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HST Data Handbook for ACS

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2.4 Headers and Keywords


While the ACS image headers for WFC, HRC, HRC-ACQ, and SBC observations have very similar formats, two main differences are apparent. The MAMA (SBC) headers require a slightly modified structure from the CCD (WFC, HRC) headers, and the HRC-ACQ headers require several unique keywords.

In table 2.6, we give the ACS headers keywords and their description, with a note describing to which detector those keywords refer. The first column gives the name of the keyword, the second column provides a short description of the keyword, and the last column gives the format used for the value of the keyword. The formats provided give `L' for boolean values, `C' for characters, `R' for real values and `I' for integer values, followed by the precision of the value.

Table 2.6: ACS Header Keywords
Keyword
Description Format
SIMPLE = data conform to FITS standard (T/F) L1
BITPIX = bits per data value I2
NAXIS = number of data axes I2
EXTEND = file may contain standard extensions (T/F) L1
NEXTEND = number of standard extensions I2
GROUPS = image is in group format? (T/F) L1
DATE = date this file was written (yyyy-mm-dd) C10
FILENAME = name of file C18
FILETYPE = type of data found in data file C03
TELESCOP = telescope used to acquire data C03
INSTRUME = identifier for instrument used to acquire data C06
EQUINOX = equinox of celestial coordinate system R4
DATA DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS (All Detectors)
ROOTNAME = rootname of the observation set C09
IMAGETYP = type of exposure identifier C18
PRIMESI = instrument designated as prime C06
TARGET INFORMATION (All Detectors)
TARGNAME = proposer's target name C30
RA_TARG = right ascension of the target (deg) (J2000) R8
DEC_TARG = declination of the target (deg) (J2000) R8
PROPOSAL INFORMATION (All Detectors)
PROPOSID = PEP proposal identifier I4
LINENUM = proposal log line number C15
PR_INV_L = last name of principal investigator C30
PR_INV_F = first name of principal investigator C20
PR_INV_M = middle name / initial of principal investigator C20
EXPOSURE INFORMATION (All Detectors)
SUNANGLE = angle between sun and V1 axis R4
MOONANGL = angle between moon and V1 axis R4
SUN_ALT = altitude of the sun above Earth's limb R4
FGSLOCK = commanded FGS lock (FINE,COARSE,GYROS,UNKNOWN) C07



