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HEASARC News

Important
Upcoming
Meetings
and
Proposals
Deadlines

The latest meetings added to the HEASARC's Meeting Page include:

the 2013 Conference on TeV Particle Astrophysics (TeVPA) meeting to be held in Irvine, California from August 26 to 29, 2013,

the AtomDB Workshop 2013 to be held in Cambridge, Massachusetts on August 21 and 22, 2013,

the Fifty years of Quasars: A Symposium in Honor of Maarten Schmidt to be held in Pasadena, California from September 9 to 10, 2013, and

the 27th Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics: "Celebrating 50 Years of Relativistic Astrophysics" to be held in Dallas, Texas from December 8 to 13, 2013.

Upcoming proposal deadlines include:

the deadline for proposals to the Swift Guest Investigator - Cycle 10 component of NASA's ROSES-2013 program is September 26, 2013,

the anticipated deadline for INTEGRAL AO-11 Data Rights Proposals is October 4, 2013, and

the anticipated deadline for XMM-Newton AO13 Proposals is October 11, 2013.

Recent News
  • Updated Million Quasars Catalog (v5.4) (19 Oct 2019)
    The latest version (v5.4, 17 October 2018) of the Million Quasars (MILLIQUAS) Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009 - 2018) containing a lot more than one million (1,982,686 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in both Browse and in Xamin.
  • Chandra White Paper Deadline Extension (16 Oct 2018)
    Call for White Papers for Chandra Cool Attitude Targets (CATs): deadline has been extended to 6 PM EDT Monday 22 October, 2018.
  • Call for Proposals: NICER Guest Observer Program (16 Oct 2018)
    The ROSES Amendment for Cycle 1 of the NICER Guest Observer program has been released. Principal Investigators (PIs) for phase 1 proposals may submit their requested observations and corresponding scientific justification via the ARK/RPS portal. Deadline is 4:30 EST on December 20, 2018..
  • v3.4.2: SIA bug accessing Swift fixed (11 Oct 2018)
    There had been a problem accessing Swift UVOT and XRT data through the Simple Image Access (SIA) service. These data are stored in HIPS format, and this bug affected only those. It should now be fixed. Note that this did ... Continue reading ...
  • AstroSat Data is now public (28 Sep 2018)
    AstroSat data was opened to public on September 26, 2018. Around 25% of the AstroSat (around 1TB) data from the four payloads, UVIT, SXT, LAXPC and CZT is available for download from the Indian Space Science Data Centre . This data provide an exciting opportunity in understanding the cosmos from UV to X-rays through out the world.
  • MAXI CALDB installed at the HEASARC (25 Sep 2018)
    The 20180912 version of the MAXI CALDB is now installed and available at the HEASARC. This is the first official release of the MAXI Calibration Database. MAXI CALDB Users will need to update their $CALDBCONFIG to the latest version (caldb.config.20180925)
  • IGR J17591-2342 second re-brightening observed with NICER (21 Sep 2018)
    NICER observations of the second re-brightening of the accreting millisecond pulsar IGR J17591-2342 show it reaching its highest flux yet seen, with strong pulsations remaining after almost 60 days post-outburst.
  • 12th INTEGRAL Workshop and 1st AHEAD Gamma-Ray Workshop (19 Sep 2018)
    The 12th INTEGRAL Conference will be organized together with the 1st AHEAD Gamma-Ray Workshop on 11-15 February 2019: "INTEGRAL looks AHEAD to Multi-Messenger Astrophysics". It will be hosted by the Campus Biotech, in Geneva (Switzerland). This conference will discuss recent developments in high-energy astronomy, with particular emphasis on its role in multi-messenger astronomy. Further information including deadlines can be found at the above link.
  • Viewing tool updated (17 Sep 2018)
    The Swift pole constraints have been updated in the Viewing tool. The revised coefficients extrapolate the trend for the next year. The Viewing tool now also can report a "preferred" visibility window for NICER observations, which has a Sun angle constraint of 60-180 degrees. (The nominal visibility window for NICER observations is unchanged.)
  • PIMMS updated to Version 4.9 (17 Sep 2018)
    Version 4.9 contains updates for NICER rate simulations and updated calibrations for XMM....
  • XAMIN updated (17 Sep 2018)
    The HEASARC XAMIN archive interface has been updated to version 5.3.1. This release includes improvements to VOTable output and other performance improvements
  • Chandra CALDB 4.8.0 installed at the HEASARC (14 Sep 2018)
    CalDB 4.8.0 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.8.0 was released by the CXC on June 28, 2018.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (14 Sep 2018)
    The Swift SC clock correction has been updated (CALDB update version 20180911).
  • The Million Quasars Catalog v5.3 available (13 Sep 2018)
    The Million Quasars Catalog (MILLIQUAS) has been updated to version 5.3 (12 September 2018). It contains 618,097 type-I QSOs and AGN, including sources from SDSS-DR14Q and LAMOST DR4, and ~1,320,000 high-confidence (80%+ likelihood) quasar candidates. This table is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • HEAD prize/award nominations (11 Sep 2018)
    The HEAD is accepting nominations for the Rossi Prize, the Mid-Career Prize, the Dissertation Prize and the Schramm Award. Deadline for the Rossi Prize is October 15, and Oct 31 for the Mid-Career and Dissertation Prizes; deadline for Schramm Award nominations is November 2. See https://head.aas.org/awards) for more information
  • Argus v4.2 released (10 Sep 2018)
    Support for NICER has been added to Argus.
  • Announcement of Einstein/Hubble/Sagan Fellowships under the NASA Hubble Fellowship Program (NHFP) (8 Sep 2018)
    The NHFP supports promising postdoctoral scientists performing independent research that contributes to NASA Astrophysics. The research may be theoretical, observational, and/or instrumental. If your application is successful you will become an Einstein, Hubble or Sagan fellow depending on the area of your research. The Announcement of Opportunity, which includes detailed program policies and application instructions, is available at the website: http://nhfp.stsci.edu). Applications are due Thursday, November 1, 2018 (7 PM EDT, 4 PM PDT, 23:00 UTC)
  • NICER Guest Observer Program approved by NASA (07 Sep 2018)
    NASA has approved a Guest Observer program for NICER. We expect that the Announcement of Opportunity will be released this fall, with proposals due by the end of the calendar year. More information will be posted on the NICER home page when available.
  • XMM-Newton AO-18 Solicitation Released (22 Aug 2018)
    XMM-Newton observing proposals are solicited in response to the Eighteenth Announcement of Opportunity.
  • SkyView V3.4.0: Handling Binary VOTables in SIAP data (21 Aug 2018)
    Access to the TGSS ADR1 survey has taken a bit of a hit in the past couple of weeks. The TGSS data is served remotely by SkyView: we provide a resampling proxy to the underlying archive. As discussed in our ... Continue reading ...
  • NuSTAR and NICER Identification of X-ray Transient IGR J17591-2342 (17 Aug 2018)
    Observations by NICER and NuSTAR of the X-ray transient IGR J17591-2342 discovered by INTEGRAL on August 12 show that the new transient is an accreting millisecond pulsar in outburst. The pulsar has a spin frequency of approximately 527 Hz and an orbital period of 0.37 days.
  • NICER and NuSTAR Identification of X-ray Transient IGR J17591-2342 (17 Aug 2018)
    Observations by NICER and NuSTAR of the X-ray transient IGR J17591-2342 discovered by INTEGRAL on August 12 show that the new transient is an accreting millisecond pulsar in outburst. The pulsar has a spin frequency of approximately 527 Hz and an orbital period of 0.37 days.
  • X-Ray Background Tool v3.0 released (15 Aug 2018)
    The X-Ray Background Tool has been enhanced with support for counts statistics and the generation of counts-based spectra.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (15 Aug 2018)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on August 15, 2018 (CALDB version 20180814). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 84, valid through 2018-08-14.
  • TGSS issue (07 Aug 2018)
    A couple of users noticed that requests for data from the TGSS ADR1 survey were not working. We’ve tracked this down to a change in the URLs used at the archive in the Netherlands used to store the TGSS data. ... Continue reading ...
  • XMM-Newton Stacked Serendipitous Source Catalogue: 3XMM-DR7s Released (25 Jul 2018)
    First release of the 3XMM-DR7s stacked catalogue
  • A Rapidly Spinning Black Hole with a Warped Disk (17 Jul 2018)
    NICER provides a detailed look at a rapidly-spinning black hole feeding off its companion star.
  • Swift XRT CALDB Data updated (16 Jul 2018)
    The Swift XRT Caldb has been updated (CALDB update version 20180710).
  • Release of the XMM-Newton Users Handbook v2.16 for AO-18 (16 Jul 2018)
    XMM-Newton Users Handbook v2.16 for AO-18
  • The Generic Caldb updated to version 20180713 (13 Jul 2018)
    The generic caldb was updated to version 20180713. This was an update of the caldb.indx file to include the solar_geophys_data_v1.fits file and older leapsecond files which were missing from the previous version of the caldb.indx (20160713)
  • NICER XTI CALDB Updated to Version 20180711 (12 Jul 2018)
    The NICER XTI caldb has been updated to version 20180711. Please make sure you're using the most recent version of the caldb.config file in order to access the NICER XTI CALDB data, and that your CALDB environment variable is set to https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/FTP/caldb to remotely access the HEASARC NICER CALDB.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (09 Jul 2018)
    The Swift SC clock correction has been updated (CALDB update version 20180709).
  • Chandra CALDB 4.7.9 installed at the HEASARC (29 Jun 2018)
    CalDB 4.7.9 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.7.9 was released by the CXC on June 28, 2018...
  • XAMIN updated (29 Jun 2018)
    The HEASARC XAMIN archive interface was updated to version 5.2 on June 27. This release includes updates to DataLink and TAP functionality which include DataLink VOSI elements and corrections to DataLink format per validation outputs
  • COSPAR 2018 Awards Press Release (27 Jun 2018)
    This press release details the awards to be bestowed by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) at its forthcoming Scientific Assembly in Pasadena, California, USA, 14 - 22 July 2018.
  • Chandra Announcement: CIAO to only support Python 3.5 in the next release (27 Jun 2018)
    CXC plans to only support Python 3.5 in the next release of CIAO, which is currently planned for December 2018, as Python 2.7 is being phased out. The CIAO 4.10 version - which was released April 2018 - will be the last release to provide a version compatible with Python 2.7. For additional help, check out The Python 3 for Scientists website or contact the CXC Helpdesk.
  • INTEGRAL AO-16 General Program Approved (27 Jun 2018)
    The INTEGRAL AO-16 General Program, as recommended by the Time Allocation Committee (TAC) and approved by ESA's Director of Science (Prof. Gunther Hasinger), has been released and the observers have been informed.
  • XMM-Newton SAS v17.0.0 Released (22 Jun 2018)
    The latest release of the XMM-Newton Science Analysis Software.
  • HEAD Spring 2018 newsletter released (19 Jun 2018)
    Check out the latest HEAD newsletter, including status updates and interesting results.
  • NGC 4382 Chandra LXMB Catalog (18 Jun 2018)
    This catalog listing the properties of 58 low-mass X-ray binaries that were detected in a Chandra ACIS-S3 observation of the X-ray-faint lenticular galaxy NGC 4382 (from Sivakoff et al. 2003, ApJ, 599, 218S) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NGC 4365 Chandra LXMB Catalog (18 Jun 2018)
    This catalog listing the properties of 99 low-mass X-ray binaries that were detected in a Chandra ACIS-S3 observation of the X-ray-faint elliptical galaxy NGC 4365 (from Sivakoff et al. 2003, ApJ, 599, 218S) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • xTime tool updated (14 Jun 2018)
    Added support for MAXI and Hitomi and restored support for Suzaku.
  • XSPEC 12.10.0d Patch Released (14 Jun 2018)
    Fixes an issue with the zxipcf multiplicative model.
  • Ginga ASM Source Lightcurves (12 Jun 2018)
    This catalog, which lists the sources observed by the Ginga All-Sky Monitor from 1987 to 1991 and provides access to FITS lightcurves generated by ISAS/JAXA and quicklook GIF plots generated by the HEASARC, is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Registration for the "X-Ray Skies with High-Res Eyes: Imaging the Cosmos with AXIS" Workshop is Now Open (12 Jun 2018)
    The "X-Ray Skies with High-Res Eyes" workshop will be held August 6 and 7 at the Carnegie Institution for Science in downtown Washington, DC. The purpose of this meeting is to explore the cutting edge astrophysics enabled by a high angular resolution X-ray observatory in the next decade, present the AXIS science case to the community, and solicit feedback.
  • NASA XMM-Newton Budget AO Released for AO-17 (11 Jun 2018)
  • NASA's Fermi Satellite Celebrates 10 Years of Discoveries (11 Jun 2018)
    On June 11, 2018, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope celebrates a decade of using gamma rays, the highest-energy form of light in the cosmos, to study black holes, neutron stars, and other extreme cosmic objects and events.
  • NICER XTI CALDB Updated to Version 20180605 (07 Jun 2018)
    The NICER XTI caldb has been updated to version 20180605. Please make sure you're using the most recent version of the caldb.config file in order to access the NICER XTI CALDB data, and that your CALDB environment variable is set to https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/FTP/caldb to remotely access the HEASARC NICER CALDB.
  • NGC 1600 Chandra X-Ray Discrete Source Catalog (30 May 2018)
    This catalog listing the properties of 71 discrete X-ray sources that were detected in a Chandra ACIS-S observation of the X-ray-bright elliptical galaxy NGC 1600 and nearby members of the NGC 1600 Group (from Sivakoff et al. 2004, ApJ, 617, 262) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NGC 1332 Chandra X-Ray Compact Source Catalog (29 May 2018)
    This catalog listing the properties of 72 X-ray point sources and 1 somewhat extended X-ray source that were detected in a Chandra ACIS-S observation of the nearby S0 galaxy NGC 1332 (from Humphrey & Buote 2004, ApJ, 612, 848) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NGC 5866 Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (23 May 2018)
    This catalog listing the properties of 71 X-ray point sources detected in a Chandra ACIS-S observation of the nearby edge-on S0 galaxy NGC 5866 (from Li et al. 2009, ApJ, 706, 696) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NICER XTI CALDB Updated to Version 20180517 (23 May 2018)
    The NICER XTI caldb has been updated to version 20180517. Please make sure you're using the most recent version of the caldb.config file in order to access the NICER XTI CALDB data.
