The third EXTRACT face-to-face meeting took place in Paris and Nançay France from 13-15 February 2024. Partner Observatoire de Paris hosted this three day event that provided key insights into the requirements of the Transient Astrophysics with a Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder (TASKA) use case. The consortium used this opportunity to discuss the project status, next steps and to ensure alignment with project goals. This meeting marked just over a year since the project’s inception (1 January 2023).
On day 1 of the F2F, the consortium was taken to the Nançay Radio Observation to see first hand the NenuFAR radiotelescope that is the central extreme data receptor of the TASKA use case.
This trip to the field served to demonstrate the complexity and scale of the data involved in this use case. Ninety-six NenuFAR antennaes receive radiosignals from space. They produce around 100GB/hr for beam-forming mode and around 2TB/hour for imaging node.This extreme reception of data offers a key opportunity for reducing data transfers. At the moment this data is analyzed via visual/interactive inspectiosn for data selection and reduction, which is time-consuming and tedious.
EXTRACT technology could directly help real-time detection of data selection and reduction. This better extraction of data could faciltiate the achievement of the main scientific goals pursud by NenuFAR users: detection and study of exoplanets, the radio signal of the “Cosmic Dawn” and solar activity.
Days 2 and 3 of the F2F were held at the Paris Observatory. This research institution is the foremost astronomical observatory in France and one of the largest astronomical centers in the world.
Days 2 and 3 of the F2F were held at the Paris Observatory. This research institution is the foremost astronomical observatory in France and one of the largest astronomical centers in the world.
The Paris Observatory was founded in 1667 in the center of Paris. It has a long history of important discoveries. The dome on the top houses the Arago equatorial telescope.
Advancing key technical work is a main goal of face to face project meetings. They offer the opportunity for partners to ensure alignment with project goals, facilitate and speed up communication, and provides the opportunity for training and hands on sessions on the emerging project technology. Moreover, they encourage the spirit of congeniality, which is the basis of successful collaboration in large and complex projects.