DATE-OBS = UT date of start of observation (yyyy-mm-dd) C10
TIME-OBS = UT time of start of observation (hh:mm:ss) C08
EXPSTART = exposure start time (Modified Julian Date) R8
EXPEND = exposure end time (Modified Julian Date) R8
EXPTIME = exposure duration (seconds)--calculated R4
EXPFLAG = exposure interruption indicator C13
TARGET OFFSETS (POSTARGS) (All Detectors)
POSTARG1 = POSTARG in axis 1 direction R4
POSTARG2 = POSTARG in axis 2 direction R4
DIAGNOSTIC KEYWORDS (All Detectors)
CAL_VER = CALACS code version C24
PROCTIME = pipeline processing time (MJD) R8
SCIENCE INSTRUMENT CONFIGURATION (All Detectors)
OBSTYPE = observation type (imaging, spectroscopic, coronographic) C14
OBSMODE = operating mode C08
CTEIMAGE = type of Charge Transfer Image, if applicable C04
SCLAMP = lamp status: NONE or name of lamp which is on C09
NRPTEXP = number of repeat exposures in set (default=1) I2
SUBARRAY = data from a subarray (T) or full frame (F) L1
DETECTOR = detector in use: WFC, HRC or SBC C03
FILTER1 = element selected from filter wheel 1 C18
FILTER2 = element selected from filter wheel 2 C18
LRFWAVE = proposed linear ramp filter wavelength R4
APERTURE = aperture name C16
PROPAPER = proposed aperture name C16
CRSPLIT = number of cosmic ray split exposures I2
DIRIMAGE = direct image for grism or prism exposure C09
MAMA OFFSETS (SBC Only)
MOFFSET1 = axis 1 MAMA offset I2
MOFFSET2 = axis 2 MAMA offset I2
LOCAL RATE CHECK IMAGE (SBC Only)
LRC_XSTS = local rate check image exists (T/F) L1
LRC_FAIL = local rate check failed (T/F) L1
CALIBRATION SWITCHES: PERFORM, OMIT (All Detectors)
STATFLAG = calculate statistics? L1
WRTERR = write out error array extension? L1
DQICORR = data quality initialization? C08
ATODCORR = correct for A to D conversion errors? C08
BLEVCORR = subtract bias level computed from overscan image? C08
BIASCORR = subtract bias image? C08
FLSHCORR = subtract post flash image? C08
CRCORR = combine observations to reject cosmic-rays? C08
EXPSCORR = process individual observations after cr-reject? C08
SHADCORR = apply shutter shading correction? C08
DARKCORR = subtract dark image? C08
FLATCORR = apply flat field correction? C08
PHOTCORR = populate photometric header keywords? C08
RPTCORR = add individual repeat observations? C08
DITHCORR = process dithered images? C08
CALIBRATION REFERENCE FILES (All Detectors)
BPIXTAB = bad pixel table C18
CCDTAB = CCD calibration parameters C18
ATODTAB = analog-to-digital correction file C18
OSCNTAB = CCD overscan table C18
BIASFILE = bias image file name C18
FLSHFILE = post flash image file name C18
CRREJTAB = cosmic-ray rejection parameters C18
SHADFILE = shutter shading correction file C18
DARKFILE = dark image file name C18
PFLTFILE = pixel-to-pixel flat field file name C18
DFLTFILE = delta-flat field file name C18
LFLTFILE = low order flat C18
GRAPHTAB = photometric throughput table C18
COMPTAB = photometric throughput table C18
IDCTAB = image distortion correction table C18
COSMIC RAY REJECTION ALGORITHM PARAMETERS (WFC,HRC,HRC ACQ)
MEANEXP = reference exposure time R4
SCALENSE = multiplicative scale factor applied to noise R4
INITGUES = initial guess method (MIN or MED) C03
SKYSUB = sky value subtracted (MODE or NONE) C04
SKYSUM = sky level from the sum of all constituent images R4
CRSIGMAS = statistical rejection criteria C15
CRRADIUS = rejection propagation radius (pixels) R4
CRTHRESH = rejection propagation threshold R4
BADINPDQ = data quality flag used for rejection I2
REJ_RATE = rate at which pixels are affected by cosmic rays R4
CRMASK = flag CR-rejected pixels in input files? (T/F) L1
PATTERN KEYWORDS (WFC, HRC, SBC)
PATTERN1 = primary pattern type C18
P1_SHAPE = primary pattern shape C18
P1_PURPS = primary pattern purpose C10
P1_NPTS = number of points in primary pattern I2
P1_PSPAC = point spacing for primary pattern (arcsec) R4
P1_LSPAC = line spacing for primary pattern (arcsec) R4
P1_ANGLE = angle between sides of parallelogram patt (deg) R4
P1_FRAME = coordinate frame of primary pattern C09
P1_ORINT = orientation of pattern to coordinate frame (deg) R4
P1_CENTR = center pattern relative to pointing (yes/no) C03
PATTSTEP = position number of this point in the pattern I2
POST FLASH PARAMETERS (WFC, HRC, HRC ACQ)
FLASHDUR = exposure time in seconds: 0.1 to 409.5 R4
FLASHCUR = post-flash current (OFF, LOW, MED, HIGH) C04
FLASHSTA = status (SUCCESSFUL, ABORTED, NOT PERFORMED) C16
SHUTRPOS = shutter position (A or B) C05
ENGINEERING PARAMETERS (WFC, HRC, HRC ACQ)
CCDAMP = CCD amplifier read out configuration C04
CCDGAIN = commanded gain of CCD I2
CCDOFSTA = commanded CCD bias offset for amplifier A I4
CCDOFSTB = commanded CCD bias offset for amplifier B I4
CCDOFSTC = commanded CCD bias offset for amplifier C I4
CCDOFSTD = commanded CCD bias offset for amplifier D I4
CALIBRATED ENGINEERING PARAMETERS (WFC, HRC, HRC ACQ)
ATODGNA = calibrated gain for CCD amplifier A R4
ATODGNB = calibrated gain for CCD amplifier B R4
ATODGNC = calibrated gain for CCD amplifier C R4
ATODGND = calibrated gain for CCD amplifier D R4
