OPTICAL INFRARED COORDINATION NETWORK
FOR ASTRONOMY
Third Annual Report
Contract No: HPRI-CT-1999-40002
Start date of Contract: 1 March 2000
End date of Contract 28 February 2004
Network Title: Optical Infrared Coordination Network for Astronomy
Website address: http://www.astro-opticon.org
Name of Coordinator: Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council
Science Coordinator, and Contact: Professor Gerard Gilmore
email:
Participant number (Coordinating partner as participant No 1) / Name of Participating Organization / Name of responsible person / Role in network1 / Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council / Ms Rowena Sirey / Coordinator
2 / The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge / Professor Gerard Gilmore / USER
3 / Universite Louis Pasteur – Strasbourg 1 / Professor Francoise Genova / LSF-OTH
4 / European Space Agency / Professor Piero Benvenuti / LSF-IHP
5 / European Southern Observatory / Professor Alvio Renzini / LSF-OTH
6 / Institut D’Astrophysique de Paris / Professor Alain Omont / USER
7 / Institut National des Sciences de l’Univers du Centre National de la Reserche Scientifique / Dr Genevieve Debouzy / LSF-OTH
8 / Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias / Professor Francisco Sanchez / LSF-IHP
9 / Instituto Nazionale di Astrofisica / Professor Giancarlo Setti / LSF-OTH
10 / Universiteit Leiden / Professor George Miley / USER
11 / Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V. / Professor Simon White / USER
12 / Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie. / Professor Hans-Walter Rix / LSF-OTH
13 / Netherlands Research School for Astronomy / Professor Dr Tim De Zeeuw / USER
14 / Nordic Optical Telescope Scientific Association / Dr Leo Takalo / LSF-OTH
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The OPTICON network has had a spectacularly busy and productive year, continuing with the full range of activities underway and reported in the last annual report, completing a Mid-term review, and building a Europe-wide partnership to form an Integrated Infrastructure Initiative proposal, now submitted for consideration for FP6.
OPTICON was invited to represent the FP5 Network program in European Astronomy in a display stand at the major conference in Brussels launching the FP6 program, which led to substantial activity and publicity. Additionally, we produced a 32-page booklet, published by the EC [ISBN-92-894-3352-3: KI-NA-20-089-EN-C], explaining OPTICON activity to a wide audience. This is currently being reprinted, as demand exceeds supply.
The high level of activity of the various working groups and management team is represented in the three main partners meetings, an exceptional executive meeting of a sub-group of the partners, and many other working group activities, culminating in a total of 52 activities reported here.
Three major activities have been initiated by OPTICON, and have now become self-sustaining as independent projects. The largest of these is the Astrophysical Virtual Observatory, now submitted to FP6 as an independent I3. The others are an FP5 RTN and an RTD project, and are reported here in summary although independently reporting to the EC.
2 PARTNERS' MEETINGS
2.1 Fifth Partners' Meeting
The fifth partners’ meeting was held at Tuorla Observatory, Turku, Finland, May 3 2002. 16 partners’ representatives attended. This meeting was followed by an extremely successful 2-day meeting of 57 people for the Extremely Large Telescope Working Group. Minutes are appended.
The Chairman’s report presented the mid-term review submission, highlighting the success of OPTICON to-date. A report was alos presented on a joint public meeting held at JENAM2001 with the radio astronomy network, RADIOnet. A further public meeting was planned at JENAM02.
Reports on the activities of the various working groups were presented. The Elite Fellowships WG was especially active, having concluded a contract to support a study program, preparatory to completion of their detailed proposal and report.
Similarly, the Medium Telescopes WG was making progress towards their FP6 proposal, designed to integrate the community of excellent research-quality telescopes.
The new item was the first report from the Key Technologies WG, initiated to establish well-researched proposals which could then be prioritized prior to FP6 funding opportunities.
As noted, this meeting was followed by a very large and extremely successful WG meeting for the Extremely Large Telescope WG, which is reported below.
2.2 SIXTH Partners' Meeting:
The sixth partners meeting was held at the Observatoire de Paris, September 23-24 2002. 35 people attended, including the EC contact, for FP6 discussions.
A special feature of this meeting was the attendance of representatives of three new national delegations, who were invited to attend, with an expectation of joint OPTICON as full participants under FP6. These were the Greek National Committee for Astronomy, the Council of German Observatories (Rat Deutscher Sternwarten), and the Belgian national community.
The Chair reported that the previous annual report had been accepted, and consequent funds delivered. The mid-term review interview had been received very positively. The OPTICON brochure, published by the EC had been produced, with 1,000 copies printed.
Reports from all the working groups were received and discussed. Considerable progress was reported for the Elite Fellowships proposal.
