![]() |
IAU Commission 5 Documentation and Astronomical Data Working Group VO |
Charter · Business Meeting at Prague GA · Links to IVOA · Commission 5 Home Page
The IAU WG Virtual Observatory is the standard-bearer
of the International Virtual Observatory at IAU, and it is the primary
point
of contact between the IVO and the IAU. Its primary role is to provide
an interface between IVOA activities, in particular IVOA standards and
recommandations, and other IAU standards, policies, and recommandations.
In particular, it raises VO-related topics (e.g. symposia, GA sessions,
...) that should be handled by the IAU (Commission 5, Division
XII and executive level). It is responsible for approving
the standards proposed by IVOA, after checking that there has been a
process of consultancy according to the
IVOA procedures, and that the proposed standards are consistent with
other IAU approved standards (e.g., FITS, coordinate standards, etc.).
The IAU WG VO brings to the attention of the IVOA Executive any topics
it considers to be important for the IVO. It can be consulted
by the IVOA Executive on any topic relevant to the international
development of the VO. WG VO consists of members of IVO projects
together with personalities bringing an external view on the long term
vision of the VO and other stakeholders.
It also includes the president of Commission 5, the chair of the IVOA,
a representative of the WG FITS (Commission 5), a representative of the
WG on Astronomical Data (Commission 5), and a representative of
the WG on International Solar Data Access (Division II).
The meeting was held on Wednesday, August 24th (09:00-10:30). It was
attended by about 25 participants, some from VO projects, and others who
were looking for information about the Astronomical Virtual Observatory.
The meeting was organised as a walk through the Web pages of IVOA and of
several national projects and answers to the participant questions,
with input from the project representatives
which were attending the meeting. A list of relevant Web
links was sent to the participants after the meeting.
Charter of the IAU Commission 5 WG Virtual
Observatory
The International Virtual Observatory is one of the rare truly global
endeavours of astronomy. Many projects, each with its own goals,
have been set up around the world to develop the IVO.
The International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) is an alliance of
the VO projects, with the aims of managing communication between
VO projects, defining a common roadmap, and managing propositions for
the
definition and evolution of IVO standards through the IVOA Working
Groups.
IAU WG VO Business Meeting at Prague General
Assembly
Links to IVOA