VO Glossary

This section lists a number of acronymns found in the Virtual Observatory (VO)

ADQL

Astronomy Data Query Language. A standard language for querying astronomy databases, based on SQL (Standard Query Language).

Cone Search

A VO protocol allowing retrieval of catalogue information on objects within a cone of given radius around a specified location. Cone Search services are identified in VOExplorer by . The Cone Search specification is available at http://www.ivoa.net/Documents/latest/ConeSearch.html.

IANA

Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (http://www.iana.org/).

IVOA

International Virtual Observatory Association (http://www.ivoa.net). International body agreeing standards for Virtual Observatories.

IVORN

International Virtual Observatory Resource Name. This is the equivalent of URL addresses to identify VO resources (data and applications).

MIME

Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extension. A text string used on the internet to identify file formats. A list of some of the more popular MIME types can be found by visiting the IANA MIME Media Types site.

PLASTIC

Messanging protocol that allows applications to exchange messages and data between each other. Images, tables and spectra retrieved via VODesktop are loaded into visualisation applications (such as Topcat, Aladin, SPLAT, VOSpec etc) via PLASTIC. (http://www.sourceforge.net/plastic)

SIAP

Simple Image Access Protocol. SIAP VO resources are archives that return astronomical images within a specified position and box radius. SIAP services are identified in VOExplorer by . The SIAP specification is available at http://www.ivoa.net/Documents/latest/SIA.html

SSAP

Simple Spectral Access Protocol. SSAP VO resources are archives that return astronomical spectra within a specified position and box radius. SSAP services are identified in VOExplorer by . The SSAP specification is available at http://www.ivoa.net/Documents/latest/SSA.html.

STAP

Simple Time Access Protocol. STAP VO resources are archives that return data within a specified time range. Data for the Sun and Heliosphere are supplied by STAP services. STAP services are identified in VOExplorer by .

Vizier

Service providing access to astronomical catalogues stored at CDS, Strasbourg. Tables published online as part of Astronomy and Astrophysics papers are available via Vizier.

VOEvent

Standard format for describing an astronomical event by means of an XML packet. A VOEvent packet contains information on the location, time, and likely nature of a transient astronomical event, as well as information on its observation. The specification is available at http://www.ivoa.net/Documents/latest/VOEvent.html

VOTable

Standard format for representing and exchanging tabular data within the VO. It is an XML format. Examples of applications that can read in VOTables are Topcat and Aladin. The specification is available at http://www.ivoa.net/Documents/latest/VOT.html