IUE Project Electronic Newsletter

NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

October 1996
Volume 4, No. 8

DISTRIBUTION LIST: If you want your name to be added to, deleted from, or changed on our distribution list, please send us e-mail to

news@iuedac.gsfc.nasa.gov

or send a postcard to:

IUE Data Analysis Center (IUEDAC)
Code 684.9, NASA-GSFC
Greenbelt, MD 20771

This is an electronic newsletter, edited by Terry Teays, primarily intended to inform the numerous remote and local users of the IUEDAC software of recent software updates, as well as let them know about news relating to the IUE project in general.

Final IUE Spacecraft Status

At a Mission Elapsed Time of 18 years, 8 months, 4 days, 1 hour, and 6 minutes, the International Ultraviolet Explorer spacecraft (7801201) was shut down at 18:42 UT (2:42 pm EDT), 30 September 1996. The last few days were concerned with some final observations of Jupiter, among other targets, as well as tests of the batteries and solar arrays to determine their efficiencies after prolonged exposure to the geospace environment. The science cameras were turned off earlier in the day, at 13:57 UT, by commands from the VILSPA ground station near Madrid, Spain, from which the last year of science operations were conducted. Shortly afterward, preparations were made to drain the remaining hydrazine propellant from the spacecraft, which was completed around 17:30 UT. The batteries were then discharged, and the spacecraft as a whole was shut down.

Despite the shutdown of the IUE spacecraft, significant work remains in progress. The IUE Final Archive project continues its work to produce a homogeneous database of the 100,000+ images, from about 9300 objects, taken over the course of the mission. The Final Archive images typically have a higher signal-to-noise ratio compared to those processed using the previous reduction method, allowing weaker features to be detected. Also, the IUE Data Analysis Center remains in business to assist archive researchers with questions regarding analysis methods and software.

- Jim Caplinger

A Fitting Farewell Party

A reception was held at Goddard Space Flight Center on the evening of September 30 to commemorate 18.7 years of outstanding service by the IUE, which was shutdown earlier that day. The reception was sponsored by Computer Sciences Corporation and AlliedSignal Technical Services Corporation, the two contractors who have supported IUE throughout its mission. A crowd of around 200 people attended, including many who had participated in the earliest phases of the mission. An extensive collection of IUE memorabilia was on display, assembled by Cathy Imhoff, Dean Baker, and Jim Caplinger, from many sources. Karen Levay worked very hard to organize the event, which included a nice array of munchies and a California sparkling wine, personally selected by the IUE wine steward. The attitude of the attendees seemed to be one akin to that found at a retirement party for a respected and beloved colleague, which seemed to me to be entirely appropriate.

- Terry Teays

Missing Images

The IUE Project and the IUE NDADS staff are striving to make sure that the archives are complete. In addition to the goal of a complete archive, this will also ensure that as many images as possible are processed with the NEWSIPS processing. For various reasons, the following images cannot be found and are currently flagged as lost. If anybody has retained a copy of the raw image for any of the these images, please contact:

