November 2014 additions to the ASCL

Twenty-seven codes were added in November:

Anmap: Image and data analysis
BKGE: Fermi-LAT Background Estimator
CGS3DR: UKIRT CGS3 data reduction software
ECCSAMPLES: Bayesian Priors for Orbital Eccentricity
Flicker: Mean stellar densities from flicker

galpy: Galactic dynamics package
GPI Pipeline: Gemini Planet Imager Data Pipeline
HOPE: Just-in-time Python compiler for astrophysical computations
iDealCam: Interactive Data Reduction and Analysis for CanariCam
JCMT COADD: UKT14 continuum and photometry data reduction

NAFE: Noise Adaptive Fuzzy Equalization
NDF: Extensible N-dimensional Data Format Library
NEAT: Nebular Empirical Analysis Tool
OPERA: Open-source Pipeline for Espadons Reduction and Analysis
POSTMORTEM: Visibility data reduction and map making package

pyGadgetReader: GADGET snapshot reader for python
PyMGC3: Finding stellar streams in the Galactic Halo using a family of Great Circle Cell counts methods
pysovo: A library for implementing alerts triggered by VOEvents
Raga: Monte Carlo simulations of gravitational dynamics of non-spherical stellar systems
RC3 mosaicking pipeline: Creating mosaics for the RC3 Catalogue

segueSelect: SDSS/SEGUE selection function modelling
sic: Sparse Inpainting Code
SPOTROD: Semi-analytic model for transits of spotted stars
SPT Lensing Likelihood: South Pole Telescope CMB lensing likelihood code
Starlink Figaro: Starlink version of the Figaro data reduction software package

util_2comp: Planck-based two-component dust model utilities
voevent-parse: Parse, manipulate, and generate VOEvent XML packets

ADASS poster: Data Analysis Software for the ESPRESSO science machine

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Abstract: The Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanets and Stable Spectral Observations (ESPRESSO) is an extremely stable high-resolution spectrograph which is currently being developed for the ESO VLT Combined Coudé Laboratory by an international consortium of four nations and ESO. With its groundbreaking characteristics (resolution up to ~200,000; wavelength range from 380 to 780 nm; centimeter-per-second accuracy in wavelength calibration; possibility to use all 4 unit telescope at once) ESPRESSO is aimed to be a “science machine” – i.e., an instrument whose subsystems are fully-integrated way to directly extract science information from the observations. In particular, ESPRESSO will be the first ESO instrument to be equipped with a dedicated tool for the analysis of data, the Data Analysis Software (DAS), consisting in a number of recipes to analyse both stellar and quasar spectra. In this talk, I will present my work on the quasar branch of the DAS. I will describe the details of the pipeline and of its GUI, ESO Reflex, which is aimed to get over the shortcomings of the existing software providing multiple iteration modes and full interactivity with the data. I will also discuss some new algorithms implemented in the code, which will allow to determine the continuum level of emission in quasar spectra, to fit the spectral lines, and to identify the absorption systems in a coherent scheme. The scientific importance of a carefully-designed, physically-motivated approach to data analysis will be highlighted throughout.

Authors: Guido Cupani (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste)
Valentina D’Odorico (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste)
Stefano Cristiani (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste)
Jonay Gonzalez-Hernandez (Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias)
Christophe Lovis (Université de Genève)
Sérgio Sousa (Universidade do Porto)
Eros Vanzella (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Bologna)
Paolo Di Marcantonio (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste)
Denis Mégevand (Université de Genève)

ASCL poster at ADASS

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Abstract: The Astrophysics Source Code Library (ASCL) is a free online registry of codes used in astronomy research; it currently contains over 900 codes and is indexed by ADS. The ASCL has recently moved a new infrastructure into production. The new site provides a true database for the code entries and integrates the WordPress news and information pages and the discussion forum into one site. Previous capabilities are retained and permalinks to ascl.net continue to work. The site offers more functionality and flexibility than the previous site, is easier to maintain, and offers new possibilities for collaboration. This presentation covers these recent changes to the ASCL.

Authors: Robert Hanisch (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
Alice Allen (Astrophysics Source Code Library)
Bruce Berriman (Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, California Institute of Technology)
Kimberly Duprie (Space Telescope Science Institute)
Jessica Mink (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Robert Nemiroff (Michigan Technological University)
Lior Shamir (Lawrence Technological University)
Keith Shortridge (Australian Astronomical Observatory)
Mark Taylor (University of Bristol)
Peter Teuben (University of Maryland)
John Wallin (Middle Tennessee State University)

ADASS opens this evening with a welcome reception

The 24th Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems (ADASS) meeting starts this evening at the Westin Hotel in Calgary, Canada. Talks start tomorrow afternoon; the opening sessions are focused on Big Data Challenges, which is such a big topic it has to be continued on Monday morning.

Though the ASCL editors are not attending ADASS this year, most of the Advisory Committee is (Peter Teuben, Bruce Berriman, Bob Hanisch, Jessica Mink, Keith Shortridge, and Mark Taylor) and Bob Hanisch has a poster on the ASCL’s recent changes to hang.

You can follow ADASS on Twitter , and tomorrow, we’ll post the ASCL poster here.

September 2014 additions to the ASCL

Thirteen codes were added to the ASCL in September:

CHLOE: A tool for automatic detection of peculiar galaxies
CosmoSIS: Cosmological parameter estimation
IM3SHAPE: Maximum likelihood galaxy shear measurement code for cosmic gravitational lensing
IFSFIT: Spectral Fitting for Integral Field Spectrographs
IFSRED: Data Reduction for Integral Field Spectrographs

iSpec: Stellar atmospheric parameters and chemical abundances
LANL*: Radiation belt drift shell modeling
mixT: single-temperature fit for a multi-component thermal plasma
Nahoon: Time-dependent gas-phase chemical model
ORBS: A reduction software for SITELLE and SpiOMM data

rmfit: Forward-folding spectral analysis software
Slim: Numerical data compression for scientific data sets
Tsyganenko Geomagnetic Field Models

Working towards Sustainable Software for Science: Practice and Experiences

The 2nd Working towards Sustainable Software for Science: Practice and Experiences workshop (WSSSPE) will be held in New Orleans on Sunday, November 16. The community was invited to submit short actionable papers for use in designing the workshop.

Getting a community to adopt better practices doesn’t usually happen overnight. The ASCL has looked at previous efforts to create code libraries or registries to try to find common barriers that may have inhibited widespread use of these services; the ASCL also has looked to specific management techniques adapted from business practice to encourage change. These findings and change management strategies are discussed in our #WSSSPE 2 paper.

The WSSSPE site lists all of the freely downloadable accepted papers.