An overview of the heterogeneous telescope network system: Concept, scalability and operation
✍ Scribed by R.R. White; A. Allan
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2008
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 102 KB
- Volume
- 329
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0004-6337
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Abstract
In the coming decade there will be an avalanche of data streams devoted to astronomical exploration opening new windows of scientific discovery. The shear volume of data and the diversity of event types (Kantor 2006; Kaiser 2004; Vestrand & Theiler & Wozniak 2004) will necessitate; the move to a common language for the communication of event data, and enabling telescope systems with the ability to not just simply respond, but to act independently in order to take full advantage of available resources in a timely manner. Developed over the past three years, the Virtual Observatory Event (VOEvent) provides the best format for carrying these diverse event messages (White et al. 2006a; Seaman & Warner 2006). However, in order for the telescopes to be able to act independently, a system of interoperable network nodes must be in place, that will allow the astronomical assets to not only issue event notifications, but to coordinate and request specific observations. The Heterogeneous Telescope Network (HTN) is a network architecture that can achieve the goals set forth and provide a scalable design to match both fully autonomous and manual telescope system needs (Allan et al. 2006a;White et al. 2006b; Hessman 2006b). In this paper we will show the design concept of this meta‐network and nodes, their scalable architecture and complexity, and how this concept can meet the needs of institutions in the near future. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)