Karen Levay at
levay@iuegtc.gsfc.nasa.gov

301-794-1440

10,000A Aerospace Road
Lanham-Seabrook, MD 20706

Cam/Image      Observation Date       Target           Program ID
                                
LWR  1352    21-apr-1978 02:08:00    HD 37023            LABDS
LWR  1352    21-apr-1978 02:13:00    HD 37023            LABDS
LWR  1367    23-apr-1978 00:16:00    HD 37020            LABDS
LWR  1367    23-apr-1978 00:24:00    HD 37020            LABDS
LWR  1368    23-apr-1978 01:31:00    HD 37042            LABDS
LWR  1368    23-apr-1978 01:32:00    HD 37042            LABDS
SWP  1444    30-apr-1978 12:05:48    SCO X-1             XBPVB
SWP  1444    30-apr-1978 13:17:08    SCO X-1             XBPVB
LWR  1451    07-may-1978 14:15:00    HD 226868           XBPVB
SWP  1785    14-jun-1978 20:50:49    SS CYG              OD3AB
LWR  1714    23-jun-1978 07:02:27    URANUS              PSTCO
LWR  1719    23-jun-1978 20:06:00    SATURN RINGS        PSTCO
LWR  1781    05-jul-1978 06:13:00    4C 16.30            QO2AB
LWR  2195    28-aug-1978 04:41:00    VENUS               AVALL
LWR  2195    28-aug-1978 04:45:00    VENUS               AVALL
SWP  2429    01-sep-1978 05:57:00    MKN 376             QO2AB
SWP  2534    08-sep-1978 09:51:13    ALPHA CAM           OD4AB
LWR  2334    12-sep-1978 15:27:00    HD 5679             MF2YK
LWR  2511    01-oct-1978 00:55:00    GAM VEL             LSDKW
LWR  3097    04-dec-1978 06:46:00    ADS4241             CMHMJ
LWR  3116    06-dec-1978 23:55:00    NGC 221             CMHMJ
LWR  3363    02-jan-1979 16:58:00    L1363- 3            BSJLG
LWR  3536    21-jan-1979 04:33:00    HD 23408            SS2JJ
LWR  4404    29-apr-1979 11:08:07    SN IN M100          CVBCW
SWP  5170    08-may-1979 16:47:00    NOVA VUL            CVBCW
LWR  4529    16-may-1979 23:38:00    HD 3360             BCBJL
LWR  4891    26-jun-1979 17:43:57    GSC 02816.02100     HRDAK
SWP  5815    16-jul-1979 09:18:00    HD 133518           HRDAK
LWP  1311    13-apr-1981 10:09:00    BACKGRND            GHDDY
SWP 16690    04-apr-1982 20:34:00    EPS AUR             VVETS
SWP 16690    04-apr-1982 21:15:00    EPS AUR             VVETS
SWP 21005    10-sep-1983 12:34:49    HD 109387           MLFCW
SWP 22027    17-jan-1984 07:11:00    SAO 53204           CCFSW
LWR 17253    18-feb-1984 01:34:00    HD 31964            VVFRC
LWP  7066    10-nov-1985 08:13:00    HD 5737             MLHSS
SWP 27803    27-feb-1986 00:59:00    HD 61421            FEHTA
LWP  7883    26-mar-1986 19:44:20    SAO 211030          SCHJH
SWP 29046    27-aug-1986 23:44:00    HD 164402           MLIDM
LWP 12724    23-feb-1988 01:43:32    SN 1987A            SNJRK
SWP 32982    25-feb-1988 00:44:00    HD 79158            HEJSS
LWP 12735    25-feb-1988 18:02:00    SN 1987A            SNJRK
LWP 12787    02-mar-1988 22:16:00    HD 124897           KGJTA
SWP 33031    03-mar-1988 20:07:00    CD -30 5135         OD21Y
LWP 12794    03-mar-1988 21:42:00    SAO 97496           OD21Y
LWP 12892    20-mar-1988 02:31:00    HD 128220           MLJFB
SWP 33184    30-mar-1988 11:44:00    HD 39801            LSJAD
LWP 13056    15-apr-1988 18:27:00    TRIFID-1            NHJRD
LWP 13252    17-may-1988 15:03:00    HD 82829            ALJGM
LWP 13253    17-may-1988 16:01:00    HD 82829            ALJGM
LWP 13254    17-may-1988 17:06:00    HD 82829            ALJGM
SWP 33557    17-may-1988 21:40:00    HD 82829            ALJGM
LWP 13259    17-may-1988 22:35:00    HD 82829            ALJGM
SWP 33586    20-may-1988 18:48:00    HD 173948           OD26Y
SWP 33588    20-may-1988 20:53:00    HD 173948           OD26Y
LWP 13284    20-may-1988 22:07:00    HD 173948           OD26Y
SWP 33599    21-may-1988 21:56:00    HD 197051           USSBS
SWP 33619    23-may-1988 17:59:12    HD 120324           BEJGP
SWP 34134    25-aug-1988 13:29:00    HD 23862            OD47Y
SWP 34877    06-dec-1988 18:00:00    OB42-B              MLKPM
SWP 35083    20-dec-1988 05:48:58    HD 41335            BEKGP
SWP 36570    23-jun-1989 12:21:00    MKN 335             AGLWS
LWP 15781    24-jun-1989 16:11:00    HD 108903           LGLKC
LWP 15785    25-jun-1989 13:46:00    HD 108903           LGLKC
SWP 36575    25-jun-1989 15:25:00    HD 108903           LGLKC
LWP 15787    25-jun-1989 17:46:00    HD 184006           IMLPF
LWP 15788    25-jun-1989 18:41:00    HD 184006           IMLPF
LWP 15789    25-jun-1989 19:33:00    HD 184006           IMLPF
LWP 16117    14-aug-1989 00:04:00    V745 SCO            NOLSS
SWP 37312    15-oct-1989 02:26:00    OBERON              SULSS
LWP 16666    26-oct-1989 23:45:00    HD 34904            IMLPF
LWP 16689    29-oct-1989 06:50:11    HD 64503            SALCW
SWP 37480    29-oct-1989 09:59:00    HD 70761            SALCW
SWP 37480    29-oct-1989 11:10:00    HD 70761            SALCW
SWP 37487    30-oct-1989 01:36:19    HD 39801            LSLAD
LWP 16699    30-oct-1989 22:03:30    J38                 CCLTS
LWP 16700    31-oct-1989 01:18:55    MJ536               CCLTS
SWP 37491    31-oct-1989 11:04:00    HD 208253           HCLSP
LWP 17355    12-feb-1990 23:38:00    HD 37806            HALSS
SWP 40119    16-nov-1990 08:23:49    HD 33904            APMSR
SWP 40120    16-nov-1990 09:17:30    HD 33904            APMSR
SWP 40121    16-nov-1990 09:51:19    HD 33904            APMSR
SWP 40122    16-nov-1990 10:38:00    HD 77350            APMSR
SWP 41191    27-mar-1991 00:06:00    NOVA HER            NOMSS
LWP 20126    12-apr-1991 18:35:17    T CAM               AGMLW
LWP 20127    12-apr-1991 20:08:00    T CEP               RVMEB
LWP 20134    13-apr-1991 17:42:00    HD 2151             SAMEG
SWP 41375    13-apr-1991 18:01:32    HD 2151             SAMEG

