THE US NATIONAL VIRTUAL OBSERVATORY

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THE US NATIONAL VIRTUAL OBSERVATORY
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Summer School 2008
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Summer School 2008

• By the end of the summer school,I was able to
  complete a project using the best of large
  compiled datasets, new all-sky surveys, and
  modern analysis methods. I have returned to my
  home institution with new ideas and many valuable
  tools for research.
• There are many astronomers around me that are
  interested in using VO, and now they are starting
  to use it as well. I'm really impressed with this
  school, and I can say that this was one of the
  best (if not the best) that I ever attended.
• I have been to dozens of conferences and
  workshops (Perl, OpenSource, JAVAONE, ADASS,
  etc.) and the NVOSS is by far the best I've ever
  attended.....no kidding.

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Summer School 2008

• Science Prize NaD as a useful stellar population
  indicator in galaxies. Marcel Bergmann and Bo
  Milvang-Jensen.
• Education Prize E Stellar Tools for the NVO.
  Ken Mighell and Brian Nord, Kathy Eastwood, Katy
  Garmany, Kristen Larson.
• Technology Second Prize QSO Photometric
  Redshift Determination, Raffaele D'Abrusco and
  Omar Laurino, Pragyasmita Nayak, Geert Barentsen.
• Technology First Prize Google Sky Overlay
  Automation using VO Tools. Jared Crossley and
  Ron DuPlain.
• Grand Prize Measuring Extinction and
  Extinction-Distance Relation. Kristen Larson and
  Silvana Navarro.

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The Book
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Data Discovery Portal

• Goal present a suite of data discovery and
  visualization tools through the web
• Maximum transparency, minimum text
• Simple to sophisticated, forms to scripts
• Registry DataScope Inventory
• VIM Simple Query VO Command Line
• Table Converter and Table Wizard
• Finishing testing and web page refinements
• Release soon part of new web site design

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Operations

• Initiated routine testing (hourly) of key sites
  and services
• Validation services (being) developed
• VOEvent Net
• Increased emphasis on software testing and
  documentation
• Regularized software library and adopted Trac for
  project tracking
• Using Zoho web-based project management tool
• Newsletter

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Technology, Infrastructure

• Registry upgrade, query and publication
  interfaces
• Footprint service standard (draft)
• VOSpace V1.0, V1.1
• ADQL and region specification
• SSAP services
• SIAP V2
• TAP definition and prototypes

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Programmatics

• NVO concluded Year 7 on Sept 30
• Supplements not possible
• No-cost extension granted to Sept 30, 2009
• Remaining funds sufficient for 3-6 months
• NVO collaboration submitted proposal to operate
  VAO last April
• 30M over five years
• As of early October NSF had not convened peer
  review panel
• Review now underway
• Funding gap appears unavoidable

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Priorities

• Complete and deploy data discovery portal
• Extend visibility and provide support for
  research community
• Honor international commitments, support IVOA
  standards processes
• Support infrastructure needed for above
• Other enhancements and internally motivated
  projects have been tabled for now

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Goodbye
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Hello