For Cycle 18, we have implemented the following changes to APT that may be helpful in preparing Phase II Programs:
- Multiple units for proper motion - Units for proper motion given in catalogs have changed over the years. APT now supports multiple units for proper motion.
- Phase II Mosaic tool - There is a capability for building mosaics in Phase II proposals. See the demonstration movie for more information.
- Bright Object Tool can use GALEX - The Bright Object Tool now can use the GALEX AIS (All Sky) catalog for checking the sensitive UV detectors: ACS/SBC, STIS FUV/NUV MAMAs, and COS.
- WFC3/IR "Death Star" shown in Aladin - The WFC3/IR detector has a circular area of bad pixels near the edge (nicknamed the "Death Star"). This isn't a big deal for a compact object, but could be important in planning an observation of an extended object or creating a mosaic. Aladin now plots a circle to highlight this region.
- New WFC3 Apertures - New subarray apertures have been defined as well as several new apertures which allow for common fiducial points between IR and UVIS.
- Actual orientation for executed visits used in Aladin - If APT has a connection to the visit status information (so you see that some visits have executed) the actual executed orientation will be used in the Aladin display.
- Differencing Tool - Although it is not a new capability, most people were unaware of the tool in APT which can highlight differences between two proposals (or two visits, or two exposures). There is a training movie about the Differencing Tool available.
- Context Sensitive Menus - APT has context sensitive editing menus in the Tree Editor. For instance you can right click on a target to find options like "New Fixed Target" and "Delete" (instead of looking for these options in the menus or remembering the shortcuts/hotkeys).