- Karen Levay

IUE Image Processing News

NEWSIPS High Dispersion Processing Begins!

We have started to process SWP high-dispersion images through the NEWSIPS system. We will be processing all such images obtained at GSFC; VILSPA will process the images obtained at their station. You are welcome to send us a list of your favorite images to priority process. There is a NEWSIPS user request Web page at

http://hypatia.gsfc.nasa.gov/IUE/search/IUE_usrreq.html

Your request goes into a semi-automated system, which will send you email reports on the status of the processing. The data may be retrieved from the NDADS system once it has been archived.

We have just implemented the final version of the extraction slit and associated ripple correction for SWP high dispersion. For the past month we have been processing images with a somewhat preliminary extraction slit and ripple correction. Please be aware that these earlier processed images (before October 1) may differ somewhat from the final version.

NEWSIPS Status for Low Dispersion Images

We have continued to process NASA SWP and LWP low dispersion data as they have become available. Out of over 38,000 images, 91 percent have been processed and are available from the NDADS system. Some of the remaining unprocessed images are flat field calibration images. However, some images have not been processed because of missing database information or other problems. We are currently working on getting those images taken care of and processed. If you need images that seem unavailable, please contact Cathy Imhoff (301-794-1470, or imhoff@iuegtc.gsfc.nasa.gov). She can check on them and in many cases fix the problem so that the images can be processed for you.

