To find and download HEASARC data in the cloud, you can use astroquery.heasarc or download our new tool, hark.
The HEASARC and NuSTAR teams are greatly saddened by the sudden passing of Katja Pottschmidt. Most recently Katja was the lead scientist for the NuSTAR Guest Observer Facility (GOF), a role she had supported for many years. During her science career she worked on many other high energy astrophysics missions and played an integral role in advancing our knowledge of the universe. She was a wonderful colleague and friend and will be keenly missed by all who knew her.
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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