Contents: 1) Propose, even if you missed the NOI deadline! 2) Please use the cycle 2 template- and style-files for cycle 2 proposals 3) New Wavelength solution available (improvement on calfuse v. 1.6.9) 4) Calibration Software Upgrade and Public Distribution 5) SDAF files will no longer be distributed with the data announcements 1) Propose, even if you missed the NOI deadline! We'd like to remind everyone that the FUSE cycle 2 proposal deadline is on July 14. As usual, a Notice of Intent was a requested, but non-compulsory part of the proposal process. Hence, please feel free to propose even if no NOI was submitted. 2) Please use the cycle 2 template- and style-files for cycle 2 proposals As you start writing your cycle 2 FUSE proposal, please check that you are indeed using the cycle 2 proposal templates and LaTeX style file, as these have changed slightly from cycle 1. The best way to get these is to send an e-mail to fuseprop@fusewww.gsfc.nasa.gov with the word(s) help or request templates in the "subject" line. NOTE: Prior to June 5, 2000, there was a problem with Web-based downloads from the GSFC support site, which was providing "Cycle 1" versions of the template and style file! Those requesting via e-mail, however, got the correct Cycle 2 versions. If you obtained your support materials prior to June 5, please double check that your materials state "Cycle 2". 3) New Wavelength solution available A new and improved wavelength solution is now available for data processed with the calfuse pipeline version v.1.6.9, or earlier. As the dispersion solution is the last stage of the calibration pipeline there is no need to reprocess the data. You may simply use the new wavelength files in place of the ones in the extracted spectral file. Further details including instructions for retrieving the new wavelength files can be found at: 4) Calibration Software Upgrade and Public Distribution The Calfuse software was recently upgraded to version 1.7, containing a number of improvements: -- new flux calibration -- new wavelength calibration -- improved geometric distortion correction -- more accurate spectral extraction windows -- extraction windows for extended sources -- a deadtime correction (which had been previously removed from calfuse) -- correction of wavelength calibration zero-point for FPA position We are working towards a distributable version of the calfuse pipeline software. Currently the software runs on Sun solaris workstations. Public distribution is currently scheduled for later this year. 5) SDAF files will no longer be distributed with the data announcements As the operation of the spacecraft is getting more routine and the number of observations with some form or other of problem have been dropping dramatically, we have automated our quality control procedures. While the output of these automatic procedures are helpful to the project, the software can at times be confused by faint targets and/or emission line spectra. Hence, in order to not risk confusing the observer, we will discontinue the distribution of the SDAF (Science Data Assessment Form) files with the notification that the data has been staged to MAST. We will still be performing the general quality control (and the SDAF will be made available upon request), but as always the program PI is invited to (and ultimately responsible for) bringing data problems to our attention.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Observer's Electronic Newsletter is published by the FUSE project and is aimed at the FUSE user community. Editor: B-G Andersson, FUSE Guest Investigator Officer. The FUSE Project is managed by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Astrophysical Sciences in Baltimore, MD, for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The FUSE Principal Investigator is Dr. Warren Moos, the FUSE Project Manager at JHU is Mr. J.B. Joyce, and the NASA Project Scientist for FUSE is Dr. George Sonneborn. Further information about the FUSE Guest Investigator Program can be obtained from: Dr. George Sonneborn; sonneborn@stars.gsfc.nasa.gov ------------------------------------------------------------------------------