a number of challenges. For example, as more schools joined this seminar, standardized teaching materials such as a textbook and self-paced, online learning units had to be developed. Automated telescopes devoted to expanding student research opportunities within this community of practice are being brought on line by Concordia University and the Boyce Research Initiatives and Educational Foundation. The Institute for Student Astronomical Research supports this growing community in many ways including maintaining a website and editing books of student papers published through the Collins Foundation Press.

Structures of twilight patrol in the "Churyumov's Unified network" to ensure continuous monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Churyumov, K. I.; Steklov, A. F.; Vidmachenko, A. P.; Dashkiev, G. N.; Steklov, E. A.; Slipchenko, A. S.; Romaniuk, Ya. O.; Nevodovskyi, P. V.

2016-10-01

1. Three types of astronomical observations, and three classes of astronomical observatories. Over 70% of the observer's time in astronomical observatories accounted for the night of observation after the end of astronomical twilight. Prior to 15.02.2013, from the famous invasion of the Chelyabinsk large meteoroid in morning twilight, astronomers practically no carried out the twilight observations. But it is such morning and evening twilight observation, became the main "highlight" of the authors in the past four years [3, 5, 7]. Results were unexpected, and they allowed us to state that in our time the astronomical observatory (AO) should be divided into AO for nighttime astronomical observations (NAO), daily astronomical observations (DAO) and AO for twilight astronomical observations (SAO). 2. The real problem of AO DAO and SAO. We affirm, that in the interest of health and safety the inhabitants of our cities, astronomers are obliged significantly expand a circle and list of observations; need to include in it astrophysical observations and registration of facts and traces of all kinds of hazardous aerospace invasions into the sky over our cities. Society and the state allocate their money on the development of astronomical observatories, and therefore are entitled to demand recoil in the form of constant monitoring to ensure nocturnal, daytime and twilight control, for their safety the realities of modern complex time. And it is, in the conditions of aggravation of ecological problems, at climate evolution and of the increasing amount of harmful technogenic pollutants emissions in conditions of constant asteroid and comet hazard [10, 11], and especially within the present conditions of hybrid wars [8, 9]. That is why it is necessary give off sufficient observational time for the monitoring control on the facts and trail of all sorts of dangerous invasions. All astronomical observatories could create their own sectors, which would provide ground and space calibrating control of facts and traces of all kinds of dangerous invasions. 3. Twilight patrol of "Churyumov Unified Network" and the study of invasions of fragments of cometary nuclei in the Earth's atmosphere. The costs of the study of the comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko 67P and its nuclei, on all mission of Rosetta-Philae, amounted to about EUR 2 billion [6]. Its results have significantly improved our understanding of the physics of cometary phenomena have further exacerbated problems of asteroid and comet hazard. In 2016, astronomers a lot of effort and time allocated for study of the disintegration of cometary nucleus of Ikeya - Murakami (P / 2010 V1) at least 17 of fragments. The authors have created a twilight patrol of "United Network Churyumov" to implement of daytime and twilight observations

Preparing for the Eclipse

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hurst, Anna; Plummer, Julia; Gurton, Suzanne; Schatz, Dennis

2017-01-01

On August 21, 2017, sky gazers all across North America will experience a total solar eclipse, arguably the most breathtaking of all astronomical phenomena. The August eclipse is an ideal astronomical event to observe with young children because it allows them to observe a powerful and easily accessible astronomical phenomenon. Observing…

Intermediary astronomy: Education through the leveraging of networks, partnerships and intermediaries at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manning, Jim; Gurton, Suzy; Gibbs, Michael; Zevin, Dan; Berendsen, Marni; Fraknoi, Andrew

2008-06-01

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) represents a wide body of astronomical interests within the US, including a very vibrant educational section. The ASP aims to play a major role in IYA2009 as shown in this article.

Survival analysis, or what to do with upper limits in astronomical surveys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Isobe, Takashi; Feigelson, Eric D.

1986-01-01

A field of applied statistics called survival analysis has been developed over several decades to deal with censored data, which occur in astronomical surveys when objects are too faint to be detected. How these methods can assist in the statistical interpretation of astronomical data are reviewed.

Daytime School Guided Visits to an Astronomical Observatory in Brazil

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Colombo, Pedro Donizete, Jr.; Silva, Cibelle Celestino; Aroca, Silvia Calbo

2010-01-01

This article analyzes the activity "Daytime School Guided Visits" at an astronomical observatory in Brazil with pupils from primary school. The adopted research methodology relied on questionnaire applications and semistructured interviews. The objectives were to identify the influences of the visits on learning of astronomical concepts…

Effectiveness of Amateur Astronomers as Informal Science Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gibbs, Michael G.; Berendsen, Margaret

2007-01-01

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) conducted a national survey of in-service teachers participating in Project ASTRO. The survey results document (1) the value that teachers place on supplemental astronomy education provided by professional and amateur astronomers, and (2) the difference that teachers perceive in the value provided by…

Are opthalmic hydrophobic coatings useful for astronomical optics?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwab, Christian; Phillips, Andrew C.

2010-07-01

Astronomical optics are often exposed to moisture and dust in observatory environments, which frequently compromises their high-performance coatings. Suitable protective layers to resist dust and moisture accumulation would be extremely advantageous, but have received scant attention thus far. Hydrophobic and scratch-resistant coatings, developed primarily for opthalmic use, exhibit several attractive properties for astronomical optics. We examine the properties of one such coating and its applicability to astronomical mirrors and lenses. This includes efficiency of dust removal, abrasion resistance, moisture resistance, ease of stripping, and transmission across a wide wavelength range.

Astronomical Observatory of Belgrade from 1924 to 1955

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Radovanac, M.

2014-12-01

History of the Astronomical Observatory in Belgrade, as the presentation is done here, become the field of interest to the author of the present monograph in early 2002. Then, together with Luka C. Popovic, during the Conference "Development of Astronomy among Serbs II" held in early April of that year, he prepared a paper entitled "Astronomska opservatorija tokom Drugog Svetskog rata" (Astronomical Observatory in the Second World War). This paper was based on the archives material concerning the Astronomical Observatory which has been professionally bearing in mind the author's position the subject of his work.

A New Python Library for Spectroscopic Analysis with MIDAS Style

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Y.; Luo, A.; Zhao, Y.

2013-10-01

The ESO MIDAS is a system for astronomers to analyze data which many astronomers are using. Python is a high level script language and there are many applications for astronomical data process. We are releasing a new Python library which realizes some MIDAS commands in Python. People can use it to write a MIDAS style Python code. We call it PydasLib. It is a Python library based on ESO MIDAS functions, which is easily used by astronomers who are familiar with the usage of MIDAS.

The Impact of the Qur'anic Conception of Astronomical Phenomena on Islamic Civilization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, I. A.

Discussions of astronomical phenomena in religious texts usually center around either their literal astronomical content or their symbolic significance. We shall instead consider the use of frequent references to astronomical phenomena in the Qur'an as exhortations to a worldview that ushered in the modern era. The Qur'anic conception of astronomical phenomena had a critical impact on Islamic civilization and the civilizations that followed because it introduced and mandated the adoption of certain attitudes. Among these were a greater respect for empirical data than was common in the preceding Greek civilization and an insistence that the Universe is ruled by a single set of laws. Both of these were rooted in the Islamic concept of tawhîd, the unity of God.

Astronomy and astronomical education in the FSU (Former Soviet Union)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bochkarev, Nikolai G.

The current situation in astronomy and astronomical education over the territory of the Former Soviet Union is traced. New facilities for radioastronomy are being put into work - the most important of them being the 2 coupled 32-m dishes, VLBI network "Quasar"; a number of observatories are acquiring an international status (in the frame of CIS); INTERNET is becoming available for an increasing number of astronomical institutions. Azerbaijan astronomers have overcome their isolation from the rest of the world and cooperate actively with the astronomical community. All-Russia and international olympics in astronomy for high school students are held and attract participants from increasing number of regions of Russia and other states. The outcome of the 9th JENAM in Moscow and of the events attached to the Meeting is presented.

AIRE-Linux

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Jianfeng; Xu, Benda; Peng, Chuan; Yang, Yang; Huo, Zhuoxi

2015-08-01

AIRE-Linux is a dedicated Linux system for astronomers. Modern astronomy faces two big challenges: massive observed raw data which covers the whole electromagnetic spectrum, and overmuch professional data processing skill which exceeds personal or even a small team's abilities. AIRE-Linux, which is a specially designed Linux and will be distributed to users by Virtual Machine (VM) images in Open Virtualization Format (OVF), is to help astronomers confront the challenges. Most astronomical software packages, such as IRAF, MIDAS, CASA, Heasoft etc., will be integrated into AIRE-Linux. It is easy for astronomers to configure and customize the system and use what they just need. When incorporated into cloud computing platforms, AIRE-Linux will be able to handle data intensive and computing consuming tasks for astronomers. Currently, a Beta version of AIRE-Linux is ready for download and testing.

Project ASTRO NOVA brings Standard Based Astronomy to New Jersey Schools.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van der Veen, W.; Vinski, J.; Gallagher, A. C.

2000-12-01

Begun in 1998, Project ASTRO NOVA is hosted by the Planetarium at Raritan Valley Community College in Somerville, New Jersey. It is part of a National Network of eleven Project ASTRO sites created by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific with financial support of the National Science Foundation (see other papers at this meeting). Our goal is to bring hands-on inquiry based astronomy into classrooms and help teachers meet the New Jersey Science Standards. New Jersey mandates the teaching of astronomy in grades K-12 and statewide assessment takes place in grades 4 and 8. Capitalizing on New Jersey's record number of amateur astronomers per capita our site has trained 75 astronomers (including 21 professional astronomers) over the last three years. Before the start of each school year a new group of astronomers is trained together with their partner teacher(s) in the use of hands-on and age-appropriate astronomy activities that support the New Jersey Science Standards. Astronomers adopt a classroom and visit the same students at least four times during the year. Currently 53 astronomers are participating during the 2000-2001 school year. The program in New Jersey targets teachers in grades 3-9. A total of 114 teachers have been training at our annual workshops and 75 of them are participating during the 2000-2001 school year. Satisfaction with the program has been high with students, teachers and astronomers. When students meet scientists as role models and experience that doing science can be a lot of fun they become more interested. At the same time teachers are re-energized and gain a better understanding of how to teach science and astronomy. Finally, astronomers have the satisfaction of making a real difference in the lives of thousands of children, gain a better understanding of the issues in K-12 education and learn new teaching strategies for use in their college classes or astronomy clubs. In general we find that students and teachers are becoming better astronomers and scientists and that astronomers are becoming better teachers. Project ASTRO NOVA acknowledges support from the National Science Foundation, the 3M Corporation, the New York Mercantile Exchange Charitable Foundation and the New Jersey Space Grant Consortium.

New Directions in the NOAO Observing Proposal System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gasson, David; Bell, Dave

For the past eight years NOAO has been refining its on-line observing proposal system. Virtually all related processes are now handled electronically. Members of the astronomical community can submit proposals through email, web form, or via the Gemini Phase I Tool. NOAO staff can use the system to do administrative tasks, scheduling, and compilation of various statistics. In addition, all information relevant to the TAC process is made available on-line, including the proposals themselves (in HTML, PDF and PostScript) and technical comments. Grades and TAC comments are entered and edited through web forms, and can be sorted and filtered according to specified criteria. Current developments include a move away from proprietary solutions, toward open standards such as SQL (in the form of the MySQL relational database system), Perl, PHP and XML.

IRAS asteroid families

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Veeder, G. J.; Williams, J. G.; Tedesco, E. F.; Matson, D. L.

1991-01-01

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) sampled the entire asteroid population at wavelengths from 12 to 100 microns during its 1983 all sky survey. The IRAS Minor Planet Survey (IMPS) includes updated results for more recently numbered as well as other additional asteroids with reliable orbital elements. Albedos and diameters were derived from the observed thermal emission and assumed absolute visual magnitudes and then entered into the IMPS database at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC) for members of the Themis, Eos, Koronis and Maria asteroid families and compared with their visual colors. The IMPS results for the small (down to about 20 km) asteroids within these major families confirm trends previously noted for their larger members. Each of these dynamical families which are defined by their similar proper elements appears to have homogeneous physical properties.

Future Sky Surveys: New Discovery Frontiers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tyson, J. Anthony; Borne, Kirk D.

2012-03-01

Driven by the availability of new instrumentation, there has been an evolution in astronomical science toward comprehensive investigations of new phenomena. Major advances in our understanding of the Universe over the history of astronomy have often arisen from dramatic improvements in our capability to observe the sky to greater depth, in previously unexplored wavebands, with higher precision, or with improved spatial, spectral, or temporal resolution. Substantial progress in the important scientific problems of the next decade (determining the nature of dark energy and dark matter, studying the evolution of galaxies and the structure of our own Milky Way, opening up the time domain to discover faint variable objects, and mapping both the inner and outer Solar System) can be achieved through the application of advanced data mining methods and machine learning algorithms operating on the numerous large astronomical databases that will be generated from a variety of revolutionary future sky surveys. Over the next decade, astronomy will irrevocably enter the era of big surveys and of really big telescopes. New sky surveys (some of which will produce petabyte-scale data collections) will begin their operations, and one or more very large telescopes (ELTs = Extremely Large Telescopes) will enter the construction phase. These programs and facilities will generate a remarkable wealth of data of high complexity, endowed with enormous scientific knowledge discovery potential. New parameter spaces will be opened, in multiple wavelength domains as well as the time domain, across wide areas of the sky, and down to unprecedented faint source flux limits. The synergies of grand facilities, massive data collections, and advanced machine learning algorithms will come together to enable discoveries within most areas of astronomical science, including Solar System, exo-planets, star formation, stellar populations, stellar death, galaxy assembly, galaxy evolution, quasar evolution, and cosmology. Current and future sky surveys, comprising an alphabet soup of project names (e.g., Pan- STARRS, WISE, Kepler, DES, VST, VISTA, GAIA, EUCLID, SKA, LSST, and WFIRST; some of which are discussed in Chapters 17, 18, and 20),will contribute to the exponential explosion of complex data in astronomy. The scientific goals of these projects are as monumental as the programs themselves. The core scientific output of all of these will be their scientific data collection. Consequently, data mining and machine learning algorithms and specialists will become a common component of future astronomical research with these facilities. This synergistic combination and collaboration among multiple disciplines are essential in order to maximize the scientific discovery potential, the science output, the research efficiency, and the success of these projects.

