The Virtual Observatory (VO) is an international initiative that was created in 2000 with the aim of optimising the scientific exploitation of the hundreds of thousands of data in astronomical archives. The International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) comprises some twenty countries, including Spain, which joined in 2004.
The Virtual Observatory provides the scientific community with standardised archives, a novel research methodology and powerful analytical tools to address previously unthinkable challenges.
The Centre for Astrobiology is responsible for the Spanish Virtual Observatory (SVO) project, funded by the Ministry of Economy.
The main objective of the SVO is to promote and coordinate VO-related activities at national level.
