Telescope networking and user support via Remote Telescope Markup Language

Abstract

Remote Telescope Markup Language (RTML) is an XML-based interface/document format designed to facilitate the exchange of astronomical observing requests and results between investigators and observatories as well as within networks of observatories. While originally created to support simple imaging telescope requests (Versions 1.0-2.1), RTML Version 3.0 now supports a wide range of applications, from request preparation, exposure calculation, spectroscopy, and observation reports to remote telescope scheduling, target-of-opportunity observations and telescope network administration. The elegance of RTML is that all of this is made possible using a public XML Schema which provides a general-purpose, easily parsed, and syntax-checked medium for the exchange of astronomical and user information while not restricting or otherwise constraining the use of the information at either end. Thus, RTML can be used to connect heterogeneous systems and their users without requiring major changes in existing local resources and procedures. Projects as very different as a number of advanced amateur observatories, the global Hands-On Universe project, the MONET network (robotic imaging), the STELLA consortium (robotic spectroscopy), and the 11-m Southern African Large Telescope are now using or intending to use RTML in various forms and for various purposes.

A protocol standard for heterogeneous telescope networks

“…Corresponding author: aa@astro.ex.ac.uk A similar situation has arisen for (semi-)automated telescopes, the number of which has vastly increased over the last decade (Hessman et al 2004). The arrival of high bandwidth networks has revolutionised the usage patterns and the usefulness of robotic telescopes, but most of these telescopes use different and incompatible methods to request, schedule and report on the observations made with them.…”

“…In this paper, we outline the protocol by which this dialogue proceeds. All communication during the dialogue between the user and the resource consists of standardscompliant Remote Telescope Markup Language (RTML) documents (Hessman 2006). We note that the protocol is independent of the underlying transport mechanism used to carry the documents that form the dialogue.…”

The MONET project and beyond

“…a central database with a robotic telescope or a client with a central database). A detailed description of the functionality is given in Hessman et al 2004. XML is easily parsed and syntax-checked, and there are hosts of tools in all programming languages which permit its manipulation.…”