  • CFITSIO Version 3.45 released (22 May 2018)
    Version 3.45 of CFITSIO was released May, 2018. Provides new support for reading and writing unsigned long long datatypes; increased the hardcoded NMAXFILES setting for maximum number of open files from 1000 to 10000, other improvements
  • Swift CALDB Data Updated (20 May 2018)
    The Swift SC clock correction has been updated (CALDB update version 20180411).
  • XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalogue: 3XMM-DR8 Released (18 May 2018)
    Latest release of the XMM SSC: 3XMM-DR8
  • XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalog (Version 3XMM-DR8) (17 May 2018)
    The most reccent, updated version of this catalog (from Rosen, Webb, Watson et al. 2016, A&A, 590, A1) containing 775,153 X-ray source detections (an increase of 47,363 compared to DR7) drawn from a total of 10,242 XMM-Newton EPIC observations made between 2000 Feb 3 and 2017 November 30 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Timeline tool updated (15 May 2018)
    Support for NICER has been added to the Timeline tool.
  • First Announcement: X-Ray Skies with High-Res Eyes: Imaging the Cosmos with AXIS (15 May 2018)
    The "X-Ray Skies with High-Res Eyes" workshop will be held August 6 and 7 at the Carnegie Institution for Science in downtown Washington, DC. The purpose of this meeting is to explore the cutting edge astrophysics enabled by a high angular resolution X-ray observatory in the next decade, present the AXIS science case to the community, and solicit feedback.
  • Winners of Gruber Foundation 2018 Cosmology Prize Announced (12 May 2018)
    The Gruber Foundation is pleased to present the 2018 Cosmology Prize to the Planck Team, and to Jean-Loup Puget and Nazzareno Mandolesi, the leaders of the HFI and LFI instrument consortia, for mapping the temperature and polarization of the cosmic microwave background radiation with the ESA Planck spacecraft.
  • NASA's NICER Mission Finds an X-ray Pulsar in a Record-fast Orbit (11 May 2018)
    Scientists analyzing the first data from the Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission have found two stars that revolve around each other every 38 minutes. The discovery bestows the stellar pair with the record for the shortest-known orbital period for a certain class of pulsar binary system.
  • Fv 5.5 released (09 May 2018)
    Updated May 2018; bug fixes, other enhancements.
  • SkyView V3.3.4: GLEAM Survey and new features (02 May 2018)
    SkyView V3.3.4 has just been released. The new version includes a set of maps from the GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky MWA Survey (GLEAM). The GLEAM survey was taken at the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) and covers most of the sky ... Continue reading ...
  • RXTE has Re-entered! (01 May 2018)
    NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE), launched on December 30, 1995, operated for more than 16 years observing the fast-moving, high-energy worlds of black holes, neutron stars and X-ray pulsars before it was decommissioned on January 5, 2012. Yesterday (April 30) at 10:45 am EDT, RXTE re-entered the earth's atmosphere (probably in the ocean north of Venezuela) and was destroyed, bringing to an end a remarkably productive career.
  • Catalog of All-Sky Automatic Survey (ASAS) Photometry of ROSAT All-Sky Survey Sources (01 May 2018)
    This catalog listing the optical and X-ray properties of 2,302 periodic variables detected in the ASAS-South Survey that are positionally coincident with ROSAT All-Sky Survey sources (from Kiraga et al. 2012, AcA, 62, 67) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NICER in the News: NASA Will Solve a Massive Physics Mystery This Summer (01 May 2018)
    A LIVESCIENCE article about how NICER will determine the state of matter inside neutron stars.
  • HEASoft 6.24 Released (24 Apr 2018)
    Released April 24, 2018. This release includes important bug fixes in the CFITSIO library, improvements to the NICER analysis software, improved support for Ubuntu and Debian Linux, and other enhancements and fixes
  • XAMIN updated (24 Apr 2018)
    The HEASARC XAMIN archive interface was updated to version 5.1 (1450/3907) on April 23. This version re-instates the "save to hera" functionality for on-line analysis of archived data using the Web Hera interface.
  • DS9 Updated to Version 7.6 (24 Apr 2018)
    DS9 Version 7.6 was released on April 17. This version includes a new Windows 32/64 bit port, a new MacOS High Sierra port, support for HTTPS, and other improvements
  • NICER in the News: Mushroom Clouds on Neutron Stars (23 Apr 2018)
    NICER was featured in an on-line publication by LiveScience on the ability to study photospheric radius expansion bursts, or "mushroom clouds" occurring on neutron stars.
  • CFITSIO Version 3.44 released (19 Apr 2018)
    Version 3.44 released April, 2018 to enhance security. CFITSIO users are strongly encouraged to upgrade to version 3.44...
  • NuSTAR Cycle 4 Results (19 Apr 2018)
    The list of NuSTAR targets accepted by the Cycle 4 peer review is now available. Cycle 4 observations will start to be routinely performed on June 1, 2018. Written evaluations will be sent to all NuSTAR Cycle 4 PIs in the next few weeks.
  • TESS, NASA's Planet Hunter Is on Its Way to Orbit (19 Apr 2018)
    NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) launched on the first-of-its-kind mission to find worlds beyond our solar system, including some that could support life. TESS, which is expected to find thousands of new exoplanets orbiting nearby stars, lifted off at 6:51 p.m. EDT Wednesday on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. In its 2-year survey mission, TESS will survey the nearest and brightest stars in most (85%) of the sky in its search for exoplanets.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (19 Apr 2018)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on April 19, 2018 (CALDB version 20180419). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 80, valid through 2018-04-19.
  • NICER XTI CALDB Updated to Version 20180417 (18 Apr 2018)
    The NICER XTI caldb has been updated to version 20180417. Please make sure you're using the most recent version of the caldb.config file in order to access the NICER XTI CALDB data.
  • NICER Session at the American Physical Society Meeting (17 Apr 2018)
    A special session featuring NICER first results was held at the April 2018 meeting of the American Physical Society. Two results, "Scientists Spot the Shadow of a Strange Wind Blowing Past a Black Hole" and "NASA's Got a Plan for a 'Galactic Positioning System' to Save Astronauts Lost in Space", were featured stories on LIVESCIENCE.
  • Registration for the Neil Gehrels Memorial Symposium is Now Open (17 Apr 2018)
    We are organizing a Memorial Meeting to celebrate the life and work of our friend and colleague Neil Gehrels, whom we lost on 2017, February 6th. The meeting will take place in Washington DC on 2018, May 21st to 22nd. We kindly request that you register no later than April 22 to facilitate planning.
  • xTime tool updated (09 Apr 2018)
    Support for NICER has been added to xTime. Also, the RXTE mission day number time formats, which were really only used in mission planning, have been removed.
  • Fermi Observatory Status (03 Apr 2018)
    Both instruments on Fermi have been returned to operational status and are actively collecting science data. For the LAT, this data will be used to monitor performance as the instrument returns to normal operating temperatures. GBM has returned to full functionality.
  • LOFAR Radio Catalog of Herschel-ATLAS North Galactic Pole Field (03 Apr 2018)
    This catalog listing the low-frequency (126-173 MHz) properties of 15,532 sources detected at or above 5 sigma by the Low-Frequency Array in the Herschel-ATLAS North Galactic Pole (NGP) survey area (from Hardcastle et al. 2016, MNRAS, 462, 1910) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTAR Hard X-Ray Survey of the Galactic Center: Point Source Catalog (29 Mar 2018)
    This catalog listing the soft and hard X-ray properties of 77 point sources detected by NuSTAR in the Galactic Center and Sgr B2 fields (from Hong et al. 2016, ApJ, 825, 132) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XSPEC 12.10.0c Patch Released (28 Mar 2018)
    Fixes an issue when a mix model is used with multiple data groups and there is more than 1 spectrum per group.
  • Update on Fermi Operations (27 Mar 2018)
    Fermi was commanded out of sun-point mode earlier today (March 27). It is now oriented at a 50-degree rock(ing) angle (towards the northern hemisphere) with respect to the zenith. Operations at a fixed rock(ing) angle will continue while spacecraft performance is monitored. The Fermi team plans to start bringing the instruments back online over the next week or so - GBM first and then the LAT. They will post updates on the status of the observatory as the recovery proceeds.
  • XSPEC 12.10.0b Patch Released (22 Mar 2018)
    Patches an issue with the mdefine command. Released March 19, 2018.
  • Chandra CALDB 4.7.8 installed at the HEASARC (22 Mar 2018)
    CalDB 4.7.8 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.7.8 was released by the CXC on March 19, 2018...
  • Fermi Spacecraft Operational Anomaly (20 Mar 2018)
    At 5:11 UT on March 16, Fermi encountered an issue with the solar array drive that caused the observatory to go into safe hold. In this mode, the instruments are powered off, and thus science data taking has stopped. Initial investigation suggests that one of the solar panels is stuck. Investigation into the cause of the anomaly is ongoing and will continue for some time. We are exploring options to resume some science operations with a fixed solar panel which would run while the anomaly investigations are ongoing. The team is planning to start a return to science ops next week, to run in parallel with the ongoing engineering investigation.
  • NICER ATEL: NICER observations of MAXI J1820+070 suggest a rapidly-brightening black hole X-ray binary in the hard state (15 Mar 2018)
    NICER observed the new X-ray transient MAXI J1820+070. The light curve shows large amplitude flaring on a time-scale of minutes. The X-ray spectrum shows a hard power-law spectrum and a low temperature disk blackbody component, while timing analysis shows a large amplitude broadband power spectrum. These characteristics strongly suggest that the source is a black hole X-ray binary that is rapidly increasing in flux through the canonical hard state.
  • Stephen Hawking Has Died (14 Mar 2018)
    Stephen Hawking, one of the leading cosmologists and popularizers of astronomy in the last century, died earlier today. Hawking's achievements were made all the more remarkable by the fact that he developed ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in his early twenties. His research on black holes and on the interaction between quantum mechanics and general relativity was a seminal contribution to the field.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (13 Mar 2018)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on March 13, 2018 (CALDB version 20180312). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 79, valid through 2018-03-12.
  • Chandra Cycle 20 Proposal Deadline Has Been Postponed by One Day (13 Mar 2018)
    The US National Weather Service has issued a major winter storm warning for the Northeast of the USA for Tuesday, March 13. This storm will make commuting hazardous and may cause widespread power outages in the Boston area. Given the high risk of significant power outages which could affect proposal submission, Helpdesk responses, and the ability of CXC staff to support proposers, as well as the ability of Chandra proposers in the Northeast to prepare and submit their proposals, the deadline has been postponed by 24 hours. Helpdesk response may be delayed if CXC staff experience power outages. The new deadline is FRIDAY MARCH 16, 2018 at 6pm EDT (note that daylight savings time has started in the United States).
  • 2018 Laboratory Astrophysics Workshop: Registration & Abstract Deadlines are Near (12 Mar 2018)
    The purpose of the NASA Laboratory Astrophysics Workshop to be held in Athens, GA on April 11-15 2018 is focused on identifying and prioritizing critical laboratory astrophysics data needs, defined broadly, to meet the demands of NASA's current and near-term astrophysics missions. The meeting will also provide a forum within which the community can present and review the current state of knowledge in laboratory astrophysics and identify challenges and opportunities for the field in the near future. The registration deadline is March 16, and the abstract deadline is March 22.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (08 Mar 2018)
    The Swift SC clock correction has been updated (CALDB update version 20180305).
  • NICER Archive Opens (08 Mar 2018)
    NICER was launched to the International Space Station on June 3, 2017, and began regular observations of celestial sources on July 17, upon completion of its commissioning activities. While observations to fulfill the mission's baseline science are ongoing, most data acquired to date -- during an initial validation period lasting nearly 8 months -- are now available in the public archive at the HEASARC. The archive includes over 3000 observations that have been processed with the latest instrument calibration products and software, also now released, and are accessible through the HEASARC's archive interfaces. Excluded are datasets for a few targets, to be released at a later date after evaluation of long-term calibration stability. Following this initial release, new observations will be delivered to the archive regularly after a two-week processing and validation period.
  • HEASoft 6.23 Released (07 Mar 2018)
    Released March 7, 2018. This release updates the NICER data analysis software and provides bug fixes in the FV (FitsViewer) GUI, among other changes. This release also fixes a security vulnerability identified in cfitsio; if you have code running cfitsio on a server we strongly recommend updating as soon as possible.
  • Joint NuSTAR/INTEGRAL Observing Time Available in INTEGRAL's AO-16 (06 Mar 2018)
    The NuSTAR project is making available up to 100 ks of NuSTAR observing time to joint science proposals for INTEGRAL's AO-16. The due date for INTEGRAL AO-16 proposals is Friday, April 13, 2018, at 14:00 CEST.
  • Joint NuSTAR/Chandra Observing Time Available in Chandra's Cycle 20 (06 Mar 2018)
    The NuSTAR project is making available up to 1 Ms of NuSTAR observing time to joint science proposals for Chandra LP or VLP Cycle 20 programs. The due date for Chandra Cycle 20 proposals is Thursday, March 15, 2018 at 6 p.m. EDT.
  • 16th INTEGRAL Announcement of Opportunity (06 Mar 2018)
    ESA invites you to submit proposals to the International Gamma-ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) 16th "Announcement of Opportunity" (AO-16) call for proposals, for observations to be performed during 2019. As previously, ESA also provides the opportunity to propose for coordinated observations with XMM-Newton, NuSTAR, and/or Swift with a total of 300 ks, 100 ks, and 150 ks, respectively, of their available time. Documentation, proposal submission and support software for this Announcement are being made available via the ESA INTEGRAL website. The deadline for proposal submission is Friday, April 13, 2018, 14:00 CEST.
  • NICER XTI CALDB Updated (05 Mar 2018)
    The NICER XTI caldb has been updated to version 20180226. Please make sure you're using the most recent version of the caldb.config file in order to access the NICER XTI CALDB data.
