High Energy Cross-Calibration Information
Targets
Astrophysical objects which have been used for instrument calibration include the following:ASCA Calibration Targets
ASCA has used the following targets for the following purposes:- Crab Nebula: XRT+GIS energy response
- 3C273, G11.2-0.3: Residual Dark Distribution calibration
- Cas A: measurement of SIS CTI and gain
- 3C 273: boresight calibrator
- 3C 273: spectral calibration
Chandra Calibration Targets
Also see the the CXO Cross Calibration PageChandra uses the following targets, as listed in Issue #10 of the Chandra Newsletter
| Calibration Targets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Target | Detector | Objective |
| Cas A | ACIS and HRC | Monitor the gain and spectral resolution of the CCDs. Monitor the QE and QE uniformity of the HRC. Cross-calibration between the focal plane detectors. |
| G21.5-09 | ACIS and HRC | Monitor the QE and QE uniformity of the detectors. Cross-calibration between the focal plane detectors and other X-ray telescopes. |
| E0102-72 | ACIS | Measure the effects of increasing CTI on gain and spectral resolution. Monitor the degradation in low energy QE. |
| HZ43 |
LETG/HRC-I LETG/HRC-S |
Monitor the HRC-I low energy QE and the throughput of LETG/HRC-S at low energies. |
| Coma | HRC-I | Monitor the QE, QE uniformity and degap map. |
| ArLac | HRC | Measure small scale gain variations across the detectors. |
|
Betelgeuse Vega |
ACIS, HRC | Monitor the optical/UV transmission of the detector filters |
| Capella |
LETG/HRC-S HETG/ACIS-S |
Monitor the gratings dispersion relation and LSF. |
| PKS2155-304 |
LETG/ACIS-S HETG/ACIS-S LETG/HRC-S |
Cross-calibration. Monitor the build-up of contaminant on ACIS and the HRC-S QE uniformity. |
| 3C273 |
LETG/ACIS-S HETG/ACIS-S |
Cross-calibration and monitoring the low energy absorption on ACIS. |
NICER Calibration Targets
This table lists the NICER calibration targets as of Cycle 7 (2025-05-01)
| Source | RA | Dec |
|---|---|---|
| 1ES_0229+200 | 38.20321 | 20.28666 |
| 1E_0102.2-7219 | 16.00713 | -72.03033 |
| 30_Doradus | 84.67818 | -69.10114 |
| 3C_273 | 187.27770 | 2.05230 |
| 3C_273_bkring_1 | 187.44450 | 2.05199 |
| 3C_273_bkring_2 | 187.27650 | 2.21496 |
| 3C_273_bkring_3 | 187.11090 | 2.05196 |
| 3C_273_bkring_4 | 187.27800 | 1.88508 |
| AR_Lac | 331.56550 | 45.85268 |
| AT2020nov_bkg1 | 254.55360 | 2.31738 |
| Alkaid | 206.88720 | 49.31335 |
| Arcturus | 213.91550 | 19.18221 |
| BKGD_RXTE_1 | 5.00276 | -66.99934 |
| BKGD_RXTE_2 | 60.00061 | 1.99741 |
| BKGD_RXTE_3 | 137.99990 | 15.00053 |
| BKGD_RXTE_4 | 29.99954 | 9.99983 |
| BKGD_RXTE_5 | 344.99970 | -18.00033 |
| BKGD_RXTE_6 | 159.99930 | 72.57042 |
| BKGD_RXTE_8 | 183.69980 | 53.29992 |
| Beta_Car | 138.30580 | -69.71677 |
| Beta_Leo | 177.26560 | 14.57347 |
| Cas_A | 350.85580 | 58.80896 |
| Coma_cluster | 194.95420 | 27.98127 |
| DXL1 | 0.83694 | 75.78527 |
| DXL2 | 254.82560 | 75.09624 |
| Elnath | 81.57209 | 28.60744 |
| GX_301-2 | 186.65700 | -62.76994 |
| GX_5-1 | 270.29060 | -25.07903 |
| IGR_J22534+6243 | 343.48030 | 62.72663 |
| LMC_X-3 | 84.73261 | -64.08249 |
| Menkent | 211.67060 | -36.37000 |
| N132D | 81.26679 | -69.64384 |
| PKS_0312-770 | 47.97483 | -76.86491 |
| PKS_2004-447_bkg1 | 301.97860 | -44.41190 |
| PKS_2155-304 | 329.71690 | -30.22602 |
| PSR_B0531+21 | 83.63326 | 22.01412 |
| PSR_B0531_off_1p47amin | 83.63021 | 22.01441 |
| Perseus_cluster | 49.94670 | 41.51284 |
| Pollux | 116.33020 | 28.02524 |
| RX_J1856-3754_bkg1 | 284.22220 | -37.72095 |
| RX_J1856-3754_bkg2 | 284.17070 | -38.11636 |
| RX_J1856-3754_off_1p47amin | 284.15410 | -37.88455 |
| SS_433 | 287.95630 | 4.98252 |
| SWCX_361a | 291.06610 | 60.79369 |
| SWCX_361b | 288.75600 | 66.16031 |
| SWCX_361c | 274.88960 | 71.68015 |
| SWCX_361d | 262.66730 | 76.33549 |
| SWCX_364a | 294.53440 | 60.94328 |
| SWCX_364b | 292.28400 | 66.31049 |
| SWCX_364c | 278.42460 | 71.84715 |
| SWCX_364d | 266.12310 | 76.58709 |
| Sco_X-1 | 245.23230 | -15.03147 |
| Serpens_X-1 | 279.95990 | 5.13297 |
| Sirius | 101.28860 | -16.71947 |
| U_Cep | 15.56678 | 81.87468 |
| Vega | 279.23500 | 38.78307 |
| Vela_X-1 | 135.52770 | -40.55469 |
| W49B | 287.78930 | 9.10825 |
NuSTAR Calibration Targets
- 3C273: Simultaneously observed on July 16 2012 by NuSTAR, XMM, Swift, Suzaku, and INTEGRAL, for cross-calibration purposes.