Especial note was provided for the Extremely Large Telescope WG. This WG had succeeded in a primary aim, to bring together into a single Europe-wide project that various contributions to the ELT design. A meeting of key groups, hosted by Prof Setti in Bologna, had established a single European project. A call for nominations for key positions was announced, while the Bologna meeting had empowered a small executive to select and appoint from received nominations.
2.2.6 Comments on the EU FP6 Structures Paper
The FP6 plans were presented by Takis Moschopolous. After extensive discussion, and analysis of the considerable successes of OPTICON to date, the partners decided that OPTICON should continue and be extended under FP6 as an I3. Prof Gilmore was elected (in his absence) as Chair for the whole FP6 duration. A variety of new initiatives to become part of the I3 were discussed and agreed.
2.3 Seventh Partners Meeting
The seventh Partners meeting was held in Tenerife, Canary Islands, on January 24-25 2003, with 34 participants. Opticon welcomed as new full partners national participation by Switzerland and the Spanish academic network, linking the several Spanish universities with active astrophysics research. Formal national participation by Portugal and Sweden remains under consideration.
The primary business was determination of the networks and JRA activities to be included in the I3 proposal, to complement the medium-telescopes access program. Presentations on most relevant JRA proposals were made, while 14 network proposals were available.
The partners strongly endorsed the idea of a single I3 proposal for ground-based optical-IR astronomy, and invited the network based on the Canarian Observatories to join with the OPTICON network. It was further emphasisied that real close cooperation between the three astronomy I3 projects, OPTICON, AVOnet and RADIOnet, was desirable, and should be a priority activity.
In order to finalise the contents of the I3 proposal, a subgroup was established. This represented the main funding agencies and infrastructure operators. Who would be required to ensure matching funds and/or access of any technical developments to telescopes.
2.4 Executive Subgroup Meeting
This took place in Garching, Germany, Feb 28 2003. All he draft JRA proposals were considered, and a subset selected for support in the I3 proposal. The Canarian Observatories network agreed to merge their proposal, including its intended networks and JRAs, into OPTICON. The access proposal would be extended suitably.
3 PROGRESS OF THE JOINT SCIENTIFIC/TECHNOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES
As working activities have developed from initial proposals into reality, the OPTICON activities have become organized into a series of working groups:
1 Elite Fellowships (Contract section 3.J,3.F,3.K)
2 Interoperability (Contract section 3.B,3.G,3.H)
3 Astrophysical Virtual Observatory (Contract section 3.F,3.G,3.I,3.K)
4 Astrowise (Contract section 3.G,3.K)
5 EURO-3D (Contract section 3.G,3.K)
6 ASTROVIRTEL (Contract section 3.G,3.H,3.I)
7 New Technologies (Contract section 3.A,3.K)
8 Coordination of Medium-sized telescopes (Contract section 3.C,3.E,3.F)
9 Future Extremely large Telescopes (Contract section 3.D,3.K)
A list of meetings is maintained at http://www.astro-opticon.org/diary.html
3.1 Elite Fellowships:
Chair: Piero Benvenuti (ESA, Garching) 2003
www.astro-opticon.org/fellowships.html
3.1.1 Summary of Specific Objectives
This WG aims to produce a feasibility study for enhanced Fellowships, allowing fellowship support from the EU at a comparable level with the best available internationally.
3.1.2 Overview of Progress
A feasibility study was completed, and provided to the EU. In spite of very positive support, it seems too late to affect FP6 projects, so the work will continue leading towards FP7. The report is available at
www.astro-opticon.org/fellowships.html
3.1.3 Comparison of intentions and outcomes
The goal has been achieved.
3.1.4 Plans for 2003 and long term
This study will be expanded, in collaboration with the ESF, under FP6 I3 support
3.1.5 List of major meetings
No relevant meetings were held during the reporting period.
3.2 OPTICON Working Group on Interoperability
Chair: Francoise Genova, CDS Strasbourg
www.astro-opticon.org/interoperability.html
3.2.1 Summary of Specific Objectives
There have been two main objectives during the reporting period:
- preparation of the AVO proposal for submission as an I3
- discussion of introperability standards and tools with European archive managers and with other Virtual Observatory projects
3.2.2 Overview of Progress
- The AVO project as currently implemented has three Work Areas, the second is devoted to Interoperability. AVO Interoperability activities were in particular demonstrated in the AVO Science demo, Jodrell Bank, January 20-21, 2003 (development funded by the AVO project).
- Preparation of FP6 VO proposals: interoperability activities will be taken into account in the Euro-VO and VONet proposals.
