SUBMITTED - JUL 28 2005


Email: 	naw@ast.cam.ac.uk
  	
 
Title: 	Science in the Euro-VO Technology Centre: Key Capabilities into 2006 
 
Authors: 

Nicholas A Walton, VOTC Project Scientist, Institute of Astronomy,
  University of Cambridge, UK
Mark Allen, CDS, Strasbourg, France
Eduardo Gonzalez-Solares, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK 
Matteo Guainazzi, ESAC, European Space Agency, Madrid, Spain
Giuseppe Longo,  Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche,  University Federico
  II, Napoli, Italy
Anita Richards, Jodrell Bank Observatory, University of Manchester, UK
Andreas Wicenec, European Southern Observatory, Germany

Abstract:

The Euro-VO technology centre (VOTC), is a major new initiative that
has recently been created to develop the technical solutions required
to meet the needs of the Virtual Observatory in Europe. A major task
for the VOTC is preparing a robust design for future implementation of
a pervasive European wide virtual observatory system, all based on
newly emerging global virtual observatory standards. In the first
three years of the VOTC, implementations of key capabilities,
resulting from early designs will be generated, and used in support of
the key astronomical science programmes.

We describe these initial activities of the VOTC, with a focus on the
early use of the new VOTC capabilities. These are broadly based
around four major themes: a robust virtual observatory infrastructure,
astronomical applications, techniques for resource discovery, and
large scale data exploration. The key technologies being developed in
each area are closely linked to science drivers, these largely based
on those outlined in the Euro-VO's precursor Astrophysical Virtual
Observatory Science Reference Mission document.

We will describe how two broad science themes, one addressing the
evolution of galaxies and one focused on stellar populations and
galactic structure, are being used in 2005/6 as test cases against
which the current VOTC capabilities will be scientifically utilised
and assessed.

We will show an early example of the use of a number of new VOTC
components. The first step of the procedure employs an early
astronomical tool under development by the VOTC, the 'footprint
server'. This will return coverage information for any particular
observation, thus allowing advanced selection of observational
data. When investigating for instance, high redshift clusters, it
allows improved discovery and selection of relevant images and
catalogues. These are retrieved through the VOTC infrastructure,
and then analysed via advanced data exploration tools, such
as 'Astroneural', allowing redshifts and clustering information to be
determined for significant data sets. 

The VOTC is currently funded through EU Framework Six programme
support of the VOTECH project (a consortium of AstroGrid, ESO, INAF,
CNRS). For further details see http://www.euro-vo.org for Euro-VO
information in general and http://www.eurovotech.org for detailed
information about the Euro-VO Technology Centre.




Paper Format:			Oral

Special Audio/Visual Needs:	Digital Projector, Internet connection