  • LISA Pathfinder Disturbance Reduction System (DRS) Data Are Now Available at the HEASARC (26 Feb 2018)
    The DRS was a NASA-funded package included in the LISA Pathfinder mission to explore technologies for achieving the LISA mission's requirements. An overview is available at Our LISA Pathfinder page, and more details can be found at the LISA Pathfinder mission site. (The full mission data holdings are at the ESA mission archive). The data at the HEASARC are available through FTP, Xamin and Browse (as the LPFFILES table) and via a custom interface which selects data by interval and instrument mode.
  • Fermi Science Analysis Environment Updated (20 Feb 2018)
    The FSSC is pleased to announce the availability of a new version of the Fermi Science Tools, v11r5p3, released on February 15, 2018. This version improves support for pass 7 and pass 8 processed data, and removes support for pass 6 data, and other changes. Details and software download can be found here.
  • XAMIN updated (20 Feb 2018)
    The HEASARC XAMIN archive interface has been updated to version 5.0b (1440/3845). This version provides a fix to compound data products.
  • VLA Gould's Belt Survey Perseus Region Source Catalog (15 Feb 2018)
    This catalog listing the radio properties for 204 sources detected by the JVLA at 4.5 and/or 7.5 GHz in deep (rms noise of ~16-29 microJy) radio continuum observations of the Perseus star-forming complex, particularly the NGC 1333 and IC 348 clouds (from Pech et al. 2015, ApJ, 818, 116) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2018 Omnibus Solicitation (14 Feb 2018)
    NASA's Science Mission Directorate announced the release of its annual ROSES omnibus solicitation for 2018 (NNH18ZDA001N) on February 14, 2018. Table 2 listing the individual program deadlines in order of their due dates can be found here.
  • Hitomi CALDB Update (14 Feb 2018)
    The Hitomi CALDB has been updated for the SXS (update version 20180212), the SXI (update version 20180212) and the General Mission (GEN) data (update version 20180212).
  • AllWISE Counterparts and Gaia Matches to XMM Slew Catalog v.2 X-Ray Sources (08 Feb 2018)
    This catalog (from Salvato et al. 2018, MNRAS, 473, 4937) containing the 19,141 AllWISE counterparts and/or Gaia matches to 17,665 X-ray sources that were detected in the XMM-Newton Slew Survey (version 2) above Galactic latitude |b| > 15 degrees is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • AllWISE Counterparts and Gaia Matches to ROSAT/2RXS X-Ray Sources (05 Feb 2018)
    This catalog (from Salvato et al. 2018, MNRAS, 473, 4937) containing the 132,254 AllWISE counterparts and/or Gaia matches to 106,573 X-ray sources that were detected in the ROSAT 2RXS survey above Galactic latitude |b| > 15 degrees is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Lists of Swift Cycle 14 Recommended Targets and Proposals Are Now Available (01 Feb 2018)
    The lists of Swift Cycle 14 Guest Investigator Program recommended targets and proposals have been posted on the Swift website.
  • Abstract Deadline for the "High Energy Astrophysics in the 2020's & Beyond" Meeting Extended to February 7 (31 Jan 2018)
    The abstract deadline for the "High Energy Astrophysics in the 2020's & Beyond" meeting to be held in Rosemont (near Chicago), Illinois from the 18th to the 21st March has been extended to February 7 at 9 pm ET. In addition, the deadline for early registration has also been extended to February 7.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (26 Jan 2018)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on January 26, 2018 (CALDB version 20180126). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 78, valid through 2018-01-26.
  • CALDB Mirror (22 Jan 2018)
    The CALDB is mirrored at ftp://cda.cfa.harvard.edu/pub/arcftp/heasarc/caldb. You can access the CALDB remotely by setting your CALDB environment variable to ftp://cda.cfa.harvard.edu/pub/arcftp/heasarc/caldb
  • Newly Renamed Swift Mission Spies a Comet Slowdown (13 Jan 2018)
    The Gehrels Swift Observatory has captured an unprecedented change in the rotation of a comet. Images taken in May 2017 reveal that comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak was spinning three times more slowly than it was in March, when it was observed by the Discovery Channel Telescope at Lowell Observatory, according to Bodewits et al. (2018, Nature, 553, 186.
  • Swift Renamed to the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory (13 Jan 2018)
    In honor of Neil Gehrels (October 3, 1952 - February 6, 2017), who helped develop the mission and served as its principal investigator until his death last year, the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer has officially been renamed the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (13 Jan 2018)
    The Swift SC clock correction has been updated (CALDB update version 20180103).
  • NICER/SEXTANT proves pulsars can function as a celestial GPS (12 Jan 2018)
    "NASA test proves pulsars can function as a celestial GPS", published in Nature, discusses how NICER/SEXTANT for the first time demonstrated in-space navigation using X-ray pulsars as a form of a Galactic Positioning System. This method will help spacecraft autonomously steer themselves through deep space. These results were featured in a press conference at the 231st Meeting of the AAS, in Washington DC.
  • Preliminary Fermi LAT 8-year Point Source List Available (05 Jan 2018)
    A preliminary Fermi LAT 8-year Point Source List (FL8Y), based on the first eight years of science data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope mission and the 100 MeV-1 TeV range has been released by the Fermi project. The FL8Y source list has twice as much exposure as the 3FGL, and includes a number of analysis improvements, but does not use an updated model for Galactic diffuse gamma-ray emission. The FL8Y source list includes 5524 sources above 4-sigma significance, and includes source location regions and spectral properties.
  • General Catalog of Variable Stars, Version 5.1, March 2017 (03 Jan 2018)
    The latest version of this catalog of 52,011 confirmed variable stars (from Samus et al. 2017, ARep, 61, 80) is now available in Browse and in Xamin.
  • XSPEC 12.9.1u Patch Released (02 Jan 2018)
    Adds proper handling of gain fit parameters when stored and read back in with Xset.save and Xset.restore in PyXspec. Released Dec 27, 2017.
  • FERMI3FHL - Third Catalog of Hard Fermi-LAT Sources (3FHL) (21 Dec 2017)
    This catalog (from Ajello et al. 2017, ApJS, 232, 18) contains 1,558 objects that have been characterized in the 10 GeV to 2 TeV energy range by Fermi's Large Area Telescope (LAT) in the first 7 years of observations using the Pass 8 event-level analysis. The sensitivity and angular resolution are improved by factors of 3 and 2 relative to the previous LAT catalog at the same energies (1FHL). 3FHL is now available in both Browse and Xamin.
  • COSMOS Field VLBA Observations 1.4-GHz Source Catalog (20 Dec 2017)
    This catalog contains 468 radio sources and 36 radio source components that were detected at 1.4 GHz with the Very Long Baseline Array in the Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) field, and includes the radio fluxes of these sources, which are likely to be AGN, and their multiwavelength counterparts. This catalog (from Herrera Ruiz et al. 2017, A&A, 607, A132) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Tabbed layout for Xamin results added to Xamin version 5.0 (20 Dec 2017)
    Xamin version 5.0 introduces the tabbed layout for grid formatted query results. This new output format replaces the current multi-window grid output. All new queries will be added to one main panel and each can be displayed by clicking its ... Continue reading ...
  • Deadline for Proposls for Pathfinder Science for a Potential Chandra Successor Mission (CSM) is Next Month (19 Dec 2017)
    The deadline to submit in response to this call for proposals (CfP) is January 24, 6:00pm EST. The purpose of this special CfP is to propose for new Chandra observations that can demonstrate the feasibility for key CSM goals or otherwise enhance CSM science prospects. Proposals from all areas of astrophysics will be considered. Up to 1 Msec of Director's Discretionary Time (DDT) may be devoted to CSM programs.
  • XSPEC 12.9.1t Patch Released (19 Dec 2017)
    Fixed an issue in which changing solar abundance table from the default (angr) does not work correctly for the raymond, meka, or mekal models. Released Dec 13.
  • INTEGRAL Mission Extended Through 2019 (18 Dec 2017)
    The ESA Science Programme Committee (SPC) has approved extending the INTEGRAL mission by one year through 31 December 2019. A proposal to extend INTEGRAL through 2020 will be presented at the next meeting of the SPC in February 2018.
  • Chandra CALDB 4.7.7 installed at the HEASARC (16 Dec 2017)
    CalDB 4.7.7 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.7.7 was released by the CXC on December 14, 2017...
  • Query visualization introduced with Xamin version 5.0 (15 Dec 2017)
    An interactive visualization component using the AladinLite data visualizer developed at the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) has been added to Xamin grid queries. This new feature allows users to select regions visually and to display the location ... Continue reading ...
  • Viewing tool updated (14 Dec 2017)
    The Sun angle constraint for NuSTAR observations has been updated in the Viewing tool to be greater than 43 degrees. This reflects the change by the NuSTAR Science Operations Center to ensure stable pointing. This new, slightly more restrictive range applies to all future ToO requests and Cycle 4 proposals.
  • Hitomi CALDB Data Updated (14 Dec 2017)
    The Hitomi CALDB has been updated for the SGD (update version 20171207).
  • Hitomi Master Observations Table (07 Dec 2017)
    The table of all Hitomi observations that were completed during its period of operations is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • The Amazing Year 2017 in High-Energy Astrophysics (07 Dec 2017)
    2017 was a banner year for our field. We list here some of the important events in high-energy astronomy (X-ray astronomy, gamma-ray astronomy, gravitational wave and cosmic-ray astronomy) which occurred and/or were announced in this last year. Let's see if 2018 can be even better!
  • Winners of the 2018 Breakthrough Prize in Fundmental Physics Have Been Announced (05 Dec 2017)
    Congratulations to Charles L. Bennett, Gary Hinshaw, Norman Jarosik, Lyman Page Jr., David N. Spergel, and the members of the WMAP Science Team for winning this prestigious award, the "Oscar of Science". The HEASARC is particularly happy since several current members of its LAMBDA component (Mike Greason, Nils Odegard and Janet Weiland) and its one-time director, Gary Hinshaw, were so honored.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (04 Dec 2017)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on December 4, 2017 (CALDB version 20171204). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 76, valid through 2017-12-04.
  • XSPEC 12.9.1s Patch Released (04 Dec 2017)
    Adds a new class member called Fit.nullhy to PyXspec. This provides access to the null hypothesis probability reported after chi-square fits.
  • NICER overview published in Nature Astronomy (01 Dec 2017)
    "Searching for a pulse", an overview of NICER by K. Gendreau and Z. Arzoumanian, has been published by Nature Astronomy (Nature Astronomy 1, 895, 2017).
  • XMMAO (XMM-Newton Accepted Targets) Table (29 Nov 2017)
    The latest version of the table of accepted XMM-Newton targets, updated to include AO-17 results, is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton AO-17 Results Released (29 Nov 2017)
    The list of XMM-Newton observing proposals accepted by the AO-17 Observing Time Allocation Committee is now available.
  • Hitomi Mission Glimpses Cosmic 'Recipe' for the Nearby Universe (22 Nov 2017)
    Before its brief mission ended unexpectedly in March 2016, the Hitomi X-ray observatory captured exceptional information about the motions of the hot gas in the Perseus galaxy cluster. Now, thanks to unprecedented detail provided by the Soft X-ray Spectrometer on Hitomi, the Hitomi Collaboration (2017, Nature, in press) has been able to analyze the detailed chemical make-up of this gas, providing new insights into the stellar explosions that formed most of these elements and cast them out into space.
  • NuSTAR Guest Observer (GO) Cycle 4 Solicitation (20 Nov 2017)
    Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science for 2017 (ROSES-17) Amendment 38 (released on Oct 6, 2017) contains the revised text for Appendix D.10 soliciting proposals to the NuSTAR GO Cycle 4 opportunity. The due date for proposal submission is Jan 19, 2018. Proposals should be submitted via the HEASARC's ARK Remote Proposal System (RPS). For more information about this AO, please visit the NuSTAR Proposal page.
  • IRAM NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) Observation Log (20 Nov 2017)
    The second version of the IRAM NOEMA - the successor to the Plateau de Bure Interferometer (PdBI) - observing log (Dan et al. 1991-2017, IRAM Newsletters) containing 1,231 observations from May 31, 2015 through September 29, 2016 is now available in Browse and Xamin, as well as an updated version of the IRAM PDBI observing log.
  • Sixth Announced Gravitational Wave Detection, GW 170608 (16 Nov 2017)
    The LIGO Scientific and Virgo collaborations report the detection of yet another gravitational wave signal, dubbed GW 170608, emitted during the final moments of the merger of two black holes with masses of about 7 and 12 times the mass of the sun located at a redshift of ~0.07 (340 Mpc). This is one of the first cases where black holes detected through gravitational waves have masses similar to those detected indirectly via e-m radiation, such as X-rays The discovery paper was just submitted to ApJL.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (15 Nov 2017)
    The Swift XRT Caldb has been updated (CALDB update version 20171113).
  • SkyView V3.3.2: Links to Mosaicking Inputs (15 Nov 2017)
    Version 3.3.2 of SkyView has been released with two significant changes: updated memory limits, and links to data inputs. The parameters used to set the heap size limits for SkyView web requests have been updated so that users will generally ... Continue reading ...
  • Cassiopeia dwarf galaxy (IC 10) Chandra X-ray Point Source Catalog (07 Nov 2017)
    This catalog of 111 X-ray point sources detected in 10 Chandra ACIS-S observations of this dwarf-irregular galaxy that were designed to capture its variable and transient X-ray source population (from Laycock et al. 2017, ApJ, 836, 50) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Update to the INTEGRAL IBIS AGN Catalog (07 Nov 2017)
    This catalog (from Malizia et al. 2016, MNRAS, 460, 19) of the classification and X-ray properties of 116 active galactic nuclei which have been newly detected and/or identified by the INTEGRAL IBIS instrument since the original INTEGRAL IBIS AGN Catalog of Malizia et al. (2012, MNRAS, 426, 1750) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (02 Nov 2017)
    A new Swift clock correction file has been added to the Swift SC Caldb (CALDB update version 20171101).
  • Hitomi Archive Opens (01 Nov 2017)
    The Hitomi data archive has opened.