- VOTable, the first VO-driven Interoperability standard, discussed during the first Interoperability Working Group meeting in January 2002, was adopted on April 15, 2002. It has since then been widely and successfully used by the international Virtual Observatory projects.
- Discussions with several European archives and services about interoperability implementation (e.g. LEDA/Hyperleda, Strasbourg, March 8, 2002; Integral, Strasbourg, April 23, 2002)
3.2.3 Comparison of intentions and outcomes
The goal of achieving the world’s first set of agreed standards for interoperability is well on the way, with universal adoption of the VOTable standard.
Diffusion of results:
Invited talk , Exploiting the ISO data archive, Siguenza, June 24-27, 2002: "Archive interoperability in the Virtual Observatory", Francoise Genova
Invited talk, 1st Workshop of the Open
Archive Forum (IST-2001-320015), Pisa, May 13-14, 2002: "On-line information in Astronomy - From networking to a virtual observatory", Francoise Genova
3.2.4 Plans for 2003 and long term
Outline of planned activities
- Continuing work on interoperability standards. Next Interoperability WG meeting: Cambridge, May 15-16, 2003 (with preliminary topical meetings May 12-14)
- Preparation of FP6 proposals
3.2.5 List of major meetings
One meeting from the last reporting period needs note, as an amended travel claim is reported: Starsbourg, Jan 27-30, 2001.
- Interoperability meetings: Garching, June 12, 2002; Baltimore, October 17, 2002. On-going discussion about Simple Image Access protocol, Service Registry, Unified Content Descriptors.
. Journee Thematique du CLORA (Bruxelles, March 5, 2002): "Les infrastructures dans le 6eme PCRD"
. Discussion meeting on Interoperability: application to the LEDA/Hyperleda service, Strasbourg, March 8, 2002
OPTICON Partners meeting, Turku, May 2-4, 2002
.
"Exploiting the ISO data archive", Siguenza, June 24-27, 2002 (permission to use OPTICON funds to cover participation to this colloquium obtained by Gerry from the EC)
. OPTICON Partners meeting, Paris, September 23-24, 2002
. Interoperability meeting, Baltimore, October 17, 2002 (Permission to fund this travel out of Europe on OPTICON funds sought and obtained in advance)
. OPTICON Board meeting, Munich, February 28, 2002
3.3 Astrophysical Virtual Observatory (AVO)
Chair: Peter Quinn (ESO, Garching) http://www.eso.org/projects/avo/
Report on AVO March 2002 - February 2003
3.3.1 Summary of Specific Objectives
Progress Overview
AVO established a Science Working Group which assessed critical science cases
for prototypes. 8 AVO staff members were hired in France, Germany and the U.K.
Intranet capabilities for project and community communication were set up and a
Web presence was established (www.euro-vo.org). Together with our Astrogrid
partner - a UK funded initiative - a number of Grid, storage and DB HW/SW
components were evaluated. A prototype interoperability interface for first
year tests was defined and implemented. This resulted in an AVO 1st light event
in January 2003. The scientific scenario was based on a very rich, well
calibrated data set from the GOODS and HDF-N surveys covering many wavebands
from th e radio to X-ray regime. The three software components of the AVO
prototype exchange information in VOTable format - a dialect of XML for
Astronomy - and use Unified Content Descriptors (UCDs) as keywords.
3.3.2 Overview of Progress
In June the conference "Toward and International Virtual Observatory" was held
in Garching where a diverse community of 150 scientists discussed how to fully
exploit the potential of the Virtual Observatory. At this occasion the
International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) was founded.
The AVO prototype was presented on schedule at a press conference and science
workshop at the Jodrell Bank radio observatory near Manchester, UK in Jan.
2003. A metadata browser, a spectral energy distribution plotter and a Web
Service for on demand extraction of source catalogs from user defined images
were major innovations. Due to delays when hiring AVO staff and due to the
ambitious nature of the project further interesting science cases could not be
considered as we had hoped to.
3.3.3 Comparison of Intentions and Outcomes
Very substantial progress towards establishing a true global Virtual Observatory is underway.
3.3.4 Plans for 2003 and Long Term
- In the framework of the IVOA there will be a coordinated demo of AVO and
other VO initiatives at the IAU general assembly in Sidney in July 03.
- On top of already known standardization efforts (VOTable, UCDs) there are
further such activities being initiated in the following areas:
+ resource registry
+ data access layer
+ data modeling
+ VO query language
- Following the recommendation of the AVO Science Working Group more emphasis
will be put on support for spectroscopy.
- Preparation and submission of a proposal for the FP6 of the European
Commission for a Euro-VO which will be the successor of AVO.
3.3.5 List of Major Meetings