AIPS ( Eng. Astronomical Image Processing System ) is a software package for processing and analyzing data obtained as a result of astronomical observations on radio telescopes . It is mainly used for networks and arrays of VLA , VLBA and WSRT radio telescopes. It is also successfully used for global VLBI networks. The software package was originally developed at the NRAO ( Eng. National Radio Astronomy Observatory ) in the 1970s, and has since been recognized as the de facto software standard in the global astronomical community. [one]
| Astronomical Image Processing System | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type of | Radio Interferometric Processing Package |
| Developer | en: NRAO |
| Written on | Fortran and C |
| operating system | Linux |
| Latest version | 31DEC10 ( 2010 ) |
| License | GNU General Public License |
| Site | aips.nrao.edu |
Content
Usage
AIPS allows you to perform all the necessary processing steps: calibration, editing, data verification and image building using Fourier synthesis . Work with data in AIPS can be carried out interactively, and at the same time by a group of operators. [2]
AIPS uses a primitive command line interpreter known as POPS.
Newly-minted AIPS graduates seem to be such a unique piece of software that quite a few different jokes and stories are compiled about it.
History
The development of AIPS began in 1978 in Charlottesville ( USA , Virginia) [2] . The package was originally written in the old FORTRAN A dialect (even previous FORTRAN IV).
In 1983 , when AIPS was chosen as the priority software package for data processing with VLBA, AIPS functionality covered all stages of radio interferometric calibration of observations in the continuum and spectral lines. AIPS contained a complete set of functions for calibrating and editing VLA and VLBI data, including interactive and group methods for editing visibility data [2] .
After the AIPS was released under the GNU GOL license in mid- 1995 , it became available for free download over the Internet. According to rough estimates, the release of July 15, 1995 was installed on 450 personal computers [2] .
In 1996 - 1997, a significant improvement expanded the capabilities of AIPS to work with the satellite data of the Orbital VLBI (VSOP - VLBI Space Observatory Program). For VLBI, AIPS implemented reading data in the MkII, MkIII and VLBA formats, global primary phase calibration ( English fringe-fitting ) using two alternative methods, special phase correction and polarization calibration, geometry correction in addition to the standard calibration made for interferometers with related items.
AIPS currently consists of more than 4,300 files containing 1.46 million command lines, over 400,000 documentation lines and 1300 instruction files available on the Internet. The package has more than 350 separate applications of "tasks", representing more than 60 man-hours spent since 1978 [2] . AIPS now uses FORTRAN 77, although it has also been successfully ported to the FORTRAN 90 compiler.
See also
- AIPS ++ , a package created as a continuation of AIPS. In 2006, the development of the AIPS ++ package was stopped, and on its basis a new project was launched - CASA .
Notes
- ↑ Patrick P. Murphy. AIPS and Linux: A Historical Reminiscence // English Journal : magazine. - 2000. - 1 July.
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 AIPS FAQ. What is AIPS? . NRAO. Archived on March 19, 2012.