Tuesday 1 April 2008 (16.00 BST) sees the release of the fully operational AstroGrid Virtual Observatory system. Full details of this are available at www.astrogrid.org.

AstroGrid is a UK government funded, open source project designed to create a working Virtual Observatory (VO) for UK and International astronomers. Working closely with other VO projects worldwide through the International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA), internationally recognised interface standards are emerging which promote true scientifc interoperability of astronomical data and processing resources worldwide. AstroGrid is a leading member of this community.

AstroGrid's new software product - VO Desktop - which replaces and upgrades the existing prototype AstroGrid user interface, is currently being beta tested by members of the astronomy community.  This is in advance of a full public release in April 2008.  Please see the news item 28/1/2008 for further details.

2008-03-03: UPDATE: Following today's meeting of the AstroGrid Oversight Committee at the AstroGrid Critical Service Review, it has been agreed that the full operational release of AstroGrid will occur on Tuesday 1 April 2008. Andy Lawrence will give a talk and announce the AstroGrid release at the VO session (P26 - 1 Apr 2008 @ 4pm) during the RAS NAM 2008 meeting in QUB, Belfast.

In the meantime, for those who would like to get an early taste of the new VODesktop, you'll find full details about the beta release, and where to get the software, at http://beta.astrogrid.org.

NASA/CXC/SAO

NRAO / AUI

ESA/ISO, CAM, P.

MDM/R. Fesen