Known Problems and Planned Development
- Naming: The sets of repeated observations were identified
using the Homogeneous Object ID from the IUE
file header (see chapter 12 of the
New SIPS Information Manual. Unfortunately, the data
base used truncated the names after 20 characters. Consequently,
some objects with long names may contain spectra from more than one
object. We intend to correct this problem in the next build of the
dynamic spectra.
- Ly alpha: All NEWSIPS low resolution data do not
have background geo-coronal Ly alpha properly corrected.
Therefore, one should ignore apparent changes in the immediate
vicinity of Ly alpha.
- Scaling: The scaling of the dynamic spectra is determined
automatically. However, sometimes the range selected is not
optimal. Ultimately, we may have to scale a few of the dynamic
spectra "by hand".
- Dynamic range: Some of the objects exhibit enormous flux
changes. In these cases, it is impossible to determine a single
set of limits that will display all of the variability. We intend
to create fits files for each dynamic spectral image which can be
downloaded and rescaled at the user's leisure.
- Calibration: The NEWSIPS small aperture data contain small
residual systematic errors (
Massa and Fitzpatrick 1999 ApJS, 126, 517). They also
derived transformations between the NEWSIPS absolute flux system and
the HST FOS system. These corrections will be included in
future versions of the dynamic spectra.
- High resolution: Eventually, we intend to include a high
resolution time series browser as well. Aside from formatting issues,
this effort is hampered by problems with the
NEWSIPS high resolution
extractions. We are currently working on solutions to this problem.
Send comments to:
Derck Massa