CTAO Data Explorer

This project is a web application to access, visualize, and analyze Cherenkov data, in the perspective of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO). It combines a React frontend with a FastAPI backend. Users can search the archive, curate results, explore interactive visualizations, and submit selected items as preview jobs to the OPUS service. The application adopts standards from the International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) to ensure interoperability and broad accessibility of astronomical data.

Documentation is here.

Table of Contents

• CTAO Data Explorer
  • Table of Contents
  • Features
  • Requirements
    • Backend
    • Frontend
  • Installation and deployment
  • Usage
• About CTAO

Features

• Query data with flexible, customizable parameters.
• Display results in a selectable data table.
• Explore selections on an interactive sky map and a timeline/electromagnetic-spectrum chart.
• Sign in with CTAO IAM.
• Save and reload past queries and results.
• Group selected items into baskets.
• Submit baskets as preview jobs.

Requirements

Backend

• Python >=3.12
• FastAPI
• Uvicorn
• Aiofiles
• Astropy
• PyVO
• Numpy
• Requests
• FastAPI Users
• Authlib
• Alembic
• Postgres
• Redis

See pyproject.toml for more details.

Frontend

• Node.js
• React.js
• Axios

See js/package.json for more details.

Installation and deployment

For local development on Kubernetes (recommended), see the Development Environment guide. Legacy setups (directly on host) are documented in the Legacy deployment guide.

Usage

Warning This deployment is hosted by the Paris Astronomical Data Center (PADC). It is not the official production server; features and APIs may change.

1. Open the site: https://padc-ctao-data-explorer.obspm.fr/ → you land on Search.

2. Build a query (Search page)

   • Sky position: choose a system (Equatorial deg, Equatorial hms/dms, or Galactic l/b). Enter RA/Dec (or l/b) and Radius (default 5°). Optionally type an object name, click Simbad/NED, then pick from the dropdown to autofill coordinates.
   • Time system: toggle TT (default) or UTC.
     • Inputs per row (Start / End):
       • Date (YYYY-MM-DD)
       • Time (HH:MM:SS)
       • MJD — Modified Julian Date
       • MET (s) — Mission Elapsed Time, seconds since the fixed CTAO reference epoch
       • You may fill any of these; the others auto-fill and stay in sync.
     • MET epoch (fixed): 2001-01-01 00:00:00 TT
   • Click Search to run or Clear Form to reset. Tip: you can use either position, time, or both.

3. Explore results (Results page)

   • Sky map: markers show matches; the circle is the field of view. Click a marker for details; pan/zoom as needed.
   • Charts:
     • Timeline: observation start/end per result.
     • Energy Range: min/max energy (TeV).
   • Table: sortable, with column toggle. DataLink buttons download FITS files.

4. Signed-in features (Profile → CTAO IAM)

   • Query Store: reload or delete past queries.
   • Baskets: add items from the map, charts, or table; manage multiple baskets. The active basket receives new items.
   • Run a Preview Job (OPUS):
     • With a basket active, click Run Preview Job. Review the prefilled parameters (e.g., RA, Dec, nxpix, nypix, binsz) and submit.
     • Track progress under Preview Jobs. Open a job to Download outputs or Show preview inline for PNG/SVG/text results.

About CTAO

The Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) is a ground-based observatory for gamma-ray astronomy. This project will interact with CTAO data to provide users with tools for visualization and analysis, enhancing the accessibility and understanding of gamma-ray observations.

• CTAO website