Astronomical Data Analysis Software & Systems XV

ADASS XV will allocate 5 Bird of a Feather (BoF) sessions. BoFs are informal sessions on topics of special interest to ADASS attendees. This year we have the following BoFs scheduled:

BoF 1 - FITS - Monday, 17:30-19:00

William Pence and the IAU FITS Working Group

Abstract:

This Birds-of-a-Feather session will present a summary of current activities related to the FITS data format and will provide a forum for the discussion of current issues. The following topics will be covered:

Update on the FITS committee membership and rules
Status of current FITS issues
- FITS MIME types
- Binary table conventions (appendices to the FITS Standard)
- World Coordinate Systems Papers III and IV, and the Solar coordinates paper
- Support for the 64-bit integer data type
- Registry of FITS conventions and keyword data dictionaries
- Updating the FITS User's Guide
Open forum for short presentations on FITS topics by attendees

All ADASS attendees are encouraged to subscribe to the FITS newsgroup at http://listmgr.cv.nrao.edu/mailman/listinfo/fitsbits to keep abreast of the latest FITS issues.

Additional information:

The FITS Birds-of-a-Feather (BoF) session at this year's ADASS meeting will present a summary of recent FITS activities and will provide a forum for the discussion of current issues. The preliminary agenda is:

1. Summary of activities completed in the past year
- update on FITS committee membership and procedures
- FITS MIME types: RFC approval process is complete!
- TDIMn and Variable Length array conventions approved
- update of the FITS Standard v2.1 released
- WCS Paper III (on Spectral coordinates) approved
2. Current issues and activities
- publication status of WCS Paper III
- status of HEALPix addendum to WCS Paper II
- status of WCS Paper IV
- status of the Solar Image Coordinate system paper
- results of regional FITS committee votes on 64-bit integer issues
3. Discussion of possible future activities
- Prague IAU General Assembly meeting in August 2006: any issues related to the role, composition, or procedures of the IAU FITS Working Group, and/or relationship to the VO Working Group?
- establish a registry for FITS conventions?
- convene a technical committee to update the FITS Standard?
- update or retire the FITS User's Guide?
- begin development of WCS V paper on Time coordinate systems?
4. Open forum for short presentations on FITS-related topics
Please contact William.D.Pence@nasa.gov if you want to give a presentation

BoF 2a - VOEvent: Update on Real-Time Astronomy Cyberinfrastructure - Monday, 19:15-20:45

Rob Seaman - NOAO and Roy Williams - Caltech

Abstract:

We will discuss the latest developments in the field of real-time astronomy, meaning networks of automated and responsive telescopes. The VOEvent is an information standard for transmitting discovery and follow-up messages about astronomical events. Each observation is semantically encoded by VOEvent as Who, What, How, Why, etc, and is designed for very fast telescope response (seconds). The publisher of an event attaches an ``importance'' number, and the automated system of the receiver decides whether to break schedule and do immediate follow-up. We hope that this BoF will allow interested parties in real-time astronomy to interact, beginning with some short presentations, that will act as a frame for general discussion.

Additional information:

We would like to solicit 5-minute mini-presentations from those who are (or have plans to be) producers or consumers of event notification, especially when that notification is produced or consumed by an automated system. We are interested to hear from those who receive high priority alerts such as GCN (gamma-ray burst) notices, and how these are filtered and processed, and used to direct an automated telescope.

The organizers are, therefore, looking for speakers to talk for no more than 5 minutes on the subjects above. PLEASE CONTACT THEM DIRECTLY at roy@caltech.edu and seaman@noao.edu.

BoF 2b - Common Astronomical Software Environment for Data Analysis - Monday, 19:15-20:45

D. Tody and P. Grosbol

Abstract:

The general user support for many traditional data processing systems (e.g. IRAF, Starlink, and MIDAS) has been significantly reduce in recent years. Further, much of the current efforts in the area of data processing is related to special purpose packages for specific projects. This emphasizes the need for planning in the area of common data processing software to ensure that new applications can be shared, general support made efficient and new technologies (e.g. VO, Grid) can be utilized.

The OPTICON Network 3.6 and NVO have started a discussion on the high-level requirements and architectural concepts for a common software environment for astronomical data analysis and processing.

It is proposed to have a BoF to discuss the general need for a common software environment to be used for development of new application and analysis of data e.g. obtained from VO. Besides this discussion, the current ideas considered by OPTICON N3.6 and NVO will be summarized.

We would like to present some e-graphs on current work of ON3.6 and NVO but the main part would be an open discussion.

BoF 3a - The Future of UTC and Leap Seconds - Tuesday, 19:00-20:30

Steve Allen, sla@ucolick.org, Peter Bunclark, psb@ast.cam.ac.uk, Mark Calabretta, mcalabre@ATNF.CSIRO.AU, and Rob Seaman, seaman@noao.edu

Abstract:

The precision timing community has been discussing the future of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and worldwide civil time for more than five years. A proposal to eliminate leap seconds is being seriously considered by a committee of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Astronomical input into this process is limited and there is a significant likelihood that it will pass and be implemented before the end of 2007. If that should happen, DUT1 = UT1 - UTC will grow without bound past its current 0.9s limit. A large number of astronomical software systems depend on Universal Time. Many of these currently ignore the DUT1 correction. If leap seconds cease, they will no longer be able to do so, generating a Y2K-like crisis. One estimate places the cost of remediation at between $300,000 and $3,000,000 per observatory. It may seem surreal to imagine the Earth's clocks being completely disconnected from the Sun and stars, but that is what is being debated. A suggested eventual correction to bring `UTC' back into line with Solar time would be to insert a leap hour around the year 2600.

Following a brief overview of civil time issues, we will discuss UTC, DUT1, leap seconds and related astronomical time scales.

Correspondence regarding this BoF should be sent directly to the organizers.

BoF 3b - Which Linux Is Right For You? - Tuesday, 19:00-20:30

Phil Daly - NOAO

Abstract:

With the extensive use of Linux in astronomy, the question naturally arises as to which Linux distribution should one use? Red Hat? Mandrake? Debian? Suse? Fedora? Gentoo? FreeBSD? Slackware? Or any of the other distributions advertised via http://www.distrowatch.com. In this BoF, we seek to provide information on various Linux distributions and why they are popular/unpopular with various user groups. We do *not* seek to start some religious war ...

The format would be a 5-minute presentation on various distributions and their pros and cons. After that, the session would be opened to the floor as a moderated discussion as interest and time permits.

The organizer is, therefore, looking for speakers to talk for no more than 5 minutes on the more popular distributions. Please contact him directly. The BoF will have to be withdrawn if no other speakers can be identified.