Armenian Archaeoastronomy and Astronomy in Culture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mickaelian, Areg M.; Farmanyan, Sona V.

2016-12-01

A review is given on archaeoastronomy in Armenia and astronomical knowledge reflected in the Armenian culture. Astronomy in Armenia was popular since ancient times and Armenia is rich in its astronomical heritage, such as the names of the constellations, ancient observatories, Armenian rock art (numerous petroglyphs of astronomical content), ancient and medieval Armenian calendars, astronomical terms and names used in Armenian language since II-I millennia B.C., records of astronomical events by ancient Armenians (e.g. Halley's comet in 87 B.C., supernovae explosion in 1054), the astronomical heritage of the Armenian medieval great thinker Anania Shirakatsi's (612-685), medieval sky maps and astronomical devices by Ghukas (Luca) Vanandetsi (XVII-XVIII centuries) and Mkhitar Sebastatsi (1676-1749), etc. For systemization and further regular studies, we have created a webpage devoted to Armenian archaeoastronomical matters at Armenian Astronomical Society (ArAS) website. Issues on astronomy in culture include astronomy in ancient Armenian cultures, ethnoastronomy, astronomy in Armenian religion and mythology, astronomy and astrology, astronomy in folklore and poetry, astronomy in arts, astrolinguistics and astroheraldry. A similar webpage for Astronomy in Armenian Culture is being created at ArAS website and a permanent section "Archaeoastronomy and Astronomy in Culture" has been created in ArAS Electronic Newsletter. Several meetings on this topic have been organized in Armenia during 2007-2014, including the archaeoastronomical meetings in 2012 and 2014, and a number of books have been published. Several institutions are related to these studies coordinated by Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) and researchers from the fields of astronomy, history, archaeology, literature, linguistics, etc. are involved.

Exploring Seventh-Grade Students' and Pre-Service Science Teachers' Misconceptions in Astronomical Concepts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Korur, Fikret

2015-01-01

Pre-service science teachers' conceptual understanding of astronomical concepts and their misconceptions in these concepts is crucial to study since they will teach these subjects in middle schools after becoming teachers. This study aimed to explore both seventh-grade students' and the science teachers' understanding of astronomical concepts and…

Photutils: Photometry tools

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bradley, Larry; Sipocz, Brigitta; Robitaille, Thomas; Tollerud, Erik; Deil, Christoph; Vinícius, Zè; Barbary, Kyle; Günther, Hans Moritz; Bostroem, Azalee; Droettboom, Michael; Bray, Erik; Bratholm, Lars Andersen; Pickering, T. E.; Craig, Matt; Pascual, Sergio; Greco, Johnny; Donath, Axel; Kerzendorf, Wolfgang; Littlefair, Stuart; Barentsen, Geert; D'Eugenio, Francesco; Weaver, Benjamin Alan

2016-09-01

Photutils provides tools for detecting and performing photometry of astronomical sources. It can estimate the background and background rms in astronomical images, detect sources in astronomical images, estimate morphological parameters of those sources (e.g., centroid and shape parameters), and perform aperture and PSF photometry. Written in Python, it is an affiliated package of Astropy (ascl:1304.002).

Using Astronomical Photographs to Investigate Misconceptions about Galaxies and Spectra: Question Development for Clicker Use

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Hyunju; Schneider, Stephen E.

2015-01-01

Many topics in introductory astronomy at the college or high-school level rely implicitly on using astronomical photographs and visual data in class. However, students bring many preconceptions to their understanding of these materials that ultimately lead to misconceptions, and the research about students' interpretation of astronomical images…

Humason, Milton La Salle (1891-1972)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murdin, P.

2000-11-01

American astronomer, born in Dodge Center, MN, who began his astronomical career as a muleteer and janitor at the Mount Wilson Observatory, and became a night assistant. He learnt photography and became HUBBLE's research assistant and then an astronomer in his own right, measuring the speeds of faint galaxies, and the properties of the supernovae in them....

Using Astronomical Photographs to Investigate Misconceptions about Galaxies and Spectra: Question Development for Clicker Use

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Hyunju; Schneider, Stephen E.

2015-01-01

Many topics in introductory astronomy at the college or high-school level rely implicitly on using astronomical photographs and visual data in class. However, students bring many preconceptions to their understanding of these materials that ultimately lead to misconceptions, and research about students' interpretation of astronomical images has…

Almanacs and Other Publications - Naval Oceanography Portal

Science.gov Websites

are here: Home › USNO › Astronomical Applications › Almanacs and Other Publications USNO Logo USNO Navigation Data Services Astronomical Information Center Almanacs and Other Publications Software Products For DoD Users Info Almanacs and Other Publications Annual Astronomical and Navigational Almanacs

Project ASTRO: How-To Manual for Teachers and Astronomers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Richter, Jessica; Fraknoi, Andrew

Project ASTRO is an innovative program to support science education by linking teachers and students in grades 4-9 with amateur and professional astronomers with the overall goal being to increase students' interest in astronomy and science in general. This manual was designed for teachers, amateur and professional astronomers, youth group…

Astronomy research via the Internet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ratnatunga, Kavan U.

Small developing countries may not have a dark site with good seeing for an astronomical observatory or be able to afford the financial commitment to set up and support such a facility. Much of astronomical research today is however done with remote observations, such as from telescopes in space, or obtained by service observing at large facilities on the ground. Cutting-edge astronomical research can now be done with low-cost computers, with a good Internet connection to get on-line access to astronomical observations, journals and most recent preprints. E-mail allows fast easy collaboration between research scientitists around the world. An international program with some short-term collaborative visits, could mine data and publish results from available astronomical observations for a fraction of the investment and cost of running even a small local observatory. Students who have been trained in the use of computers and software by such a program would also be more employable in the current job market. The Internet can reach you wherever you like to be and give you direct access to whatever you need for astronomical research.

"She is an astronomer" in Spain; the International Year of Astronomy 2009 and beyond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Márquez, I.

2011-11-01

The work of the Spanish node for the IYA2009 Cornerstoneproject, "She is an Astronomer" is presented. Our team developedseveral projects with the common goal of promoting gender equality andwomen participation in professional and amateur astronomy, andsupporting the training of young women researchers andtechnologists. The main ones were: 1)Calendar "Women astronomerswho made history". We highlighted exceptional women, fromdifferent epochs and countries, whose contributions to theadvancement of science deserve to transcend anonymity and occupy aplace in history.2) "Women in the stars" was a series of 8 TV programsdevoted to the contribution of Spanish women astronomers, made incollaboration with the UNED.3) "Women in Spanish Astronomy: analysis of a peculiar situation: A universe to discover", was the first sociological study of this type, including quantitative and qualitative (individual and group interviews) analyses. 4) The exhibit "She Astronomer", was aimed at teaching astronomy from a new perspective: the relevant contributions by women astronomers from different times and places.The main aims of the "Commission for Women and Astronomy",recently created within the Spanish Astronomical Society (SEA), are alsodescribed.

La trama celeste: por qué educar en astronomía. Una oportunidad de aprendizajes múltiples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

García, B.

2016-08-01

Astronomy education at all levels has been an issue addressed by the International Astronomical Union as part of its 2010--2020 plan. The content on astronomical topics are in the curriculum at primary and secondary levels worldwide. Being a cross-discipline, astronomy is also a science that allows to introduce students to the study of the nature in a non-confrontational way: no one is indifferent to their concepts and discoveries. The International Astronomical Union, through its Commission on Education and Development of Astronomy, has implemented, sponsored and carried out over the past five years two special programs, one about didactics of astronomy for teachers of middle level and another one for the transmission of astronomical topics for the disabled. In this presentation, achievements and impact of these programs are shared.

Advanced statistical methods for improved data analysis of NASA astrophysics missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Feigelson, Eric D.

1992-01-01

The investigators under this grant studied ways to improve the statistical analysis of astronomical data. They looked at existing techniques, the development of new techniques, and the production and distribution of specialized software to the astronomical community. Abstracts of nine papers that were produced are included, as well as brief descriptions of four software packages. The articles that are abstracted discuss analytical and Monte Carlo comparisons of six different linear least squares fits, a (second) paper on linear regression in astronomy, two reviews of public domain software for the astronomer, subsample and half-sample methods for estimating sampling distributions, a nonparametric estimation of survival functions under dependent competing risks, censoring in astronomical data due to nondetections, an astronomy survival analysis computer package called ASURV, and improving the statistical methodology of astronomical data analysis.

Status of the profession

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boyce, Peter B.; Beichman, Charles A.; Abt, Helmut A.; Bauer, Wendy Hagen; Burbidge, Geoffrey; Cochran, Anita L.; Dorfman, Robert; Harris, Hugh; Havlen, Robert; Jones, Christine

1991-01-01

The number of astronomers has grown by about 40 percent over the past decade. The number of astronomers with jobs in industry, or with long-term, non-tenured, jobs has increased dramatically compared with traditional faculty positions. The increase in the number of astronomers and the declining share of the NSF budget going to astronomy has led to extreme difficulties in the NSF grant program and in support of the National Observatories. In 1989, direct NASA support of astronomers through the grants program exceeds that of NSF, although the total of the NSF grants program over decade far exceeds that of NASA. Access to major new telescopes will be important issue for the 1990s. US astronomers, who once had a monopoly on telescopes larger than 3 meters, will, by the year 2000, have access to just half of the world's optical telescope area.

Programming Wireless Handheld Devices for Applications in Teaching Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Budiardja, R.; Saranathan, V.; Guidry, M.

2002-12-01

Wireless technology implemented with handheld devices has attractive features because of the potential to access large amounts of data and the prospect of on-the-fly computational analysis from a device that can be carried in a shirt pocket. We shall describe applications of such technology to the general paradigm of making digital wireless connections from the field to upload information and queries to network servers, executing (potentially complex) data analysis and/or database operations on fast network computers, and returning real-time information from this analysis to the handheld device in the field. As illustration, we shall describe several client/server programs that we have written for applications in teaching introductory astronomy. For example, one program allows static and dynamic properties of astronomical objects to be accessed in a remote observation laboratory setting using a digital cell phone or PDA. Another implements interactive quizzing over a cell phone or PDA using a 700-question introductory astronomy quiz database, thus permitting students to study for astronomy quizzes in any environment in which they have a few free minutes and a digital cell phone or wireless PDA. The presentation will include hands-on demonstrations with real devices.

Named Venusian craters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Russell, Joel F.; Schaber, Gerald G.

1993-01-01

Schaber et al. compiled a database of 841 craters on Venus, based on Magellan coverage of 89 percent of the planet's surface. That database, derived from coverage of approximately 98 percent of Venus' surface, has been expanded to 912 craters, ranging in diameter from 1.5 to 280 km. About 150 of the larger craters were previously identified by Pioneer Venus and Soviet Venera projects and subsequently formally named by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Altogether, the crater names submitted to the IAU for approval to date number about 550, a little more than half of the number of craters identified on Magellan images. The IAU will consider more names as they are submitted for approval. Anyone--planetary scientist or layman--may submit names; however, candidate names must conform to IAU rules. The person to be honored must be deceased for at least three years, must not be a religious figure or a military or political figure of the 19th or 20th century, and, for Venus, must be a woman. All formally and provisionally approved names for Venusian impact craters, along with their latitude, longitude, size, and origin of their name, will be presented at LPSC and will be available as handouts.

Starmind: A Fuzzy Logic Knowledge-Based System for the Automated Classification of Stars in the MK System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manteiga, M.; Carricajo, I.; Rodríguez, A.; Dafonte, C.; Arcay, B.

2009-02-01

Astrophysics is evolving toward a more rational use of costly observational data by intelligently exploiting the large terrestrial and spatial astronomical databases. In this paper, we present a study showing the suitability of an expert system to perform the classification of stellar spectra in the Morgan and Keenan (MK) system. Using the formalism of artificial intelligence for the development of such a system, we propose a rules' base that contains classification criteria and confidence grades, all integrated in an inference engine that emulates human reasoning by means of a hierarchical decision rules tree that also considers the uncertainty factors associated with rules. Our main objective is to illustrate the formulation and development of such a system for an astrophysical classification problem. An extensive spectral database of MK standard spectra has been collected and used as a reference to determine the spectral indexes that are suitable for classification in the MK system. It is shown that by considering 30 spectral indexes and associating them with uncertainty factors, we can find an accurate diagnose in MK types of a particular spectrum. The system was evaluated against the NOAO-INDO-US spectral catalog.

Studying the history of Indonesian astronomy: future prospects and possibilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orchiston, Wayne

2017-08-01

In this paper I identify a number of research topoics relating to Indonesian astronomical history that I feel are of international importance. Through these studies, Indonesia can make a valuable contribution to international history of astronomy. I also will discuss the role of SEAAN's new Working Group on Astronomical History and Heritage, and the values of the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage and proceedings of the ICOA conferences as outlets for papers about Indonesian astronomical history. Finally, I mention chapters about Indonesia that will appear in a forthcoming book on the early development of astrophysics in Asia.

History of the astronomical almanacs, yarbooks and calendars, the particapation of the Kyiv University Observatory in their creation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kazantseva, L. V.

