Transient characterization using the Virtual Observatory

This tutorial develops an alternative approach for characterizing transient events (supernovae, novae, gamma-ray bursts…) using the existing information in astronomical archives. In particular, this tutorial makes use of TOPCAT, Vizier, SPLAT- VO, and the SVO Discovery Tool and VOSA services to validate and characterize cataclysmic variables identified by the Gaia Science Alerts project.