ROSAT Calibration Targets
- N132D, HZ 43, Crab Nebula, AR Lac, the "Meaty" Source (aka RE 1629+781, a white dwarf discovered by the ROSAT WFC, see Pye, 1996, MPE Report 263,627 & Cooke et al., 1992, Nature 355, 61), Vela SNR, Cyg X-2, Cyg X-3, A 2256, LMC X-1, LMC X-2, Cas A, MKN 421, Beta Car, Beta Leo, Vega, GD695, BPM97895, and EG 187, Delta Dor, BETA Aur, EPS Lyr
The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer Calibration Targets
- The RXTE Proportional Counter Array used the following calibration targets, as listed in "Calibration of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer Proportional Counter Array" (Jahoda et al., 2006, ApJSS, 163, 401): Cas A; the Crab Nebula; the Crab pulsar; J1744-28; GRB 960924; PSR 1821-24
Swift Calibration Targets for the XRT
These targets are taken from "The in-flight spectroscopic performance of the Swift XRT CCD camera", J. Osborne et al., 2005| Object | Type | Mode | Purpose | Exposure (ks) |
| RXJ 0720.4-3125 | Pulsar | PC | Low energy response | 19.6 |
| RXJ 1856.5-3754 | Neutron Star | PC | Low energy response | 5.4 |
| PKS 0745-19 | Cluster of galaxies | PC | Low energy shelf and effective area | 29.7 |
| 2E 0102-7217 | SNR |
PC WT LrPD |
Effective area and gain |
24.3 25.4 6.0 |
| Cas A | SNR |
PC WT |
Effective area and gain |
5.8 45.7 |
| 3C 273 | Quasar | WT | Effective area and cross-calibration | 10.0 |
| Crab | SNR |
WT LrPD |
Effective area and gain |
5.8 25.0 |
| PSR 0540-69 | Pulsar | PC | Effective area | 33.9 |
Suzaku Calibration Targets
Suzaku calibration targets are listed in Table B.1.1 of the Suzaku Technical Description, which is reproduced here: B.1.1 Calibration| Target | RA | Dec | Stat | Exp. | #obs | Remarks |
| E0102-72 | 01 04 02.4 | -72 01 60.0 | Obs | 75 | 2 | XIS window open |
| E0102-72 | 01 04 02.4 | -72 01 60.0 | 20 | 1 | XIS | |
| N132D | 05 25 03.3 | -69 38 27.2 | Obs | 105 | 6 | HXD HV ON |
| Crab | 05 34 32.0 | +22 00 52.2 | Obs | 170 | 31 | |
| Eta Carina | 10 45 03.6 | -59 41 04.3 | 20 | 1 | XIS | |
| Lockman Hole | 10 52 00.0 | +57 18 00.0 | 100 | 1 | HXD | |
| North Ecliptic Pole | 18 11 12.0 | +66 00 0.0 | Obs | 70 | 1 | |
| Vega | 18 36 56.3 | +38 47 01.3 | Obs | 10 | 1 | Optical light leak check |
| PKS2155-304 | 21 58 52.1 | -30 13 32.1 | 60 | 1 | XIS; coordinated obs. | |
| with XMM-Newton | ||||||
| Cas A | 23 23 24.0 | +58 48 54.0 | 10 | 1 | XIS |
Documents
Attempts at intercomparison of instrumental performance between 2 (or among 3 or more) observatories, or between multiple instruments on a single observatory.ASCA
- and ROSAT: "ASCA and ROSAT observations of NGC 5548: discrepant spectral indices", Iwasawa, K., Fabian, A. C., and Nandra, K., 1999, MNRAS, 307,611I (pdf preprint).
