AstroGrid Phase A Report Table of Contents (0) Executive Summary.................................................................................................................................................................1 (0.1) Introduction..............................................................................................................................................................1 (0.2) Project Progress........................................................................................................................................................1 (0.3) Financial Overview..................................................................................................................................................2 (0.4) Phase B Proposal......................................................................................................................................................2 (0.5) Conclusion................................................................................................................................................................3 (1) Project Vision...........................................................................................................................................................................5 (1.1) The AstroGrid Vision...............................................................................................................................................5 (1.2) Development of the Project......................................................................................................................................5 (1.3) General Science Drivers...........................................................................................................................................6 (1.4) Specific Science Requirements................................................................................................................................6 (1.5) The Virtual Observatory Concept............................................................................................................................7 (1.6) The Grid Concept.....................................................................................................................................................7 (1.7) The technical route forward.....................................................................................................................................7 (1.8) World context...........................................................................................................................................................9 (1.9) Project Methodology................................................................................................................................................9 (1.10) Building the VO.....................................................................................................................................................9 (1.11) Goals of the AstroGrid Project.............................................................................................................................10 (2) The Science Analysis Summary............................................................................................................................................13 (2.1) Summary................................................................................................................................................................13 (2.2) Introduction............................................................................................................................................................13 (2.3) Capturing the Science Requirements.....................................................................................................................13 (2.4) Shaping the AstroGrid Drivers from the Virtual Observatory Science Cases.......................................................14 (2.5) 'The AstroGrid Ten' Science Drivers.....................................................................................................................15 (2.6) Providing Functionality as Indicated by the AstroGrid Ten..................................................................................21 (2.7) The AstroGrid Science Input into Partner Virtual Observatory Projects...............................................................24 (2.8) The Evolutionary Path............................................................................................................................................24 (2.9) Closing Remarks....................................................................................................................................................25 (2.10) References............................................................................................................................................................25 (3) Architecture Overview..........................................................................................................................................................29 (3.1) Introduction............................................................................................................................................................29 (3.2) Approach................................................................................................................................................................29 (3.3) Use Cases...............................................................................................................................................................30 (3.4) Conceptual Model..................................................................................................................................................30 (3.5) Services Model.......................................................................................................................................................31 (3.6) Technology Demonstrations...................................................................................................................................36 (3.7) Technology Choices...............................................................................................................................................36 (3.9) References..............................................................................................................................................................37 (4) Virtual Observatory Prototypes...........................................................................................................................................39 (4.0) Introduction............................................................................................................................................................39 (4.1) Current Services, Sites, and Software....................................................................................................................39 4.2 Testing CDS and NED with use cases......................................................................................................................45 4.3 Discussion.................................................................................................................................................................46 (5) Report on Grid Technology..................................................................................................................................................49 (5.1) Introduction............................................................................................................................................................49 (5.2) The natural architectures........................................................................................................................................49 (5.3) Astrogrid's technology needs..................................................................................................................................50 (5.4) Technology choices................................................................................................................................................51 (5.5) Technology−choice matrix.....................................................................................................................................53 (5.6) Experiments............................................................................................................................................................54 (5.7) References..............................................................................................................................................................56 i AstroGrid Phase A Report Table of Contents (6) Interoperability Report.........................................................................................................................................................57 (6.1) Interoperability.......................................................................................................................................................57 (6.2) Computational Infrastructure Interoperability........................................................................................................57 (6.3) Astronomy−specific Interoperability.....................................................................................................................57 (6.4) Ontology.................................................................................................................................................................60