  • NuSTAR Probes Black Hole Jet Mystery (31 Oct 2017)
    Using NASA's NuSTAR space telescope and a fast camera called ULTRACAM on the William Herschel Observatory in La Palma, Spain, Gandhi et al. have been able to measure the distance that particles in the jets from the black hole binaries V404 Cyg and GX 339-4 travel before they "turn on" and become bright in visible light. This distance called the "acceleration zone" is determined to be 0.1 light seconds (30,000 km) in these systems. See the published study in Nature Astronomy.
  • News Story: Jupiter's X-ray northern and southern auroras pulse independently of each other (31 Oct 2017)
    Based on XMM-Newton and Chandra X-ray campaigns, performed in May-June 2016 and March 2007, Dunn et al. (2017, Nature Astronomy, in press) show that Jupiter's northern and southern auroral hot spots each exhibit different characteristics, such as different periodic pulsations and uncorrelated changes in brightness, in contradiction to the predictions of current models of X-ray generation for Jupiter.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (26 Oct 2017)
    The Swift BAT CALDB has been updated (CALDB update version 20171016).
  • Astrophysics Advisory Committee (APAC) Self-Nominations are Invited (25 Oct 2017)
    The NASA Astrophysics Division announces an invitation for public nominations for service on its Federal advisory committee, the Astrophysics Advisory Committee (APAC), that advises the Astrophysics Division Director. US citizens may submit self-nominations for consideration to fill vacancies on the APAC. There will be member vacancies from time to time throughout the year, and NASA will consider self-nominationsto fill such intermittent vacancies. The deadline for NASA receipt of all public nominations is December 1, 2017.
  • Outburst Catalog of Dwarf Novae-type and Other Cataclysmic Variables (24 Oct 2017)
    This catalog of the outbursts and other properties of over 722 dwarf novae and 316 other types of cataclysmic variables that were observed in the Catalina Real-time Transient Survey (CRTS) (from Coppejans et al. 2016, MNRAS, 456, 4441) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTAR Users Commitee: Call for Self Nominations (18 Oct 2017)
    NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) high-energy mission announces the creation of the NuSTAR Users Committee (NUC). The NUC will provide community advice and feedback to the project, to ensure that the interests of the guest investigator community are well-served by the project. Membership on this committee is open to the world, and we intend a committee that is diverse in terms of career stage, gender, and scientific focus. Letters of self-nomination to serve on this committee are due by November 3rd, 2017.
  • SkyView V3.3.1: Swift UVOT, UltraVista and CFHT HiPS data (17 Oct 2017)
    We are about to release SkyView version 3.3.1. This new version includes extended support for HiPS data and has many new surveys. The primary new datasets are counts, intensity and exposure maps for the Swift UVOT instrument in seven filters. ... Continue reading ...
  • NASA Missions Catch First Light from a Gravitational-Wave Event (16 Oct 2017)
    Shortly after 8:41am EDT on Aug. 17, 2 seconds after LIGO and VIRGO detected a gravitational wave event, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope picked up a pulse of high-energy light from a powerful explosion, which was immediately reported to astronomers around the globe as a short gamma-ray burst. The Swift, Hubble, Chandra and Spitzer missions, along with dozens of ground-based observatories, including the NASA-funded Pan-STARRS survey, observed over the next few days and weeks the fading glow of the expanding debris from this blast, now believed to be a "kilonova".
  • First Detection of Gravitational waves from a Binary Neutron Star Inspiral on August 17, 2017 at 8:41am EDT (16 Oct 2017)
    The LIGO Scientific and Virgo collaborations report the first joint detection of a gravitational wave signal from a binary neutron star system, dubbed GW 170817. The gravitational waves were emitted during the final moments of the merger of two neutron stars with masses of about 1.6 and 1.1 times the mass of the sun and located about 130 million light-years away. 1.7 seconds later the Fermi GBM detected a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A), and follow-up multi-wavelength observations pinpointed the counterpart object to be a kilonova (an r-process supernova) in the elliptical galaxy NGC 4993. The discovery paper has just appeared in the Phys Rev Letters, v. 119, 161101 (2017).
  • HEASoft 6.22.1 Released (12 Oct 2017)
    Released October 11, 2017. This release updates the NICER data analysis software and provides bug fixes in the FV (FitsViewer) GUI, along with other improvements...
  • XSPEC 12.9.1o,p Patches Released (12 Oct 2017)
    Released on October 10, 2017. Release 12.9.1o fixes a multiple-prompting error in certain cases of missing data files, while 12.9.1p fixes some issues in steppar error messaging.
  • Scientists Discover One of the Most Luminous Novae Ever (12 Oct 2017)
    Aydi et al. (2017, MNRAS, in press) have discovered possibly the most luminous 'new star' ever - a nova in the direction of one of our closest neighboring galaxies, the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). Using telescopes from South Africa to Australia to South America, as well as the orbiting Swift observatory, the team reports that the nova SMCN 2016-10a, which was discovered on 14th October 2016, is the most luminous nova ever discovered in the SMC, and one of the brightest ever seen in any galaxy.
  • Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 10 New White Dwarf Catalog (10 Oct 2017)
    This catalog of over 9,000 new spectroscopically confirmed white dwarfs and subdwarfs in the SDSS DR10 (from Kepler et al. 2015, MNRAS, 446, 4078) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Hitomi CALDB Data Updated (09 Oct 2017)
    The Hitomi CALDB has been updated for the SGD (update version 20170926).
  • Swift CALDB updated (09 Oct 2017)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the UVOTA (update version 20170922)...
  • NICER ATEL: Observation of Fast X-ray Flares in GX 339-4 (06 Oct 2017)
    NICER observed the black hole binary GX339-4 which is currently in outburst. The average hard color (4-12 / 2-4 keV) is near 0.5 or higher, which is harder than the value for Crab (0.25). These results are consistent with the report that GX339-4 is in a faint black hole hard state (Gandhi et al., Atel 10820).
  • Black Holes with Ravenous Appetites Define Type I Active Galaxies (04 Oct 2017)
    For decades, astronomers have tried to pin down why two of the most common types of active galaxies, known as Type I and Type II galaxies, appear different. The leading theory, known as the unified model, explains that the central black holes of Type I and Type II galaxies have the same fundamental structure, but appear different solely because the galaxies point toward Earth at different angles. Ricci et al. (2017, Nature, 549, 488) tested this model by studying over 800 active galaxies detected by the Burst Alert Telescope on-board Swift and found that Type I and Type II galaxies do not just appear different--they are, in fact, very different from each other.
  • 'Extreme' Telescopes Find the Second-fastest-spinning Pulsar (04 Oct 2017)
    By following up on mysterious high-energy sources mapped out by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, the Netherlands-based Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope has identified a pulsar spinning at more than 42,000 revolutions per minute, making it the second-fastest known. The new object, named PSR J0952-0607 is thus classified as a millisecond pulsar. It contains about 1.4 times the sun's mass and is orbited every 6.4 hours by a companion star that has been whittled away to less than 20 times the mass of the planet Jupiter, according to Bassa et al. (2017, ApJL, 846, L20).
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (03 Oct 2017)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on October 3, 2017 (CALDB version 20171002). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 75, valid through 2017-10-02.
  • NuSTAR Data Analysis Guide Updated (03 Oct 2017)
    The NuSTAR Data Analysis Guide was updated to version 1.9.3
  • 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics Announcement (03 Oct 2017)
    Rainer Weiss, Barry C. Barish and Kip S. Thorne have won the 2017 Nobel Prize in physics for the detection of black hole collisions that created gravitational waves. The LIGO and Virgo detectors in the US and Italy were used to conduct this research. Just a week ago, The LIGO Scientific and Virgo collaborations reported the fourth such detection.
  • Chandra ACIS Survey for X-Ray AGN in Nearby Galaxies (28 Sep 2017)
    This catalog of 719 galaxies within 50 Mpc with available Chandra ACIS observations that have been searched for X-ray emitting AGN (resulting in 314 detections) from She et al. 2017, ApJ, 835, 223) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Gravitational waves from a binary black hole merger observed by LIGO and Virgo on August 14, 2017 (27 Sep 2017)
    The LIGO Scientific and Virgo collaborations report the first joint detection of gravitational waves with both the LIGO and Virgo detectors. The detection of GW170814 is the fourth one announced of a binary black hole system and the first significant gravitational-wave signal recorded by the Virgo detector. The gravitational waves were emitted during the final moments of the merger of two black holes with masses about 31 and 25 times the mass of the sun and located about 1.8 billion light-years away. A paper has been accepted for publication in the journal Physical Review Letters.
  • Young Cluster NGC 3293 Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (25 Sep 2017)
    This catalog of 1,026 X-ray point sources detected in a 71-ksec Chandra ACIS observation of NGC 3293, a young stellar cluster at the northwestern periphery of the Carina Nebula Complex (from Preibisch et al. 2017, A&A, 605, A85) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Viewing tool updated (22 Sep 2017)
    Swift's orbital pole constraints have been updated in the Viewing tool. The revised coefficients extrapolate the trend for the next year.
  • NICER First ATEL: The Hard X-ray transient MAXI J1535-571 (22 Sep 2017)
    NICER has observed the hard X-ray transient MAXI J1535-571 several times from 2017 September 9 through September 20. The source had a NICER count rate ranging from 3,200 to 17,000 counts per second over this interval. NICER detects a set of low-frequency QPOs in a 1:2 frequency ratio, while the time-averaged spectrum shows broadened iron emission and puts constraints on the black hole spin parameter and the inclination of the accretion disk.
  • The Accretion-Powered Pulsar SXP 1062 Reveals Unique Timing Glitch (21 Sep 2017)
    The discovery of the largest timing irregularity yet observed in a pulsar is the first confirmation that pulsars in binary systems can exhibit the strange phenomenon known as a 'glitch'. A group of scientists from the Middle East Technical University and Baskent University in Turkey (Serim et al. 2017, MNRAS, 471, 4982) has discovered a sudden change in the rotation speed of the peculiar binary pulsar SXP 1062.
  • TESS Cycle 1 Phase 1 Proposal Deadline Has Been Extended to October 6, 2017, 4:30 PM EDT (19 Sep 2017)
    To give more time to proposers who are without power because of Hurricane Irma, ROSES-17 Amendment 31 delays the Phase-1 proposal due date for this program element to October 6, 2017. Phase-1 proposals are due by 4:30 PM EDT on that day via the ARK/RPS web page. For full details on the TESS Cycle 1 program elements and how to submit proposals, please see the TESS proposers' information page.
  • Swift Cycle 14 Deadline Has Been Extended to September 28, 2017, 4:30 PM EDT (18 Sep 2017)
    To give more time to proposers who are without power because of Hurricane Irma, ROSES-17 Amendment 30 delays the Phase-1 proposal due date for this program element to September 28, 2017. Phase-1 proposals are due by 4:30 PM EDT on that day via the ARK/RPS web page. For full details on the Swift Cycle 14 program elements and how to submit proposals, please see the Swift Cycle 14 information page at the top link and the Cycle 14 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
  • Star Formation in Nearby Clouds (SFiNCs) X-Ray Source Catalog (15 Sep 2017)
    This catalog of 15,364 X-ray sources detected in Chandra ACIS obsrervations of 22 nearby star-forming regions (SFRs), from Getman et al. 2017, ApJS, 229, 28, is now available in Browse and Xamin, as is the catalog of nearly 8500 probable cluster members of these SFRs (a 40% increase over the previous census) that was presented in the same paper.
  • Reed Catalog of Galactic OB Stars (13 Sep 2017)
    This catalog of the photometric and spectroscopic properties of over 18,000 known or reasonably suspected OB stars in the Milky Way Galaxy, from Reed et al. 2005, AJ, 130, 1652 and Reed 2003, AJ, 125, 2531, is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Viewing tool updated (12 Sep 2017)
    Support for XMM-Newton has been updated to work with the latest version of the ESA XMM-Newton Target Visibility Checker.
  • NICER Featured on "Science in Seconds" (08 Sep 2017)
    NICER was featured on "Science in Seconds" a short introduction to NICER, with NASA Associate Administrator Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen and Dr. Rita Sambruna, NICER program scientist.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (08 Sep 2017)
    A new Swift clock correction file has been added to the Swift SC Caldb (CALDB update version 20170831).
  • The NuSTAR Survey Source Catalog of the Extended Chandra Deep Field South (ECDF-S) (6 Sep 2017)
    This catalog of 54 sources detected by the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) in the full 30' x 30' area of the ECDF-S field to a maximum exposure of ~360 ks (~220 ks when corrected for vignetting at 3-24 keV), from Mullaney et al. 2015, ApJ, 808, 184, is now available in Browse and Xamin,.
  • 2018 NASA Hubble Fellowship Program (NHFP) Is Now Accepting Applications (5 Sep 2017)
    The 2018 Announcement of Opportunity for new Hubble, Einstein and Sagan Fellows has been released, with applications due by Nov. 2, 2017 at 7 pm EDT/4 pm PDT. The NHFP provides an opportunity for highly qualified recent postdoctoral scientists to conduct independent research in any area of NASA Astrophysics. It encompasses the areas of astrophysics previously covered by the NASA Einstein, Hubble, and Sagan Fellowships.
  • Evidence Found for an Intermediate-Mass Black Hole (IMBH) near the Galactic Center (5 Sep 2017)
    A team of researchers with Keio University in Japan has found evidence of a mid-sized black hole near the center of the Milky Way galaxy. In their paper (just published in Oka et al. 2017, Nature Astronomy), they describe their study using the Atacama Sub-mm Telescope Experiment (ASTE) and the Atacama Large mm/Sub-mm Array (ALMA) of a peculiar molecular cloud (CO-0.40-0.22) near the Galactic Center that has an extremely broad velocity width that they attribute to gas motion around an IMBH.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (30 Aug 2017)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on August 30, 2017 (CALDB version 20170817). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 74, valid through 2017-08-17.
  • Chandra CALDB 4.7.6 installed at the HEASARC (28 Aug 2017)
    CalDB 4.7.6 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.7.6 was released by the CXC on August 18, 2017...
  • PIMMS updated to Version 4.8e (28 Aug 2017)
    Version 4.8e contains an updated set of XMM-Newton EPIC effective area curve files, suitable for use for AO-17 proposals....
