Science with Virtual Observatory Tools Astrophysical Virtual Observatory Scientist

The Virtual Observatory is now mature enough to produce cutting-edge science results. The exploitation of astronomical data beyond classical identification limits with interoperable tools for statistical identification of sources has become a reality. I present the discovery of 68 optically faint, obscured (i.e., type 2) active galactic nuclei (AGN) candidates in the two GOODS fields using the Astrophysical Virtual Observatory (AVO) prototype. Thirty-one of these sources have high estimated X-ray powers (> 10 44 erg/s) and therefore qualify as optically obscured quasars, the so-called QSO 2. The number of these objects in the GOODS fields is now 40, an improvement of a factor > 4 when compared to the only 9 such sources previously known. By going ∼ 3 magnitudes fainter than previously known type 2 AGN in the GOODS fields the AVO is sampling a region of redshift – power space much harder to reach with classical methods. I also discuss the AVO move to our next phase, the EURO-VO, and our short-term plans to continue doing science with the Virtual Observatory. Astronomy is facing the need for radical changes. When dealing with surveys of up to ∼ 1, 000 sources, one could apply for telescope time and obtain an optical spectrum for each one of them to identify the whole sample. Nowadays, we have to deal with huge surveys (e. spectra at night, which is only feasible with the most efficient multi-object spectrographs and for relatively bright sources, such surveys would require more than 100 years to be completely identified, a time which is clearly much longer than the life span of the average astronomer! But even taking a spectrum might not be enough to classify an object. We are in fact reaching