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Radio Astronomy
VAST vpipeline v3.x
Variables and Slow Transients Survey
VAST (Variables and Slow Transients) is a radio astronomy survey and open-source pipeline built on the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescope. It is designed to detect, characterize, and monitor variable and transient radio sources at gigahertz frequencies — targets include flare stars, neutron stars, tidal disruption events, and electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave events.
The VAST pipeline is distributed on GitHub. Clone the repository and follow the installation instructions to set up the Python environment and database backend.
Key Features
Transient Detection
Automated detection of new and re-brightening radio sources across epochs of ASKAP survey data.
Source Association
Links sources across epochs into persistent catalog objects with configurable matching criteria.
Catalog Cross-matching
Built-in cross-matching against SIMBAD, NED, RACS, NVSS, and other major radio/optical catalogs.
Light Curve Extraction
Flux density time series for every source, with variability metrics (Vs, Eta) computed automatically.
Web Interface
Django-based web application for browsing sources, light curves, and postage stamp images interactively.
ASKAP Integration
Designed around ASKAP data products (Selavy catalogs, FITS images) from the VAST-P1 and VAST-P2 pilot surveys.
What It's Used For
- Detecting radio transients and variable sources in wide-field ASKAP images
- Cross-matching radio sources against optical and X-ray catalogs
- Extracting and analyzing radio light curves for variable sources
- Searching for electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave events
- Automated flagging and classification of known vs. new transients