Radio galaxy zoo EMU: towards a semantic radio galaxy morphology taxonomy

We present a novel natural language processing (NLP) approach to deriving plain English descriptors for science cases otherwise restricted by obfuscating technical terminology. We address the limitations of common radio galaxy morphology classifications by applying this approach. We experimentally derive a set of semantic tags for the Radio Galaxy Zoo EMU (Evolutionary Map of the Universe) project and the wider astronomical community. We collect 8486 plain English annotations of radio galaxy morphology, from which we derive a taxonomy of tags. The tags are plain English. The result is an extensible framework, which is more flexible, more easily communicated, and more sensitive to rare feature combinations, which are indescribable using the current framework of radio astronomy classifications.

Automated summary

We propose a new approach in natural language processing to interpret science cases with technical terminology restrictions. This approach overcomes the limitations of common radio galaxy morphology classifications. By collecting and analyzing plain English annotations of radio galaxy morphology, we establish a taxonomy of tags that are more flexible, easily communicated, and sensitive to rare feature combinations compared to current radio astronomy classifications.