Astroscope Reference Help

This page describe the menus and dialogues part of the Astroscope tool. For an overview of its usage go to Using Astroscope. Note that as of version 1.2.3.1 (May 2009), new capability is provided to search against resource(s) for a list of user supplied positions if desired using a separate Multi Query task available under Actions in VOExplorer.

Left Window Pane

Search for

Select Catalogues, Images, Spectra, Timed Data to define which types of data resources will be queried.

At

Enter the search position, or name of object. If you enter an object name, then you must click on the binoculars button next to the search box. This will cause a query to be sent to the Sesame name server (based on SIMBAD), which will then return the coordinates of that object. (Note that the Sesame service must be available for this name lookup to function - check the Self Tests if you find that the name service does not work as expected.) If you enter a name with more than one entry in SIMBAD, e.g. Virgo, then only one entry will be returned; you are advised to use a precise name or a position (check with SIMBAD directly if necessary) unless you intend to search a very large area.

The search radius is entered in degrees or arcsecs depending on whether you select the units as Degrees or Sexigesimal.

Navigate

Search: starts/stops the search for the current position/object and region size. Note that after you push the 'Search' button it changes to a Halt button.

Go to Top: This enables you to return to the top of the results tree in the Right window pane - useful if you have been exploring down the tree - for instance to see in more detail what images are available for an object. This button has no effect if you are in the Services Table (see View below).

Clear Selection: This clears and selected resources that you may have selected in the Right window pane. Note that it is usually a good idea to push this button and clear you resource selection after you have finished working with those resources. Any selection remains in place until you cancel it with this button.

Process

Actions: depending on what resources you have selected in the right hand window, you will be offered one or more options for actions that you can perform on the resource.

About: contact information about resources that you have selected in the right hand window pane are shown here.

File Menu

Search

Search VO archives for data around the specified sky position or object name.

Halt Search

Stop ongoing search.

Close Window

Close the current All-VO Scope window - retrieved information will be lost unless it has been saved.

Login / Logout

Exit

Exits All-VO Scope and VODesktop.

Edit Menu

Cut, Copy, Paste, Select All, Select None, Invert selection: standard edit functions to operate on strings entered in All-VO Scope boxes.

Preferences

Reset configuration

Reset the VODesktop configuration settings to the default values.

Clear cache

Removes all cache data, e.g. cached registry entries.

View Menu

Go to top

Go back to the initial display of the results of the search, the top of the display tree.

Up

Go up by one on the display tree.

As radial graph

Returns from All-VO Scope are displayed as a radial graph (default)

As hyperbolic graph

Returns from All-VO Scope are displayed as a hyperbolic graph

As Services Table

Returns from All VO-Scope are displayed as a table, listing the services queried, the number of data files returned and any messages or errors returned from the service.

Show popup warnings

Enable/disable popup warning and error messages

History

Displays sky positions used in previous searches. Clicking on one of these reloads it into the Position and Search radius boxes.

Clear History

Clear the list of sky positions used in previous searches.

Result Menu

Note: These options are also available from the Actions panel, or by right clicking on a selection.

View

Opens the default browser and loads the selected file to view it (as a text file).

Download

Save the selected file(s) to either local disk or the user's VOSpace. Point to the directory where you want the files saved. The file name will be of the form "CatalogueName.vot" and if you save more than one selection from the same catalogue these will be called "CatalogueName-1.vot", "CatalogueName-2.vot" etc.

Send Tables to Aladin

Option available if a result table was selected (by double clicking on one of the top level nodes - see screenshot below), and if the Aladin Helper Application has been launched (see Helper Applications). Sends the table to Aladin for viewing.

Send Tables to Topcat

Option available if a result table was selected (by double clicking on one of the top level nodes), and if the Topcat Helper Application has been launched (see Helper Applications). Sends the table to Topcat for viewing.

Send FITS to Aladin

Option available if one (or more) FITS image(s) was selected (by double clicking on image nodes), and if the Aladin Helper Application has been launched (see Helper Applications). Sends the selected image(s) to Aladin for viewing.

Window Menu

See: VOExplorer Window Menu

Help Menu

Link to Help for All-VO Scope (this page).

Other items are as in VOExplorer Help Menu

Actions Pane

Download Only enabled when selected data is present. Brings up a box allowing you to save to myspace or your local computer. You MUST choose a directory this is because of multiple files are saved. Hence unique file names will be saved in the appropriate directory.

Radial/Hyperbolic display Pane

Single Click (leftmousebutton): Re-centre the visualisation on the desired node. In the 'Radial' visualisation this will expand any information/children of that node.

Double Click (leftmousebutton): Select the node and all its children. You may select the 'Search Results' node (top level) if you want all returned resources.

Left Mouse Button (Dragged/Hold Down): Pan around the graph. This may be desirable where many results are returned.

Right Mouse Button (Dragged/Hold Down): Zoom into the display. Hold Down the right mouse button and scroll up for zooming in (enlarge), scroll down for zooming out.