A Virtual Observatory Vision based on Publishing and Virtual Data

Abstract

We would like to propose a vision of the Virtual Observatory where the "killer-app" is seen to be generalizing and extending the idea of "publication" from the narrow meaning of peer-reviewed journals. Here, publication ranges from private temporary storage, to group access, to public access, through to data that supports peer-reviewed Journal papers in perpetuity. The publication model is further extended by the possibility of Virtual Data -- where only the method of computation is stored, not necessarily the data itself. Furthermore, virtual data products may depend on other virtual data products, creating an implicit network of on-demand computation. This computation may take huge resources, or it may be all within a laptop.