Virtual Observatory

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[edit] Virtual Observatories

There are now a number of initiatives aimed at providing improved access to the ever-expanding astronomical data resources available on-line. A virtual observatory is a collection of interoperating data archives and software tools which utilize the internet to form a scientific research environment in which 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 VO consists of a collection of data centres each with unique collections of astronomical data, software systems and processing capabilities.

A main goal is to allow transparent and distributed access to data available worldwide. This allows scientists to discover, access, analyze, and combine nature and lab data from heterogeneous data collections in a user-friendly manner. The Virtual Observatory (VO) used in Astronomy, allowing astronomers to seamlessly search, access, analyze, and combine astronomical data for research.

Details about a number of these Virtual Observatory (VO) initiatives are given:

AstroGrid: the UK's Virtual Observatory Service
Euro-VO: the European VO (a partnership of VOs including AstroGrid, the French-VO, ESO, ESA ...)
National Virtual Observatory: the USA's VO
Indian Virtual Observatory: the India's Virtual Observatory

In addition the IVOA (International Virtual Observatory Alliance) is a standards body created by the VO projects to develop and agree the vital interoperability standards upon which the VO implementations are constructed.