Astronomy from large databases: scientific objectives and methodological approaches

Abstract

The role of databases is increasing continually in astronomy. So too is the need for applicable analysis methods to use on large collections of data. The need, for example, for suitable statistical tools and for experimentation in knowledge based approaches are both related to the growing quantities of astronomical data. The latter areas, and of course astrophysics, — the “scientific objectives and methodological approaches” part of the title — were the initial aim of this conference. But it is clear also that there is an urgent need to coordinate technical database issues. In all of these aspects, the papers in the proceedings volume resulting from this conference will be found to provide valuable introductory and reference material.