  • XSPEC 12.9.1m,n Patch Released (28 Aug 2017)
    Released on August 18, 2017. Release 12.9.1m updates the XSPEC Tcl library, while 12.9.1n fixes a normalization error in the calculation of the lorentzian line in the "speedy" option.
  • IRAM NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) Observation Log (28 Aug 2017)
    The first version of the IRAM NOEMA - the successor to the Plateau de Bure Interferometer (PdBI) - observing log (Dan et al. 1991-2017, IRAM Newsletters) containing 299 observations from May 31 through September 30, 2015 is now available in Browse and Xamin, as well as updated versions of the IRAM PDBI and 30-m Single-Dish Telescope observing logs.
  • Participation in the X-Ray Astronomy Recovery Mission (XARM) (25 Aug 2017)
    JAXA and NASA are pleased to announce to the international community plans for scientific participation in the X-ray Astronomy Recovery Mission (XARM). The mission, which is expected to launch in early 2021, will bring spectacular advances in our understanding of the high-energy universe. These advances, however, are only possible with the full participation and engagement of the worldwide scientific community. Accordingly, the two agencies announce their plans for enabling community participation in XARM.
  • News Story: NuSTAR Observed This Week's Solar Eclipse (24 Aug 2017)
    On August 21, for about two minutes across a swath of North America, Earth's moon passed in front of and completely blocked out the sun, causing a total solar eclipse. Countless people witnessed this rare phenomenon, the first total solar eclipse in North America in 38 years. Just last week, scientists at Caltech and JPL decided that NuSTAR, the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, would watch with them.
  • Reminder: Swift Cycle 14 Deadline is Nearing: September 21, 2017, 4:30 PM EDT (23 Aug 2017)
    For details on the Swift Cycle 14 program elements and how to submit proposals, please see the Swift Cycle 14 information page (the link above) and the Cycle 14 Requently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (21 Aug 2017)
    The NuSTAR FPM CALDB at the HEASARC was updated to CALDB version 20170727. This CALDB patch is a required update for using saamode=3 now available with NuSTARDAS v1.8.0., released in HEASoft 6.22.
  • First release of the NICER XTI CALDB (18 Aug 2017)
    The first release of the NICER XTI caldb is now available from the HEASARC (CALDB update version 20170814). Please make sure you're using the most recent version of the caldb.config file in order to access the NICER XTI CALDB data.
  • Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Guest Investigator Cycle 1 Proposal Submission Page Is Now Open for Business (16 Aug 2017)
    The deadline for TESS Cycle 1 Guest Investigator proposals is 2017-09-29 at 4:30pm EDT. These proposals must be submitted through the HEASARC's Remote Proposal System, which is now open for such submissions.
  • HEASoft 6.22 Released (16 Aug 2017)
    Released August 15, 2017. This release updates mission-specific software packages for NICER, Hitomi, NuSTAR, Swift, XTE and some other missions, and updates CFITSIO to handle remote file access via https ....
  • ISS-CREAM for the International Space Station (14 Aug 2017)
    At 12:31 pm EDT today (August 14), a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft was launched from Kennedy Space Center carrying, among many other things, the ISS-CREAM (International Space Station Cosmic Ray Energetics And Mass) payload. This will be attached to the International Space Station and, starting in Fall 2017, will be used to to extend the energy reach of direct measurements of cosmic rays to the highest energy possible to probe their origin, acceleration and propagation. ISS-CREAM is a collaboration of US, Korean, French and Mexican institutions.
  • The S-Band Polarization All-Sky Survey (S-PASS) 2.3-GHz Source Catalog (11 Aug 2017)
    This new catalog of 23,389 2.3-GHz sources detected by the Parkes radio telescope in the entire southern sky except for regions within 10 degrees of the Galactic Plane (from Meyers et al. 2017, PASA, 34, 13) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NASA Selects Proposals to Study Galaxies, Stars, Planets (10 Aug 2017)
    NASA has selected 6 astrophysics Explorers Program proposals for concept studies. The selected proposals comprise 3 Medium-Class Explorers missions and 3 Explorers Missions of Opportunity, and include Arcus, a MidEx mission that would study stars, galaxies and clusters of galaxies using high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy, the Transient Astrophysics Observer on the ISS MoO, a wide-field X-ray transient detector that would observe numerous such events per year related to compact objects, e.g., GW counterparts, X-ray bursts, GRBs, etc., and the Compton Spectrometer and Imager Explorer (COSI-X), a balloon-borne, wide-FOV telescope designed to survey the gamma-ray sky at 0.2-5 MeV, performing high-resolution spectroscopy, wide-field imaging, and polarization measurements.
  • Xamin Update (09 Aug 2017)
    Xamin, the HEASARC's modern and fast archive interface, was updated to version 4.2 on August 1, 2017. This version includes changes to support SSA data products for Chandra and INTEGRAL, and updates Hera support
  • The Very Large Array 1.4-GHz Source Catalog of the Field of the A370 Cluster of Galaxies (08 Aug 2017)
    This catalog of 699 1.4-GHz sources detected in a VLA image of a 40 by 40 sq. arcmin. field containing the A370 cluster of galaxies that has a central noise level of 0.006 milliJansky (from Wold et al. 2012, ApJS, 202, 2) is now available in Browse and Xamin, as is the catalog of 524 1.4-GHz sources found in a similarly deep VLA image of a 34 by 34 sq. arcmin. field centered on the A2390 cluster of galaxies (from the same reference).
  • The Million Quasars Catalog (08 Aug 2017)
    The latest version (v5.2, 5 August 2017) of the Million Quasars (MILLIQUAS) Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009 - 2017) containing a lot more than one million (1,998,464 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in both Browse and in Xamin.
  • NASA Seeks LISA Science Study Team Members (03 Aug 2017)
    ESA has selected the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna for formulation. LISA will be led by ESA with significant contributions in hardware and science from NASA and several European member states. NASA recently issued a call for nominations to serve on a NASA Science Study Team that will advise the NASA LISA Study Office, as well as for US representatives to ESA's LISA Science Study Team. Any US citizen or permanent resident with expertise in instrumentation, data analysis, astrophysics, or theory relevant to LISA is encouraged to apply. The deadline for applications is Sep 1. Further details & application instructions.
  • NICER Press Release: Observations of PSR B1919+21 (02 Aug 2017)
    NICER's science observations have begun. One of the first targets observed was PSR B1919+21, the first pulsar identified 50 years ago by Jocelyn Bell and Anthony Hewish.
  • XSPEC 12.9.1l Patch Released (31 Jul 2017)
    Released on July 26, 2017. Release 12.9.1l fixes the approximation used for the Voigt profile...
  • Catalog of GALEX UV and ROSAT/XMM-Newton X-Ray Fluxes for M Dwarfs Within 10 Parsecs (27 Jul 2017)
    This catalog of the GALEX UV and ROSAT/XMM-Newton X-ray fluxes for 159 M dwarf stars selected from the All-Sky Catalog of Bright M Dwarfs that are within 10 pc of the earth (from Stelzer et al. 2013, MNRAS, 431, 2063; 2014, MNRAS, 442, 343) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • COSMOS Field X-Ray & Far-IR Detected AGN Multiwavelength Properties Catalog (25 Jul 2017)
    The catalog of the multiwavelength properties of 692 X-ray detected AGN and their far-infrared (FIR) detected host galaxies in the redshift range from 0.1 to 4 that have been found in the COSMOS field (from Lanzuisi et al. 2017, A&A, 602, A123) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • SkyView v3.3.0: Swift XRT surveys (24 Jul 2017)
    Versions 3.3.0 of SkyView was released today. This includes an all-sky mosaic of the Swift XRT observations. Over 129,000 XRT observations were combined to give coverage of just under 6% of the sky. A set of three surveys were produced: ... Continue reading ...
  • Chandra CALDB 4.7.5.1 installed at the HEASARC (21 Jul 2017)
    CalDB 4.7.5.1 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.7.5.1 was released by the CXC on July 20, 2017...
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (21 Jul 2017)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on July 21, 2017 (CALDB version 20170720). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 73, valid through 2017-07-20.
  • SkyView and HiPS (21 Jul 2017)
    Next week we’ll be releasing version 3.3.0 of SkyView. The big change from the user perspective will be the new Swift XRT combined image. This is similar in spirit to the venerable PSPC surveys — we’ve added all of the ... Continue reading ...
  • Press Release: Astrosat, Chandra, Hubble Simultaneously Detect a Coronal Explosion on the Nearest Planet-Hosting Star (20 Jul 2017)
    Stars like Proxima Centauri are known to flare on timescales of a few minutes to hours. The ongoing analysis of the data for this flare detected on 31 May 2017 suggests that the flux increases by several orders of magnitude in both X-rays and UV and lasts ~1800 seconds. The energy released during this flare is of the order of ~10 30 erg, 100 times the energy of large solar flares.
  • Sloan Digital Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (12th Data Release: DR12Q) (20 Jul 2017)
    The SDSS DR12Q Catalog listing the X-ray, UV, optical, IR and radio properties of 297,301 quasars, as well as their redshifts, that were identified in the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) of the SDSS-III via visual inspection of their spectra (from Paris et al. 2017, A&A, 597, A79) is now available in Browse and Xamin
  • Gamma-ray Telescopes Reveal a High-energy Trap in Our Galaxy's Center (19 Jul 2017)
    A combined analysis of data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS), a ground-based observatory in Namibia, suggests the Galactic Center contains a "trap" that concentrates some of the highest-energy cosmic rays, among the fastest particles in the Galaxy. Gaggero et al. (2017) combined low-energy Fermi LAT data with high-energy HESS data of the Galactic Center to create a continuous gamma-ray spectrum describing this emission across a thousand-fold span of energies.
  • NICER First Light (17 Jul 2017)
    NASA's new Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission to study the densest observable objects in the universe has begun science operations. To date, NICER has observed over 40 celestial targets to calibrate the X-ray Timing Instrument and supporting star-tracker camera. The observations also validated the payload's performance that will enable its key science measurements.
  • The NuSTAR Serendipitous Survey 40-Month Primary Source Catalog (12 Jul 2017)
    This catalog of 498 sources detected by the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) in ~20 Ms of effective exposure time over 331 fields, with an areal coverage of 13 deg 2 over the 3-24 keV energy range (from Lansbury et al. 2017, ApJ, 836, 99) is now available in Browse and Xamin, as is the companion Secondary Source Catalog of 64 other X-ray sources from the same paper.
  • XSPEC 12.9.1j,k Patches Released (12 Jul 2017)
    Released on June 30, 2017. Release 12.9.1j fixes several issues wiht the "goodness" command, while 12.9.1.k improves diagnostic output in some instances when using the NEI model.
  • North America (NGC 7000) & Pelican (IC 5070) Nebulae X-ray Source Catalog (11 Jul 2017)
    The catalog of 721 X-ray sources detected in 7 observations by the XMM-Newton EPIC and in 4 observations by the Chandra ACIS of the North-America and Pelican star-forming region (NGC 7000/IC 5070) (from Damiani et al. 2017, A&A, 602, A115) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Chandra Cycle 19 Accepted Proposals and Targets Lists Are Now Available (10 Jul 2017)
    The Chandra Peer-Review recommended targets and proposals for Chandra Cycle 19, including GTO and GO proposals, joint proposals with other ground-based and/or satellite facilities, archive, theory, large and multicycle proposals, have now been publically released.
  • News Item: JAXA, NASA approve replacement for failed Hitomi astronomy satellite (10 Jul 2017)
    The Japanese space agency (JAXA) is moving ahead with a smaller-scale X-ray astronomy satellite to replace the failed Hitomi observatory, which spun out of control about a month-and-a-half after its launch last year. The X-ray Astronomy Recovery Mission, or XARM, could launch as soon as March 2021, filling a potential gap in astronomers' X-ray vision of the universe, according to JAXA. NASA has agreed to be a junior partner in XARM, supplying X-ray telescopes and a spectrometer for this mission.
  • The VLA-COSMOS 3-GHz Large Project Source Catalog (07 Jul 2017)
    This catalog of 10,830 3-GHz sources down to a 5-sigma detection level of ~0.011 milliJansky in the 2 square degree Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) field (from Smolcic et al. 2017, A&A, 602, A1) is now available in Browse and Xamin, as is the catalog of 9,161 multi-wavelength counterparts of these sources (from Smolcic et al. 2017, A&A, 602, A2).
  • NICER Status Update (30 Jun 2017)
    NICER commissioning is underway. Fine alignment of the Star Tracker and X-ray Timing Instrument has been completed. The Thermal system is functioning exactly as expected. NICER has observed a number of celestial targets mostly calibration with some observations of NICER science targets.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (30 Jun 2017)
    A new Swift clock correction file has been added to the Swift SC Caldb (CALDB update version 20170629).
  • XSPEC 12.9.1i Patch Released (27 Jun 2017)
    Released on June 16, 2017. Fixes issue with multiple XSPEC log file open and close operations on Macs.
  • NASA XMM-Newton Budget AO Released for AO-16 (27 Jun 2017)
  • Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog for the Old Open Cluster Collinder 261 (15 Jun 2017)
    The catalog of 151 X-ray sources detected in a 53.8 ks observation of the 7-Gyr old open cluster Cr 261 by the Chandra ACIS instrument (from Vats & van den Berg 2017, ApJ, 837, 130) is now available in Browse and Xamin, as is the associated list of 135 optical counterpart candidates of 98 of these X-ray sources.
  • A New X-Ray Observatory is Launched: the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT) (15 Jun 2017)
    The Chinese X-ray observatory, HXMT (also known as Insight), was launched earlier today (3:00 UTC) on a Long March 4B rocket. This mission will perform the most sensitive all-sky survey to date in the hard X-ray (20-250 keV) energy band. It also has soft and medium X-ray (1 - 30 keV) detectors for pointed observations of such objects as X-ray binaries, AGN, SNRs, soft gamma repeaters, and clusters of galaxies. Congratulations to our Chinese colleagues!
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (14 Jun 2017)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on June 14, 2017 (CALDB version 20170614) This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 72, valid through 2017-06-14.
  • NICER Installed on ELC2 (14 Jun 2017)
    As of June 14, NICER is installed on the ISS Express Logistics Carrier 2 Site 7, and power up of the instrument has begun.