READNSEA = calibrated read noise for amplifier A R4
READNSEB = calibrated read noise for amplifier B R4
READNSEC = calibrated read noise for amplifier C R4
READNSED = calibrated read noise for amplifier D R4
TARGET ACQUISITION PARAMETERS (HRC only)
ACQTYPE = type of acquisition C15
ACQNAME = rootname of acquisition exposure C10
TARGET ACQUISITION PARAMETERS (HRC ACQ only)
ACQTYPE = type of acquisition C15
CENTMETH = target acquisition centering method C16
CRELIM = perform cosmic ray rejection in acquisition L1
CCDBIASS = CCD bias subtracted from Target Acq Image? L1
BIASLEV = CCD bias level used to process acquisition exp. R4
CHECKBOX = size of checkbox for finding algorithms I2
TARGAREA = area of target (detector pixels) R4
ASSOCIATION KEYWORDS (All Detectors)
ASN_ID = unique identifier assigned to association C10
ASN_TAB = name of association table C18
ASN_MTYP = role of exposure in association C12
XTENSION = extension type C08
BITPIX = bits per data value I2
NAXIS = number of data axes I2
NAXIS1 = length of first data axis I4
NAXIS2 = length of second data axis I4
PCOUNT = number of group parameters I2
GCOUNT = number of groups I2
INHERIT = inherit the primary header L1
EXTNAME = extension name C06
EXTVER = extension version number I2
ROOTNAME = rootname of the observation set C09
EXPNAME = 9 character exposure identifier C09
DATAMIN = minimum data value R8
DATAMAX = maximum data value R8
BUNIT = brightness units C18
BSCALE = scale factor for array value to physical value R8
BZERO = physical value for an array value of zero R8
WFC CCD CHIP IDENTIFICATION (WFC only)
CCDCHIP = CCD chip (1 or 2) I2
WORLD COORDINATE SYSTEM AND RELATED PARAMETERS (All Detectors)
CRPIX1 = x-coordinate of reference pixel R8
CRPIX2 = y-coordinate of reference pixel R8
CRVAL1 = first axis value at reference pixel R8
CRVAL2 = second axis value at reference pixel R8
CTYPE1 = the coordinate type for the first axis C08
CTYPE2 = the coordinate type for the second axis C08
CD1_1 = partial of first axis coordinate w.r.t. x R8
CD1_2 = partial of first axis coordinate w.r.t. y R8
CD2_1 = partial of second axis coordinate w.r.t. x R8
CD2_2 = partial of second axis coordinate w.r.t. y R8
LTV1 = offset in X to subsection start R4
LTV2 = offset in Y to subsection start R4
LTM1_1 = reciprocal of sampling rate in X R4
LTM2_2 = reciprocal of sampling rate in Y R4
PA_APER = position angle of reference aperture center (deg) R8
ORIENTAT = position angle of image y axis (degrees E of N) R4
PA_V3 = position angle of V3-axis of HST (deg) R4
READOUT DEFINITION PARAMETERS (All Detectors)
CENTERA1 = subarray axis1 center point in unbinned dectector pixels I4
CENTERA2 = subarray axis2 center point in unbinned dectector pixels I4
SIZAXIS1 = subarray axis1 size in unbinned detector pixels I4
SIZAXIS2 = subarray axis2 size in unbinned detector pixels I4
BINAXIS1 = axis1 data bin size in unbinned detector pixels I2
BINAXIS2 = axis2 data bin size in unbinned detector pixels I2
PHOTOMETRY KEYWORDS (All Detectors)
PHOTMODE = observation configuration for photometric calibration C50
PHOTFLAM = inverse sensitivity, erg cm-2 A-1 electron-1 R8
PHOTZPT = ST magnitude zero point R4
PHOTPLAM = pivot wavelength R4
PHOTBW = rms bandwidth of filter plus detector R4
REPEATED EXPOSURES INFO (WFC, HRC, HRC ACQ)
NCOMBINE = number of image sets combined during CR rejection I2
DATA PACKET INFORMATION (All Detectors)
FILLCNT = number of segments containing fill I4
ERRCNT = number of segments containing errors I4
PODPSFF = podps fill present? (T/F) L1
STDCFFF = ST DDF fill present? (T/F) L1
STDCFFP = ST DDF fill pattern (hex) C10
ON-BOARD COMPRESSION INFORMATION (WFC Only)
WFCMPRSD = WFC data compressed? (T/F) L1
COMPTYP = compression type performed? (Partial/Full) C08
CBLKSIZ = size of compression block in bytes I4
LOSTPIX = number of pixels lost due to buffer overflow I4
TARGET ACQUISITION PARAMETERS (HRC ACQ Only)
TARGA1 = fsw located subarray axis1 coord. of target R4
TARGA2 = fsw located subarray axis2 coord. of target R4
APERA1 = fsw located subarray axis 1 coord. of aperture R4
APERA2 = fsw located subarray axis 2 coord. of aperture R4
APERLKA1 = axis 1 detector pixel of acq aperture center R4
APERLKA2 = axis 2 detector pixel of acq aperture center R4
MAXCHCNT = counts in the brightest checkbox R4
BOPOFFA1 = axis 1 offset (arcs) object moved off aperture R8
BOPOFFA2 = axis 2 offset (arcs) object moved off aperture R8
ENGINEERING PARAMETERS (SBC Only)
GLOBRATE = global count rate R4
GLOBLIM = was global linearity level exceeded? C16
IMAGE STATISTICS AND DATA QUALITY FLAGS (All Detectors)
NGOODPIX = number of good pixels I4
SDQFLAGS = serious data quality flags I4
GOODMIN = minimum value of good pixels R4
GOODMAX = maximum value of good pixels R4
GOODMEAN = mean value of good pixels R4
SOFTERRS = number of soft error pixels (DQF=1) I4
MEANBLEV = average of all bias levels subtracted R4
MEANDARK = average of the dark values subtracted R4
MEANFLSH = average of the post flash values subtracted R4

 

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