2017-05-01

Astronomical Ephemeris, information about the circumstances of apparition various celestial objects long been used for professionals as well as amateur astronomy. The story of annual reference books with similar information was studied not well. In publications sometimes appear inconsistent and incomplete data. In particular, little known facts about participation of Kyiv astronomers in the creation of such publications, it was since the nineteenth century. The analysis of archival sources and funds Astronomical Museum allow drawing conclusions about the significant contribution the University Observatory to ephemeris service

Astronomical Video Suites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Francisco Salgado, Jose

2010-01-01

Astronomer and visual artist Jose Francisco Salgado has directed two astronomical video suites to accompany live performances of classical music works. The suites feature awe-inspiring images, historical illustrations, and visualizations produced by NASA, ESA, and the Adler Planetarium. By the end of 2009, his video suites Gustav Holst's The Planets and Astronomical Pictures at an Exhibition will have been presented more than 40 times in over 10 countries. Lately Salgado, an avid photographer, has been experimenting with high dynamic range imaging, time-lapse, infrared, and fisheye photography, as well as with stereoscopic photography and video to enhance his multimedia works.

Free-space laser communication system with rapid acquisition based on astronomical telescopes.

PubMed

Wang, Jianmin; Lv, Junyi; Zhao, Guang; Wang, Gang

2015-08-10

The general structure of a free-space optical (FSO) communication system based on astronomical telescopes is proposed. The light path for astronomical observation and for communication can be easily switched. A separate camera is used as a star sensor to determine the pointing direction of the optical terminal's antenna. The new system exhibits rapid acquisition and is widely applicable in various astronomical telescope systems and wavelengths. We present a detailed analysis of the acquisition time, which can be decreased by one order of magnitude compared with traditional optical communication systems. Furthermore, we verify software algorithms and tracking accuracy.

Design and Implement of Astronomical Cloud Computing Environment In China-VO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Changhua; Cui, Chenzhou; Mi, Linying; He, Boliang; Fan, Dongwei; Li, Shanshan; Yang, Sisi; Xu, Yunfei; Han, Jun; Chen, Junyi; Zhang, Hailong; Yu, Ce; Xiao, Jian; Wang, Chuanjun; Cao, Zihuang; Fan, Yufeng; Liu, Liang; Chen, Xiao; Song, Wenming; Du, Kangyu

2017-06-01

Astronomy cloud computing environment is a cyber-Infrastructure for Astronomy Research initiated by Chinese Virtual Observatory (China-VO) under funding support from NDRC (National Development and Reform commission) and CAS (Chinese Academy of Sciences). Based on virtualization technology, astronomy cloud computing environment was designed and implemented by China-VO team. It consists of five distributed nodes across the mainland of China. Astronomer can get compuitng and storage resource in this cloud computing environment. Through this environments, astronomer can easily search and analyze astronomical data collected by different telescopes and data centers , and avoid the large scale dataset transportation.

Editorial: Happy IYA to All!

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ang, R. J. Y.

2009-03-01

On February 16, 2009, the official opening of the IYA 2009 Philippine celebration was ushered by the National Organizing Committee, headed by Dr. Cynthia Celebre, Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for IYA 2009 in the Philippines and Chief of the Space Sciences and Astronomy Section of PAGASA. Prior to the event on the 16th, a major convention was held to promote astronomical efforts in the country, the Philippine Astronomy Convention 2009. The convention was organized by the Astronomical League of the Philippines, in partnership with the Rizal Technological University, Manila Planetarium, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), and Sidewalk Astronomers - Philippines.

A Graduate Seminar on Astronomical Citizenship at Indiana University

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pilachowski, Catherine A.; Durisen, Richard H.

A series of graduate seminars on the activities of professional astronomers in the astronomical community was held at Indiana University during the spring 2002 semester. The seminars covered such topics as the role of professional societies, scholarly publishing, teaching, public outreach, the NSF and NASA, and the federal research budget. The goal of the series was first to inform our students about the many aspects of being a professional astronomer that are not covered in their normal coursework, and second, to foster in our students an appreciation of the value of service to the community.

Division XII / Commission 46 / Program Group Exchnage of Astronomers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Percy, John R.; Leung, Kam-Ching; Tolbert, Charles R.

The Commission 46 Program Group Exchange of Astronomers (PG-EA) provides travel grants to astronomers and advanced students for research or study trips of at least three months duration. Highest priority is given to applicants from developing countries whose visits will benefit them, their institution and country, and the institution visited. This program, if used strategically, has the potential to support other Commission 46 programs such as Teaching for Astronomical Development (PG-TAD) and World Wide Development of Astronomy (PG-WWDA). Complete information about the program, and the application procedure, can be found at .

Starstuff.org - Bridging the Cosmos Between Astronomers and the Public

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamm, J. J.; Howell, D. A.

1998-12-01

Starstuff.org is a new web site featuring articles written by astronomers to promote general interest in astronomy and communicate directly the ideas and excitement that make astronomy popular with the public. Traditional media are limited as an outreach tool, because journalists and publishers decide which topics are newsworthy, and many facts are lost in the translation. Starstuff.org circumvents these problems by removing the middleman and allowing astronomers to communicate with the public directly. Readers can be assured of getting accurate information through the firsthand accounts of leaders in the field. This format also allows for the discussion of astronomical concepts and issues that may be important to astronomers but not considered newsworthy by journalists. The unique power of the computers and the internet as instructive tools is harnessed with features such as virtual reality (VRML) explorations of 3D concepts, interactive equations, animations to explain dynamic events, and hyperlinks to emphasize the connections between concepts and direct the reader to further resources. Topics may be explored in more creative ways and in greater depth than in traditional media, and astronomers can reach a wider audience than they could in a traditional lecture. The site's infrastructure, automated processing, and professional programmer/digital artist free contributors from having to know HTML, allowing them to concentrate on creative ways of presenting ideas. Any astronomer with email is encouraged to contribute.

Early German plans for southern observatories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wolfschmidt, G.

2002-07-01

As early as the 18th and 19th centuries, French and English observers were active in South Africa. Around the beginning of the 20th century, Heidelberg and Potsdam astronomers proposed a southern observatory. Then Göttingen astronomers suggested building an observatory in Windhoek for photographing the sky and measuring the solar constant. In 1910 Karl Schwarzschild (1873-1916), after a visit to observatories in the United States, pointed out the usefulness of an observatory in South West Africa, in a climate superior to that in Germany, giving German astronomers access to the southern sky. Seeing tests were begun in 1910 by Potsdam astronomers, but WW I stopped the plans. In 1928 Erwin Finlay-Freundlich (1885-1964), inspired by the Hamburg astronomer Walter Baade (1893-1960), worked out a detailed plan for a southern observatory with a reflecting telescope, spectrographs and an astrograph with an objective prism. Paul Guthnick (1879-1947), director of the Berlin observatory, in cooperation with APO Potsdam and Hamburg, made a site survey to Africa in 1929 and found the conditions in Windhoek to be ideal. Observations were started in the 1930s by Berlin and Breslau astronomers, but were stopped by WW II. In the 1950s, astronomers from Hamburg and The Netherlands renewed the discussion in the framework of European cooperation, and this led to the founding of ESO in 1963.

The Role of Perspective Taking in How Children Connect Reference Frames When Explaining Astronomical Phenomena

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Plummer, Julia D.; Bower, Corinne A.; Liben, Lynn S.

2016-01-01

This study investigates the role of perspective-taking skills in how children explain spatially complex astronomical phenomena. Explaining many astronomical phenomena, especially those studied in elementary and middle school, requires shifting between an Earth-based description of the phenomena and a space-based reference frame. We studied 7- to…

Manpower and Employment in American Astronomy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berendzen, Richard

The study indicates that jobs in astronomy have become severely limited in the last few years, with a near balance between supply and demand of astronomers. The following issues are assessed in this study: the current supply of astronomers in the United States, and its change as a function of time; the background and make-up of astronomers in the…

Aristotle University Astronomical Station at Mt. Holomon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avdellidou, C.; Ioannidis, P.; Kouroubatzakis, K.; Nitsos, A.; Vakoulis, J.; Seiradakis, J. H.

2012-01-01

The Aristotle University Astronomical Station was established seven years ago in order to fulfill the educational needs of its students. Astronomical observations are undertaken using three fully equipped small telescopes. Some interesting results are presented below, including the study of asteroids and flare stars, the detection of optical emission from supernovae remnants and follow up observations in extra solar planets.

The challengers of an astronomer being a journalist

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Podorvanyuk, N.

2015-03-01

As the weakness of russian astronomers in observational astronomy became chronic Russia should enter European Southern Observatory. But the Russian government is still not providing any financing of the entrance of Russia to ESO. The author states this situation as an example of his experience of work as an astronomer and as a journalist at the same time.

Factors Contributing to Amateur Astronomers' Involvement in Education and Public Outreach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yocco, Victor; Jones, Eric C.; Storksdieck, Martin

2012-01-01

Amateur astronomers play a critical role engaging the general public in astronomy. The role of individual and club-related factors is explored using data from two surveys (Survey 1 N = 1142; Survey 2 N = 1242) of amateur astronomers. Analysis suggests that formal or informal training in astronomy, age, club membership, length of club membership,…

VLBI2010: The Astro-Geo Connection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Porcas, Richard

2010-01-01

VLBI2010 holds out promise for greatly increased precision in measuring geodetic and Earth rotation parameters. As a by-product there will be a wealth of interesting new astronomical data. At the same time, astronomical knowledge may be needed to disentangle the astronomical and geodetic contributions to the measured delays and phases. This presentation explores this astro-geo link.

Sky Quality Meter measurements in a colour-changing world

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sánchez de Miguel, A.; Aubé, M.; Zamorano, J.; Kocifaj, M.; Roby, J.; Tapia, C.

2017-05-01

The Sky Quality Meter (SQM) has become the most common device used to track the evolution of the brightness of the sky from polluted regions to first-class astronomical observatories. A vast database of SQM measurements already exists for many places in the world. Unfortunately, the SQM operates over a wide spectral band and its spectral response interacts with the sky's spectrum in a complex manner. This is why the optical signals are difficult to interpret when the data are recorded in regions with different sources of artificial light. The brightness of the night sky is linked in a complex way to ground-based light emissions, while taking into account atmospheric-induced optical distortion as well as spectral transformation from the underlying ground surfaces. While the spectral modulation of the sky's radiance has been recognized, it still remains poorly characterized and quantified. The impact of the SQM's spectral characteristics on sky-brightness measurements is analysed here for different light sources, including low- and high-pressure sodium lamps, PC-amber and white LEDs, metal halide and mercury lamps. We show that a routine conversion of radiance to magnitude is difficult, or rather impossible, because the average wavelength depends on actual atmospheric and environment conditions, the spectrum of the source and device-specific properties. We correlate SQM readings with both the Johnson astronomical photometry bands and the human system of visual perception, assuming different lighting technologies. These findings have direct implications for the processing of SQM data and for their improvement and/or remediation.

The Planetary Archive

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Penteado, Paulo F.; Trilling, David; Szalay, Alexander; Budavári, Tamás; Fuentes, César

2014-11-01

We are building the first system that will allow efficient data mining in the astronomical archives for observations of Solar System Bodies. While the Virtual Observatory has enabled data-intensive research making use of large collections of observations across multiple archives, Planetary Science has largely been denied this opportunity: most astronomical data services are built based on sky positions, and moving objects are often filtered out.To identify serendipitous observations of Solar System objects, we ingest the archive metadata. The coverage of each image in an archive is a volume in a 3D space (RA,Dec,time), which we can represent efficiently through a hierarchical triangular mesh (HTM) for the spatial dimensions, plus a contiguous time interval. In this space, an asteroid occupies a curve, which we determine integrating its orbit into the past. Thus when an asteroid trajectory intercepts the volume of an archived image, we have a possible observation of that body. Our pipeline then looks in the archive's catalog for a source with the corresponding coordinates, to retrieve its photometry. All these matches are stored into a database, which can be queried by object identifier.This database consists of archived observations of known Solar System objects. This means that it grows not only from the ingestion of new images, but also from the growth in the number of known objects. As new bodies are discovered, our pipeline can find archived observations where they could have been recorded, providing colors for these newly-found objects. This growth becomes more relevant with the new generation of wide-field surveys, particularly LSST.We also present one use case of our prototype archive: after ingesting the metadata for SDSS, 2MASS and GALEX, we were able to identify serendipitous observations of Solar System bodies in these 3 archives. Cross-matching these occurrences provided us with colors from the UV to the IR, a much wider spectral range than that commonly used for asteroid taxonomy. We present here archive-derived spectrophotometry from searching for 440 thousand asteroids, from 0.3 to 3 µm. In the future we will expand to other archives, including HST, Spitzer, WISE and Pan-STARRS.

Insights for Planetarium and Museum Educators Revealed by the iSTAR international Study of Astronomical Reasoning Database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slater, T. F.; Tatge, C. B.; Ratcliff, M.; Slater, S. J.

2016-12-01

Dedicated sky watchers through the centuries have long sought to find the best teaching methods to efficiently and effectively transfer vast amounts of accumulated star knowledge to the next generation of sky watchers. Although detailed maps specifying the names and locations of stars have been carefully displayed on spherical globes for thousands of years, it is the 1923 installation of a Zeiss-made, large, mechanical star projector in Munich that is often cited as the first modern projection planetarium for teaching astronomy. In the 1930's, impressive planetariums were installed Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, which then in turn served as a catalyst for additional planetarium construction. Planetarium construction increased rapidly in the United States due to federal funding to schools and museums through the 1958 US National Defense Education Act and the US went from one planetarium in 1930, to six in 1940, to about 100 in 1960, increasing to 200 in 1963, 450 by 1967—even before humans had landed on the Moon—and more than 1,000 by 1975. Today, nearly 3,000 permanent planetarium facilities are available to show the stars and heavenly motions to children and adults alike across the world, with perhaps another thousand portable planetariums adding to the available teaching venues. Simultaneous with their construction, discipline-based astronomy education have been trying to better understand, and ultimately improve, how people learn astronomy in the planetarium. A systematic analysis of planetarium education research articles, dissertations, and theses found in the recently constructed, community-wide, international Study of Astronomical Reasoning iSTAR database at istardatabase.org reveal that many of the systematic studies conducted in the 1960s and 1970s using domes served by servo-mechanical star projects have been reproduced again in recent decades in theaters using digital video projection showing nearly the same results: student-passive, information-download lectures are largely ineffective at enhancing student learning and student attitudes toward science whether they occur in a traditional classroom or multi-media planetarium theater.

