Chapter 3:
Analyzing HST Data
3.1 Alternative Means of Accessing HST Data
3.1.1 Interactive Data Language (IDL)
3.1.2 Python
3.1.3 Fortran and C
3.1.4 Java
3.1.5 PyRAF
3.2 Navigating STSDAS
3.2.1 STSDAS Structure
3.2.2 Packages of General Interest
3.3 Displaying HST Images
3.3.1 The Display Task
3.3.2 Working with Image Sections
3.4 Analyzing HST Images
3.4.1 Basic Astrometry
3.4.2 Examining and Manipulating Image Data
3.4.3 Working with STIS, ACS, and NICMOS Imsets
3.4.4 Photometry
3.4.5 Combining Dithered HST Datasets with MultiDrizzle
3.5 Displaying HST Spectra
3.5.1 Specview
3.5.2 STIS Spectra
3.5.3 FOS and GHRS Spectra
3.5.4 Producing Hardcopy
3.6 Analyzing HST Spectra
3.6.1 Preparing STIS Spectra for Analysis in IRAF/STSDAS or Pyraf
3.6.2 Preparing FOS and GHRS Data
3.6.3 Photometry
3.6.4 General Tasks for Spectra
3.6.5 STSDAS Fitting Package
3.6.6 Specfit
3.7 References
3.7.1 Available from STScI
3.7.2 Available from NOAO
3.7.3 Other References Cited in This Chapter
The Space Telescope Science Data Analysis System (STSDAS) is the software system for calibrating and analyzing data from the Hubble Space Telescope. The package contains programs-called tasks-that perform a wide range of functions supporting the entire data analysis process, from reading tapes, through reduction and analysis, to producing final plots and images. This chapter introduces the basics of STSDAS, showing you how to display your data, leading you through some simple data manipulations, and pointing you towards more sophisticated tasks, some of which are described in the instrument section (Part II) of the Data Handbook.
STSDAS is layered on top of the Image Reduction and Analysis Facility (IRAF) software developed at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO). Any task in IRAF can be used in STSDAS, and the software is portable across a number of platforms and operating systems. To exploit the power of STSDAS, you need to know the basics of IRAF. If you are not already familiar with IRAF, consult the IRAF Primer in Appendix A before reading further.
