Handbook Structure

The ACS Data Handbook is organized in five chapters, which discuss the following topics:

•	Chapter 1 - ACS Overview is a brief discussion of the ACS capabilities, design and basic instrument operations; detailed information can be found in the ACS Instrument Handbook.

•	Chapter 2 - ACS Data Structure explains ACS file structures, image header keywords, and data file sizes.

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Chapter 3 - ACS Calibration Pipeline describes the ACS calibration pipeline and On-the-Fly-Reprocessing (OTFR), which is standard for all HST data requested from the STScI archive. The calibration pipeline software (calacs), reference files, and instructions for manual data calibration are provided.

•	Chapter 4 - ACS Error Source describes the sources of uncertainty in ACS data, and provides pointers to resources beyond this manual for the latest descriptions of our evolving understanding of these issues.

•	Chapter 5 - Data Analysis describes the data reduction applications available to work with ACS data, and the specific analyses you may want to apply to your imaging, spectroscopy, polarimetry and coronagraphy data.

For the latest information regarding ACS performance and calibration, users are advised to consult the ACS Web pages located at:

http://www.stsci.edu/hst/acs