International Virtual Observatory: 10 years after

Abstract

International Virtual Observatory (IVO) is 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 will combine existing databases from ground-based and orbiting observatories and make them easily accessible to researchers. 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 have been compiled from observations in a variety of wavelengths: optical, radio, infrared, gamma ray, X-ray and more. Each wavelength can provide different information about a celestial event or object, but also requires a special expertise to interpret. In a virtual observatory environment, all of this data is integrated so that it can be synthesized and used in a given study. The International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) represents 17 international projects working in coordination to realize the essential technologies and interoperability standards necessary to create a new research infrastructure. Russian Virtual Observatory is one of the founders and important members of the IVOA. The International Virtual Observatory project was launched about ten years ago, and major IVO achievements in science and technology in recent years are discussed in this presentation. Standards for accessing large astronomical data sets were developed. Such data sets can accommodate the full range of wavelengths and observational techniques for all types of astronomical data: catalogues, images, spectra and time series. The described standards include standards for metadata, data formats, query language, etc. Services for the federation of massive, distributed data sets, regardless of the wavelength, resolution and type of data were developed. Effective mechanisms for publishing huge data sets and data products, as well as data analysis toolkits and services are provided. The services include source extraction, parameter measurements and classification from data bases, data mining from image, spectra and catalogue domains, multivariate statistical tools and multidimensional visualization techniques. Development of prototype VO services and capabilities implemented within the existing data centers, surveys and observatories are also discussed. We show that the VO has evolved beyond the demonstration level to become a real research tool. Scientific results based on end-to-end use of VO tools are discussed in the presentation.