Abstract
AstroGrid is the UK's contribution to the world-wide drive towards a
Virtual Observatory (VO). I describe the project, its relation to other
VO projects and other e-Science projects, and its current status. I then
examine the concepts and science drivers behind the Virtual Observatory
and the Grid, and the technical challenges which we face. The conception
of the VO we arrive at is not one of a software monolith, but rather one
of a framework which enables data centres to provide competing and
co-operating data services, and which enables software providers to
offer a variety of compatible analysis and visualisation tools and user
interfaces. The first priority of the VO projects worldwide is to
provide the infrastructure which will enable such creative diversity.
AstroGrid is however also a consortium of data centres, which will pool
resources within this framework, and we expect to develop an early
working implemementation of immediate use to astronomers.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of SPIE Volume 4846 |
| Subtitle of host publication | Virtual Observatories |
| Pages | 6-12 |
| Volume | 4846 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2002 |