Scalable Machine Learning for Massive Astronomical Datasets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ball, Nicholas M.; Gray, A.

2014-04-01

We present the ability to perform data mining and machine learning operations on a catalog of half a billion astronomical objects. This is the result of the combination of robust, highly accurate machine learning algorithms with linear scalability that renders the applications of these algorithms to massive astronomical data tractable. We demonstrate the core algorithms kernel density estimation, K-means clustering, linear regression, nearest neighbors, random forest and gradient-boosted decision tree, singular value decomposition, support vector machine, and two-point correlation function. Each of these is relevant for astronomical applications such as finding novel astrophysical objects, characterizing artifacts in data, object classification (including for rare objects), object distances, finding the important features describing objects, density estimation of distributions, probabilistic quantities, and exploring the unknown structure of new data. The software, Skytree Server, runs on any UNIX-based machine, a virtual machine, or cloud-based and distributed systems including Hadoop. We have integrated it on the cloud computing system of the Canadian Astronomical Data Centre, the Canadian Advanced Network for Astronomical Research (CANFAR), creating the world's first cloud computing data mining system for astronomy. We demonstrate results showing the scaling of each of our major algorithms on large astronomical datasets, including the full 470,992,970 objects of the 2 Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) Point Source Catalog. We demonstrate the ability to find outliers in the full 2MASS dataset utilizing multiple methods, e.g., nearest neighbors. This is likely of particular interest to the radio astronomy community given, for example, that survey projects contain groups dedicated to this topic. 2MASS is used as a proof-of-concept dataset due to its convenience and availability. These results are of interest to any astronomical project with large and/or complex datasets that wishes to extract the full scientific value from its data.

Scalable Machine Learning for Massive Astronomical Datasets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ball, Nicholas M.; Astronomy Data Centre, Canadian

2014-01-01

We present the ability to perform data mining and machine learning operations on a catalog of half a billion astronomical objects. This is the result of the combination of robust, highly accurate machine learning algorithms with linear scalability that renders the applications of these algorithms to massive astronomical data tractable. We demonstrate the core algorithms kernel density estimation, K-means clustering, linear regression, nearest neighbors, random forest and gradient-boosted decision tree, singular value decomposition, support vector machine, and two-point correlation function. Each of these is relevant for astronomical applications such as finding novel astrophysical objects, characterizing artifacts in data, object classification (including for rare objects), object distances, finding the important features describing objects, density estimation of distributions, probabilistic quantities, and exploring the unknown structure of new data. The software, Skytree Server, runs on any UNIX-based machine, a virtual machine, or cloud-based and distributed systems including Hadoop. We have integrated it on the cloud computing system of the Canadian Astronomical Data Centre, the Canadian Advanced Network for Astronomical Research (CANFAR), creating the world's first cloud computing data mining system for astronomy. We demonstrate results showing the scaling of each of our major algorithms on large astronomical datasets, including the full 470,992,970 objects of the 2 Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) Point Source Catalog. We demonstrate the ability to find outliers in the full 2MASS dataset utilizing multiple methods, e.g., nearest neighbors, and the local outlier factor. 2MASS is used as a proof-of-concept dataset due to its convenience and availability. These results are of interest to any astronomical project with large and/or complex datasets that wishes to extract the full scientific value from its data.

Long-publishing astronomers, or the problem of classification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tenn, Joseph S.

2012-03-01

In response to several discussions among astronomers and historians of astronomy, I started out to prepare a paper on long-publishing astronomers-those who published for 70, 75, or even 80 years. However, I soon ran into a number of questions of classification, and that turned out to be at least as interesting. How do we decide on classifications? Every time we choose classes, such as asteroids, planets and stars, we run into objects that seem to be in between. In the present case a number of questions arise: Who is an astronomer? Several of those with the longest publication runs started out as physicists, published for years in that subject only, and later took up astrophysics, eventually publishing a few papers in astronomy journals. What is a publication? Should we count publications in physics, chemistry, or mathematics? What about philosophy of science or history of science? What about the elderly retired astronomer presenting a memoir of his or her own work? Abstracts of oral presentations? Monographs? Textbooks? Book reviews? Obituaries? Then there is the problem of posthumous publications. Probably most would include papers in the pipeline when the astronomer dies, but what about the case where the coauthor finally publishes the paper as much as twenty-two years after the death of the person of interest? I eventually decided to make two lists, one which would include most of the above, and one restricted to papers that make contributions to physical science. Note that I do not say 'refereed', as that presents its own problems, especially when applied to periods before the twentieth century. I present a list of astronomers who have published for periods of 68 to 80 years and discuss the problems of defining such terms as astronomer and publication.

"Word of Discovery": A Planetary Example from Volume I of the Astronomical Journal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hockey, T.

1998-09-01

In 1850, William Lassell (1799-1880) discovered a series of bright white spots, in the south temperate latitudes of Jupiter, unlike any that that been seen before. Lassell's note on these STZ features is a useful example of how astronomical discoveries of the day were communicated among astronomers. Word of Lassell's Spots spread quickly by nineteenth-century standards. This was due, in part, to the recent appearance of journals devoted exclusively to astronomy. The transition from letters as a means of conveying scientific information to journals is reflected in the propagation of Lassell's announcement: a report of Lassell's description of the white spots to the Royal Astronomical Society appeared in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society along with a woodblock print of one of his drawings. This report reappeared shortly thereafter in German translation. It was part of a letter to the editor of the Astronomische Nachrichten, Heinrich Schumacher (1780-1850), from an English correspondent of his, the Reverend Richard Sheepshanks (1974-1855). (Sheepshanks was himself editor of the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.) It then made its way across the Atlantic as a letter from Schumacher to Benjamin Gould (1824-1896), who published it in the first volume of his upstart Astronomical Journal. There it appears in English, again, as Schumacher quoting Sheepshanks quoting Lassell! The observations by Lassell and William Dawes (1799-1868) of this phenomenon also were the first major planetary discovery made using a silvered-glass reflecting telescope. Lassell's Spots have remained in the "astronomical news" of the last 150 years: Most recently, they appeared worldwide in images showing the Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 impact sites.

Amateur Astronomers as Champions of IYA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berendsen, M.; White, V.; Hawkins, I.; Mayo, L.; Pompea, S. M.; Sparks, R.; Day, B.; Mann, T.; Walker, C.; Fienberg, R. T.

2008-11-01

One of the main goals of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009) is to provide the public with opportunities to experience the universe through the eyepiece of a telescope. Amateur astronomers are uniquely equipped to fulfill this goal by offering their knowledge, time, and telescopes at public events in their communities. The NASA Night Sky Network (http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov) will be a hub for access to programs that support amateur astronomers doing such outreach during IYA2009, including a set of monthly themes with materials and activities to complement each theme. Many of the programs will be available to amateur astronomers worldwide. Among the other programs and organizations collaborating with the ASP to provide resources to amateur astronomers in their roles as informal educators during IYA2009 are: GLOBE at Night, Dark Skies Discovery Sites, NASA's LCROSS Mission, IYA's Looking through a Telescope working group, NASA's Sun-Earth Connection, and Galileoscopes.

Communicable Astronomy for IYA: Using the Networks of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific for Education and Outreach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manning, J.; Gibbs, M.; Gurton, S.; Fraknoi, A.

2008-12-01

At the forefront of sharing the excitement of the exploration of the universe for 120 years, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) is poised to use its networks and services to implement education and outreach programs for the 2009 International Year of Astronomy (IYA). The ASP is partnering with NASA, the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the American Astronomical Society (AAS) and other organizations on IYA projects, and is developing signature programs for implementation--with the overarching goal of employing its networks of scientists, educators and amateur astronomers in efforts to improve science education and science literacy. This presentation will describe the ASP's efforts to make astronomy and science "communicable" through these astronomy intermediaries--to reach the larger public, to link astronomy to other sciences, and to create legacy programs that will continue beyond 2009.

Fundamentalist physics: why Dark Energy is bad for astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, Simon D. M.

2007-06-01

Astronomers carry out observations to explore the diverse processes and objects which populate our Universe. High-energy physicists carry out experiments to approach the Fundamental Theory underlying space, time and matter. Dark Energy is a unique link between them, reflecting deep aspects of the Fundamental Theory, yet apparently accessible only through astronomical observation. Large sections of the two communities have therefore converged in support of astronomical projects to constrain Dark Energy. In this essay I argue that this convergence can be damaging for astronomy. The two communities have different methodologies and different scientific cultures. By uncritically adopting the values of an alien system, astronomers risk undermining the foundations of their own current success and endangering the future vitality of their field. Dark Energy is undeniably an interesting problem to tackle through astronomical observation, but it is one of many and not necessarily the one where significant progress is most likely to follow a major investment of resources.

Television as an Aid to Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thompson, Samantha

2018-01-01

In the late nineteenth-century, readily available dry, gelatin-based photographic emulsions revolutionized astronomy. Photography not only provided a permanent record, but also allowed for integration over extended exposures, helping astronomers observe fainter objects than possible with the eye alone. In 1942, television pioneer Vladimir Zworykin, patented the Telelectroscope, an electronic telescope which removed the observer from the eyepiece and replaced photographic emulsion with a television camera. By the mid-1950s, the astronomical community had developed a growing interest in the possible uses of television technology and at the 1955 Dublin meeting of the IAU, a special session was devoted to the application of television in astronomy.Here, I will examine the use of commercially-available television camera tubes by professional and amateur astronomers and explain how results from these early observations encouraged the astronomical community to further test, design, and build electronic imaging devices specifically for astronomical use.

Ancient Astronomical Hieroglyphs of the Armenian Highland and their Echo in Architectural Structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ter-Gulanyan, Ani

2014-10-01

The credo-spiritual structure formed as a result of astronomical knowledge in the Armenian Highland and recognition of the universe, with its symbolistic signs - which, in our opinion, were expressed in particular by astronomic horoscope hieroglyphs - have had their worship and spiritual speculative feedback both in architecture and in different other arts, especially in symbolic jewelry. A visible link is noticed between the shift of constellations and the civilization development phases. Identification of archeological sources gives the ground to conclude that Armenia has been one of the centers of astronomy. The astronomical signs, having a local origin and having formed ancient astronomical-worship, spiritual-credo structure, have found the feedback of its developments also in other biospheres with respective unique manifestations, in both ancient pagan church architecture and the Christian church architecture, both as a volume form and as a spiritual ideology, with its credosymbolistic signs.

Construction of the iSTAR international Study of Astronomical Reasoning Database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slater, S. J.; Tatge, C. B.; Slater, T. F.; Bretones, P. S.; Schleigh, S.

2016-12-01

Perhaps more than any other science discipline-based education research field, the scholarly literature base describing and documenting astronomy education research is highly fragmented and widely dispersed across numerous journals. The resulting wide diversity of journals that publish astronomy education research presents an arduous challenge for scholars trying to best understand what work has been done and what work still needs to be done. Moreover, a vast amount of education research on the teaching and learning of astronomy exists in dissertations that were never published and even more exists in the realm of un-disseminated grey literature hosted in conference proceedings and society newsletters going back decades. With a few notable exceptions far less extensive than the current project, there has been no comprehensive repository for cataloging astronomy education research methods and results to date. In response, an international cadre of scholars coordinated by the CAPER Center for Astronomy & Physics Education Research are creating the underlying structure for an online database in order to conduct an international Study of Astronomy Reasoning, iSTAR, project. The online iSTAR database serves as an online host to bring together in one place digital copies of hard to locate journal articles, isolated dissertations and theses, and professional meeting contributions to extend the world's scholars abilities to more easily find and utilize a far broader collection of astronomy education research literature than has been previously available. Works are categorized by research method, nature of study-participants, educational learning venue studied, country and language of the study, and other fruitfully useful categories. Scholars wishing to add their own literature resources are encouraged to contribute to the online database located at istardatabase.org

A Database of Young Star Clusters for Five Hundred Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evans, Jessica; Whitmore, B. C.; Lindsay, K.; Chandar, R.; Larsen, S.

2009-01-01

The study of young massive stellar clusters has faced a series of observational challenges, such as the use of inconsistent data sets and low number statistics. To rectify these shortcomings, this project will use the source lists developed as part of the Hubble Legacy Archive to obtain a large, uniform database of super star clusters in nearby star-forming galaxies in order to address two fundamental astronomical questions: 1) To what degree is the cluster luminosity (and mass) function of star clusters universal? 2) What fraction of super star clusters are "missing" in optical studies (i.e., are hidden by dust)? The archive's recent data release (Data Release 2 - September, 2008) will help us achieve the large sample necessary (N 50 galaxies for multi-wavelength, N 500 galaxies for ACS F814W). The uniform data set will comprise of ACS, WFPC2, and NICMOS data, with DAOphot used for object detection. This database will also support comparisons with new Monte-Carlo simulations that have independently been developed in the past few years, and will be used to test the Whitmore, Chandar, Fall (2007) framework designed to understand the demographics of star clusters in all star forming galaxies. The catalogs will increase the number of galaxies with measured mass and luminosity functions by an order of magnitude, and will provide a powerful new tool for comparative studies, both ours and the community's. The poster will describe our preliminary investigation for the first 30 galaxies in the sample.

WAIS Searching of the Current Contents Database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banholzer, P.; Grabenstein, M. E.

The Homer E. Newell Memorial Library of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is developing capabilities to permit Goddard personnel to access electronic resources of the Library via the Internet. The Library's support services contractor, Maxima Corporation, and their subcontractor, SANAD Support Technologies have recently developed a World Wide Web Home Page (http://www-library.gsfc.nasa.gov) to provide the primary means of access. The first searchable database to be made available through the HomePage to Goddard employees is Current Contents, from the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI). The initial implementation includes coverage of articles from the last few months of 1992 to present. These records are augmented with abstracts and references, and often are more robust than equivalent records in bibliographic databases that currently serve the astronomical community. Maxima/SANAD selected Wais Incorporated's WAIS product with which to build the interface to Current Contents. This system allows access from Macintosh, IBM PC, and Unix hosts, which is an important feature for Goddard's multiplatform environment. The forms interface is structured to allow both fielded (author, article title, journal name, id number, keyword, subject term, and citation) and unfielded WAIS searches. The system allows a user to: Retrieve individual journal article records. Retrieve Table of Contents of specific issues of journals. Connect to articles with similar subject terms or keywords. Connect to other issues of the same journal in the same year. Browse journal issues from an alphabetical list of indexed journal names.

