Obtaining Data

Copernicus files can be retrieved in either of two ways. If the name of the desired Copernicus file is known, it can be downloaded from http://archive.stsci.edu/pub/copernicus/. Separate directories exist for raw files (/raw), atlas files (/atlas), coadded U1 scans (u1_fits), and coadded U2 scans (u2_fits). The preview images can also be retrieved from the u1_images and u2_images directories. The other method for retrieving the Raw and Coadded scan data is to use the Copernicus search forms described below.

Raw Data Sets:

The Copernicus raw data sets can be retrieved from the search results page of the Copernicus catalog search. The search form allows searches based on a variety of criteria including target name, coordinates, object class, detector, etc. Selecting one or more of these criteria and clicking search will display the search results page. Clicking on an entry in the Filename column of the displayed table will download the raw data file in FITS format. See the search help page for more help in searching the Copernicus catalog.

The file names for the raw data sets are in the form "Cnnn.PEP" where nnn is the original Copernicus target number. As an example, C084.PEP contains all the scans for target number 84 (i.e., Gamma Cas).

Coadded Scans:

The Copernicus coadded scan data sets can be retrieved from the search results page of the Coadded scan catalog search. The search form and search criteria are basically the same as described above. Clicking on the appropriate entry in the filename column of the displayed search results table will download the coadded scan file in FITS format. See the search help page for more help in searching the Copernicus Coadded scan catalog.

The coadded scan file names are in the form Cnnn-### where nnn is the original raw data target number mentioned above, and ### is the sequential coadded scan number for a given target. The extension is either .u2 for U2 scans, and .BU1 or .UU1 for blocked and unblocked U1 scans. (Blocking refers to the use of the U2 detector to block stray light that might enter the U1 vent hole. Blocked and unblocked scans were not coadded. IF stray light was a problem, the blocked scans are preferable.)

Spectral Atlas Files:

The spectral atlas files can also be obtained from the Copernicus spectral atlas page. Each atlas has it's own subpage with links to download the data sets described in the published papers. The file names have the form TARGETn.fts where TARGET is an abbreviated target name and n is a number uniquely describing each data set.