Birmingham/Warwick Workshop - Group B - Stellar

Participants

• Monika Balucinskachurch, University of Birmingham
• Susana Barros, University of Warwick
• George Marshall, University of Warwick
• Alberto Rebassa-Mansergas, University of Warwick
• Neil Tarrant, University of Birmingham

Problem Description

Within our group everyone has been looking at the data available on AstroGrid, and how this might be applied to our own area of interest; these ranged across the field of Stellar Physics. A list of the research areas and how AstroGrid could be used in them follows;

1. Science
   • Stellar-Solar comparisons
     • Selection of sun-like stars for Asteroseismology
   • Study of X-ray selected sources such as Cataclysmic Variables, X-ray binaries
     • X-ray spectra
     • Time-variable data
     • Multi-wavelength data - radio, etc.
     • Proper motions
     • Sample selection
   • Comparison of SDSS/2Qz data
2. VO services/requirements
   • Find images/tables/spectra for interesting objects and compare
   • Use of Colour Cutter for sample selection
     • Add 2df? 6df?
   • Selection of astronomical data by time under development
     • Can use Query Builder to find data with time information, proper motions etc
     • Use Topcat to process or calculate proper motions
   • Construct multi-wavelength SEDs SED tool with automatic unit conversion under construction by VOTech (see e.g. Presentation on SED builder example science case )
   • Provide tools for time series analysis e.g. HEASARC Ftools, Starlink Period

Workshop solution

Actual science outcomes were limited by computing problems (notably being unable to run the Workbench through webstart), and inexperience on the part of participants with the tools and data sources being used. Familiarising ourselves with these was the primary outcome of the workshop for a number of the participants.

One of the tasks attempted was to use the TaskLauncher^? to select objects from the IPAS catalogue by colour, however this was unsuccessful with no results being returned.

Another participant was looking into stars from a list of cataclysmic variables. Initially these were looked at one-by-one using the Astroscope tool to see what data sources were available, later into the workshop an ASCII table of the stars was imported into the grid as a VOTable, creating a catalogue with a view to using this to compare the stars at a later date.

General Feedback

• Constructing SEDs hard to do now.
• time series analysis tools needed, e.g. starlink "period", X-ray tools?
• java setup issues problematic for some users
• AstroScope visualisation swamped for large area or well observed regions
  • alternative directory tree visualisation needed - TODO
  • "step-up a level" not "go to top" button needed - in hand
  • wavelength filtering needed - TODO - metadata required