Erratum: "Meeting the Cool Neighbors. X. Ultracool Dwarfs from the 2MASS All-Sky Data Release" (2008, AJ, 136, 1290)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reid, I. Neill; Cruz, Kelle L.; Kirkpatrick, J. Davy; Allen, Peter R.; Mungall, F.; Liebert, James; Lowrance, Patrick; Sweet, Anne

2008-11-01

IOP Publishing sincerely regrets that an error was made in the acknowledgements section of this article. This has been amended in the online journal and the corrected text is reproduced below. The NStars research described in this paper was partially supported by a grant awarded as part of the NASA Space Interferometry Mission Science Program, administered by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena. Support for K.L.C. is provided by NASA through the Spitzer Space Telescope Fellowship Program, through a contract issued by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology under a contract with NASA. P.R.A. acknowledges support from grant NAG5-11627 to Kevin Luhman from the NASA Long-Term Space Astrophysics program. This publication makes use of data products from the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS), which is a joint project of the University of Massachusetts and the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center/California Institute of Technology, funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation. We acknowledge use of the NASA/IPAC Infrared Source Archive (IRSA), which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with NASA. We also acknowledge making extensive use of the SIMBAD database, maintained by Strasbourg Observatory, and of the ADS bibliographic service. This research has made extensive use of the M-, L-, and T-dwarf compendium housed at DwarfArchives.org and maintained by Chris Gelino, Davy Kirkpatrick, and Adam Burgasser. This program has also profited from extensive allocations of telescope time at both Kitt Peak Observatory and Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO). We thank the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Telescope Allocation Committees for their support of this project and acknowledge the courteous and efficient assistance of the technical support staff: John Glaspey, Darryl Willmarth, Diane Harmer, Bill Gillespie, Hillary Mathis, and Hal Halbedel at KPNO, and Alberto Alvarez, Angel Guerra, and Patricio Ugarte at CTIO. We apologize to the authors of the article and to readers of the journal for this unfortunate error.

Astronomical diaries and observations from the time of the Great War

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shanklin, J. D.

2003-10-01

My great grandfather Harry Thomas, of Llandudno, kept diaries for many years. Only those for 1913 to 1916 survive, though they contain passing references to earlier volumes. Items of astronomical interest are presented here. Harry's brother, Dr Bernard Thomas (1868?1935 May 13), at this time lived in Hobart, Tasmania and was a more serious amateur astronomer.

Abilities of Celestial Observations in Astronomical Observatory of Physics Institute in Opole

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Godłowski, W.; Szpanko, M.

2010-12-01

We present possibilities of astronomical investigation in Astronomical Observatory in Opole. Our observatory uses two telescopes: Celestron CGE-1400 XLT (35 cm) and Meade LX200 (30 cm) with spectrograph and CCD Camera. Main topic of our observational investigation is connected with observations of variable stars, minor bodies of the solar system, blazers and the Sun.

July 22, 2009 ALP Total Solar Eclipse Expedition to Wuhan, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ty, J. K.; Lao, F., Jr.

2009-12-01

On July 22, 2009, the Astronomical League of the Philippines sent a contingent of astronomers to Wuhan, China to observe and record the longest total solar eclipse of the century. Other Filipino astronomers were stationed at Shanghai and Jiaxing, China, and a group of society members also made observations in the Philippines - mainly engaged in public outreach and scientific observation.

``Orion, I Don't Love You'': The Astronomical Legacy of Carl Sandburg

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ricca, B.

2013-04-01

Can poetry provide an accurate means of representing the scientific universe? This paper looks at the astronomical poetry of Carl Sandburg and how the poet employs a scientific framework to deepen his work. Sandburg's method is then compared to a class project of middle school students who use his poetry (and their own) to learn and understand astronomical facts.

al-Sufi, Abu al-Rahman (903-86)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murdin, P.

2000-11-01

Persian astronomer, published works on astronomical instruments. Revised PTOLEMY's star catalog as the Book of the Constellations of the Fixed Stars, with improved magnitudes, stars named by reference to constellation figures (much copied, for example by ALFONSO X as Libros del Saber de Astronomìa), and nebulae, including the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). However, the work was not entirely original sin...

The Most Productive Years of Average Astronomers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abt, Helmut A.

2017-11-01

We learned previously that geniuses and outstanding scientists have peak productivities in their 30s but produce little late in life. This time we consider average astronomers who have completed their careers (25 American Astronomical Society members who died recently) and found that they peak in their mid 40s and did half of their life's important output after age 50.

Young Star HD 141569

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-01-30

This image shows the dusty disk of planetary material surrounding the young star HD 141569, located 380 light-years away from Earth. It was taken using the vortex coronagraph on the W.M. Keck Observatory. The vortex suppressed light from the star in the center, revealing light from the innermost ring of planetary material around the star (blue). The disk around the star, made of olivine particles, extends from 23 to 70 astronomical units from the star. By comparison, Uranus is over 19 astronomical units from our sun, and Neptune about 30 astronomical units. One astronomical unit is the distance between Earth and our sun. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21090

Infrared upconversion for astronomical applications. [laser applications to astronomical spectroscopy of infrared spectra

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abbas, M. M.; Kostiuk, T.; Ogilvie, K. W.

1975-01-01

The performance of an upconversion system is examined for observation of astronomical sources in the low to middle infrared spectral range. Theoretical values for the performance parameters of an upconversion system for astronomical observations are evaluated in view of the conversion efficiencies, spectral resolution, field of view, minimum detectable source brightness and source flux. Experimental results of blackbody measurements and molecular absorption spectrum measurements using a lithium niobate upconverter with an argon-ion laser as the pump are presented. Estimates of the expected optimum sensitivity of an upconversion device which may be built with the presently available components are given.

Current and Future Capabilities of the 74-inch Telescope of Kottamia Astronomical Observatory in Egypt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azzam, Y. A.; Ali, G. B.; Ismail, H. A.; Haroon, A.; Selim, I.

In this paper, we are going to introduce the Kottamia Astronomical Observatory, KAO, to the astronomical community. The current status of the telescope together with the available instrumentations is described. An upgrade stage including a new optical system and a computer controlling of both the telescope and dome are achieved. The specifications of a set of CCD cameras for direct imaging and spectroscopy are given. A grating spectrograph is recently gifted to KAO from Okayama Astrophysical Observatory, OAO, of the National Astronomical Observatories in Japan. This spectrograph is successfully tested and installed at the F/18 Cassegrain focus of the KAO 74" telescope.

[French astronomical journals an interactivity of the scientific world].

PubMed

Vassilieff, Catherine

2014-01-01

Astronomical data issued from observatories find multiple uses on land, as well as on sea. Due to their structure and periodicity, scientific reviews are particularly adapted to peer review and sharing of data between astronomers as well as between astronomers and hobbyists. During the 19(th) century regional observatories first gather together professionals interested in the practical applications of the observations and later, under the influence of personalities such as Camille Flammarion, they bring together a larger non-professional audience. Being the epicentre of scientific exchange, the reviews have in the 20(th) century found their place on the websites of academic institutions as well as users forums.

Communicating astronomy with the public for scientists

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Girola, R.

2015-03-01

This article intends to convey the improvement regarding the knowledge exchange in the astronomical field through an improvement in the quality of professional communication between researchers, teachers and the like whose job is to broadcast astronomical concepts. It has been a couple of years since the difficulty of communicating astronomical concepts decreased due to institutional projects, schools and education systems. Inside the education system, the need to include astronomy as an innovative element in curricula has become obvious. Outside, an informal public interested in astronomy became greater in number and began to be fostered by different organizations which spread their astronomical knowledge via workshops and demonstrations.

America's foremost early astronomer. [David Rittenhouse

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rubincam, David Parry; Rubincam, Milton, II

1995-01-01

The life of 18th century astronomer, craftsman, and partriot David Rittenhouse is detailed. As a craftsman, he distinguished himself as one of the foremost builders of clocks. He also built magnetic compasses and surveying instruments. The finest examples of his craftsmanship are considered two orreries, mechanical solar systems. In terms of astronomical observations, his best-known contribution was his observation of the transit of Venus in 1769. Rittenhouse constructed the first diffraction grating. Working as Treasurer of Pennsylvania throughout the Revolution, he became the first director of the Mint in 1792. Astronomical observations in later life included charting the position of Uranus after its discovery.

The Most Popular Astronomical Web Server in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Chenzhou; Zhao, Yongheng

Affected by the consistent depressibility of IT economy free homepage space is becoming less and less. It is more and more difficult to construct websites for amateur astronomers who do not have ability to pay for commercial space. In last May with the support of Chinese National Astronomical Observatory and Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope project we setup a special web server (amateur.lamost.org) to provide free huge stable and no-advertisement homepage space to Chinese amateur astronomers and non-professional organizations. After only one year there has been more than 80 websites hosted on the server. More than 10000 visitors from nearly 40 countries visit the server and the amount of data downloaded by them exceeds 4 Giga-Bytes per day. The server has become the most popular amateur astronomical web server in China. It stores the most abundant Chinese amateur astronomical resources. Because of the extremely success our service has been drawing tremendous attentions from related institutions. Recently Chinese National Natural Science Foundation shows great interest to support the service. In the paper the emergence of the thought construction of the server and its present utilization and our future plan are introduced

From Keplerian Orbits to Precise Planetary Predictions: the Transits of the 1630s

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thorvaldsen, Steinar

2013-05-01

The first transits of Mercury and Venus ever observed were important for quite different reasons than were the transit of Venus observed in the eighteenth century. Good data of planetary orbits are necessary for the prediction of planetary transits. Under the assumption of the central position of the Sun, Johannes Kepler published the theory of elliptical orbital motion of the planets in 1609; this new astronomy made it possible to compute noticeably improved ephemerides for the planets. In 1627 Kepler published the Tabulae Rudolphinae, and thanks to these tables he was able to publish a pamphlet announcing the rare phenomenon of Mercury and Venus transiting the Sun. Although the 1631 transit of Mercury was only observed by three astronomers in France and in Switzerland, and the 1639 transit of Venus was only predicted and observed by two self-taught astronomers in the English countryside, their observation would hardly been possible without the revolutionary theories and calculations of Kepler. The Tabulae Rudolphinae count among Kepler's outstanding astronomical works, and during the seventeenth century they gradually found entrance into the astronomical praxis of calculation among mathematical astronomers and calendar makers who rated them more and more as the most trustworthy astronomical foundation.

Gaia Data Release 1. The archive visualisation service

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moitinho, A.; Krone-Martins, A.; Savietto, H.; Barros, M.; Barata, C.; Falcão, A. J.; Fernandes, T.; Alves, J.; Silva, A. F.; Gomes, M.; Bakker, J.; Brown, A. G. A.; González-Núñez, J.; Gracia-Abril, G.; Gutiérrez-Sánchez, R.; Hernández, J.; Jordan, S.; Luri, X.; Merin, B.; Mignard, F.; Mora, A.; Navarro, V.; O'Mullane, W.; Sagristà Sellés, T.; Salgado, J.; Segovia, J. C.; Utrilla, E.; Arenou, F.; de Bruijne, J. H. J.; Jansen, F.; McCaughrean, M.; O'Flaherty, K. S.; Taylor, M. B.; Vallenari, A.

2017-09-01

Context. The first Gaia data release (DR1) delivered a catalogue of astrometry and photometry for over a billion astronomical sources. Within the panoplyof methods used for data exploration, visualisation is often the starting point and even the guiding reference for scientific thought. However, this is a volume of data that cannot be efficiently explored using traditional tools, techniques, and habits. Aims: We aim to provide a global visual exploration service for the Gaia archive, something that is not possible out of the box for most people. The service has two main goals. The first is to provide a software platform for interactive visual exploration of the archive contents, using common personal computers and mobile devices available to most users. The second aim is to produce intelligible and appealing visual representations of the enormous information content of the archive. Methods: The interactive exploration service follows a client-server design. The server runs close to the data, at the archive, and is responsible for hiding as far as possible the complexity and volume of the Gaia data from the client. This is achieved by serving visual detail on demand. Levels of detail are pre-computed using data aggregation and subsampling techniques. For DR1, the client is a web application that provides an interactive multi-panel visualisation workspace as well as a graphical user interface. Results: The Gaia archive Visualisation Service offers a web-based multi-panel interactive visualisation desktop in a browser tab. It currently provides highly configurable 1D histograms and 2D scatter plots of Gaia DR1 and the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS) with linked views. An innovative feature is the creation of ADQL queries from visually defined regions in plots. These visual queries are ready for use in the Gaia Archive Search/data retrieval service. In addition, regions around user-selected objects can be further examined with automatically generated SIMBAD searches. Integration of the Aladin Lite and JS9 applications add support to the visualisation of HiPS and FITS maps. The production of the all-sky source density map that became the iconic image of Gaia DR1 is described in detail. Conclusions: On the day of DR1, over seven thousand users accessed the Gaia Archive visualisation portal. The system, running on a single machine, proved robust and did not fail while enabling thousands of users to visualise and explore the over one billion sources in DR1. There are still several limitations, most noticeably that users may only choose from a list of pre-computed visualisations. Thus, other visualisation applications that can complement the archive service are examined. Finally, development plans for Data Release 2 are presented.

