Open AccessUsing Virtual Observatories for Heliophysics Research
Author(s) -
Weigel Robert S.,
Baker Daniel N.,
Roberts D. Aaron,
King Todd
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2009eo470001
Subject(s) - virtual observatory , observatory , computer science , cyberspace , space observatory , world wide web , point (geometry) , the internet , astronomy , physics , operating system , geometry , mathematics , infrared
Scientific satellites, balloons, ground‐based instruments, and other observational platforms are producing rich streams of data about the Earth and space. Ensuring widespread access to such data has led to the development of a new type of observatory: the virtual observatory. Existing only in cyberspace, virtual observatories are Web‐based interfaces that point users to online data repositories. More important, they allow users not only to access and view multiple sources of information at the same time but also to cross‐compare data to build new insights.