K2 Documentation

Title Topics Citation Information
K2 Handbook Describes features of ​K2 operations, performance, data analysis, and archive products that are common to most ​K2​ campaigns, but different in degree or kind from the corresponding features of the ​Kepler​ mission. It should be used in conjunction with the Kepler Archive Manual, Kepler Instrument Handbook, and Kepler Data Characteristics Handbook.  Mighell, K. & Van Cleve, J. 2020, KSCI-19116-003
Ecliptic Plane Input Catalog Document A description of the EPIC, the input catalog used by the K2 mission to define targets and which pixels to download. Huber, D & Bryson, S. T. 2019, KSCI-19082-021
K2 Data Release Notes Notes about the data and processing for each campaign.  

The K2 Mission: Characterization and Early Results

Overview of the K2 Mission and its science goals. Howell et al., 2014,PASP, Volume 126, Issue 938, pp. 398
That's How we Roll: The NASA K2 Mission Science Products and Their Performance Metrics Description of the K2 operations and science data analysis resulting from 1.5 years of experience with the K2 mission concept. Van Cleve et al. , 2016, PASP, Volume 128, Issue 965, pp. 075002

 

Kepler Documentation Useful For K2

The K2 mission relies on some of the the Kepler mission handbooks to describe the K2 mission and documents.

Title Topics Citation Information
MAST Kepler Archive Manual Description of engineering, target pixel and light curve file format and contents. Includes description of Kepler and K2 catalogs held at MAST. Document is an updated version of the original Kepler Archive Manual KDMC-10008-006. Mullally, S. E., 2020, MAST Kepler Archive Manual
Kepler Instrument Handbook Details about the Kepler spacecraft and detector. Caldwell, D.A., & Van Cleve, J. E. 2016,  KSCI-19033-002
Kepler Characteristics Handbook Data Features and anomalies found in the photometric time series.

Van Cleve, J.E., Christiansen, J.L., Jenkins, J.M., et al. 2016,  KSCI-19040-005

Kepler Data Processing Handbook Description of the Kepler Data Processing Pipeline. Each chapter is cited separately. Edited by Jon Jenkins. Released 2020.
Fine Guidance Sensor Data Description of the FGS data formats and content taken on frame-transfer CCDs in the corner of the Kepler field-of-view during the Kepler and K2 missions. Mighell, K. & Van Cleve, 2019 KSCI-19112-002
Kepler & K2 Ancillary Engineering Data for Science Data Analysis Description of ancillary engeering data files that contain pointing telemetry, reaction wheel speeds, and temperatures onboard the spacecraft. These parameters might correlate with flux measurements and thus could be useful in further detrending. Mighell, K. & Van Cleve, 2020 KSCI-19150-001
Cadence Pixel File Format information for the cadence pixel files, the rawest, per cadence data files for Kepler and K2 data. Haas, M. 2015, KADN-26315