Column Store for GWAC: A High-cadence, High-density, Large-scale Astronomical Light Curve Pipeline and Distributed Shared-nothing Database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wan, Meng; Wu, Chao; Wang, Jing; Qiu, Yulei; Xin, Liping; Mullender, Sjoerd; Mühleisen, Hannes; Scheers, Bart; Zhang, Ying; Nes, Niels; Kersten, Martin; Huang, Yongpan; Deng, Jinsong; Wei, Jianyan

2016-11-01

The ground-based wide-angle camera array (GWAC), a part of the SVOM space mission, will search for various types of optical transients by continuously imaging a field of view (FOV) of 5000 degrees2 every 15 s. Each exposure consists of 36 × 4k × 4k pixels, typically resulting in 36 × ˜175,600 extracted sources. For a modern time-domain astronomy project like GWAC, which produces massive amounts of data with a high cadence, it is challenging to search for short timescale transients in both real-time and archived data, and to build long-term light curves for variable sources. Here, we develop a high-cadence, high-density light curve pipeline (HCHDLP) to process the GWAC data in real-time, and design a distributed shared-nothing database to manage the massive amount of archived data which will be used to generate a source catalog with more than 100 billion records during 10 years of operation. First, we develop HCHDLP based on the column-store DBMS of MonetDB, taking advantage of MonetDB’s high performance when applied to massive data processing. To realize the real-time functionality of HCHDLP, we optimize the pipeline in its source association function, including both time and space complexity from outside the database (SQL semantic) and inside (RANGE-JOIN implementation), as well as in its strategy of building complex light curves. The optimized source association function is accelerated by three orders of magnitude. Second, we build a distributed database using a two-level time partitioning strategy via the MERGE TABLE and REMOTE TABLE technology of MonetDB. Intensive tests validate that our database architecture is able to achieve both linear scalability in response time and concurrent access by multiple users. In summary, our studies provide guidance for a solution to GWAC in real-time data processing and management of massive data.

Nikolaev (Mykolayiv) Astronomical Observatory as the Object of the Ukrainian Tentative List WH UNESCO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinigin, Gennadiy; Pozhalova, Zhanna

2012-09-01

Nikolaev Astronomical Observatory (NAO), one of the oldest scientific institutions of the South-Eastern Europe, was founded as a naval observatory in 1821 for providing the needs of the Russian Black Sea Navy. It is a historical and astronomical complex with a reserved territory of total area 7.1 hectares, situated in the central part of Mykolaiv city, Ukraine. The beginning of scientific research at the Observatory is connected with the activity of Karl Knorre, its first director. From 1912 up to 1991, NAO was one of the Southern departments of Pulkovo Observatory with the main purpose to spread the system of absolute catalogs to the Southern hemisphere and to carry out regular observations of the Solar system bodies. Since 1992 NAO has become an independent leading institution of Ukraine in the field of positional astronomy, dynamics of Solar system bodies, research of near-Earth space, astronomical instrumentation. In 2007, it was inscribed in the Tentative UNESCO List of WH (#5116). The most significant part of the complex is the Main building, which was built in the style of Classicism in 1821--1829 (the monument of architecture #535 in the state registry). Also, the astronomical pavilions (1875, 1913, 1955, etc.) and instruments were preserved. Among them three Repsold instruments: meridian circle (1834), portable circle (1868) and vertical circle (1897). The unique astronomical and navigational devices, the collection of astronomical clocks are present in the observatory museum and the paper archive since the foundation of observatory is preserved.

The Pulkovo Observatory in the last 50 years through the eyes of its Learned Secretary Yu. I. Vitinsky.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhukov, V. Yu.; Soboleva, T. V.

A solar physicist, a Pulkovo astronomer, Yury Ivanovich Vitinsky (1926-2003) was the author of 210 scientific papers known in both Russia and abroad. He worked in the Observatory for about half a century (1953-2002) and held the office of the Learned Secretary of the Russian Academy of Sciences Main Astronomical Observatory for 35 years (1965-2000). In the last years of his life, Vitinsky brought his recollections that he titled "My Pulkovo" to the Main Astronomical Observatory Archive. His memoirs narrate about problems of the astronomical science, staff members and deeds of Pulkovo, things he thought of an events he was through. This is the half-a-century history of the Pulkovo Observatory in biographies of persons. The writer of the Recollections mentions the names of fifty persons most of whom are the Main Astronomical Observatory staff members that he worked with side by side. The memoirs provide accurate descriptions that are brief yet rather capacious of the author's Pulkovo colleagues, as well as other astronomers. The language of Vitinsky's recollection is good and clear. His memoirs contain moderate balanced views of people and events and provide objective and trustworthy data. "My Pulkovo" is an indispensable biographical source for the historian of the astronomical science, the Pulkovo Observatory and its scholarly staff members of the most recent decades. It is also just an interesting human document. In 2006, Yury Ivanovich would have been eighty.

Leveraging Social Media for Pro-Am Collaborations: Support for C/2012 S1 (ISON) Observing Campaign

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanamandra-Fisher, P. A.

2013-12-01

The interactions of amateur astronomers with professional astronomers have changed significantly in the digital era, from an occasional interaction of exchanging individual images to a sustained collaboration to coordinated global networks of amateur astronomers. Today, amateur astronomers, with sophisticated equipment and software, provide several valuable resources to the professional observers/astronomers: a large source of manpower, or extension of the professional astronomer's group; a vast collection of data that provides both legacy and temporal information and finally, as ambassadors of science, help build bridges between the scientific and public communities. From the professional astronomer/scientist's perspective, given the vast amounts of data acquired through various projects, the natural progression to interactive collaborations between these two communities is tremendously beneficial. The inclusion of the public in this exciting format of interactions between the professional and amateur community is the third component of synergistic science. The concept of Citizen Science, of allowing the public to perform simple visual examination of vast data sets according to a set of guidelines, is now becoming multi-dimensional, corresponding to the experience level of participants in the project. I will highlight a current project that leverages the collaboration between professional and amateur astronomers; and the use of social media to include various components of the public: Comet ISON Observing Campaign (CIOC). From the initial discovery of comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) by Russian amateur astronomers in September 2012, to the present day, amateur astronomers provide valuable resources of global coverage, data, and legacy knowledge to the professional community. The Comet ISON Observing Campaign (CIOC) goals (http://www.isoncampaign.org) are: (i) a detailed characterization of a subset of comets (sun grazers) that are usually difficult to identify and study in the few hours before their demise; and (ii) facilitate collaborations between various investigators for the best science possible. One of the tangible products is the creation of CIOC_ISON, a professional - amateur astronomer collaboration network established on Facebook, with members from the scientific, amateur, science outreach/education, public from around the globe (https://www.facebook.com/groups/cioc.ison) and a Pinterest presence (http://pinterest.com/padmayf/comet-ison/). Members, by invitation or request, provide the details of their equipment, location and observations and post their observations to both share and provide a forum for interactive discussions. Guidelines for observations and their logs are provided and updated as deemed necessary by the scientists for useful data. The long lead time between initial discovery of C/ISON in September 2012 and its perihelion in November 2013 provides a rare opportunity for the scientific and amateur astronomer communities to study a sungrazer comet on its initial (and possibly) only passage through the inner solar system. These collaborations are changing the paradigm of research.

On the Astronomical Knowledge and Traditions of Aboriginal Australians

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamacher, Duane W.

2011-12-01

Historian of science David Pingree defines science in a broad context as the process of systematically explaining perceived or imaginary phenomena. Although Westerners tend to think of science being restricted to Western culture, I argue in this thesis that astronomical scientific knowledge is found in Aboriginal traditions. Although research into the astronomical traditions of Aboriginal Australians stretches back for more than 150 years, it is relatively scant in the literature. We do know that the sun, moon, and night sky have been an important and inseparable component of the landscape to hundreds of Australian Aboriginal groups for thousands (perhaps tens-of-thousands) of years. The literature reveals that astronomical knowledge was used for time keeping, denoting seasonal change and the availability of food sources, navigation, and tidal prediction. It was also important for rituals and ceremonies, birth totems, marriage systems, cultural mnemonics, and folklore. Despite this, the field remains relatively unresearched considering the diversity of Aboriginal cultures and the length of time people have inhabited Australia (well over 40,000 years). Additionally, very little research investigating the nature and role of transient celestial phenomena has been conducted, leaving our understanding of Indigenous astronomical knowledge grossly incomplete. This thesis is an attempt to overcome this deficiency, with a specific focus on transient celestial phenomena. My research, situated in the field of cultural astronomy, draws from the sub-disciplines of archaeoastronomy, ethnoastronomy, historical astronomy, and geomythology. This approach incorporates the methodologies and theories of disciplines in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. This thesis, by publication, makes use of archaeological, ethnographic, and historical records, astronomical software packages, and geographic programs to better understand the ages of astronomical traditions and the role and nature of eclipses, comets, meteors, impact events, and certain variable stars. I also test the hypothesis that certain types of stone arrangements have preferred orientations that probably relate to astronomical phenomena. This research shows that Aboriginal astronomical traditions explain the motions of celestial bodies and the relationship between events in the sky and events on Earth. I explore how Aboriginal people perceived and made use of particular astronomical phenomena, such as meteors and comets, and show that Aboriginal people made careful observations of the motions of celestial bodies. I provide evidence that Aboriginal people noticed the change in brightness of particular stars, described the kinematics of eclipses, explained how lunar phases are related to ocean tides, and acknowledged the relationship between meteors, meteorites, impact events, and impact craters. I then show that linear stone arrangements in New South Wales have a preferred orientation to the cardinal points and explore astronomical reasons for this. In the Appendix, I include biographical details of William Edward Stanbridge, one of the first people to write in depth about Aboriginal astronomical traditions, which were compiled from historic records.

CANFAR + Skytree: Mining Massive Datasets as an Essential Part of the Future of Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ball, Nicholas M.

2013-01-01

The future study of large astronomical datasets, consisting of hundreds of millions to billions of objects, will be dominated by large computing resources, and by analysis tools of the necessary scalability and sophistication to extract useful information. Significant effort will be required to fulfil their potential as a provider of the next generation of science results. To-date, computing systems have allowed either sophisticated analysis of small datasets, e.g., most astronomy software, or simple analysis of large datasets, e.g., database queries. At the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre, we have combined our cloud computing system, the Canadian Advanced Network for Astronomical Research (CANFAR), with the world's most advanced machine learning software, Skytree, to create the world's first cloud computing system for data mining in astronomy. This allows the full sophistication of the huge fields of data mining and machine learning to be applied to the hundreds of millions of objects that make up current large datasets. CANFAR works by utilizing virtual machines, which appear to the user as equivalent to a desktop. Each machine is replicated as desired to perform large-scale parallel processing. Such an arrangement carries far more flexibility than other cloud systems, because it enables the user to immediately install and run the same code that they already utilize for science on their desktop. We demonstrate the utility of the CANFAR + Skytree system by showing science results obtained, including assigning photometric redshifts with full probability density functions (PDFs) to a catalog of approximately 133 million galaxies from the MegaPipe reductions of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Legacy Wide and Deep surveys. Each PDF is produced nonparametrically from 100 instances of the photometric parameters for each galaxy, generated by perturbing within the errors on the measurements. Hence, we produce, store, and assign redshifts to, a catalog of over 13 billion object instances. This catalog is comparable in size to those expected from next-generation surveys, such as Large Synoptic Survey Telescope. The CANFAR+Skytree system is open for use by any interested member of the astronomical community.

The Challenge of On-Line Journals in Astrophysics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boyce, Peter

1996-03-01

The American Astronomical Society (AAS) now has considerable experience with publishing an electronic, peer-reviewed journal. Every part of every article of the Letters section of the Astrophysical Journal since July 1, 1995, is freely available on the World Wide Web at http://www.aas.org/ApJ/. It is posted one month ahead of the issue date. Hypertext links to the Astrophysics Data System provide immediate access to the abstracts (and often to bitmaps of the full text) of many of the referenced papers. Innovative navigational tools for the reader, such as forward references, inclusion of all the math and figures and local printout of individual papers, set this journal apart from other electronic publishing efforts. Over the last three years, we have given considerable thought to using the new network connectivity and tools to foster scientific communication. Three considerations have guided our thinking. First, we have expanded our approach to encompass a broad view; electronic publishing means different things to different people. Second, we must not lose what we have. The conventional journals serve several different and important purposes which a new system should continue to fulfill. Third, we must recognize that we are in an era of unprecedented change in the methods of communication and adapt to the new opportunities. The AAS has adopted four operating principles. 1: Maintain quality. Avoid putting material of poor quality and indeterminate reliability on the Internet. 2: Treat our electronic information dissemination efforts in an experimental way. Take small steps. Get feedback from the users. Adopt what works. 3: Plan from a broad base. Include scientists, librarians, publishers and network experts in the planning process. 4: Plan for progress and change. Be flexible. Use a modular approach. Adhere to open standards which make it possible to incorporate new tools as they are developed. Avoid proprietary systems unless they are de-facto standards. Future plans call for the entire Astrophysical Journal to be available in October, 1996, with the Astronomical Journal to follow within a year after that. At that point half the world's astronomical literature will be available in one searchable electronic database.

Cross Matching as Strategy to Find Radio Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christian, Tiffany; Kimball, Amy

2018-01-01

Using cross-matching between the FIRST (20cm) and GPS1 (optical) catalogs, we identified possible radio star candidates. This is an extension of earlier work by Kimball et al. (2009), who sought to identify radiostar candidates by cross-matching the FIRST (radio)and SDSS (optical) catalogs, but did not include the consideration of stellar proper motions. We used proper motions from GPS1 to match with FIRST radio sources; the region of sky where they overlap contains ~900,000 FIRST sources and several million GPS1 sources. We used WISE near-infrared and PanSTARRS optical information to identify matches that have stellar colors. Our selection constraints identified 6 stars (spectroscopically confirmed) as radio star candidates. They are faint in the radio (<1 mJy) indicating we may be searching at the limits of the radio survey. Other candidates had no spectral confirmation or object type identification in SIMBAD, which would make them ideal for follow up radio observations. However, random analysis indicated that many other possible candidates were random associations, which may also be true for these 6 stars.

Observer's Interface for Solar System Target Specification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roman, Anthony; Link, Miranda; Moriarty, Christopher; Stansberry, John A.

