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             Information from the European Southern Observatory
 ESO Press Release 24/02
 17 December 2002                                        [ESO Logo]
 For immediate release
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Press Meeting 20 January 2003: First Light for Europe's Virtual 
Observatory [1]

Imagine you are an astronomer with instant, fingertip access to all
existing observations of a given object and the opportunity to sift
through them at will. In just a few moments, you can have information
on all kinds about objects out of catalogues all over the world,
including observations taken at different times.

Over the next two years this scenario will become reality as Europe's
Astrophysical Virtual Observatory (AVO) develops. Established only a
year ago (cf. ESO PR 26/01), the AVO already offers astronomers a
unique, prototype research tool that will lead the way to many
outstanding new discoveries.

Journalists are invited to a live demonstration of the capabilities of
this exciting new initiative in astronomy. The demonstration will take
place at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Manchester, in the United
Kingdom, on 20 January 2003, starting at 11:00.

Sophisticated AVO tools will help scientists find the most distant
supernovae - objects that reveal the cosmological makeup of our
Universe.  The tools are also helping astronomers measure the rate of
birth of stars in extremely red and distant galaxies.

Journalists will also have the opportunity to discuss the project with
leading astronomers from across Europe.

The new AVO website has been launched today, explaining the progress
being made in this European Commission-funded project:

                        URL: http://www.euro-vo.org/

To register your intention to attend the AVO First Light
Demonstration, please provide your name and affiliation by January 13,
2003, to: Ian Morison, Jodrell Bank Observatory (full contact details
below). Information on getting to the event is included on the webpage
above.

Programme for the AVO First Light Demonstration

11:00 Welcome, Phil Diamond (University of Manchester/Jodrell Bank
 Observatory)
11:05 Short introduction to Virtual Observatories, Piero Benvenuti
 (ESA/ST-ECF)
11:15 Q&A
11:20 Short introduction to the Astrophysical Virtual Observatory,
 Peter Quinn (ESO)
11:30 Q&A
11:35 Screening of Video News Release
11:40 Demonstration of the AVO prototype, Nicholas Walton (University
 of Cambridge)
12:00 Q&A, including interview possibilities with the scientists
12:30-13:45 Buffet lunch, including individual hands-on demos
14:00 Science Demo (also open to interested journalists)

For more information about Virtual Observatories and the AVO, see the
website or the explanation below.

Notes to editors

The AVO involves several partner organisations led by the European
Southern Observatory (ESO). The other partner organisations are the
European Space Agency (ESA), AstroGrid (funded by PPARC as part of the
UK's E-Science programme), the CNRS-supported Centre de Donnees
Astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS), the University Louis Pasteur in
Strasbourg, France, the CNRS-supported TERAPIX astronomical data
centre at the Institut d'Astrophysique in Paris, France, and the
Jodrell Bank Observatory of the Victoria University of Manchester,
United Kingdom.

Note

[1]: This is a joint Press Release issued by the European Southern
Observatory (ESO), the Hubble European Space Agency Information
Centre, AstroGrid, CDS, TERAPIX/CNRS and the University of Manchester.

Science Contacts

Peter J. Quinn
European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Garching, Germany
Tel: +49-89-3200 -6509
email: pjq{at}eso.org

Phil Diamond
University of Manchester/Jodrell Bank Observatory
United Kingdom
Tel: +44-147-757-26-25 (0147 in the United Kingdom)
email: pdiamond{at}jb.man.ac.uk

Press contacts

Ian Morison
University of Manchester/Jodrell Bank Observatory
United Kingdom
Tel: +44-147-757-26-10 (0147 in the United Kingdom)
E-mail: im{at}jb.man.ac.uk email: im{at}jb.man.ac.uk

Lars Lindberg Christensen
Hubble European Space Agency Information Centre
Garching, Germany
Tel: +49-89-3200-6306 (089 in Germany)
Cellular (24 hr): +49-173-3872-621 (0173 in Germany)
email: lars{at}eso.org

Richard West (ESO EPR Dept.)
ESO EPR Dept.
Garching, Germany
Phone: +49-89-3200-6276
email: rwest{at}eso.org

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Background information

What is a Virtual Observatory? - A short introduction
=====================================================
ESO PR Photo 29/02
 [Preview - JPEG: 492 x 400 pix - 82k
 [Normal - JPEG: 984 x 800 pix - 784k]

 Caption: Two of the 'engineering forces' behind the construction of
 the Astrophysical Virtual Observatory discuss how to best present the 
 flood of available observational data. To the left is Marco Leoni and 
 to the right Markus Dolensky, both from ESO.

The Virtual Observatory is an international astronomical
community-based initiative. It aims to allow global electronic access
to the available astronomical data archives of space and ground-based
observatories, sky survey databases. It also aims to enable data
analysis techniques through a coordinating entity that will provide
common standards, wide-network bandwidth, and state-of-the-art
analysis tools.

(continued)

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