Radio Astronomy Data Model for Single-Dish Multiple-Feed Telescopes, and Robledo Archive Architecture

TL;DR

This paper presents a VO-compliant data model for single-dish, multiple-feed radio telescopes, specifically for the DSS-63 antenna, integrating VO standards with detailed metadata descriptors.

Contribution

It introduces RADAMS, a new data model for radio astronomy archives that aligns with VO standards and includes comprehensive metadata specifications.

Findings

Successful design of a VO-compliant radio astronomy data model

Definition of UCDs and FITS keywords for metadata

Implementation plan for the DSS-63 antenna archive

Abstract

All the effort that the astrophysical community has put into the development of the Virtual Observatory (VO) has surpassed the non-return point: the VO is a reality today, and an initiative that will self-sustain, and to which all archival projects must adhere. We have started the design of the scientific archive for the DSS-63 70-m antenna at NASA's DSN station in Robledo de Chavela (Madrid). Here we show how we can use all VO proposed data models to build a VO-compliant single-dish, multiple-feed, radio astronomical archive data model (RADAMS) suitable for the archival needs of the antenna. We also propose an exhaustive list of Universal Content Descriptors (UCDs) and FITS keywords for all relevant metadata. We will further refine this data model with the experience that we will gain from that implementation.