The EPN-TAP protocol for the Planetary Science Virtual Observatory

TL;DR

The paper introduces the EPN-TAP protocol, a standardized method for accessing and retrieving planetary science data via the Virtual Observatory, based on the IVOA TAP standard.

Contribution

It presents the design, principles, and interfaces of the EPN-TAP protocol, enabling standardized data access in planetary science.

Findings

Defines the EPN-TAP protocol and its components

Demonstrates how it standardizes data retrieval

Discusses potential future developments

Abstract

A Data Access Protocol has been set up to search and retrieve Planetary Science data in general. This protocol will allow the user to select a subset of data from an archive in a standard way, based on the IVOA Table Access Protocol (TAP). The TAP mechanism is completed by an underlying Data Model and reference dictionaries. This paper describes the principle of the EPN- TAP protocol and interfaces, underlines the choices that have been made, and discusses possible evolutions.