The SOFIA Data Center (SDC) at the University of Stuttgart has released version 1.4 of the SOFIA Redux data reduction software. With this release, the SDC officially takes over the further development of the software, which was developed and maintained by the SOFIA Science Mission Operations Center (SMO) at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, until its closure in August 2023.
SOFIA Redux (sofia_redux) provides powerful data reduction pipelines for the following instruments of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA):
- EXES – Echelon X (cross) Echelle Spectrograph
High-resolution spectrometer (4,5–28,3 µm) - FIFI-LS – Field Imaging Far-Infrared Line Spectrometer
Integral field spectrometer (51–200 µm) - FLITECAM – First Light Infrared Test Experiment CAMera
Imager with filters and grisms (1,0–5,5 µm) - FORCAST – Faint Object infraRed CAmera for the SOFIA Telescope
Imager with filters and grisms (5–40 µm) - HAWC+ – High-Resolution Airborne Wideband Camera
Imager with filters and grisms (50–240 µm)
This new software version is primarily a technical upgrade of the previous version 1.3.3 and fixes issues that arose due to further developments of the underlying libraries. In addition, SOFIA Redux 1.4 contains improvements for the FIFI-LS package in terms of calibration and data quality. All new features are described in detail in the accompanying documentation, which is available free of charge on GitHub together with the software: https://github.com/SOFIA-Data-Center/sofia_redux.
The SOFIA Data Center (SDC) is also planning further improvements for the EXES, FIFI-LS, FORCAST, and HAWC+ instruments. As in the past, GREAT data will continue to be processed at the University of Cologne. Due to the small volume of FLITECAM data resulting from the few missions flown, no additional or improved processing procedures are currently planned.
The SDC expressly welcomes collaboration with external developers. Contributions can be submitted in the form of pull requests, provided they comply with current open source standards.
With the release of the SOFIA Redux 1.4 software version, the SOFIA Data Center is underscoring its role as a central competence center for the sustainable use of SOFIA data. The SDC is currently preparing a comprehensive reprocessing of the data sets. Among other things, improved pointing information from the guide cameras, optimized correction of telluric water vapor, and further methodological improvements are planned. The processed data will be made available via a VO-compatible online archive. The Virtual Observatory (VO) is an international standard that digitally networks astronomical data from different observatories and makes it accessible via uniform interfaces. At the end of the SDC's active phase in mid-2029, the archive is scheduled to be transferred to the German Center for Astrophysics (DZA) in Görlitz.
Contact:
Dr. Bernhard Schulz
Project Scientist, SOFIA Data Center
Phone: +49 174 532 6516
E-Mail: bernhard.schulz@irs.uni-stuttgart.de
Dr. Benjamin Greiner
Research Associate, SOFIA Data Center
Phone: +49 711 685 69624
E-Mail: benjamin.greiner@irs.uni-stuttgart.de
Further links with respect to the news:
- SOFIA Data Center (SDC) at the University of Stuttgart
- SOFIA: Data goldmine for astronomical research, news of the University of Stuttgart, 12. September 2024
Further SOFIA Links:
- SOFIA data center at IPAC Infrared Science Archive
- NASA SOFIA mission page
- SOFIA mission page at DLR (German Space Agency) (in German)
The SOFIA Data Center (SDC) is funded by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) under grant number FKZ 50OK2404.
SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, was a joint project of the German Aerospace Center (DLR; funding codes 50OK0901, 50OK1301, 50OK1701, and 50OK2002) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It was carried out at the instigation of the DLR with funds from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWE) on the basis of a resolution by the German Bundestag and with funds from the state of Baden-Württemberg and the University of Stuttgart. On the German side, SOFIA activities were coordinated by the German Space Agency at DLR and carried out by the German SOFIA Institute (DSI) at the University of Stuttgart, and on the American side by NASA and the Universities Space Research Association (USRA). The development of the German instruments was financed with funds from the Max Planck Society (MPG), the German Research Foundation (DFG), and the DLR
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