  • Happy 5th Birthday to NuSTAR! (13 Jun 2017)
    The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) spacecraft was launched on a Pegasus XL rocket dropped from a Lockheed L-1011 "TriStar" aircraft flying over the Pacific Ocean near the Kwajalein Atoll on June 13, 2012. Since then it has made over 2100 hard X-ray observations in science mode which have yielded (to date) hundreds of refereed and other publications.
  • ROSAT All-Sky Survey and Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR7 Galaxy Clusters (13 Jun 2017)
    This catalog of the X-ray emission (or lack thereof) found in the RASS at the positions of 64,646 candidate galaxy clusters optically identified in the SDSS DR7 (from Wang et al. 2014, MNRAS, 439, 611) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Extraction of NICER from the Dragon Trunk (12 Jun 2017)
    This video by made by Mark Egan (MIT) shows NICER being extracted from the Dragon Trunk.
  • INTEGRAL AO-15 General Program Approved (8 Jun 2017)
    The INTEGRAL AO-15 General Program, as recommended by the Time Allocation Committee (TAC) and approved by ESA's Director of Science (Prof. Alvaro Giménez), has been released and the observers have been informed.
  • Upcoming NICER activities (07 Jun 2017)
    The following is the list of upcoming NICER activities and approximate dates: NICER extracted from the Dragon trunk (June 11); NICER installed on the ISS ELC2 (June 12-13); NICER powered up, deployed, and NICER range of motion verified by robotic camera (June 14); NICER executes initial Pointing control test and Detector initial checkout (June 15); NICER raster scan of Serpens X-1 to determine X-ray instrument and star tracker alignment (June 17); initial calibration and hardware commissioning (June 21-July 12); NICER science program begins (July 13)
  • List of Selected Fermi Cycle 10 GI Program proposals is Now Available (07 Jun 2017)
    The Fermi Cycle-10 stage-I proposal selection process has now been completed, and the list of the selected programs, including the PIs, titles and abstracts is now available. There were a total of 43 new programs selected for stage I out of 183 proposals submitted.
  • The Canadian Galactic Plane Survey Catalog of Compact 1420_MHz Sources (06 Jun 2017)
    The CGPS catalog of 72,758 compact (i.e., with an angular size less than 3 arcminutes) 1420-MHz continuum sources down to a 5-sigma detection level of ~1.2 mJy in the 52 < l < 192 degrees range of the Galactic Plane (from Taylor et al. 2017, AJ, 153, 113) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Dragon Captured (05 Jun 2017)
    The Dragon capsule carrying NICER was successfully captured by the robotic arm on the ISS a bit ahead of the scheduled capture at 10:00 EDT.
  • Rendezvous with ISS and Capture (05 Jun 2017)
    The Dragon capsule, and NICER, will rendezvous with the ISS this morning. Capture of the capsule by the station's robotic arm is scheduled for 10am EDT, and may be viewed live on NASA TV.
  • NICER Launched June 3, 5:07pm EDT (05 Jun 2017)
    The Commercial Resupply Services-11 (CRS-11) mission launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 3, 17:07 EDT (21:07 UTC). CRS-11 marks the first re-use of a Dragon capsule. The CRS-11 payload includes the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) X-ray timing observatory. NICER is scheduled to be extracted from the Dragon trunk on June 11 and installed onto the Space Station's ExPRESS Logistics Carrier (ELC) on June 13.
  • XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalog (Version 3XMM-DR7) (05 Jun 2017)
    The updated version of this catalog (from Rosen, Webb, Watson et al. 2016, A&A, 590, A1) containing 727,790 X-ray source detections (an increase of 49,110 compared to DR6) drawn from a total of 9,710 XMM-Newton EPIC observations made between 2000 Feb 3 and 2016 December 15 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XSPEC 12.9.1f, g, h Patches Released (05 Jun 2017)
    Released on June 2, 2017. These patches fix issues with the "error" command, the "goodness" command when using cstat statistics and a problem setting the NEI version when NEI_VERSION is not specified.
  • Planck Catalog of Compact Sources Public Release 2 (PCCS2) 30, 44, 70, 100, 143, 217, 353, 545 and 857 GHz Source Tables (01 Jun 2017)
    These 9 tables of 30-857 GHz radio sources (from the Planck Collaboration 2016, A&A, 594, A26) are now available in Browse and Xamin. These tables supersede the Planck Catalog of Compact Sources Public Release 1 (PCCS1) tables (which have been removed).
  • XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalogue: 3XMM-DR7 Released (01 Jun 2017)
    Latest release of the XMM SSC: 3XMM-DR7
  • Current NICER launch date: June 1, 2017 (23 May 2017)
    NICER is currently scheduled for launch to the ISS on SpaceX-11, which is now scheduled for launch on June 1 at 5:55 pm eastern time from the Kennedy Space Center. Backup dates are June 3 (5:04 PM EDT) and 4 (4:44 PM EDT).
  • News Feature: SpaceX Dragon to Deliver Research - including NICER - to the Space Station (22 May 2017)
    SpaceX is scheduled to launch its Dragon spacecraft for its 11th commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station on June 1 from Kennedy Space Center's historic pad 39A. Dragon will lift into orbit atop the Falcon 9 rocket carrying crew supplies, equipment and scientific research, including the NICER payload, to crew members living aboard the station. Once affixed to the exterior of the space station, NICER will study the physics of neutron stars, providing new insight into their nature and behavior.
  • Planck High-Redshift Source Candidates (PHZ) Catalog (22 May 2017)
    This catalog of 2,151 Planck high-z source candidates (the PHZ list) that have been detected in the cleanest 26% of the sky, with flux densities at 545 GHz above 500 mJy (from the Planck Collaboration 2016, A&A, 596, A100 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • FRIICAT - FIRST Catalog of FR II Radio Galaxies (18 May 2017)
    This catalog of 123 Fanaroff and Riley class II edge-brightened radio galaxies (FR IIs) with redshifts <= 0.15 that were obtained by combining observations from the NVSS, FIRST, and SDSS surveys (from Capetti et al. 2017, A&A, 601, A81) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Swift Ultraviolet and Optical Telescope (UVOT) Serendipitous Source Catalog, v1.1 (17 May 2017)
    Version 1.1 of the Swift UVOT SSC listing the optical and UV properties of 13,860,568 source detections made by this telescope (v1.0 is described in Page et al. 2015, Proc. Swift 10 Years of Discovery conference, p. 37) is now available in Browse and Xamin, as is the associated list of 23,059 UVOT observations from the start of Swift operations in 2005 until Oct 1, 2010 in which these sources were found.
  • Second Planck Sunyaev Zel'dovich Source Catalog (PSZ2) (16 May 2017)
    The all-sky Planck catalog of 1,653 galaxy clusters and cluster candidates (PSZ2) derived from Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect detections using the full 29 months of Planck satellite observations - the largest SZ-selected sample of galaxy clusters yet produced and the deepest systematic all-sky survey of galaxy clusters - created by the Planck Collaboration 2016, A&A, 594, A27 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • News Feature: Fermi Satellite Has Observed 1 Billion Gamma Rays with its LAT Instrument (15 May 2017)
    NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has been capturing images of the Universe in gamma rays, the most energetic form of light, since its launch in 2008. On April 12, 2017, one of the Fermi spacecraft's instruments - the Large Area Telescope or LAT - detected its billionth extraterrestrial gamma ray, hundreds of times more gamma rays than the previous-generation EGRET instrument on the Compton Gamma-ray Observatory did.
  • Hitomi CALDB Data Updated (12 May 2017)
    The Hitomi CALDB has been updated for the SXI (update version 20170405).
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (10 May 2017)
    A new Swift clock correction file has been added to the Swift SC Caldb (CALDB update version 20170505), and the Swift XRT caldb has also been updated (update version 20170501).
  • NuSTAR Cycle 3 Results (10 May 2017)
    The list of NuSTAR targets accepted by the Cycle 3 peer review is now available. Cycle 3 observations will start to be routinely performed on June 1, 2017. Written evaluations will be sent to all NuSTAR Cycle 3 PIs in the next few weeks.
  • The Million Optical/Radio/X-Ray Associations (MORX) Catalog (09 May 2017)
    The MORX catalog (from Flesch 2016, PASA, 33, 52), which combines all of the largest published optical, radio, and X-ray sky catalogs in order to find 1,121,055 probable radio/X-ray associations with optical objects, plus double radio lobes, is now available in both Browse and in Xamin.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (05 May 2017)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on May 5, 2017 (CALDB version 20170503). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 71, valid through 2017-05-03.
  • The Million Quasars Catalog (04 May 2017)
    The latest version (v4.8b, 30 July 2016) of the Million Quasars (MILLIQUAS) Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009 - 2016) containing more than one million (1,422,219 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in both Browse and in Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton Optical Monitor (OM) Serendipitous UV Survey Source Catalog, v3.0 (04 May 2017)
    The updated version 3.0 of the XMM OM-SUSS Catalog listing the optical and UV properties of 6,880,116 source detections made by the XMM-Newton OM (v1.0 is described in Page et al. 2012, MNRAS, 426, 903) is now available in Browse and Xamin, as is the associated list of 7,886 XMM observations from 2000 to July 2015 in which these sources were found.
  • XSPEC 12.9.1e Patch Released (03 May 2017)
    Released May 3, 2017. Fixes problem with the PyXspec command Xset.restore() function handling of "cd" (change directory) commands.
  • XMM-Newton Wide Angle Survey (XWAS) Catalog (03 May 2017)
    This catalog of 940 XMM-Newton X-ray sources that have been spectroscopically identified through optical observations using the AAT 2dF (from Esquej et al. 2013, A&A, 557, A123) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NICER launch date update: June 1, 2017 (02 May 2017)
    NICER is currently scheduled for launch to the ISS on SpaceX-11, which is now scheduled for launch on June 1 at 5:55 pm eastern time from the Kennedy Space Center.
  • Scientists Find Giant Wave Rolling Through the Perseus Galaxy Cluster (02 May 2017)
    Combining data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory with radio observations and computer simulations, an international team of scientists has discovered a vast wave of hot gas in the nearby Perseus galaxy cluster. Spanning some 200,000 light-years, the wave is about twice the size of our own Milky Way galaxy. See Walker et al. (2017, MNRAS, 468, 2506) for the full details.
  • North Celestial Pole Region Radio Sources Detected by the 21cm Array (02 May 2017)
    This catalog of 624 radio sources detected around the North Celestial Pole (NCP) with the 21 Centimeter Array (21CMA) interferometer in a 12-hr observation with frequency coverage from 75 to 175 MHz (from Zheng et al. 2016, ApJ, 832, 190) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Code 400, "Bad Request" error (28 Apr 2017)
    Our system administrators have resolved a problem where users would occasionally get a code 400, "Bad Request" message when accessing SkyView (and other HEASARC sites). Tracking tools required by NASA policy were creating cookies that were too large for our ... Continue reading ...
  • VLA 6-GHz Observations of Low-Redshift SDSS QSOs Catalog (27 Apr 2017)
    This catalog of a volume-limited sample of 178 low-redshift (0.2 < z < 0.3) optically selected quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) observed at 6 GHz with the JVLA (from Kellermann et al. 2016, ApJ, 831, 168) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton Slew Survey Source Catalogs (Version 2.0) (27 Apr 2017)
    The updated versions of the XMM-Newton Slew Survey "Clean" and "Full" Source Catalogs containing 29,393 and 72,352 X-ray sources, respectively, detected during spacecraft slews are now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • SOXS added to Astro-Updated (26 Apr 2017)
    SOXS, the "Simulated Observations of X-ray Sources" has been added to the list of software monitored by Astro-Update. The current version of SOXS is 1.0.1
  • XSPEC 12.9.1c,d Patches Released (26 Apr 2017)
    Released April 25, 2017. Patch c fixes the tclout(r) filename command for the case of type II pha files and adds a new tclout margin fractions option. Patch d adds additional attributes to the PyXSPEC Xset.parallel object (to match the options available in standard XSPEC's parallel command) and also adds a new Xset.parallel.show() function.
  • U.S. XMM-Newton GO grant program for AO-16 to open around June 2017 (25 Apr 2017)
    The GO grant program for AO-16 will open around 2017 June. Eligible PIs will be notified at that time about the grant proposal details.
  • UV-Bright Quasar Survey (UVQS) DR1 Catalog (25 Apr 2017)
    This catalog of 3460 redshift ~ 1 AGN candidates based on GALEX UV and WISE near-IR color selection criteria (from Monroe et al. 2016, AJ, 152, 25) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (24 Apr 2017)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on April 24, 2017 (CALDB version 20170419). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 70, valid through 2017-04-19.
  • Astro-Update Updated (19 Apr 2017)
    The Astro-update page has been updated to include WVT Binning (last updated December 5, 2005) and to provide links to the CIAO and Fermi contributed software pages
  • XSPEC 12.9.1b Released (13 Apr 2017)
    Released April 11, 2017. The default behavior of the goodness command has now been changed to draw parameter values from the posterior distribution
  • IC 1396A & Trumpler 37 Cluster Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (11 Apr 2017)
    This catalog of 415 X-ray sources detected by the Chandra ACIS Imaging array in the field of the IC 1396 H II region in the vicinity of the IC 1396A globule and the Trumpler 37 star cluster (from Getman et al. 2012, MNRAS, 426, 2917) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • HEASoft 6.21 Released (05 Apr 2017)
    Released April 5, 2017. This release fixes a problem in CFITSIO where remote copies and CALDB remote access would fail if secure https connections or ftp connections were used to access the HEASARC servers ....
  • The Second ROSAT All-Sky Survey Source Catalog (03 Apr 2017)
    This database table contains the Second ROSAT All-Sky Survey Point Source Catalog (2RXS; Boller et al. 2016). This is the second publicly released ROSAT catalog of point-like sources obtained from the ROSAT All-Sky Survey observations performed with the Position-Sensitive Proportional Counter between June 1990 and August 1991. This catalog includes more than 135,000 X-ray detections in the 0.1-2.4 keV energy band down to a likelihood threshold of 6.5, and is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTAR Probes Puzzling Galaxy Merger (28 Mar 2017)
    A supermassive black hole (SMBH) inside a tiny galaxy is challenging scientists' ideas about what happens when two galaxies merge. Was 49 is the name of a system consisting of a large disk galaxy, referred to as Was 49a, merging with a much smaller "dwarf" galaxy called Was 49b. The dwarf galaxy rotates within the larger galaxy's disk, about 26,000 light years from its center. Using NuSTAR, Secrest et al. (2017, ApJ, 836, 183), have discovered that the dwarf galaxy is so luminous in high-energy X-ray, it must host an SMBH much larger and more powerful than expected for such a lightweight.
