All UVCS data and data products are made available to the scientific community and the general/public within less than three months. There are no restrictions on the use of the data.
The Level-1 and Level-2 data (from January 21, 1996 - January 19, 2013) are available from the SOHO Archive and can also be requested from SAO.
All UVCS Co-I's, Lead Observers and Guest Investigators will have immediate access to UVCS quick look data for purposes of planning future observations and investigations.
Within the UVCS project there are several well defined levels of processed data.
The data, as output from the UVCS instrument and delivered to the UVCS project by NASA, is called level 0 data. Level 0 data is not useful for any purpose except processing into level-1 data.
Level-1 data is processed raw data which has been decompressed and repacked into data files in a logical form representative of the data products as delivered by the UVCS instrument. Level-1 data is stored in a standard external storage protocol (FITS files). Types of Level-1 data are the following:
Level-2 data are calibrated level-1 data which has been decompressed and are stored in a standard external storage protocol (FITS files). Types of Level-2 data are the following:
Calibration Data Files contain the following: a) Parameter files (ascii) for pointing, spatial, wavelength and radiometric calibrations, and b) Flat field and dark count data (FITS).
Data analysis software allows the user to perform calibrations and obtain spectra that are wavelength calibrated and converted to photons cm -2 s-1 sr -1 nm-1. Calibrated pointing information can also be derived using this software. The software allows the user to write out processed spectral data files and processed visible light data files. Temporary processed spectral and visible light data files are produced at the EOF to be used as Quick Look data for observation planning. Processed data files are examples of level-2 data.
In addition, the UVCS program produces level-3 data which has undergone a higher level of processing. For example, image data files, including synoptic maps, are FITS files such as HI Ly-alpha maps of the corona that are provided as part of the Summary Data. There are also Data Catalogs to permit users to select observations based on pointing, observation date, type of feature observed, or other criteria. They also include references to Mission Log Files, which record the observing sequences and other commands sent to the instrument. Most level-3 data will be produced by scientists in the course of analyzing the data using software and data that is publicly available.
Summary data is quick-processed Level-3 data which is available at the SOHO Experiment Operations Facility at GSFC within a few hours of receipt by the UVCS operators workstation. These data are suitable for observation planning purposes.
The following table describes the goals for availability of the various types of data according to its purpose.
Data Type | Available to PI, Co-PI's, G-I's, A S's, and other members of Science Working Teams | Available to all |
---|---|---|
Final Spectral and Visible Light Data Files | < 3 months | < 3 months |
Calibration Files | Immediately | Immediately |
Catalogs | Immediately | Immediately |
Summary Data | Immediately | Immediately |