Publications

We have copies of the NEWSIPS Processing Information Manual available (describing SWP and LWP low dispersion). We also have copies of the IUE Spectral Atlas, published as NASA IUE Newsletter No. 43. Please contact Cathy Imhoff if you would like a copy.

- Cathy Imhoff

Recent IUEDAC Software Changes

24-Sep: The experimental version of feature was implemented which allows input wavelength vectors to be monotonically increasing or decreasing.
01-Oct: A new version of readmx was added to the experimental library which prevents an error that may occur in the optional output vectors when the keyword wrange is specified.
02-Oct: The experimental version of iuefx was implemented which allows users to specify a different username when transferring files to a different node.

- Randy Thompson

Comments on Problems with IUEFX

Several IUE archive users have written to NSSDC regarding problems requesting data using the IUEDAC routine iuefx. Unfortunately, there are many reasons why requested files fail to appear in a user's directory. Generally the problems are due to one of the following reasons:

incorrect username, account name, password, or node specified by user,
insufficient disk space available in user's account,
incorrect image file specification,
hardware problems with NDADS, local node, or network,
requested images are not yet available, missing, or corrupted,
mail command redefined by user during login,
(vms) login file executes interactive-session-specific commands (e.g., set term...) during non-interactive sessions,
format error in input text file of camera & image numbers.

Because many of the potential problems are not NDADS-related, it is suggested that users first contact the IUEDAC staff when something goes wrong. We will try to duplicate the error and if necessary, forward the problem to the appropriate person. Note that since the NSSDC staff are not responsible for the IUEDAC software, most reported problems involving iuefx will be forwarded to us anyway.

One way to find where an error occurred is to determine if the requested files were successfully transferred to the NDADS staging area at ndads::anon_dir:[data_dist.iue]. If the files exist, chances are the problem occurred locally.

- Randy Thompson

IUE WWW Search

For searching the IUE Merged Log of Observations please use the URL

http://hypatia.gsfc.nasa.gov/IUE/search/IUE_search_menu.html

For submitting a NEWSIPS Processing request form please use the URL

http://hypatia.gsfc.nasa.gov/IUE/search/IUE_usrreq.html

Both of these services will be moving to a new Digital Unix machine that the Astrophysics Data Facility (ADF) has purchased. The hypatia name is currently an alias for banzao. When the new machine is ready to take over these services, the hypatia alias will be moved to it. The banzao node will do redirects for a short time after the change is made, however, for the least inconvenience in access to these services, we ask that you start using the hypatia name.

- Pat Lawton

We've Moved!

During the last week of September, the IUEDAC computer room moved from its old home to a new room down the hall, from G 33 to GC 20 in Building 21. This move was part of an ongoing merger of space and computer facilities between IUE, the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope project (the previous and continuing occupants), the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph project, and miscellaneous general use computers in the building. The transition was prompted by the expected need for additional space for staff working with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, which will be installed aboard Hubble next February.

The IUE node, the IUESN1 console, a GraphOn terminal, and the bulk of the astronomical references were moved into the new room. Only outdated manuals, some GraphOns, and outright junk were left behind. While we only have a single GraphOn terminal (with screen dump capability) compared to the several we had before, we now have access to a couple of additional VMS workstations (courtesy of UIT) for users requiring windowing capabilities. Access to one or more of the Unix workstations that will shortly be moved in may also be possible, although the arrangements for that are still being worked out.

The room is definitely cozier than the old one, and there may be occasional visits by users affiliated with the other projects, but we do not anticipate any significant impact on our users' ability to work while using the new facilities. In fact, users should benefit from the fact that the reference materials collected by the various projects will now be consolidated in a single location. Off-hours access will be available as before - just contact a DAC staff member prior to your visit to make arrangements, or if you have any other questions about the move.

- Jim Caplinger

Back to the IUE Data Analysis Center Page

Back to the IUE Project Page

Web Curator

Mr. James R. Caplinger, Computer Sciences Corporation

Responsible NASA Organization/Official

Dr. Don West, IUE Operations Scientist