- and BeppoSax: "Quasi-simultaneous observations of 3C 273 by BeppoSAX and ASCA", Orr, A., Yaqoob, T., Parmar, A. N., Piro, L., White, N. E., and Grandi, P., 1998, AA, 337, 685. (pdf)
- and BeppoSax and RXTE: "High-Energy Cross-comparison of ASCA/XTE/BeppoSAX Using Simultaneous Observations of 3C 273", 1999, Yaqoob, T., and the ASCA GOF. (postscript)
Chandra
- and ROSAT: "Establishing HZ43 A, Sirius B, and RX J185635-3754 as soft X-ray standards: a cross-calibration between the Chandra LETG+HRC-S, the EUVE spectrometer, and the ROSAT PSPC", K. Beuermann,V. Burwitz, & T. Rauch, 2008, A&A, 481, 769
- and XMM-Newton:Chandra/XMM Cross-Calibration (paper presented by Herman Marshall at the 1st Chandra Calibration Workshop, November 2002)
- and XMM-Newton: Are Simultaneous Observations by XMM-Newton and Chanrda a Luxury or a Necessity? (presentation by A. Pollock at the 2003 Chandra Calibration Workshop
- and XMM-Newton: Chandra and Newton: Common Low-Energy Grating Observations (presentation by V. Kashyap at the 2004 Chandra Calibration Workshop
- and XMM-Newton: Chandra/XMM cross-calibration: Temperatures and soft X-ray fluxes of four galaxy clusters with ACIS-S/EPIC (presentation by M. Bonamente at the 2004 Chandra Calibration Workshop)
- and XMM-Newton: XMM-Newton (cross) calibration (presentation by M. Kirsch at the 2004 Chandra Calibration Workshop
- and XMM-Newton: Cross Calibration of the Chandra/ACIS and XMM/EPIC low energy response using 1E0102-723 (paper presented by Joe depasquale at the 2005 Chandra Calibration Workshop)
- and INTEGRAL, RXTE, Suzaku, Swift, and XMM-Newton observatories: "Cross-calibration of the X-ray instruments onboard the Chandra, INTEGRAL, RXTE, Suzaku, Swift, and XMM-Newton observatories using G21.5�0.9", Tsujimoto et al., 2011, A&A, 525, A25.
XMM-Newton
- XMM Cross Calibration Page
- and various Observatories: XMM-Newton (cross)-calibration, Kirsch et al., 2004, SPIE 5488, 103
- and Chandra, ASCA, and ROSAT: "Comparison of XMM-Newton EPIC, Chandra ACIS-S3, ASCA SIS and GIS, and ROSAT PSPC Results for G21.5-0.9, 1E0102.2-7219, and MS1-54.4-0321", S. L. Snowden, Astroph, 0203311
- RGS & EPIC & other observatories:"XMM-Newton (cross)-calibration", 2003, M.F.G Kirsch et al.
- and Chandra:Chandra/XMM Cross-Calibration (paper presented by Herman Marshall at the 1st Chandra Calibration Workshop, November 2002)
- and Chandra: Are Simultaneous Observations by XMM-Newton and Chanrda a Luxury or a Necessity? (presentation by A. Pollock at the 2003 Chandra Calibration Workshop
- and Chandra: Chandra and Newton: Common Low-Energy Grating Observations (presentation by V. Kashyap at the 2004 Chandra Calibration Workshop
- and Chandra: Chandra/XMM cross-calibration: Temperatures and soft X-ray fluxes of four galaxy clusters with ACIS-S/EPIC (presentation by M. Bonamente at the 2004 Chandra Calibration Workshop)
- and Chandra: XMM-Newton (cross) calibration (presentation by M. Kirsch at the 2004 Chandra Calibration Workshop
- and Chandra: Cross Calibration of the Chandra/ACIS and XMM/EPIC low energy response using 1E0102-723 (paper presented by Joe depasquale at the 2005 Chandra Calibration Workshop)
- and Crab: Crab: the standard x-ray candle with all (modern) x-ray satellites, Proceedings of SPIE -- Volume 5898 UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XIV, Oswald H. W. Siegmund, Editor, 589803 (Sep. 9, 2005)
INTEGRAL
- Cross-Calibration Report (discusses cross-calibration between the various INTEGRAL instruments)
Fermi
- and INTEGRAL: Using GRB 080723B to cross-calibrate Fermi/GBM and INTEGRAL (von Kienlin et al., 2009)
- and INTEGRAL:Spectral Cross-Calibration of Fermi-GBM and INTEGRAL-ISGRI using Gamma-Ray Bursts (Tierney et al., 2011)
-
and Swift: The Cross-Calibration of Swift-BAT and Fermi-GBM via Correlative Spectral Analysis of GRBs (Stamatikos 2009)
Other Links
- The International Astronomical Consortium for High Energy Calibration (IACHEC)
- The XMM-Newton Cross-Calibration page.
- The Chandra Cross-Calibration page
Questions/Comments/Problems with the CALDB to: caldbhelp@athena.gsfc.nasa.gov
Page Author: Michael F. Corcoran 1-301-286-5576
Last Update: Thursday, 01-May-2025 15:07:49 EDT
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