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The confluence of the amazing growth in computer and detector technologies, the development of broadband networks, and the establishment of terabyte data archives has created expectations for a digital revolution in astronomy. With these unprecedented facilities, the community can do research in a digital sky in ways unimagined just a few years ago. Stimulated by the recent decadal review of astronomy under the auspices of the National Academy of Science, astronomers are have begun the development of a National Virtual Observatory (NVO) to exploit these new opportunities.
We are developing a prototype of the NVO, to crystallize the concepts that it embodies, and to provide concrete experience that will enable the success of the full-scale system. Our prototype encompasses the complete cycle of observatory research: identify a problem, consider an observational test, make the observation, reduce and analyze the results, and compare to the hypothesis. To establish the feasibility of new paradigms embodied in the NVO we have focused on a carefully-chosen research goal: building - and using - a source classifier that can dramatically increase our understanding of the high-energy sky. We shall try to establish the physical basis of all known X-ray sources. In achieving this science goal we will develop functional prototypes for all key elements of the NVO facility.
Date of last modification: Tuesday, December 02, 2003
Responsible NASA official: Tom McGlynn
Curator: Eric Winter