2016-10-01

When observing an asteroid or comet with HST, it has been necessary for the observer to manually enter the target's orbital elements into the Astronomer's Proposal Tool (APT). This allowed possible copy/paste transcription errors from the observer's source of orbital elements data. In order to address this issue, APT has now been improved with the capability to identify targets in and then download orbital elements from JPL Horizons. The observer will first use a target name resolver to choose the intended target from the Horizons database, and then download the orbital elements from Horizons directly into APT. A manual entry option is also still retained if the observer does not wish to use elements from Horizons. This new capability is available for HST observing, and it will also be supported for JWST observing. The poster shows examples of this new interface.

Observer's Interface for Solar System Target Specification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roman, Anthony; Link, Miranda; Moriarty, Christopher; Stansberry, John A.

2016-01-01

When observing an asteroid or comet with HST, it has been necessary for the observer to manually enter the target's orbital elements into the Astronomer's Proposal Tool (APT). This allowed possible copy/paste transcription errors from the observer's source of orbital elements data. In order to address this issue, APT has now been improved with the capability to identify targets in and then download orbital elements from JPL Horizons. The observer will first use a target name resolver to choose the intended target from the Horizons database, and then download the orbital elements from Horizons directly into APT. A manual entry option is also still retained if the observer does not wish to use elements from Horizons. This new capability is available for HST observing, and it will also be supported for JWST observing. The poster shows examples of this new interface.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Radial velocities of the Be star HR 2142 (Peters+, 2016)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peters, G. J.; Wang, L.; Gies, D. R.; Grundstrom, E. D.

2016-11-01

Radial velocity measurements were made using the set of spectra summarized in Table 1. The main focus of this work is a set of 88 high resolution, SWP HIRES FUV spectra acquired over the lifetime of the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) observatory. These were downloaded from MAST and resampled. We also collected a set of 49 LWR and LWP near-UV spectra that were used to inspect the orbital variations in the MgII2796,2803 feature. The UV spectra were supplemented with a large collection of Hα spectra that we secured with the KPNO Coude Feed telescope and that were obtained by amateur astronomers participating in the Be Star Spectra database project (Pollmann 2007IBVS.5778....1P; Neiner et al. 2011AJ....142..149N). (2 data files).

SABER: The Searchable Annotated Bibliography of Education Research in Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bruning, David; Bailey, Janelle M.; Brissenden, Gina

Starting a new research project can be a challenge, but especially so in education research because the literature is scattered throughout many journals. Relevant astronomy education research may be in psychology journals, science education journals, physics education journals, or even in science journals. Tracking the vast realm of literature is difficult, especially because libraries frequently do not subscribe to many of the relevant journals and abstracting services. The Searchable Annotated Bibliography of Education Research (SABER) is an online resource that was started to service the needs of the astronomy education community, specifically to reduce this "scatter" by compiling an annotated bibliography of education research articles in one electronic location. Although SABER started in 2001, the database has a new URL—http://astronom- y.uwp.edu/saber/—and has recently undergone a major update.

Optical/IR from ground

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Strom, Stephen; Sargent, Wallace L. W.; Wolff, Sidney; Ahearn, Michael F.; Angel, J. Roger; Beckwith, Steven V. W.; Carney, Bruce W.; Conti, Peter S.; Edwards, Suzan; Grasdalen, Gary

1991-01-01

Optical/infrared (O/IR) astronomy in the 1990's is reviewed. The following subject areas are included: research environment; science opportunities; technical development of the 1980's and opportunities for the 1990's; and ground-based O/IR astronomy outside the U.S. Recommendations are presented for: (1) large scale programs (Priority 1: a coordinated program for large O/IR telescopes); (2) medium scale programs (Priority 1: a coordinated program for high angular resolution; Priority 2: a new generation of 4-m class telescopes); (3) small scale programs (Priority 1: near-IR and optical all-sky surveys; Priority 2: a National Astrometric Facility); and (4) infrastructure issues (develop, purchase, and distribute optical CCDs and infrared arrays; a program to support large optics technology; a new generation of large filled aperture telescopes; a program to archive and disseminate astronomical databases; and a program for training new instrumentalists)

Supporting research and technology activities in the preparation of a three-dimensional map of the infrared sky

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tarter, Jill C.

1993-01-01

The final report for the period 15 Mar. 1986 to 31 Mar. 1993 for the Cooperative Agreement is presented. The purpose of this Cooperative Agreement was to collaborate with NASA civil servant and contractor personnel, and other Institute personnel in a project to use all available cataloged astronomical infrared data to construct a detailed three dimensional model of the infrared sky. Areas of research included: IRAS colors of normal stars and the infrared excesses in Be stars; galactic structure; how to use the observed IRAS source counts as a function of position to deduce the physical structure of the galaxy; IRAS properties of metal-poor stars; IRAS database studies; and solar space exploration including projects such as the Space Station Gas-Grain Simulator and the Mars Rover/Sample Return Mission.

Nova Lupi 2011

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waagen, Elizabeth O.

2011-08-01

Announcement of discovery of Nova Lupi 2011 = PNV J14542000-5505030. Discovered by Nicholas Brown (Quinns Rocks, Western Australia) on 2011 Aug. 4.73 UT at unfiltered mag=10.2 (tmax 400 film). Posted on the IAU Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams Transient Object Confirmation Page (TOCP) as PNV J14542000-5505030. Spectra obtained by Fred Walter (SUNY Stony Brook) 2011 August 9.0132 UT with the SMARTS 1.5m RC spectrograph at Cerro Tololo and reported in ATEL #3536 confirms that the object is an Fe II nova near maximum. Initially announced in [vsnet-alert 13560] (Nicholas Brown) and in AAVSO Special Notice #247 (Arne Henden). Finder charts with sequence may be created using the AAVSO Variable Star Plotter (http://www.aavso.org/vsp). Observations should be submitted to the AAVSO International Database. See full Alert Notice for more details and observations.

Virtual Observatory Science Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McGlynn, Tom

2005-01-01

Many Virtual-Observatory-based applications are now available to astronomers for use in their research. These span data discovery, access, visualization and analysis. Tools can quickly gather and organize information from sites around the world to help in planning a response to a gamma-ray burst, help users pick filters to isolate a desired feature, make an average template for z=2 AGN, select sources based upon information in many catalogs, or correlate massive distributed databases. Using VO protocols, the reach of existing software tools and packages can be greatly extended, allowing users to find and access remote information almost as conveniently as local data. The talk highlights just a few of the tools available to scientists, describes how both large and small scale projects can use existing tools, and previews some of the new capabilities that will be available in the next few years.

Distributed Fast Self-Organized Maps for Massive Spectrophotometric Data Analysis †.

PubMed

Dafonte, Carlos; Garabato, Daniel; Álvarez, Marco A; Manteiga, Minia

2018-05-03

Analyzing huge amounts of data becomes essential in the era of Big Data, where databases are populated with hundreds of Gigabytes that must be processed to extract knowledge. Hence, classical algorithms must be adapted towards distributed computing methodologies that leverage the underlying computational power of these platforms. Here, a parallel, scalable, and optimized design for self-organized maps (SOM) is proposed in order to analyze massive data gathered by the spectrophotometric sensor of the European Space Agency (ESA) Gaia spacecraft, although it could be extrapolated to other domains. The performance comparison between the sequential implementation and the distributed ones based on Apache Hadoop and Apache Spark is an important part of the work, as well as the detailed analysis of the proposed optimizations. Finally, a domain-specific visualization tool to explore astronomical SOMs is presented.

Milliarcsecond Astronomy with the CHARA Array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schaefer, Gail; ten Brummelaar, Theo; Gies, Douglas; Jones, Jeremy; Farrington, Christopher

2018-01-01

The Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy offers 50 nights per year of open access time at the CHARA Array. The Array consists of six telescopes linked together as an interferometer, providing sub-milliarcsecond resolution in the optical and near-infrared. The Array enables a variety of scientific studies, including measuring stellar angular diameters, imaging stellar shapes and surface features, mapping the orbits of close binary companions, and resolving circumstellar environments. The open access time is part of an NSF/MSIP funded program to open the CHARA Array to the broader astronomical community. As part of the program, we will build a searchable database for the CHARA data archive and run a series of one-day community workshops at different locations across the country to expand the user base for stellar interferometry and encourage new scientific investigations with the CHARA Array.

The UKIRT Infrated Deep Sky Survey : data access

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2005-09-01

ESO - the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere - and the Sociedad Chilena de Astronomía (SOCHIAS) are organising a Latin American Astronomy Summer School. It will take place from December 8-10, 2005, the week before the Regional Meeting of the International Astronomical Union to be held on December 12-16, 2005 in Pucon, Chile (~ 800 km South of Santiago).

Contributions of the Spanish Astronomical Society to the International Year of Astronomy 2009

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montesinos, B.

The Spanish Astronomical Society, SEA in the Spanish acronym of "Sociedad Española de Astronomía", is one of the many institutions contributing to the large number of activities coordinated by the Spanish node of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA-2009). In this paper I describe the activities programmed with a large participation of members of the Society.

Integrated detector array technology for infrared astronomy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mccreight, c. R.; Goebel, J. H.; Mckelvey, M. E.; Stafford, P. S.; Lee, J. H.

1984-01-01

The status of laboratory and telescope tests of integrated infrared detector array technology for astronomical applications is described. The devices tested represent a number of extrinsic and intrinsic detector materials and various multiplexer designs. Infrared arrays have now been used in successful astronomical applications. These have shown that device sensitivities can be comparable to those of discrete detector systems and excellent astronomical imagery can be produced.

Astronomers and the Media: What Reporters Expect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siedgfried, Tom; Witze, Alexandra

2006-01-01

Journalists writing about astronomy bring varying levels of knowledge to the task. Most rely on astronomers for help. To be most helpful, astronomers should familiarize themselves with the practices and needs of journalists and learn effective methods for presenting astronomy via news releases, interviews and news conferences. In all aspects of communicating with the media, the ability to express technical findings in plain language is essential.

Contribution to the popularization of the astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Markishki, Pencho

The purpose of this report is the representation of a WEB-book, related to astronomy, astro-photography, optics and some additional areas that have direct practice for the amateur astronomers. The popularization of astronomy worldwide is the purpose of many amateur astronomers. It is interesting and maybe fascinated, requires often innovative solutions from the hobby star observers. Today it is possible to share the science information by different methods, using the modern information technologies - a possibility used by the amateur astronomers too. In Internet existing currently thousands of WEB- sites, related to astronomy, completed training programs developed by amateur astronomers are included. They are addressed often to the schools, to the hobby beginners or to the wide audience.

Examination and notes to the astronomical records in >SUISHU<.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Ciyuan

1996-06-01

Astronomical records are an important part in Chinese official historical books. Their main purpose was for astrology and they are an obstacle for historians who read those books. With modern astronomical methods, one can compute and examine most of those ancient records. By comparing the computed results with the original texts, one can examine the texts, find their mistakes, study their observation method and regulation, inspect astrological theory, take a deeper understanding to those important historical materials. As an example the author deals with the astronomcial records of Dynasties Liang and Chen for 60 years in >SUISHU<, the official history of Dynasty Sui. He also synthesized other historical sources in addition to the astronomical computation.

VisIVO: A Tool for the Virtual Observatory and Grid Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Becciani, U.; Comparato, M.; Costa, A.; Larsson, B.; Gheller, C.; Pasian, F.; Smareglia, R.

2007-10-01

We present the new features of VisIVO, software for the visualization and analysis of astrophysical data which can be retrieved from the Virtual Observatory framework and used for cosmological simulations running both on Windows and GNU/Linux platforms. VisIVO is VO standards compliant and supports the most important astronomical data formats such as FITS, HDF5 and VOTables. It is free software and can be downloaded from the web site http://visivo.cineca.it. VisIVO can interoperate with other astronomical VO compliant tools through PLASTIC (PLatform for AStronomical Tool InterConnection). This feature allows VisIVO to share data with many other astronomical packages to further analyze the loaded data.

John Twysden and John Palmer: 17th-century Northamptonshire astronomers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frost, M. A.

2008-01-01

John Twysden (1607-1688) and John Palmer (1612-1679) were two astronomers in the circle of Samuel Foster (circa 1600-1652), the subject of a recent paper in this journal. John Twysden qualified in law and medicine and led a peripatetic life around England and Europe. John Palmer was Rector of Ecton, Northamptonshire and later Archdeacon of Northampton. The two astronomers catalogued observations made from Northamptonshire from the 1640s to the 1670s. In their later years Twysden and Palmer published works on a variety of topics, often astronomical. Palmer engaged in correspondence with Henry Oldenburg, the first secretary of the Royal Society, on topics in astronomy and mathematics.

General Catalogue of Variable Stars: Current Status and New Name-Lists

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samus, N. N.; Kazarovets, E. V.; Kireeva, N. N.; Pastukhova, E. N.; Durlevich, O. V.

2010-12-01

A short history of variable-star catalogs is presented. After the second World War, the International Astronomical Union asked astronomers of the Soviet Union to become responsible for variable-star catalogs. Currently, the catalog is kept electronically and is a joint project of the Institute of Astronomy (Russian Academy of Sciences) and Sternberg Astronomical Institute (Moscow University). We review recent trends in the field of variable-star catalogs, discuss problems and new prospects related to modern large-scale automatic photometric sky surveys, outline the subject of discussions on the future of the variable-star catalogs in the profile commissions of the IAU, and call for suggestions from the astronomical community.

Tycho Brahe and Egnazio Danti. Observations and astronomical research at Prague and Florence at the end of the 16th century

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Triarico, Carlo

The paper aims at pointing out the similarities between the astronomical research of Tycho Brahe and Egnazio Danti. The main issue is the comparison between the researches of the two astronomers about the measurement of the ecliptic's obliquity and its possible variation. The books published by the two scientists about the use and building up of the astronomical instruments will be also compared. Finally, will be given some examples of instruments of the Medici Family collection in the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza in Florence, which come from Praha and were built by the technicians who worked for Tycho.

Astronomical calibration of Gauss to Matuyama sapropels in the Mediterranean and implication for the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hilgen, F. J.

