Online Software Tools
Calculating sensitivities for Tauvex
Overview
This document is intended to provide a guide to planning your TAUVEX
observation.
Exposure Time Calculator
is always the best way to estimate observation feasibility, since
it will always include the latest sensitivities for TAUVEX for each of the
different filters. However, the calibration numbers are also available from here.
TAUVEX is a scanning instrument which will observe a line of celestial latitude
in 1 day. Although this imposes restrictions on the observing strategy, with
no pointed observations, a well defined mission philosophy can allow optimal
use of the available time. Our Mission Planning Tool
is intended to help the users find observable windows.
The tools here are intended to help define the
observations and to understand which classes of objects may or may not be
observed. Help is available for all the online tools and here we give a
brief description of what is available. Requests for enhancements can be made
through our reporting system or by email to
tauvex@iiap.res.in
and will be addressed on a best effort basis.
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Exposure Time Calculator
The Exposure Time Calculator (ETC) is intended to allow the user to calculate
the exposure time needed for different classes of objects for a given S/N or,
alternatively, to calculate the S/N for a given exposure time. The input
spectrum can either be a stellar spectrum (derived from Kurucz models) with
optional extinction, an extragalactic spectrum (AGN/galaxy) with optional redshift,
a flat spectrum or a user defined spectrum which can be uploaded to our server.
Source coordinates and observation date are needed to estimate the background
noise level (significant contribution is from sunlight scattered off the spacecraft
parts). The declination of the target is also used to estimate the number of scans
required. An optional name resolver may be used to fetch coordinates.
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Sky Simulator
A different purpose is served by the online simulator. Rather than deriving
exposure times for specific objects, the online simulator will present a view
of the sky as would be observed by TAUVEX (or any other instrument).
It is more suitable for mission
planning purposes, rather than for specific targets but may be of interest to
some users. Please note that it is still incomplete in that diffuse radiation
and extended sources are not included. The input is from the Hipparcos catalog
of stars. Users may also upload catalogs.
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Coordinate Converter
The coordinate converter is a java applet to convert astronomical coordinates between
various reference frames (uses WCS classes). Note that a java enabled browser is
required to run it as an applet.You may also use it offline. Source code and binary
is available in our Download area.
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Science Tools
As part of our program development and science activities, we have written
a set of science tools for such actions as calculating Kurucz models for given
spectral types and for calculating the interstellar radiation field (ISRF) at
different locations in the sky (needed for our diffuse radiation models).
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