AstroGrid

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Science Introduction: As of 1 Apr 2008 please go to http://www.astrogrid.org

These pages refer to the pre 2008 version of the AstroGrid. For the latest version for AstroGrid - including the new VODesktop - please go to http://www.astrogrid.org
What does Astrogrid do?

What does AstroGrid do? A short overview of how the Astronomer can use AstroGrid to access a wide range of data and applications to help with their research programmes. Please acknowledge the use of Astrogrid.

AstroGrid provides astronomers with a simple set of tools which enable access to a wide range of astrophysical data and applications.

The AstroGrid Workbench is the main user interface for the astronomer to the Virtual Observatory (VO) - a world wide initiative linking all main providers of data in astronomy (e.g. ESO, ESA, NASA)

The Workbench offers a number of key capabilities:

  • AstroScope answers the question - what data is there available for any patch on the night sky?
  • HelioScope answers the question - what Solar System data is available for a given time range?
  • The Task Launcher provides an easy way to query a wide range of astrophysical databases. Thus one can retrieve all stars with a certain colour from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey or Brown Dwarfs from the UKIDSS WFCAM infrared survey.
  • The Task Launcher also enables a scientist to run a wide range of applications, such as S-Extractor, Pegase, and return results in standard VO formats (such as VOTable)

Tools are able to return their results to the user's MySpace - or to their local disk. For quick look analysis of the results, a number of Helper Applications can be used.

AstroGrid VO services can be accessed programmatically from a number of languages including Python .
Getting Started

The AstroGrid system is accessed using a Java application called Workbench. In order to use it you will need to have Java Run Time Environment (JRE) installed in your computer and an AstroGrid username-password-community set.

Please click here for more information.
Astrogrid for Solar System

You can use AstroGrid to retrieve Solar images and time series Solar Terrestrial Physics (STP) data.

  • Try launching HelioScope and searching for Solar System data by time range.