1991-06-01

The astronomically calibrated age of the Olduvai Subchron is established by correlating the cyclic sapropel patterns in the Vrica section and in the sections of Semaforo (Italy), Singa (Italy), Punta Piccola (Sicily), and Francocastello (Crete) to the new astronomical solutions for the precession of the equinox and eccentricity of the earth's orbit, using inferred phase relationships between the sapropel cycles and orbital cycles. The resultant ages for the Olduvai and for older boundaries are then compared with conventional, as well as other orbitally tuned ages, for these polarity transitions. It is shown that this astronomically calibrated time scale can be extended back to the Miocene/Pliocene boundary.

Photopolymer based VPHGs: from materials to sky results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zanutta, A.; Orselli, E.; Fäcke, T.; Bianco, A.

2016-07-01

Volume Phase Holographic Gratings cover a relevant position as transmission dispersing elements in astronomical spectrographs and each astronomical observation could take advantage of specific dispersive elements with features tailored for achieving the best performances. The design and manufacturing of high efficiency and reliable VPHGs require photosensitive materials where it is possible to control both the refractive index modulation and the film thickness. By means of Bayfol® HX photopolymers, we designed and manufactured six VPHGs for astronomical instrumentation in a GRISM configuration. We demonstrated how photopolymers are reliable holographic materials for making astronomical VPHGs with performances comparable to those provided by VPHGs based on Dichromated Gelatins (DCGs), but with a much simpler production process.

Letters to the Editor of the AAS Newsletter: A Personal Story

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Linsky, Jeffrey L.

2006-01-01

Since 1987 the American Astronomical Society Newsletter has published some 142 Letters to the Editor that provide the personal statements and concerns of astronomers about the policies, priorities, and experiences of being an astronomer. While these Letters do not provide a scientific sampling of the issues, they do provide an illuminating picture of the astronomical scene as seen from the perspectives of our colleagues. I describe the history and policies of the Letters section, then summarize the issues presented and debated in these Letters. The topics (in order of numbers of Letters published) are: (1) publishing and refereeing, (2) how the AAS and IAU conduct their business, (3) jobs and how to get them, (4) support for astronomy, (5) scientific units and time, (6) public policy issues, (7) planning for telescopes and space missions, (8) how astronomers do their work, (9) women in astronomy, (10) the work environment, and (11) other issues. A chronological list of the Letters by title and author is included.

Morning twilight measured at Bandung and Jombang

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arumaningtyas, Eka Puspita; Raharto, Moedji; Herdiwijaya, Dhani

2012-06-01

Twilight divided into three categories namely, astronomical twilight, nautical twilight, and civil twilight. The three types of twilight can occur either in the evening or early morning. According to the U.S. Naval Observatory the three types distinguished by the depression (altitude of the sun below the horizon) for the evening or the morning twilight, -180, -120, and -60. Sky brightness measurements usually intended to determine the quality of the sky at some observation site or to determine the quality of the atmosphere by light pollution. Sky brightness data could be use for practical purposes such as to determine prayer times (Morning Prayer). This study describes the measurement of sky brightness using a light meter Sky Quality Meter. The measurements indicate the presence of different values and patterns in the twilight sky brightness. This variability highly determined by the weather conditions. Sky brightness shows a constant value shortly after the evening astronomical twilight and before morning astronomical twilight. Before the evening astronomical twilight and after morning astronomical twilight sky brightness showing continue changing.

AstroML: Python-powered Machine Learning for Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vander Plas, Jake; Connolly, A. J.; Ivezic, Z.

2014-01-01

As astronomical data sets grow in size and complexity, automated machine learning and data mining methods are becoming an increasingly fundamental component of research in the field. The astroML project (http://astroML.org) provides a common repository for practical examples of the data mining and machine learning tools used and developed by astronomical researchers, written in Python. The astroML module contains a host of general-purpose data analysis and machine learning routines, loaders for openly-available astronomical datasets, and fast implementations of specific computational methods often used in astronomy and astrophysics. The associated website features hundreds of examples of these routines being used for analysis of real astronomical datasets, while the associated textbook provides a curriculum resource for graduate-level courses focusing on practical statistics, machine learning, and data mining approaches within Astronomical research. This poster will highlight several of the more powerful and unique examples of analysis performed with astroML, all of which can be reproduced in their entirety on any computer with the proper packages installed.

OpenCluster: A Flexible Distributed Computing Framework for Astronomical Data Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Shoulin; Wang, Feng; Deng, Hui; Liu, Cuiyin; Dai, Wei; Liang, Bo; Mei, Ying; Shi, Congming; Liu, Yingbo; Wu, Jingping

2017-02-01

The volume of data generated by modern astronomical telescopes is extremely large and rapidly growing. However, current high-performance data processing architectures/frameworks are not well suited for astronomers because of their limitations and programming difficulties. In this paper, we therefore present OpenCluster, an open-source distributed computing framework to support rapidly developing high-performance processing pipelines of astronomical big data. We first detail the OpenCluster design principles and implementations and present the APIs facilitated by the framework. We then demonstrate a case in which OpenCluster is used to resolve complex data processing problems for developing a pipeline for the Mingantu Ultrawide Spectral Radioheliograph. Finally, we present our OpenCluster performance evaluation. Overall, OpenCluster provides not only high fault tolerance and simple programming interfaces, but also a flexible means of scaling up the number of interacting entities. OpenCluster thereby provides an easily integrated distributed computing framework for quickly developing a high-performance data processing system of astronomical telescopes and for significantly reducing software development expenses.

Korean Astronomical Calendar, Chiljeongsan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Eun Hee

In fifteenth century Korea, there was a grand project for the astronomical calendar and instrument making by the order of King Sejong 世宗 (1418-1450). During this period, many astronomical and calendrical books including Islamic sources in Chinese versions were imported from Ming 明 China, and corrected and researched by the court astronomers of Joseon 朝鮮 (1392-1910). Moreover, the astronomers and technicians of Korea frequently visited China to study astronomy and instrument making, and they brought back useful information in the form of new published books or specifications of instruments. As a result, a royal observatory equipped with 15 types of instrument was completed in 1438. Two types of calendar, Chiljeongsan Naepyeon 七政算內篇 and Chiljeongsan Oepyeon 七政算外篇, based on the Chinese and Islamic calendar systems, respectively, were published in 1444 with a number of calendrical editions such as corrections and example supplements (假令) including calculation methods and results for solar and lunar eclipses.

Development of Exoplanet database "ExoKyoto" aiming for inter-comparison with different criteria of Habitable zones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamashiki, Yosuke; Notsu, Yuta; Sasaki, Takanori; Hosono, Natsuki; Kuroki, Ryusuke; Notsu, Shota; Murashima, Keiya; Takagi, Fuka; Doi, Takao

2017-05-01

An integrated database of confirmed exoplanets has been developed and launched as “ExoKyoto,” for the purpose of better comprehension of exoplanetary systems in different star systems. The HOSTSTAR module of the database includes not only host stars for confirmed exoplanets, but also hundreds of thousands of stars existing in the star database listed in (HYG database). Each hoststar can be referred to in the catalogue with its habitable zone calculated, based on the observed/estimated star parameters. For outreach and observation support purpose, ExoKyoto possesses Stellar Windows, developed by the Xlib & Ggd module, and interfaces with GoogleSky for easy comprehension of those celestial bodies on a stellar map. Target stars can be identified and listed by using this database, based on the target magnitude, transit frequency, and photon decrease ratio by its transit.If we interpolate deficient data using assumed functions about the exoplanets that were discovered until now, Sub-Neptune size (1.9-3.1R_Earth) are the most common (971); then Super Earth size (1.2-1.9 R_earth) have been allocated (681).Using the Solar Equivalent Astronomical Unit (SEAU), most of the exoplanets discovered are within a Venus equivalent orbit (3029), and 197 are located within the habitable zone (Venus to Mars equivalent orbit). If we classify them using Kopparapu et al.(2013), within Recent Venus equivalent orbit (3048), there are 130 located in the habitable zone (runaway greenhouse-maximum greenhouse). For example, Kepler-560b is defined as in the habitable zone by its SEAU, but not by Kopparapu et al. (2013). Furthermore, based on an exoplanet's solar revolution, radius, assumed mass (Larsen & Geoffrey, 2014), transit parameters , and main start information (location, class, spectral class, etc.); observation target selection is practical and possible.In addition to the previous habitable zone based on the normal radiation flux from the host star, we'll discuss stellar flares activities which may disturb planets located in the habitable zone through high energetic particles.*those numbers are in February 2017

Giovanni Schiaparelli: Visions of a colour blind astronomer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheehan, W.

1997-02-01

The greatest observer of Mars of the nineteenth century was the Italian astronomer Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli. In his classic compilation of Martian observations, La Planete Mars, published in 1892, Camille Flammarion readily conceded that Schiaparelli's was 'the greatest work which has been carried out with regard to Mars,'1 while another eminent Martian, Percival Lowell, referred to the Italian astronomer alone as his Martian master ('cher maitre Martien').

Education and Public Outreach in the International Year of Astronomy at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gibbs, M. G.; Manning, J. G.; Gurton, S.; Fraknoi, A.; Berendsen, M.; Hurst, A.; White, V.

2008-11-01

At the forefront of sharing the excitement of our exploration of the universe for 120 years, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) is poised to use its networks and services to implement education and outreach programs for the 2009 International Year of Astronomy (IYA). The ASP is working with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the American Astronomical Society (AAS), National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), Association of Science---Technology Centers (ASTC), and several other astronomical and educational organizations on IYA projects. The ASP will develop and implement four key signature programs, pending funding, for the IYA: a) IYA 2009 Cosmic Companion, with astronomy activities primarily for amateur astronomy clubs; b) Galileo Teacher Training Program, designed primarily for in-service teachers; c) Expanding the Informal Universe, to bring astronomy into smaller museums and nature centers; and d) Cosmic Clearing-House, an online educational resource for the best astronomy outreach resources and activities. The overarching goal for these programs is to bring together scientists, educators, and amateurs astronomers to improve science education and literacy through astronomy. The Society welcomes additional partners who seek to cooperate on IYA programs or work with the networks of formal and informal educators and amateur astronomers the ASP continues to support.

International Astronomical-Cultural Initiatives and Ukrainian Astronomical Heritage in the Context of World Heritage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kazantseva, L.

2011-09-01

Astronomy as science of world view has left its mark in many areas of human culture. Astronomical movable and immovable monuments as cultural and scientific content recently started to be studied carefully, and finally receive their recognition for their further preservation. Various international organizations have initiated a diverse case studies of these monuments, produced some recommendations for their organization, typology, division into periods. In joint programs, experts of IAU, UNESCO, ICOMOS elaborate criteria for selection of monuments of global significance. Complete study of astronomical sights will allow to consider the history of scientific knowledge dissemination in time and in space. Ukraine has also carefully examined their stored astronomical monuments scattered in astronomical observatories, libraries, archives, museums, university collections, architectural ensembles, archaeological parks and cemeteries. In conditions of instability and crises it is important to establish uniqueness or typicality of certain historical sites, to study their characteristics and identity, relationship with global trends that will enable their successful promotion and protection. Part of these research works are conducted in our observatories, but not as intensively as in other countries. They have not engaged in related industries and professionals authorized state institutions. Not having used an active effort in this case, we can stay behind the big international project for study the intellectual and cultural heritage.

Elizabeth Brown and the Classification of Sunspots in the 19th Century

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larsen, Kristine

2014-06-01

British amateur astronomers collected solar observation data as members of organizations such as the British Astronomical Association (BAA) and Liverpool Astronomical Society (LAS) in the late 1800s. Amateur astronomer Elizabeth Brown (1830-99) served as Solar Section Director of both groups, and not only aggregated solar observations (including hand-drawn illustrations) from observers from around the globe, but worked closely with solar astronomer Edward Maunder and other professionals in an attempt to garner specific types of observations from BAA members in order to answer a number of astronomical questions of the day. For example, she encouraged the monitoring of the growth and decay of sunspot groups and published a number of her own observations of particular groups, urging observers to note whether faculae were seen before the birth of sunspots in a given region, a topic of controversy at that time. She also developed a system for classifying sunspots and sunspot groups based on their appearance, dividing then into 11 types: normal, compound, pairs, clusters, trains, streams, zigzags, elliptical, vertical, nebulous, and dots. This poster will summarize Brown’s important contributions to solar observing in the late 19th century and situate her classification scheme relative to those of A.L. Cortie (1901), M. Waldmeier (1938; 1947) and the modified Zurich system of McIntosh (1966; 1969; 1989).

The Hunt for Pristine Cretaceous Astronomical Rhythms at Demerara Rise (Cenomanian-Coniacian)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, C.; Meyers, S. R.

2014-12-01

Rhythmic Upper Cretaceous strata from Demerara Rise (ODP leg 207) preserve a strong astronomical signature, and this attribute has facilitated the development of continuous astrochronologies to refine the geologic time scale and calibrate Late Cretaceous biogeochemical events. While the mere identification of astronomical rhythms is a crucial first step in many deep-time paleoceanographic investigations, accurate evaluation of often subtle amplitude and frequency modulations are required to: (1) robustly constrain the linkage between climate and sedimentation, and (2) evaluate the plausibility of different theoretical astrodynamical models. The availability of a wide range of geophysical, lithologic and geochemical data from multiple sites drilled at Demerara Rise - when coupled with recent innovations in the statistical analysis of cyclostratigraphic data - provides an opportunity to hunt for the most pristine record of Cretaceous astronomical rhythms at a tropical Atlantic location. To do so, a statistical metric is developed to evaluate the "internal" consistency of hypothesized astronomical rhythms observed in each data set, particularly with regard to the expected astronomical amplitude modulations. In this presentation, we focus on how the new analysis yields refinements to the existing astrochronologies, provides constraints on the linkages between climate and sedimentation (including the deposition of organic carbon-rich sediments at Demerara Rise), and allows a quantitative evaluation of the continuity of deposition across sites at multiple temporal scales.