PhysCOS ACROSS Pilot

Image: Artist's rendering of a supermassive black hole powering an active galactic nucleus (AGN). Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

The goal of the Astrophysics Cross-Observatory Science Support (ACROSS) initiative is to incentivize and enable community-validated science cases that exceed the capabilities of a single observatory or science team. We partner with observers and science teams to provide services and intrastructure, transforming our fleet of observatories into a cohesive observing system to realize the full potential of time domain and multimessenger science.

Astrophysics Cross-Observatory Science Support (ACROSS) Flyer [PDF]

Capability Development Focus Areas

Science Feasibility Tools

Fleet State & Status Information Streams
Pointed Instruments	Target visibility / observability Mission target histories	Long- and short-term observing plans Constraints on planning / scheduling feasibility
Wide-Field Instruments	Whether event of interest was coincidentally detected	When it was last within FoV When it will next be within FoV
Keck Observatory	Opportunity to prototype interfaces with ground-based facilities

ToO Toolkit

Target of Opportunity Pages for New Missions (Burstcube, Starburst)
A tailorable software toolkit to assist planning and execution Enables streamlined, standardized, and automated ToO workflows Incorporates cross-observatory science feasibility information streams and follow-up decision support tools

Web Portal

Under Development, Targeting 2024 Release
Capability summaries for TDAMM-relevant observatories Links to ACROSS and community-developed tools Links to ToO submission pages for all missions Links to funding opportunities, conferences, and workshops Events of Interest pages, both static (curated by humans, updated quarterly) and dynamic (built from near-term observing plans and recent observation history for popular ToOs)

Research Announcement

Under Development, Targeting 2026 Release

Targeted at development of tools or observing modes that enable new science cases
An opportunity for funding of DDT observations made by smaller missions (analogous to flagship DDT opportunities)
An overarching TDAMM science call for proposals designed to streamline or fill the gaps between existing joint observing calls, remove the risk of double jeopardy, and explicitly support observing programs which require coordination between two or more observatories

Community Support

Tutorials and training sessions at the next NASA-hosted TDAMM Workshop, anticipated Fall 2024
Planned: Helpdesk — to assist in coordinating “ACROSS” multiple observatories