This is an attempt to create a simple XML format to provide current telescope observations in a form that is useful for simple web applications.
This format aims to stay simple for both creators of the files and for those who wish to do something with them. There already exist several excellent - but complicated - XML formats for telescopes within the Virtual Observatory but these are aimed at remotely controlling telescopes, allowing networks of telescopes to talk to each other or allowing telescopes to respond to events. STML is designed to answer the question "What is it looking at?" so provides that basic information along with some public-friendly information about the telescope such as its location, a description and an image.
| Tag | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| name* | String | Name
e.g. <name>42ft</name> |
| desc | String | A short description of the telescope. Limited number of characters?
e.g. <desc>The 42ft telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory</desc> |
| link | URL | Link to a web page with more information about the telescope.
e.g. <link>http://www.blah/42ft.html</link> |
| image | URL | An image showing the telescope. In jpg, gif or png formats.
e.g. <image>http://www.blah/42.png</image> |
| Point | The latitude/longitude of the telescope. Should be provided where possible, although for some it makes little sense e.g. Hubble. | |
| Point -> coordinates | Coordinates | Same format as used by Google Earth i.e. latitude,longitude. Longitude ranges from 0 to 360 degrees. Latitude ranges from -90 to +90 degrees. A sign should be provided for latitude to avoid confusion. Optional but strongly recommended.
e.g. <coordinates>53.235864,-2.306592</coordinates>. The height can be provided - in metres above sea level - as a third number in this string. e.g. <coordinates>53.235864,-2.306592,150.4</coordinates>. |
| status | String | This is an open format field to provide any status information. e.g. <status>Cryogenic failure, motors stopped.</status> |
| fov | Real number | This is the field-of-view of the telescope in decimal degrees. Field-of-view was chosen over resolution (may be the same for radio telescopes) as this is more appropriate to display in planetarium software. |
| time* | ISO 8601 Date String | Time when the information in this file was valid. e.g. <time>2007-10-14T12:00:00Z</time> |
| object | String | This contains the name of the object. An optional type attribute should be taken from the astronomy journal keyword list. Multiple types can be included using";" or "--" as a separator so that it is consistent with journal papers. e.g. <object type="pulsars: individual: PSR J0534+2200">The Crab Pulsar</object> |
| position | A tag to hold the current coordinates of the observation. The amount of precision in the coordinates is left to the author of the file. This allows for 'fuzzy' positions to be given when required. | |
| position -> ra | Real number | This is the Right Ascension as a single number in decimal degrees. RA in hours, minutes and seconds can be easily calculated. e.g. <ra>123.456</ra> |
| position -> dec | Real number | This is the Declination as a single number. Dec in degrees, arcminutes and arcseconds can be easily calculated. e.g. <dec>+45.678</dec> |
| position -> epoch | String | A standard epoch for the Ra/Dec coordinates such as: B1950, J2000 etc e.g. <epoch>J2000</epoch> |
| position -> az | Real numbers | This is the azimuthal position in decimal degrees (north = 0, east = 90). An optional attribute dem can give the demanded azimuth if it is different to the actual azimuth of the telescope e.g. <az dem="172.34">170.06</az> |
| position -> el | Real numbers | This is the elevation of the telescope in decimal degrees (horizon = 0.0, zenith = 90.0). An optional attribute dem can give the demanded elevation if it is different to the actual elevation of the telescope. e.g. <el dem="34.6">34.567</el> |
* these are required tags