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National Virtual Observatory

Posted by michael on from the number-crunching dept.

scubacuda writes "According to this Technology Review article, U.S. astronomers (compliments of a $10M grant from the National Science Foundation) are building a National Virtual Observatory to make accessible terabytes of astrononomical data to a web browser. One interesting challenge is how the scientists are going to query so many *different* distributed databases (which they're leaving in their respective places to avoiding clogging network bandwidth)."

7 of 66 comments (clear)

  1. virtually by LittleBigScript · · Score: 3, Funny

    I virtually built a tetrabyte virtual observatory, but something good was on tv.

    "Dr. Quinn Medicine woman...Is there anything she can't do?"-Homer

  2. National Virtual Observatory? by Rhinobird · · Score: 5, Funny

    No, no. It should be renamed the National Space Wallpaper Archive.

    --
    If Mr. Edison had thought smarter he wouldn't sweat as much. --Nikola Tesla
  3. Walk around, talk to people, smell the flowwers by LittleBigScript · · Score: 4, Funny

    "History has shown us that the greatest leaps forward have occurred not when you observe the universe through just one window, but when you compare the views of the universe obtained through different windows," says Ray

    Thanks Ray for that endoursment of that (in)famous MS product.
    This is offtopic, please mod it down.

  4. Web Browser by LittleBigScript · · Score: 5, Funny

    I tried to look at the universe through my web browser but all I saw was this prompt that told me I should update my web browser to the latest version in order to see the universe.
    So will the universe be viewable in the next point release or is it several years away.

    Is it possible to look at the universe with, say, lynx?
    Or if that is not possible with javascript turned off?

    1. Re:Web Browser by Cheese+Cracker · · Score: 4, Funny

      Is it possible to look at the universe with, say, lynx?

      Lynx users have to look out their window at night to see the universe. ;)

  5. Re:Universe the Game by LittleBigScript · · Score: 3, Funny

    Can I search for p0rn in the universe?

    Yes, but it may affect your karma, depending on who you listen to.

  6. Dilbert by Cyno01 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Did anyone see that episode fo DIlbert(it was a cartoon for two seasons on UPN) where their satelite crashed so they just started giving nasa pictures that dilbert made on his computer.Nasa guy: This starfield looks like it was made with a paint program on a PC. Dogbert: You have to admit that in the infinte universe it must look exactly like that somewhere from some angle. Nasa Guy:*looks puzzled for a moment* Our budget problems are solved! Can you give us evidence of life too? Dogbert: This pictures teeming with life, look right there, that stars blurrier than that one. *NASA Guys Rejoice*

    --
    "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."