  • BETA Pilot Multi-Epoch Continuum Survey of Spitzer SPT Deep Field (24 Mar 2017)
    This catalog of 3,722 radio source components detected by the Boolardy Engineering Test Array (BETA) prototype of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) in the 711-1015 MHz band in 150 sq. deg. covering two-thirds of the Spitzer South Pole Telescope Deep Field (from Heywood et al. 2016, MNRAS, 457, 4160) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Andromeda's Bright Hard X-Ray Mystery Source Identified by NuSTAR (24 Mar 2017)
    The Milky Way's close neighbor galaxy Andromeda (M 31), features a dominant source of high-energy X-ray emission, but its identity has been mysterious until now. As reported in a new study by Yukita et al. (2017, ApJ, in press), NASA's NuSTAR (Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array) mission has pinpointed the object responsible for this high-energy radiation to be Swift J0042.6+4112, a possible pulsar, the dense remnant of a dead star that is highly magnetized and spinning.
  • Viewing tool updated (23 Mar 2017)
    Swift's orbital pole constraints have been updated in the Viewing tool. The revised coefficients extrapolate the trend for the next year.
  • NICER expected launch date: May 14, 2017 (21 Mar 2017)
    NICER is currently scheduled for launch to the ISS on May 14, 2017 from the Kennedy Space Center.
  • NASA's Swift Mission Maps a Star's 'Death Spiral' into a Black Hole (21 Mar 2017)
    Some 290 Myrs ago, a star much like the sun wandered too close to the central black hole of its galaxy. Intense tides tore the star apart, which produced an eruption of optical, UV and X-ray light that first reached Earth in 2014. Now, a team of scientists using observations from Swift have mapped out how and where these different wavelengths were produced in the event, named ASASSN-14li, as the shattered star's debris circled the black hole: see Pasham et al. (2017, ApJ, 837, L30) for the full details.
  • 15th INTEGRAL Announcement of Opportunity (21 Mar 2017)
    The ESA Director of Science and Robotic Exploration (Prof. Alvaro Giménez Cañete) has released the 15th Announcement of Opportunity for observing proposals with INTEGRAL. The deadline for proposal submission is March 31, 2017. Additional information can be found on the ESA INTEGRAL website.
  • Chandra Deep Field-South 7-Megasecond X-Ray Source Catalog (16 Mar 2017)
    This catalog of 1,055 X-ray sources detected in the combination of 102 separate observations of the CDF-S field (for a total cleaned exposure time of 6.73 Ms) by Chandra's Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer imaging array (ACIS-I) from Luo et al. 2017, ApJS, 228, 2 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • SkyView V3.2.3 Beware the Ides of March! (15 Mar 2017)
    Over the next few days (as early as noon 3/15) the SkyView servers will be transitioning to requiring secure HTTP, i.e., HTTPS, URLs to access SkyView services. This is part of a mandated transition of all NASA (and indeed all ... Continue reading ...
  • The State of Xamin and Browse (10 Mar 2017)
    You may have noticed that a few problems have plagued the Browse and Xamin services over the last week. We have resolved many issues but anticipate that a few may still be pop up. We appreciate your patience as we ... Continue reading ...
  • Chandra ACIS GSG Point-Like X-Ray Source Catalog (10 Mar 2017)
    This catalog of 217,828 independent X-ray point sources detected in 10,029 observations by Chandra's Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS) with a total exposure of 221,851 ks (from Wang et al. 2016, ApJS, 224, 40) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Hitomi CALDB Data Updated (07 Mar 2017)
    The Hitomi CALDB has been updated for the SGD (update version 20170208), and general spacecraft caldb (update version 20170208), and the Hitomi caldb superindex (update version 20170208).
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (07 Mar 2017)
    A new Swift clock correction file has been added to the Swift SC Caldb (CALDB update version 20170306)
  • Xamin Batch Interface issues (07 Mar 2017)
    A new version of the jar file used for the Xamin command line interface has been released. The older version contains a URL that is no longer valid and queries using this jar file will fail. There are two ways ... Continue reading ...
  • Reminder: Deadline for Chandra Cycle 19 Proposals is Very Near! (07 Mar 2017)
    The deadline to submit proposals for the Chandra - Cycle 19 Call for Proposals is March 15, 2017 at 6:00 pm EDT. This Call for Proposals (CfP) solicits basic research proposals for the conduct of space science observations and subsequent analysis of the resultant scientific data from Chandra. The CfP also solicits proposals for research that makes use of publicly available archived Chandra data and for theoretical and modeling studies related to the Chandra mission.
  • NuSTAR Helps Find Universe's Brightest Pulsar (01 Mar 2017)
    The brightest pulsar ever found (NGC 5907 ULX, detected by both XMM-Newton and NuSTAR), has just been reported in the journal Science by Israel et al. (2017). In one second, NGC 5907 ULX emits the same amount of energy (1041 erg) as our sun does in three-and-a-half years. The authors note that standard accretion models fail to explain this high luminosity, but models with strong multipolar magnetic fields can.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (24 Feb 2017)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on February 24, 2017 (CALDB version 20170222). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 69, valid through 2017-02-22.
  • GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky MWA Survey (GLEAM) Extragalactic Catalog (24 Feb 2017)
    This catalog of 307,455 radio sources with 20 separate flux density measurements across the 72 - 231 MHz range that were detected in 24,402 square degrees south of +30 Dec (from Hurley-Walker et al. 2017, MNRAS, 464, 1146) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • FRICAT - FIRST Catalog of FR I Radio Galaxies (22 Feb 2017)
    This catalog of 233 Fanaroff and Riley class I edge-darkened radio galaxies (FR Is) obtained by combining observations from the NVSS, FIRST, and SDSS surveys (from Capetti et al. 2017, A&A, 598, A49) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • New version of Astro-Upate Available (17 Feb 2017)
    A new version of Astro-Update is now available. The software checks now are done using a python module which determines the software version and modification dates directly from the host page, ensuring that Astro-Update is kept up-to-date. In particular, see the new versions of Xamin, CASA, Tempo2 and the VLT pipeline software ...
  • Extremely Luminous X-Ray Source Candidates Catalog (15 Feb 2017)
    This catalog of 119 unique luminous X-ray source candidates with X-ray luminosities more than 3 x 10 40 erg/s from 93 galaxies within a distance of 250 Mpc (from Gong et al. 2016, ApJ, 222, 12) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) Two-Meter Sky Survey Preliminary Data Release Source Catalog (13 Feb 2017)
    The LoTSS catalog of 44,500 150-MHz radio sources detected by LOFAR in an area of 381 sq. deg. in the region of the HETDEX Spring Field (from Shimwell et al. 2017, A&A, 598, A104) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope All-Sky 150-MHz Radio Source Catalog (10 Feb 2017)
    The catalog of 623,604 150-MHz radio sources detected by the GMRT between April 2010 and March 2012 as part of the TIFR GMRT Sky Survey (TGSS) project (from Intema et al. 2017, A&A, 598, A78) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • 2WHSP Catalog of High Synchrotron Peaked (HSP) Blazars and Candidates (10 Feb 2017)
    A catalog of 1,691 HSP blazars and blazar candidates that are likely sources of high-energy and VHE gamma-ray emission (from Chang et al. 2017, A&A, 598, A17) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Dan David Prize for 2017 Celebrates Time-Domain Astrophysics (09 Feb 2017)
    The Dan David Prize annually awards 3 prizes of $1M each to outstanding figures whose work represents remarkable achievement in selected fields within the three time dimensions: past, present, and future. For 2017, the fields are archaeology and natural sciences, literature, and astronomy. US astrophysicists Neil Gehrels (NASA/GSFC) and Shrinivas Kulkarni (Caltech), and Polish astronomer Andrzej Udalski (U Warsaw), are the 2017 laureates in the future time dimension in astronomy. Neil Gehrels sadly passed away on 6 Feb before he could be notified of his award.
  • NuSTAR, Swift and XMM-Newton Help Solve the "Rapid Burster" Mystery (02 Feb 2017)
    Simultaneous Swift, NuSTAR and XMM-Newton observations of MXB 1730-335, a curious neutron star in a binary system known as the 'Rapid Burster', may have solved a 40-year-old mystery surrounding its puzzling X-ray bursts, according to van den Eijnden et al.(2016, MNRAS, 466, L98)). The neutron star magnetic field creates a gap in the accretion disk around the star, largely preventing it from feeding on matter from its companion. Gas builds up there until, under certain conditions, it hits the neutron star all at once, producing intense flashes of X-rays.
  • Swift CALDB updated (01 Feb 2017)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the UVOTA (update version 20170130)...
  • Lists of Swift Cycle 13 Recommended Targets and Proposals Are Now Available (31 Jan 2017)
    The lists of Swift Cycle 13 Guest Investigator Program recommended targets and proposals have been posted on the Swift website.
  • Fermi LAT Second Catalog of Gamma-Ray Pulsars (27 Jan 2017)
    A catalog of 117 neutron star pulsars identified using LAT data through periodicity searches in gamma-rays and in radio data around LAT unassociated source positions (from Abdo et al. 2013, ApJS, 208, 17) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • HEASoft 6.20 Released (19 Jan 2017)
    Released January 19, 2017. This release is primarily driven by updates to XSPEC, NuSTARDAS, XRTDAS, and the Hitomi software, but also includes updates to other packages which have been revised to mirror the current development versions in use at the HEASARC....
  • XSPEC 12.9.1 Released (19 Jan 2017)
    Released January 19, 2017, with the release of HEASoft 6.20. Many models updated, speed increases, other enhancements.
  • XMM-Newton SAS v16.0.0 Released (17 Jan 2017)
    The latest release of the XMM-Newton Science Analysis Software.
  • Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Stripe 82 XMM-Newton Source Match Catalog (13 Jan 2017)
    A catalog of 5,220 XMM-Newton X-ray sources and their multi-wavelength (e.g., SDSS, FIRST, GALEX, Herschel, etc.) counterparts that were detected in the SDSS Stripe 82 Legacy field (from LaMassa et al. 2016, ApJ, 817, 172) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Hitomi CALDB Data Updated (13 Jan 2017)
    The Hitomi CALDB released to the HEASARC on December 22, 2016 was incomplete. The complete Hitomi CALDB has been re-released. This release includes data for the HXI (version 20161122), General Mission (Gen) data (version 20161122), the SXI (version 20161122) and the SXS (version 20161122)
  • Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Stripe 82 Chandra Source Match Catalog (12 Jan 2017)
    A catalog of 1,146 Chandra X-ray sources and their multi-wavelength (e.g., SDSS, FIRST, GALEX, Herschel, etc.) counterparts that were detected in the SDSS Stripe 82 Legacy field (from LaMassa et al. 2016, ApJ, 817, 172) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (11 Jan 2017)
    A new Swift clock correction file has been added to the Swift SC Caldb (CALDB update version 20170110)
  • NuSTAR Guest Observer Cycle 3 Deadline Is Near (05 Jan 2017)
    The deadline for Phase-1 scientific/technical proposals for the NuSTAR Cycle 3 GO Program is imminent: proposals are due no later than 4:30 pm EST on Friday, January 27th, 2017.
  • CFITSIO Version 3.41 released (29 Dec 2016)
    Version 3.40 released November, 2016; significant bug fixes and enhancements...
  • XSPEC 12.9.0t, u Released (29 Dec 2016)
    Released November 10, 2016. version "u" restores the apec fix of 12.9.0o that was unintentionally removed in 12.9.0t.
  • PIMMS updated to Version 4.8d (27 Dec 2016)
    Version 4.8d released on December 21, 2016; contains an updated set of Chandra effective area curves, suitable for use for Cycle 19 proposals....
  • NuSTAR CALDB Tar File Updated (27 Dec 2016)
    The tar file produced for the 2016-12-07 NuSTAR CALDB at the HEASARC for the 2016-12-07 was missing some files and so has been re-created. If you had previously downloaded this tar file, please re-download the new tar file (designated goodfiles_nustar_fpm_20161207a.tar.gz or goodfiles_nustar_fpm_clockcor_20161207a.tar.gz for the tar file that only contains the updated clock correction file
  • Hitomi CALDB Data Updated (22 Dec 2016)
    The Hitomi CALDB has been released for the HXI (version 20161122), General Mission (Gen) data (version 20161122), the SXI (version 20161122) and the SXS (version 20161122)...
  • Chandra CALDB 4.7.3 installed at the HEASARC (22 Dec 2016)
    CalDB 4.7.3 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.7.3 was released by the CXC on December 15, 2016...
  • MAXI Solid-state Slit Camera First Catalog of X-Ray Sources in the 0.7-7.0 keV Band (20 Dec 2016)
    A catalog of 170 soft X-ray sources detected by the MAXI SSC instrument in the period from 2010 August to 2014 April (from Tomida et al. 2016, PASJ, 68, S32) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NGC 6231 Young Massive Cluster Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (16 Dec 2016)
    A catalog of 1,613 X-ray sources found in a total exposure of 120 ks of the Chandra ACIS-I of the NGC 6231 massive star cluster (from Damiani et al. 2016, A&A, 596, A82) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • DS9 Updated (15 Dec 2016)
    Version 7.5; improved BINTABLE support, security enhancements, 3D rendering performance, more ...
  • Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope Low-Frequency Radio Survey of the Kepler K2 Field 1 (12 Dec 2016)
    A catalog of 7,445 150-MHz radio sources found by the GMRT in observations made as part of the TIFR GMRT Sky Survey (TGSS) in the area of the Kepler K2 Field 1 pointing, covering the North Galactic Cap, (from Tingay et al. 2015, AJ, 152, 82) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Murchison Widefield Array Low-Frequency Radio Survey of the Kepler K2 Field 1 (09 Dec 2016)
    A catalog of 2,556 154- and 185-MHz radio sources found in an observation by the MWA that was contemporaneous with the Kepler K2 Field 1 pointing, covering the North Galactic Cap, (from Tingay et al. 2015, AJ, 152, 82) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (08 Dec 2016)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on December 8, 2016 (CALDB version 20161207). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 66, valid through 2016-12-07. This version is the long-awaited "corrected" clock correction file that tracks clock drift by fitting to screened clock data.
