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This Legacy journal article was published in Volume 3, May 1993, and has not been
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The HEASARC Facility
Mike Arida
HEASARC
The Facility
The HEASARC is part of Goddard's Office for Guest Investigator Programs. It
houses data from many high energy astrophysics missions, including the Einstein
Observatory, EXOSAT and HEAO-1, ROSAT and BBXRT. In the future, the HEASARC
will house data from missions such as XTE and ASCA. In addition to these
datasets, catalogs and documents are available via the HEASARC On-line Service.
The HEASARC supports the analysis of archival data for local visitors and
remote users. It provides:
- Access to archival data via the HEASARC On-line Service
- Mission-independant data analysis tools
- Expertise in analysis techniques and calibrations
- Documentation
The following software packages are available:
- XANADU (XSPEC, XIMAGE, XRONOS and QDP)
- IRAF/PROS
- interfaces to IDL
A Sun workstation and access to a VAX/VMS system is available for each visitor.
A preprint library, reading room (containing recent copies of many popular
journals), and bound sets of Ap.J. and A&A are available in
the same building as the HEASARC. Fax machines, photocopiers and laser
printers are available for HEASARC visitors' use.
A building near the HEASARC contains the extensive Goddard Library and a
full-service cafeteria. Library hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through
Friday. Books may only be checked out by Goddard employees but free
photocopying is available to any user. The cafeteria offers a large selection
of hot and cold food and is open 7:15 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Snack and cold drink vending machines are available in the same building as
the HEASARC. Coffee and tea can also be purchased from the employee club.
The Staff
The HEASARC is supported by several duty scientists, Lorella Angelini, Paul
Barrett, Steve Drake, Ian George, Laura Whitlock and Bill Pence. Their
resumes are at the back of the first issue of this journal. There are also
three support staff programmer/analysts, Karen Smale, Pat Tyler and Brendan
Perry. A support scientist is available Monday through Friday between 10 am
and 6 pm. HEASARC visitors are free to work outside these hours. A maximum of
two groups of HEASARC guest observers can be supported at any given time.
The HEASARC shares a building with Goddard's Laboratory for High Energy
Astrophysics, the ROSAT Guest Observer Facility (GOF), the ASCA GOF and the XTE
Science Operations Center allowing interaction with many other scientists for
scientific and data-related discussions. A nearby building houses the Compton
Observatory Science Support Center.
Booking the Facility
Use of the HEASARC must be prebooked. This will allow a badge to be ready at
the main gate and also will prevent the system from becoming overbooked.
Booking the HEASARC is done by contacting Mike Arida by one of the following
methods:
Telephone: (301) 286-2291
Internet: arida@urania.gsfc.nasa.gov
Fax: (301) 286-1684
Visitors should allow enough advance notice of their visit for the support
staff to obtain a badge. For US citizens and Green Card holders, this is a few
days. Non-citizens should allow 2 weeks notice and include a visa and passport
number with the booking request to the above e-mail address. Information about
local hotels and how to get to GSFC can be obtained when booking the facility.
Visitors to GSFC are welcome to use the HEASARC facilities on a first-come
first-served basis, with those who have prebooked having priority.
Helpdesk
A remote helpdesk will provide help with software distribution and
installation, advice on data analysis problems and bug reports. This help desk
is accessed by contacting us via our Feedback form or via
the telephone number used for booking the system.
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