Virtual Observatory Software for Astronomers

AstroGrid News

Most recent news item

February 10th 2010 : new version of user software : We are pleased to announce the latest release of the AstroGrid VODesktop, version 1.3.2 There are a number of improvements to functionality. The main one is the addition of the ability to send queries to services using a new IVOA standard, the Table Access Protocol (TAP). At the moment, there are only a few such services, but over time this will become the normal way of sending queries to databases and other kinds table data. The changes are listed at http://www.astrogrid.org/wiki/ReleaseNotes . AstroGrid Python remains at V1.04, and and Topcat at V3.5, November 2009.

Older news items in date order

Dec 4th 2009 : new version of user software : we are pleased to announce a new version of Topcat(v3.5), released Nov 6th 2009. This has several VO-specialised enhancements including new multi-catalogue queries against external services, similar to that available in VO Desktop. It also has improved single-position catalogue, image and spectral queries; direct table loads from VizieR; better cooperation with spectral viewers; and improved memory management. Topcat can be downloaded here and a full list of changes is available at the Topcat version history page.

July 15th 2009 : new versions of user software : The VO Technology Centre UK (VOTC:UK) is pleased to announce the latest release of the AstroGrid VODesktop, version 1.3. There are a small number of improvements to functionality including including improved column suggestions provided by Multi Query and the ability for CEA and DSA services to now use a secured VOSpace as well as the correct displaying of VOSpace folders by FileManager. AstroGrid Python remains at V1.04. The latest version of Topcat is V3.4-2, July 2009. Important changes are listed at http://www.astrogrid.org/wiki/ReleaseNotes .

May 25th 2009 : new versions of user software : The VO Technology Centre UK (VOTC:UK) is pleased to announce the latest release of the AstroGrid VODesktop, version 1.2.3.1. There are a small number of improvements to functionality including the ability to launch multiple cone searches simultaneously for a user provided list of positions along with a number of minor internal technical changes; the changes apparent to the user are mostly small, but the technical changes have been made with long term sustainability of the components in mind. AstroGrid Python remains at V1.04. The latest version of Topcat is V3.4-1, March 2009. Important changes are listed at http://www.astrogrid.org/wiki/ReleaseNotes .

February 5th 2009 : new versions of user software : AstroGrid is pleased to announce the latest release of VODesktop, version 1.2.2. This includes a number of internal technical changes; the changes apparent to the user are small, but the technical changes prepare the ground for future improvements in functionality. There is also an updated version of AstroGrid Python, V1.04. The latest version of Topcat remains at V3.4, December 2008. The key changes are listed at http://www.astrogrid.org/wiki/ReleaseNotes .

December 15th, 2008: Euro-VO Hands-on VO School: March 30 - April 2 2009 in ESO, Munich.

The EURO-VO project (including the UK's AstroGrid), in the framework of the EURO-VO Astronomical Infrastructure for Data Access (AIDA), is organising an international School at ESO, Garching bei Munchen, Germany. This school will be of direct interest to astronomers wanting to find out more directly how to access and analyse data through the VO, developing solutions to meet their science requirements.

Deadline for registration is February 15, 2009. (see http://www.euro-vo.org/aidahandson2009/registration.html)

Some travel support is available for this workshop. For more details, visit the workshop's web page: http://www.euro-vo.org/aidahandson2009/

October 8th 2008 : new VODesktop release 1.2.0 : AstroGrid is pleased to announce the latest release of VODesktop, version 1.2.0. This release offers a number of new features including more user control in running applications on the VO. Many bug fixes have been made. The full list of new features etc is to be found at http://www.astrogrid.org/wiki/ReleaseNotes . (Note that no changes have been made to other components of the AstroGrid Desktop suite, i.e. Topcat or AstroGrid Python).

Sept 4th 2008 : Euro-VO workshop on multiwavelength astronomy and the VO

The EURO-VO project is organising an open international workshop at ESAC, Villafranca del Castillo, Spain, December 1-3. All interested astronomers are invited to attend. The deadline for registration is October 24th.

As new and older ground-based and space facilities will continue providing multi-wavelength data in a variety of formats and multi-chip instruments and large Surveys are expected to increase the data inflow by orders of magnitude, the VO is becoming indispensable for accessing and handling the exponentially increasing data volume. The goals of the workshop are to pinpoint the challenges multi-wavelength astronomy will be facing in the coming years and to identify how the unique capabilities intrinsic to the VO concept, such as simultaneous access to different archives, metadata describing the content and quality of the data packages or tools to e.g. cross-correlate the various datasets, can meet them.

To achieve these goals, the workshop will bring together experts in multi-wavelength galactic and extragalactic astronomy and scientists and engineers actively involved in the international VO initiative.

July 4th 2008 : STFC Programmatic Review : Future of AstroGrid

STFC Council have now announced the result of their Programmatic Review, and despite finding that all their current projects are of very high quality, have regrettably decided that they must make savings by early closure of some, including AstroGrid. STFC and AstroGrid are currently in discussion on the timescale of this closure, and how to capitalise on the past investment.

The members of the AstroGrid consortium are committed to maintaining the current software suite and services indefinitely, so we still strongly recommend users to take up AstroGrid. However, depending on future developments, we may not be able to develop new functionality. The Astronet facility roadmap strongly supports continued investment in the VO, so we are in active discussion with our European partners, and key facilities and missions, as to how best to support and develop the astronomical data infrastructure in the future.

A fuller statement will be made in due course.

May 28th 2008: AstroGrid Science Call announced. Deadline for proposals is 17.00 BST Friday 27th June 2008 . Full details at ScienceCallJune2008

May 2nd 2008: Euro-VO/ Data Centres Workshop (deadline for registration 14th May 2008) - for those of you wanting to publish large data sets to the VO - then find out how by attending this workshop - details at http://www.euro-vo.org/dcaworkshop2008/ - AstroGrid tutors will be there to help with your queries.

April 28th 2008: EURO-VO / AstroGrid Research Initiative (deadline 15 June 2008) - full details at http://www.euro-vo.org/pub/fc/AIDA_call_2008.html

April 2nd 2008 : comments on the new AstroGrid software by a UK astronomer on this NAM blog.

April 1st 2008 : press release about the new software (V2008.1) released at the National Astronomy Meeting in Belfast.

Acknowledging AstroGrid. If you make use of the AstroGrid system or tools, we would be grateful if you could acknowledge this use in any resulting publications. You could use these words: 'This research has made use of data obtained using, or software provided by, the UK's AstroGrid Virtual Observatory Project, which is funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council and through the EU's Framework 6 programme.' Use of any data discovered or accessed through AstroGrid should of course be mentioned as noted by the data providers.

Licensing and Copyright. AstroGrid software is released under the Academic Free License.. The copyright on the text used in these web pages is owned by the contributing authors. Copyright on images used are assumed to be with the indicated or implied source as appropriate.