Data Analysis and Multimedia Systems for Tele-Astronomy

The analysis of data in astronomy regards a wide spectrum of methods applied to different kinds of multi-dimensional data (time series, images, spectra). Data are collected from detectors on board of space experiments (satellites, balloons) , therefore, the handling of large and heterogeneous sources of information is required. It follows that information fusion strategies are the natural paradigm to design new data analysis systems in astronomy. This strategies are becoming more and more feasible because of recent advances in network technology and distributed multimedia systems. In this paper we focus on a review of data analysis methods and distributed multimedia systems that create a natural cooperative environment wgere to set-up space missions and analyse data. Keywords: Data analysis, Information fusion, Distributed systems, Multi-media, Tele-astronomy. 1 Introduction Astronomy is an observational science, the experimental apparatus is the universe. The main goals are the desig..

Suitability of a Content-Based Retrieval Method in Astronomical Image Databases

this paper we present a method for automatic extraction of images by using shape descriptors based on local symmetry. The proposed indexing methodology has been developed and tested inside JACOB, a prototypal system for content-based video database querying. 1 Introduction The large amount of data coming from astronomical observations (space-borne or ground-based telescopes) is today stored in large, multidimensional data archives and databases [1,2]. These archives usually contain in a textual form all the available information related to each observation (pointing, housekeeping and instrument parameters, location on which the related image data can Preprint submitted to Elsevier Preprint 18 June be found, ...). At the same time, the common and simplest medium of visualisation for astronomical data is the image, and therefore image archives are nowadays more and more used (and growing in size). The primary way to search for data and images in astronomical archives is vi