---
title: "Reference scenes: Observatory Protocol"
description: "Wireframe reference scenes of the systems to which Observatory Protocol 0.1 applies, from weather stations to ground stations, each part named."
url: https://observatory.global/protocol/reference-designs/
publisher: Nexus Observatory Inc.
updated: 2026-10-27
---

[Observatory Protocol](https://observatory.global/protocol/)

/

[Specification](https://observatory.global/protocol/)

/

**Reference scenes** 

# The systems an observatory is composed of.

Wireframe scenes of the systems to which the protocol applies, each with its parts named for what they do.

[Read the specification](https://observatory.global/protocol/)

[Contribute](https://observatory.global/open/)

**Functions**: 12
**State machines**: 11
**Objects**: 21
**Standards**: 48

## The practice this part continues.

**2000 Common standards, many builders**: Since Argo started in 2000, its profiling floats have been built by companies and research institutions alike, all held to common standards set by an international steering team. Replaceable providers behind one shared contract is the arrangement the protocol makes normative. \[1\]

## 20 reference scenes.

Open a scene to turn it and read its parts.

Reference scene Telecom and private 5G tower

Reference scene Edge data centre module

Reference scene Ruggedised rack case

Reference scene Solar and storage microgrid

Reference scene Automatic weather station

Reference scene Weather and sensing radar

Reference scene Seismic vault station

Reference scene Geodetic GNSS monument

Reference scene Atmospheric lidar station

Reference scene Met-ocean buoy

Reference scene Profiling ocean float

Reference scene Earth-observation satellite

Reference scene LEO user terminal

Reference scene Satellite ground station

Reference scene 25 m radio telescope

Reference scene Optical observatory dome

Reference scene Heritage instrument terrace

Reference scene Survey drone and dock

Reference scene Field-service vehicle

Reference scene Composed observatory site

## References

Sources for the historical and standards statements on this page.

1. Argo Program. "About Argo." [argo.ucsd.edu/about/](https://argo.ucsd.edu/about/)
2. Bradner, S. (1997). RFC 2119, "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels." IETF. [www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2119](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2119)
3. Leiba, B. (2017). RFC 8174, "Ambiguity of Uppercase vs Lowercase in RFC 2119 Key Words." IETF. [www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8174](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8174)

## Read it, test it, propose a change.

The Observatory Protocol is an open specification stewarded by the Nexus Consortium. Any party may implement it, and every change is proposed and decided in public.

[Read the specification](https://observatory.global/protocol/)

[Contribute](https://observatory.global/open/)

[Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/)**Observatory Protocol** . One open protocol for the observing grid.[Talk to us](https://observatory.global/contact/)

Observatory Protocol

- [Specification](https://observatory.global/protocol/specification/)
- [Conformance](https://observatory.global/protocol/conformance/)
- [Governance](https://observatory.global/protocol/governance/)
- [Developers](https://observatory.global/protocol/developers/)
- [Changes](https://observatory.global/protocol/changes/)

Technologies

- [Device identity and attestation](https://observatory.global/technologies/security/device-identity-and-attestation/)
- [PKI, secure boot and updates](https://observatory.global/technologies/security/pki-secure-boot-and-updates/)
- [Ingest and streaming](https://observatory.global/technologies/data/ingest-and-streaming/)
- [Storage and data lakes](https://observatory.global/technologies/data/storage-and-data-lakes/)

Industries

- [All industries](https://observatory.global/industries/)

Service platforms

- [Protocol & Grid](https://observatory.global/grid-services/)
- [Software](https://observatory.global/software/)
- [Hardware & power](https://observatory.global/hardware/)
- [Sensors & instruments](https://observatory.global/sensors/)
- [Connectivity](https://observatory.global/connectivity/)
- [Edge compute & AI](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/)
- [Earth observation & GeoAI](https://observatory.global/earth-observation/)

© 2026 Nexus Observatory Inc.

[Privacy](https://observatory.global/legal/privacy/)

[Terms](https://observatory.global/legal/terms/)

[Accessibility](https://observatory.global/legal/accessibility/)

[Cookie settings](https://observatory.global/privacy-choices/)

[Data credits](https://observatory.global/credits/)