JAC Software

The JAC software group provides development and support to the UKIRT and JCMT telescope operations.

Observation Management

Both UKIRT and JCMT use flexible scheduling to optimize scientific returns of observing runs. Access the Observation Management Project (OMP) site for information on observing projects. Information is available on both the JCMT Observing Tool and the UKIRT Observing Tool

We write data in the flexible Hierarchical Data System (HDS) format rather than FITS. Conversion tools are available.

Data Reduction

We use the same generic data reduction pipeline on both telescopes in order to provide near-real-time feedback to observers to optimize flexible scheduling. ORAC-DR is capable of producing near-publication quality results and is also in use at the AAT and can support instruments from ESO and Gemini.

We support and recommend the Starlink software applications. IRAF is also available.

Many of our data reduction applications were distributed by Starlink. However, as the Starlink Project was terminated in June 2005, we have taken over maintenance of the codebase. The Starlink Software Collection can now be downloaded from the Joint Astronomy Centre. The following JAC-supplied software is distributed with the SSC:

• ORAC-DR - Generic data pipelining (both telescopes, requires many other Starlink packages so usually best to install from ISO image).
  • User's Manual
  • SCUBA pipelining
  • IR Imaging
  • IR Spectroscopy
  • IR Integral Field Units
  • Programmer's Manual
• SURF - SCUBA data reduction
  • User's Manual
  • Photometry Cookbook
  • Mapping Cookbook
  • Programmer's Manual
• SPECX - Command line sub-mm spectral line analysis
  • Crash course [postscript]
  • Cookbook
  • Users' Manual (for v6.3 but still useful) [postscript]
  • Introduction and historical perspective
• FLUXES - Sub-mm planetary fluxes (see also web interface)
  • User's Manual

They will work on Linux, Solaris and Mac OSX and, soon, Windows via Cygwin. Historically, we have released bespoke reduction packages for older instruments but these packages are no longer supported:

• JCMT-DR - Sub-mm continuum reduction of UKT14 and CBE JCMT data. (still useful for archive processing). [Manual][Cookbook]
• IRCAM-DR - Generic routines for infrared image processing. Now superceded by ORAC-DR and Starlink KAPPA.
• CGS4-DR - Monolithic application for analysing CGS4 data. Now superceded by ORAC-DR and Starlink KAPPA and FIGARO. Never ported to Linux/G77.

Further information on reducing ACSIS data can be found in the ACSIS Data Reduction Cookbook.

Web applications

A number of web applications are available to support your observing run.

• Rise times for sources at UKIRT
• Sub-mm Planetary fluxes
• Simple cone search of the Bright Star Catalogue
• SCUBA Integration Time Calculator (simplified version for proposals)

Publications

A list of external publications by JAC software group members can be found in our publication list. For internal technical documentation, consult the JAC documentation repository.

Local CVS Access

Local users may also browse our CVS repository. If you are an external user and wish access to our code repository, please contact software@jach.hawaii.edu.