A Smart On-line Astronomical Information Collector

Chenzhou CUI, Huaping SUNChina-VO

National Astronomical Observatory of China

IVOA Interoperability Meeting, Moscow, 2006

Evolution

(Web Search Engine)

(Professional DBs)

(Virtual Observatory)

IVOA Interoperability Meeting, Moscow, 2006

Online Astronomical Resources

• Catalogs (Database tables)• Image archives

– Spectrum archives• Bibliographic archives• Information services

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SkyMouse: A light-weight information collector

• Not like some VO efforts on uniformed access systems, for example, NVO DataScope, SkyMouse tries to show a comprehensive overview for a specific object, but not to snatch as much data as possible.

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Characteristics

• Easy of Use. Access to world wide astronomical references, catalogs, images, and maybe more, by a simple “MouseOver” action.– Traditional query system: Copy your words->Open Web

Browser>Visit Astronomical Database website->Select service->Paste->Custom Options->Submit

– SkyMouse: Mouse over or select -> Click “SkyMouse” icon

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Functions

• Two use mode: through SkyMouse client or use the server directly.

• Three capture mode: screen, select (recommended), and hot key.

• PDF support (select mode only).• Multiple types of backend services integration, HTTP GET, CG

I, Web Services, Grid Services.• Update check.• Per-selected commonly used resources including SIMBAD, D

SS, ADS, VizieR and NED.• Simple services custom by user

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Technic Highlights

• “Screen character capture” technic developed independently.

• Web 2.0 technologies:– AJAX, provides smoothly response and better us

er experience.– .Net framework, the backend system is based o

n MicroSoft .Net framework.– Web Services, most components in the backend

are Web Services.

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• How to get?• How to install?• How to use?• How to feedback?

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How the SkyMouse works?

• Characters on the screen are captured by the client, then will be sent to SkyMouse server after simple analyse. SkyMouse server accepts item from the client and then sends it to name resolving service of SIMBAD or NED for further information, esp. coordinate. Different databases will be queried using the coordinate and object name. SkyMouse server collects results and displays them in user’s default web browser. – (without cash)

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Architecture

Client/Server and service oriented architecture

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Topology

Browser, Client/Server topology

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New Characters in SkyMouse 2.x

• VO-Registry based service discovery and updates• Service custom by user• Client package for Linux OS• Faster responses based on cashes• Different output formats, i.e. ASCII, Pdf, rtf, odf• Astronomical object names in Chinese

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Roadmap

• 2005-05-17 Rough Idea;• 2005-09-30 Tech Preview alpha; • 2005-11-15 Tech Preview beta; • 2005-12-31 SkyMouse 1.0 Alpha • 2006-07-19 SkyMouse 1.0• 2006-10-15 SkyMouse 1.1• 2006-12-31 SkyMouse 2.0 Alpha • 2007-04-30 SkyMouse 2.0

IVOA Interoperability Meeting, Moscow, 2006

SkyMouse

• A new user interface for Astronomical online services

• An intelligent VO client• A commodity for astronomers and

students

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We need your help on…

• How to know the captured words is an astronomical object?

• How to give a better layout for the large queried result?

IVOA Interoperability Meeting, Moscow, 2006