EUROVO FC

AVO
SWG
Management
Science
Standards
Technology
Reports&Minutes
Forum
Events
Contacts
Help

EGG

Main

Know

Test

TWiki

SWG Input on AVO Demo 2004

Implications for future capabilities

The AVO team has worked on the input received at the SWG meeting on Jan. 27-28 2004.
This can be divided into three categories (in chronological order):

1. feedback from the tutors
2. notes (.txt) on the feedback session after the tutorials
3. working group reports: stars, galaxies, and cosmology (.pdf); we also put all working group reports in the same format (i.e., science case, AVO requirements, archive requirements), with the most common requirements highlighted (.pdf) (still missing some input from the cosmology working group)

We note that the IVOA priorities for the next demo are on data models, data and service registry and catalogue query language. We expect numerous new or improved VO specifications for observation data models as well as access protocols and formats.

Science cases: short-term + next demo

• Stars:
  • Star formation (continuation of 2004 demo)
  • AGB to PN transition, pdf image (VILSPA)
  • Stellar variability
  • Luminosity functions of star-forming regions
  • Companions to PN central stars
  • Abundance gradients from PN and H II regions
• Galaxies:
  • Stellar population parameters (age, metallicity, extinction, mass)
  • Stellar population parameters plus internal kinematics from high-resolution spectra
  • Spectral time variability of AGN
  • Cross-ID cases: proper motion, weird populations, identifications of X-ray sources, morphology of galaxies at different redshifts
• Cosmology:
  • Cosmos Treasury Survey (high-z QSOs, SN Ia, galaxy clusters and lensing): data not available in time for next demo?
  • Pure CMB analysis
  • Pure quasar analysis
  • Pure cosmic shear
  • Redshift ~ 3.5 and >~ 6 galaxies
  • More GOODS

Science cases: longer term, Science Reference Mission (SRM)

• Cosmology:
  • Cosmic shear survey

The recommendations and the plans for future technical development can be thus summarized (in approximate reverse order of complexity):

Tool improvements

1. Better contour tool
2. Image smoothing (crucial for displaying X-ray images)
3. Improved RGB colour image tool (e.g., square root scaling)
4. Inclusion of morphological analysis tools (e.g., GIMP2d, GALFIT)
   The first three points can be grouped under "pixel manipulation/visualization" updates. Work on these is already under way, with an estimated completion time of May 2004. This development will mean that the AVO prototype might also be interoperable at the image level, e.g., with image analysis tools.
5. Inclusion of WCS computation from a reference catalogue.
   This is currently possible using the AVO prototype although not straightforward; a tutorial is available. The existing tool, however, provides only a linear correction, no distortion correction.
6. Better documentation and information (e.g., query progress)
   A new "trace" mode is being developed, to keep track of an Aladin session and to allow one to replay it automatically. Estimated completion time is May 2004.
7. Cross-correlation improvements: outliers, matching probability, filtering options
   This will be an incremental development, with first release in Summer 2004.
8. Improved SpecView: rescaling, smoothing, line DB, line and flux measurements, rms
   Work in progress; some of these features will be available in v. 2.8, to be released around April 2004.

Tool extensions

9. Error propagation
   VO-India will likely work on this. Timescale being assessed.
10. Image alignment and registration
    This is currently possible using the AVO prototype although not straightforward; a tutorial is available.
11. Postage stamp generation and multiwavelength cutouts (example: from a plane with a list of coordinates make cutout images at different wavelengths)
    This requires deep changes in the prototype software and is presently being assessed. The feasibility of a "light" development allowing the display of several windows is being assessed. Timescale around Summer 2004.
12. Add time axis
    This involves metadata issues, and it is a complex, long-term project. Likely a EURO-VO project.
13. SED from archival data
    An SED plug-in currently exists in the prototype but only works on catalogue data with the right metadata information. Extension of this to archival data requires extracted, science-ready data from the archives, at present generally not available. This is a EURO-VO project.

New plug-ins

14. PSF information and measurements
15. PSF matching tools for colour catalogues (improved ACE)
    Both these improvements could be done as Web services; development could be carried out by TERAPIX/ASTROGRID. Feasibility and timeline are being assessed.
16. Access to models, libraries, and SED templates (e.g., CLOUDY, DUSTY, Bruzual & Charlot, Kinney & Calzetti)
    Started pilot project in collaboration with GAVO (the German VO); this is something of interest to the IVOA Theory interest group.
17. Show available data for a source (or list of sources) from various archives; classify products (raw, science-ready)
    This is a big EURO-VO registry project, which will require a large effort from archives as well.