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DAILY NEWS AND INFORMATION
FOR THE GLOBAL GRID COMMUNITY /
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Special Features:
ASTRONOMERS DEVELOP AUTONOMOUS
OBSERVATION PROGRAM
A computer program has recently been developed by astronomers that is able
to
streamline the capabilities of telescope observation.
The Intelligent Agent, when used with a robotic telescope and network
connectivity, can sort through sky observations and make comparisons with
earlier images of the same region. Using this information, the program will
further study an observation based on the importance of its findings.
Scientists hope that the Intelligent Agent will help to track phenomena
like
supernova explosions and alert researchers if and when it finds something of
interest. Human intervention remains minimal.
Online access and the use of robotic telescopes helps to make such little
human activity a viable option.
Robotic telescopes have been in use since the 1960s, and new skywatching
projects are constantly underway. The online databases used with Internet-
ready telescopes have helped to create virtual observatories. Scientists then
have the option to sort through stored data.
However, a program that requires no human intervention needs to be able to
make decisions with some amount of intelligence. Recognizing this, a group of
British researchers created the eScience Telescopes for Astronomical Research
(eSTAR) project at the UKIRT.
A series of small tests on a network of telescopes provided successful
results
for the Intelligent Agent software. The eSTAR group then used the program to
make live observations with the 12.4-foot UKIRT instrument. The software, by
comparing images with data of the same region by another telescope, was able
to discover a dwarf nova star.
While UKIRT is not completely robotic, the finding confirms its ability to
be
used with non-automated as well as automated systems, further increasing the
usefulness of the system.
Little human intervention was needed in the UKIRT-JCMT test. Researchers
only
needed to accept the Intelligent Agent's observation request. However,
scientists do admit that the program still has a lot to learn about
astronomical research.
Human and computer communication is actually quite important in such a
project. The agent must signal astronomers of its findings once it detects a
target.
In addition, the eSTAR team is creating an even larger network of
telescopes
to be used by the agents. They plan to incorporate the JCMT and fully robotic
telescopes along with the non-robotic UKIRT.
The Intelligent Agents use the Grid because of its accessibility and
distributing capabilities. The Internet is simply too crowded and congested
for such a scientific endeavor. While the Internet is meant to be accessed by
humans, the Grid is a resource being created for distributed processing. An
strong example of this processing is found in the SETI@home project, which
uses worldwide computers to sort through telescope data for signs of
extraterrestrial life.
The Grid is being developed so that its components are interoperable. The
software involved is designed so that other software programs like the
Intelligent Agent program can access it.
The move from the telescope to the computer screen could cause massive
improvements in exploration of the skies. The use of a computer mainframe
provides more control and data at scientists' immediate availability. In
addition, Intelligence agents could reduce delays between detection and
observation immensely.
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