Enciso Systems Presents Technological Advances for Astronomical Data Processing at “Jueves Bajo las Estrellas”

In an engaging session held on July 10, 2025, Edison Arango and Cristian Infante from Enciso Systems delivered a presentation titled “Technological Architectures for the Massive Processing of Astronomical Data.” The talk was part of the esteemed public outreach series “Jueves Bajo las Estrellas,” organized by the National Astronomical Observatory of Colombia, and focused on the backend innovations enabling public access to images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

The speakers emphasized the significant local contribution to the release of the first images from the Rubin Observatory, highlighting the role of Enciso Systems and Helix Software Development Company in enhancing the open-source FITS Liberator software—an essential tool used by astronomers and image processors worldwide [1]. These improvements have allowed for greater accessibility and performance when handling large-scale astronomical datasets, placing Colombian engineering talent at the forefront of global scientific visualization efforts.

“It is inspiring to witness how local expertise contributes directly to international scientific milestones. Enciso Systems’ work demonstrates that Colombian innovation is playing a critical role in the global astronomy community,” said Prof. Armando Higuera, Director of the National Astronomical Observatory of Colombia.

Looking ahead, the presenters also addressed the broader challenge of communicating the science behind the stars. They outlined the importance of building scalable, accessible, and multilingual web platforms to engage the public with the latest astronomical discoveries [2]. “Bringing science closer to society requires a technological bridge—tools that translate data into narratives people can explore and understand,” added Prof. Santiago Vargas, researcher at the Observatory.

The event reaffirmed the relevance of collaboration between academic institutions and local technology firms in advancing science outreach. As the volume of astronomical data continues to grow, initiatives like these help ensure that both researchers and the public benefit from the insights captured by modern observatories [3].

Notes

[1] FITS Liberator is a widely used tool for converting astronomical data from the Flexible Image Transport System (FITS) format into images suitable for public display.

[2] Enciso Systems and Helix Software Development Company have developed customized content management systems tailored to astronomical institutions, allowing for real-time publishing of data-rich visual content.

[3] The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is expected to generate over 20 terabytes of data per night during its operations, necessitating advanced data processing pipelines and public communication strategies.

Links

• Recorded Session
• Helix Software Development Company
• National Astronomical Observatory of Colombia
• Vera C. Rubin Observatory
• FITS Liberator

More Information

Enciso Systems is a technology company specializing in scientific web applications, data processing pipelines, and astronomy outreach platforms. With years of experience working with institutions like the European Space Agency and the International Astronomical Union, Enciso Systems bridges the gap between science and society.

Contacts

Press Information Office
Enciso Systems
Email: info@encisosystems.com

National Astronomical Observatory of Colombia
National University of Colombia
Phone: +57 (601) 316 5000 Ext. 11021
Email: obsan_fcbog@unal.edu.co