Real-Time Detection and Classification of Astronomical Transient Events: The State-of-the-Art

TL;DR

This paper reviews the current state-of-the-art in real-time detection and classification of astronomical transient events, emphasizing technological readiness and practical approaches in the context of ongoing and future surveys.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of current methods, technologies, and challenges in automating transient detection and classification in astronomy.

Findings

Current detection methods are rapidly evolving with increased data volume.

Automated classification techniques are essential for handling large-scale surveys.

The paper assesses technological readiness levels for future developments.

Abstract

In the last years, the need for automated real-time detection and classification of astronomical transients began to be more impelling. Better technologies involve a higher number of detected candidates and an automated classification will allow dealing with this amount of data, every night. The desired state-of-the-art in detection and classification will be presented in its key features and different practical approaches will be introduced, as well. Several ongoing and future surveys will be presented, showing the current situation of Time-Domain Astronomy, and eventually compared with the desired state-of-the-art. The final purpose of this paper is to highlight the general technology readiness level with respect to the level yet to be achieved.