The Brazilian Virtual Observatory - A New Paradigm for Astronomy

Abstract

We present an overview of current and future Brazilian contributions to an emerging paradigm in astronomy, the Virtual Observatory (VO). Astronomy will soon accumulate an unprecedented amount of data, on the order of 100 PB, while adding 2-4 PB/year – an astonishing five orders of magnitude greater than in 2000. The VO is a response to the astronomical community’s demands for improved and homogenized access to these data, combined with the tools to manipulate and explore them. It is a complex enterprise with a decentralized, webcentric nature, implying that astronomers need to rethink the old ways of conducting their scientific programs. Today an international effort is coordinated by the International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA). In Brazil, the National Institute for Science & Technology (INCT-Astrophysics) recently created by the Ministry of Science & Technology (MCT) is taking the lead in developing BRAVO (The BRAzilian Virtual Observatory). At the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), we are concentrating our efforts on three distinct aspects of VO development: database development and basic infrastructure, data grid and processing grid implementation, and data mining. This paper describes our approach to creating a roadmap for the VO in Brazil and some technical developments on which we have already embarked.