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The general coordinates network (GCN), formerly known as the gamma-ray burst coordinates network, is an open-source platform created by NASA to receive and transmit alerts about astronomical transient phenomena. This includes neutrino detections by observatories such as IceCube or Super-Kamiokande, gravitational wave events from the LIGO, Virgo and KAGRA interferometers, and gamma-ray bursts observed by Fermi, Swift or INTEGRAL.[1] One of the main goals is to allow for follow-up observations of an event by other observatories, in hope to observe multi-messenger events.[2][3]
Diagram of the Gamma ray burst Coordinates Network. (NASA/GSFC)
GCN has its origins in the BATSE coordinates distribution network (BACODINE). The Burst And Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) was a scientific instrument on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO), and BACODINE monitored the BATSE real-time telemetry from CGRO. The first function of BACODINE was calculating the right ascension (RA) and declination (dec) locations for GRBs that it detected, and distributing those locations to sites around the world in real-time. Since the de-orbiting of the CGRO, this function of BACODINE is no longer operational. The second function of BACODINE was collecting right ascension and declination locations of GRBs detected by spacecraft other than CGRO, and then distributing that information. With this functionality, the original BACODINE name was changed to the more general name GCN.[4] It later evolved to include alerts from non-GRB observatories and was sometimes referred to as GCN/TAN (for Transient Astronomy Network).[5]
The GCN relies on two types of alerts : notices and circulars. Notices are machine-readable alerts, which are distributed in real time ; they typically include only basic information about the event. Circulars are brief human-readable alerts, which are distributed (typically by e-mail) with a low latency but not in real time ; they can also contain predictions, requests for follow-up observations from other observatories, or advertise observing plans.[6]
The current version of the GCN relies on Kafka to distribute the alerts, improving on previous versions which used three separate protocols.[7]
The infrastructure for sending the alerts towards the GCN is managed by the respective observatories. For the historical gamma-ray burst observatories, which are based on spacecraft, this involves sending the information to a ground station ; NASAGoddard Space Flight Center was the center in charge of sending the notices from GRB observatories.
Current participants
As of April 2023, 14 missions are sending alerts to the GCN :[1]
INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL), a gamma-ray telescope
Swift, a gamma-ray telescope, which provides data products not previously available from prior missions, including spectra, images, and lightcurves.
^Boër, Michel (2012-01-01). "Rapid optical follow-up observations of gamma-ray bursts". International Journal of Modern Physics: Conference Series. 12: 48–57. doi:10.1142/S2010194512006253.
^Barthelmy, Scott D.; Cline, T. L.; Butterworth, P. (2001-10-07). "GRB Coordinates Network (GCN): A status report". AIP Conference Proceedings. 587 (1): 213–217. doi:10.1063/1.1419402. ISSN 0094-243X.
^"GCN - Documentation - About GCN". gcn.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
^"GCN - General Coordinates Network". gcn.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
External links
GCN Homepage at GSFC
August 21, 2023
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This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations November 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources General Coordinates Network news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message The general coordinates network GCN formerly known as the gamma ray burst coordinates network is an open source platform created by NASA to receive and transmit alerts about astronomical transient phenomena This includes neutrino detections by observatories such as IceCube or Super Kamiokande gravitational wave events from the LIGO Virgo and KAGRA interferometers and gamma ray bursts observed by Fermi Swift or INTEGRAL 1 One of the main goals is to allow for follow up observations of an event by other observatories in hope to observe multi messenger events 2 3 Diagram of the Gamma ray burst Coordinates Network NASA GSFC GCN has its origins in the BATSE coordinates distribution network BACODINE The Burst And Transient Source Experiment BATSE was a scientific instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory CGRO and BACODINE monitored the BATSE real time telemetry from CGRO The first function of BACODINE was calculating the right ascension RA and declination dec locations for GRBs that it detected and distributing those locations to sites around the world in real time Since the de orbiting of the CGRO this function of BACODINE is no longer operational The second function of BACODINE was collecting right ascension and declination locations of GRBs detected by spacecraft other than CGRO and then distributing that information With this functionality the original BACODINE name was changed to the more general name GCN 4 It later evolved to include alerts from non GRB observatories and was sometimes referred to as GCN TAN for Transient Astronomy Network 5 Contents 1 Design 2 Current participants 3 References 4 External linksDesign EditThe GCN relies on two types of alerts notices and circulars Notices are machine readable alerts which are distributed in real time they typically include only basic information about the event Circulars are brief human readable alerts which are distributed typically by e mail with a low latency but not in real time they can also contain predictions requests for follow up observations from other observatories or advertise observing plans 6 The current version of the GCN relies on Kafka to distribute the alerts improving on previous versions which used three separate protocols 7 The infrastructure for sending the alerts towards the GCN is managed by the respective observatories For the historical gamma ray burst observatories which are based on spacecraft this involves sending the information to a ground station NASA Goddard Space Flight Center was the center in charge of sending the notices from GRB observatories Current participants EditAs of April 2023 14 missions are sending alerts to the GCN 1 INTErnational Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory INTEGRAL a gamma ray telescope Swift a gamma ray telescope which provides data products not previously available from prior missions including spectra images and lightcurves Fermi an American gamma ray telescope AGILE an Italian gamma ray telescope HAWC a ground based gamma ray and cosmic ray observatory in Mexico Calorimetric Electron Telescope a Japanese electron and gamma ray detector based on the International Space Station InterPlanetary Network IPN Position Notices from WIND Konus a Russian gamma ray telescope MAXI a Japanese x ray telescope mounted on the International Space Station SuperNova Early Warning System SNEWS a consortium of neutrino facilities for alerts from core collapse supernovae IceCube a neutrino experiment based in the South Pole Super Kamiokande a Japanese neutrino observatory LIGO Virgo KAGRA an international network of gravitational wave detectors GECAM a group of two Chinese x ray and gamma ray observatories designed for follow up of gravitational wave events Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics MOA project with alerts on microlensing eventsPast spacecraft and instruments that participated in GCN include Array of Low Energy X ray Imaging Sensors ALEXIS BeppoSAX the Imaging Compton Telescope COMPTEL on CGRO the X Ray Gamma Ray Spectrometer XGRS on NEAR Shoemaker the High Energy Transient Explorer WMM and SXC the Rossi X ray Timing Explorer PCA and ASM and Ulysses References Edit a b GCN Missions Missions gcn nasa gov Retrieved 2023 03 31 Boer Michel 2012 01 01 Rapid optical follow up observations of gamma ray bursts International Journal of Modern Physics Conference Series 12 48 57 doi 10 1142 S2010194512006253 French J Hanlon L McBreen B McBreen S Moran L Smith N Giltinan A Meintjes P Hoffman M 2004 09 28 Watcher A Telescope for Rapid Gamma Ray Burst Follow Up Observations AIP Conference Proceedings 727 1 741 744 doi 10 1063 1 1810948 ISSN 0094 243X Barthelmy Scott D Cline T L Butterworth P 2001 10 07 GRB Coordinates Network GCN A status report AIP Conference Proceedings 587 1 213 217 doi 10 1063 1 1419402 ISSN 0094 243X Brief Description gcn gsfc nasa gov Retrieved 2023 04 01 GCN Documentation About GCN gcn nasa gov Retrieved 2023 03 31 GCN General Coordinates Network gcn nasa gov Retrieved 2023 03 31 External links EditGCN Homepage at GSFC Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title General Coordinates Network amp oldid 1170113753, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
