Astronomyssa

Astronomyssa is a proposed international network and governance framework designed to coordinate observational astronomy across multiple facilities worldwide. It aims to enable joint time allocation, standardized data formats, and rapid sharing of transient alerts to maximize scientific return from existing and planned observatories.

The concept arose from discussions among international space agencies and universities in the late 2010s, in response to increasing data volumes and the need for systematic follow-up of transient events.

Governance would include a steering committee, a science council, and a technical board, with participation open to national agencies, research institutes, and universities.

Astronomyssa would coordinate optical, radio, infrared, and space-based facilities, maintaining interoperable data archives, common metadata standards, and shared software tools for proposal submission, data access, and cross-facility analysis.

Primary focus areas include time-domain astronomy, multi-messenger astrophysics, exoplanet studies, galaxy evolution, and cosmology.

As a concept, it seeks to increase efficiency and inclusivity in access to observational resources while addressing governance, data ownership, and sovereignty concerns among participating communities.

See also: International Astronautical Union; European Southern Observatory; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Science Foundation.