September 1995 Volume 3, No. 8
IUE DATA ANALYSIS CENTER NEWSLETTER
This is an electronic newsletter edited by the IUE Data
Analysis Center (IUEDAC)intended to inform the numerous remote
and local users of the IUEDAC software of recent
software updates and project changes.
IUE RECOGNITION CEREMONY- 11AM FRIDAY 29 SEPTEMBER
1995
In recognition of 17 years and 8 months of extraordinary service
to the astronomical community and the successful efforts to
streamline ground operations, Drs. Joe Rothenberg, Director of
the Goddard Space Flight Center, Daniel W. Weedman, Director of
the Astrophysics Division at NASA, and Yoji Kondo, IUE Project
Scientist, will acknowledge the unique role of this first All-
Guest-Observatory satellite facility in a formal ceremony of appre-
ciation. We at NASA hope that you can join us in person to
acknowledge this special achievement. The proceedings will be
held at Goddard Space Flight Center (the home of IUE), Building
21 Room 183, on Friday, 29 September 1995 at 11 am.
The International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) project "keeps on
going" in the continuing spirit of the little satellite that
could. The project has reconfigured its science and satellite
operations to reduce costs. On 30 September 1995, the US IUE
team will turn over science operations to the ESA ground station
at Villafranca, where the ESA/PPARC teams will continue to con-
duct astronomical observations on behalf of the international
astronomical community. The US team will provide streamlined
support for satellite operations and will continue their task
to complete the IUE Final Archive that contains over
100,000 ultraviolet spectra.
If you plan to be with us for this event, please send us a quick
message by email so we can plan for your attendance. If you
cannot be with us in person, you are cordially invited to send
your messages expressing your sentiments for a job more-than-well
done to the following electronic mail address.
iueops@iuesoc.gsfc.nasa.gov
IUEDAC SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE UPDATES
Recent System Changes:
9/1/95 - IDL 4.0.1 was installed as "IDL". "IDLV2" and
"IUERDAF" currently still point to IDL 3.6.
Recent Software Changes:
22-Aug The following routines from the experimental library
were implemented:
kurget correct error in model spacing
kplist command line search routine for kandp
kurget1 corrected for variable spacing of high
Temp models
iuelib adjust !y.margin for PCs
ipinfo correct errors when dir = 'NA'
ipi_lisi change search for NEWSIPS processing
dates
dosplat set dir = 'NA' for PCs
platform define win32 like windows (for IDL 4.0)
ifitswrt allow comments & new input parameter
options
nsplot allow modifying plot titles
convert doesn't require standard iuedac file
names
unred added tabfile keyword
fes2v converts fes counts to visual magnitudes
stdsfile supports newsips standard star spectra
rdstds extracts data from newsips standard star
spectra
mlog a non menu-driven merged log search
routine
clog a non menu-driven copernicus data-base
search routine
alias subroutine of clog for accessing ALIAS
database table
25-Aug A new version of kurget1 was implemented which
correctly handles the variable spacing of Kurucz
models at high temperatures.
11-Sep A bug was corrected in the implemented version of
IFITSWRT.
rwt
IUE IMAGE PROCESSING NEWS
IUESIPS REPROCESSING
As the IUE 18th episode draws to an end, so does our
processing of IUE images through IUESIPS. As of the
beginning of September, NO MORE REPROCESSING OF ARCHIVAL
IUE DATA WILL BE PERFORMED USING IUESIPS. Note that this
affects IUESIPS only. The reprocessing of archival
data through NEWSIPS to create the IUE Final Archive
will continue.
We will process the requests in hand, and of course
all 18th episode NASA data taken through the end of
September. Since we have received very few requests
for archival IUESIPS processing, we don't expect this
to affect our Guest Observers. However, if you believe
that this will be a severe problem for your research,
please contact us as soon as possible.
IUESIPS STATUS
Over the last several weeks, we accumulated a large
backlog of images to be processed through IUESIPS,
largely due to problems with our ancient image display
device. The IPC staff have been working hard to reduce
the backlog. At present the backlog is equal to about
1 weeks worth of processing. If you have any questions
about your recent images, please contact Cathy Imhoff
(301-794-1470 or imhoff@iuegtc.gsfc.nasa.gov).
NINETEENTH EPISODE PROCESSING
VILSPA will be processing all 19th episode data.
NEWSIPS STATUS
We are now processing LWP low-dispersion images taken
after 1990. We should complete the available images
in the next two or three weeks.
VILSPA has finished processing their SWP and LWP
low-dispersion images taken before 1990. We have
received a shipment of LWP tapes, and NSSDC will
be working on adding the data to the NDADS system.
We will announce when the data become available.
cli
IUE DATA MANAGEMENT CENTER (DMC)
After all the 18th episode data acquired at the IUE
GSFC observing station has been processed and
distributed to the appropriate IUE Guest Observers,
the functions of the IUE Data Management Center will
be merged with other areas as appropriate and the DMC
will cease to exist. Any questions that would have
normally been addressed to the DMC can still be sent
to Karen Levay 301-794-1440 or levay@iuegtc.gsfc.nasa.gov.
GSFC is no longer rehabbing 9-track tapes for reuse.
Due to lack of funds the IUE Project is no longer
able to pay for tapes to be returned to GSFC.
Therefore, Guest Observers are encouraged to find
appropriate ways to reuse the 9-track tapes
at their home institutions.
kll
OLD USER ACCOUNTS ON TAPE
The IUE Data Analysis Center has VMS Backup tapes
for its USER accounts dating back to 1988. Those
older than September 1994 are 9-track tapes. We
are planning to discard these old 9-track tapes
in December (1995). Users who want their files
restored from these tapes should contact us before
that time. This pertains only to accounts USER1
through USER60 at the times that these accounts
were recycled (i.e., backed up and then cleared
for disposition to new users).
llt
JUST FOR FUN
Anyone wish to hazard a guess on what IUE's odometer is
reading these days?
If you consider just the spacecraft's orbit around the
Earth since launch, IUE has travelled almost 11 A.U. -
about 1 billion miles!
If you include the motion of the Earth and IUE around the
Sun, you can add in another 110 A.U.
cli
Editor: Dr. Michael Carini
Contributors: Mr. Randy Thompson
Ms. Lyla Taylor
Dr. Cathy Imhoff
Ms. Karen Levay
Back to IUE Data Analysis Center Page
Web Curator:
Dr. Michael Carini, Science Programs, Computer Sciences Corporation.
Responsible NASA organization/official:
Dr. Don West, IUE Operations Scientist.