  • Two-Year Extension for ESA-led Missions (7 Dec 2016)
    ESA's Science Programme Committee (SPC) has confirmed two-year extensions for nine scientific missions including INTEGRAL and XMM-Newton. This secures their operation until the end of 2018.
  • XMM-Newton AO-16 Results Released (02 Dec 2016)
    The list of XMM-Newton observing proposals accepted by the AO-16 Observing Time Allocation Committee is now available.
  • INTEGRAL IBIS 11-Year Hard X-Ray Survey Above 100 keV Source Catalog (29 Nov 2016)
    The all-sky catalog of 132 transient and persistent sources detected above 100 keV by INTEGRAL IBIS during 11 years of operations (INTEGRAL revolutions 26 to 1377) published in Krivonos et al. (2015, MNRAS, 448, 3766) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Long-sought Signal Deepens Mystery of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) (21 Nov 2016)
    What causes split-second blasts of radio waves that appear in the sky from billions of light years away is one of the most perplexing mysteries in astronomy. Now, for the first time, astronomers using the Swift BAT have seen a flash of high-energy gamma-rays that looks as if it was emitted by the same event that produced an FRB on November 4, 2013. A paper by DeLaunay et al. on this event has just appeared in ApJ and is available online here .
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (21 Nov 2016)
    A new Swift clock correction file has been added to the Swift SC Caldb (CALDB update version 20161118)
  • NASA Space Telescopes Pinpoint Elusive Brown Dwarf (16 Nov 2016)
    In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, NASA's Spitzer and Swift space telescopes joined forces to observe a microlensing event, when a distant star brightens due to the gravitational field of at least one foreground cosmic object. This technique is useful for finding low-mass bodies orbiting stars, such as planets. In this case, the observations revealed a brown dwarf. This study by Shvartzvald et al. has just appeared in ApJ (2016, 831, 183).
  • Starvation Diet for Black Hole Dims Brilliant Galaxy (10 Nov 2016)
    Astronomers may have solved the mystery of the peculiarly volatile behavior of a supermassive black hole (SMBH) at the center of the active galaxy Mkn 1018. Combined data from Chandra and other observatories suggest that this SMBH is no longer being fed enough fuel to make its surroundings shine brightly. After discovering the AGN's fickle nature during a survey project using ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers observed it with both Chandra and Hubble. Other observatories used in this study include NuSTAR and Swift. Two papers on these results have just appeared in A&A: Husemann et al. and McElroy et al. .
  • Sgr A* Region Compact Radio Source Catalog (03 Nov 2016)
    A catalog of 318 34.5-GHz sources found in a Jansky Very Large Array A configuration observation of the Galactic Center region and their near-IR counterparts (from Yusef-Zadeh et al. 2015, ApJ, 809, 10) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NASA Missions Harvest a 'Passel of Pumpkin' Stars (28 Oct 2016)
    Steven Howell and colleagues (2016, ApJ, 831, 27) using observations from NASA's Kepler and Swift missions have discovered a batch of rapidly spinning stars that produce X-rays at more than 100 times the peak levels ever seen from the sun. The stars, which spin so fast they've been squashed into pumpkin-like shapes, are thought to be the result of close binary systems where two sun-like stars merge.
  • IC 1805 Young Massive Cluster XMM-Newton Source Catalog (28 Oct 2016)
    A catalog of 191 X-ray sources found in a 49-ks XMM-Newton EPIC observation of the IC 1805 open cluster (from Rauw & Nazé 2016, A&A, 594, A82) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (25 Oct 2016)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on October 25, 2016 (CALDB version 20161021). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 63, valid through 2016-10-21.
  • Fermi Finds Record-breaking Binary in Galaxy Next Door (13 Oct 2016)
    Using data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and other facilities, an international team of scientists has found the first gamma-ray binary in another galaxy and the most luminous one ever seen. The dual-star system, dubbed LMC P3, contains a massive star and a crushed stellar core that interact to produce a cyclic flood of gamma rays, the highest-energy form of light. A paper on these results has just appeared in ApJ and is available online here.
  • XSPEC 12.9.0q,r,s Released (4 Oct 2016)
    XSPEC patches 12.9.0q,r,s, released August 19. Fixes issues with simftest, the GW method for MCMC, and 2-D contour plotting.
  • Viewing tool updated (28 Sep 2016)
    Support for NICER has been added, and support for Hitomi has been removed.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (23 Sep 2016)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on September 23, 2016 (CALDB version 20160922). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 62, valid through 2016-09-22.
  • VLA Orion Nebula Cluster Compact Source Catalog (21 Sep 2016)
    A deep cm-wavelength catalog of 556 compact sources found in a 30-hr Jansky Very Large Array observation of the Orion Nebula Cluster (from Forbrich et al. 2016, ApJ, 822, 93) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Fermi Science Analysis Environment Source package Updated Mac OS X El Capitan (20 Sep 2016)
    The FSSC is pleased to announce the availability of a version of the Fermi Science Tools that can be built from source on Darwin 15.6 (el Capitan). This release is only for users with problems using the binary version of the tools on el Capitan. Note that this version of the tools does not support the ROOT or gtburst software. The source code package can be found here.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (20 Sep 2016)
    A new Swift clock correction file has been added to the Swift SC Caldb (CALDB update version 20160908)
  • Hitomi CALDB Data Updated (20 Sep 2016)
    The Hitomi CALDB has been released for the HXI (version 20160812), General Mission (Gen) data (version 20160812) and the SXS (version 20160715)...
  • Chandra X-ray Detection Sheds New Light on Pluto (19 Sep 2016)
    Using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, Lisse et al. have made the first detections of X rays from Pluto. These observations offer new insight into the space environment surrounding the largest and best-known object in the solar system's outermost regions. While NASA's New Horizons spacecraft was speeding toward and beyond Pluto, Chandra was aimed several times on the dwarf planet and its moons, gathering data on Pluto that the missions could compare after the flyby. Each of the 4 times Chandra pointed at Pluto it detected low-energy X-rays from the small planet. A paper on these results has just appeared in Icarus .
  • Einstein Post-doctoral Fellowship Program Is Now Accepting Applications (14 Sep 2016)
    The 2017 Call for Proposals for new Einstein Fellows has been released. These appointments are expected to begin on or about Sep 1, 2017. This program provides an opportunity for highly qualified, recent post-doctoral scientists to conduct independent research that is broadly related to the science goals of the NASA Physics of the Cosmos program. The deadline for applications is Nov 3, 2016.
  • PIMMS updated to Version 4.8c (14 Sep 2016)
    Version 4.8c released on August 17, 2016; minor update of XMm-Newton EPIC effective area curves, suitable for use for AO-16 proposals....
  • Young Magnetar Is Likely the Slowest Pulsar Ever Detected (13 Sep 2016)
    Using new data from Chandra, NuSTAR and Swift as well as archival data, Rea et al. have found evidence for what is likely one of the most extreme pulsars, or rotating neutron stars, ever detected. The source 1E 161348-5055 at the center of the RCW 103 SNR exhibits properties of a highly magnetized neutron star, or magnetar, yet its deduced spin period of 6.67 hours is thousands of times longer than any pulsar ever observed. A paper on these results has just appeared in ApJ Letters and is available online here.
  • Fifth IBIS/ISGRI Soft Gamma-Ray Survey Catalog (08 Sep 2016)
    The fifth version of the IBIS/ISGRI source catalog containing the soft gamma-ray properties of 939 sources found in the first 1000 orbits (~3000 days) of INTEGRAL observations (from Bird et al. 2016, ApJS, 223, 15) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Two New Fast X-ray Transients Discovered in the Galactic Plane (01 Sep 2016)
    Sguera et al. (2016, MNRAS, in press) have identified two new X-ray sources, IGR J03346+4414 and IGR J20344+3913, in the galactic plane with short outbursts (15 and 30 minutes, respectively) and very fast rise times, a category known as fast X-ray transients (FXTs). The newly detected FXTs were found in the archival data of ESA's INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) spacecraft.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (30 Aug 2016)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on August 30, 2016 (CALDB version 20160824). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 61, valid through 2016-08-24.
  • Record-Breaking Galaxy Cluster Discovered (30 Aug 2016)
    A new record for the most distant galaxy cluster has been set using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes. This galaxy cluster called CL J1001+0220 may have been caught right after birth, a brief, but important stage of evolution never seen before. It is located about 11.1 billion light years from Earth. The discovery of this object pushes back the formation time of galaxy clusters by about 700 million years. A paper on these results has just appeared in ApJ and is available online here.
  • Extended Chandra Deep Field South 250-kilosecond Improved Point Source Catalog (26 Aug 2016)
    This catalog containing the X-ray and multiwavelength properties of 1059 X-ray sources found in a new analysis of the E-CDF-S Field 250-ks data (from Xue et al. 2016, ApJS, 224, 15) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Chandra Deep Field North 2-Megasecond Improved Point Source Catalog (25 Aug 2016)
    This catalog containing the X-ray and multiwavelength properties of 755 X-ray sources found in a new analysis of the CDF-N Field 2-Ms data (from Xue et al. 2016, ApJS, 224, 15) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton AO-16 Solicitation Released (23 Aug 2016)
    XMM-Newton observing proposals are solicited in response to the Fourteenth Announcement of Opportunity.
  • A Black Hole Story Told by a Cosmic Blob and Bubble: The Mystery of Hanny's Voorwerp (10 Aug 2016)
    Two cosmic structures show evidence for a remarkable change in behavior of a supermassive black hole in a distant galaxy. Using data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes, Lia Sartori and colleagues are piecing together clues from a cosmic 'green blob' (dubbed Hanny's Voorwerp) and a gas bubble in the nearby galaxy IC 2497 that could be a new way to probe the past activity of a giant black hole and its effect on its host galaxy. A paper on these results recently appeared in MNRAS and is available online here.
  • Xamin update August 2016 (08 Aug 2016)
    For this Xamin update we have reinstated the Product Explorer for Grid queries and added bibliography table options. The Product Explorer allows users to see and select the kinds of products associated with query results displayed as a grid. Look ... Continue reading ...
  • Kappa Orionis Region XMM-Newton X-Ray Point Source Catalog (05 Aug 2016)
    This catalog containing the X-ray and IR properties of 238 X-ray sources found in two XMM-Newton observations of fields in the region of the B0.5 Ia star Kappa Orionis (from Pillitteri et al. 2016, ApJ, 820, L28) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTAR Feature: A Chorus of Black Holes Sings in X-rays (03 Aug 2016)
    Supermassive black holes (SMBH) in the universe are like a raucous choir "singing" in X-rays. When black holes pull in surrounding matter, they let out powerful X-ray bursts. These "songs" of X-rays, coming from a chorus of millions of black holes, fill the entire sky - a phenomenon astronomers call the cosmic X-ray background. NuSTAR has made significant progress in resolving the high-energy X-ray background, finding that at least 35% is attributable to SMBH, according to a new paper by Harrison et al. (2016, ApJ, in press).
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (02 Aug 2016)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on August 2, 2016 (CALDB version 20160731). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 60, valid through 2016-07-31.
  • Astronomers Discover Dizzying Spin of the Milky Way Galaxy's Halo (29 Jul 2016)
    Using archival X-ray data obtained by XMM-Newton, Hodges-Kluck et al. 2016, ApJ, 822, 21) have discovered that the hot gas in the halo of the Milky Way galaxy is spinning in the same direction and at comparable speed as the galaxy's disk, which contains our stars, planets, gas, and dust.
  • XSPEC 12.9.0p Released (28 Jul 2016)
    Patch 12.9.0p, released July 28, Allows unlinking of an already linked parameter in a Python-coded local model in PyXspec.
  • The South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) and NuSTAR Data (28 Jul 2016)
    The NuSTAR spacecraft flies through regions of the Earth's radiation belts, e.g., the SAA, in parts of its orbit, resulting in an enhanced background in its detectors. The NuSTAR team has some advice about how to analyze data affected by such high backgrounds (which is particularly applicable for fainter X-ray sources) here.
  • Correction to NuSTAR CALDB Update 20160706 (28 Jul 2016)
    There was an error in the NuSTAR CALDB update version 20160706 in which the caldb.indx file was pointing to an older CALDB version (20151008). This has now been fixed, and the tar files have been updated. If you have previously downloaded NuSTAR CALDB 20160706, you should re-download and re-install this version, or use Remote Access to access version 20160706 of the NuSTAR CALDB.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (22 Jul 2016)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on July 22, 2016 (CALDB version 20160706). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 59, valid through 2016-07-06.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (21 Jul 2016)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on July 21, 2016 (CALDB version 20160606, corresponding to the internal NuSTAR project release 20160606).
  • CANDELS H-Band Selected Chandra Source Catalog (21 Jul 2016)
    This catalog of Chandra X-ray point sources (from Cappelluti et al. 2016, ApJ, 823, 95), which contains information on 698 X-ray sources in the Chandra Deep Field South, is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Viewing tool updated (20 Jul 2016)
    Swift's orbital pole constraints have been updated in the Viewing tool. The revised coefficients extrapolate the trend for the next year.
  • List of Approved Fermi Cycle 9 GI Program proposals is Available (18 Jul 2016)
    The Fermi Cycle-9 stage-I proposal selection process has now been completed, and the list of the selected proposals is now available. Notification letters will be sent in the near future.
  • Chandra Cycle 18 Accepted Proposals and Targets Lists Are Now Available (18 Jul 2016)
    The Peer-Review recommended targets and proposals for Chandra Cycle 18, including GTO and GO proposals, joint proposals with other ground-based and/or satellite facilities, archive, theory, large and multicycle proprosals, have now been publically released.
  • General CALDB updated (13 Jul 2016)
    Update 13 July 2016: added new leap second (which will occur on 01 Jan 2017) into leapsec_010117.fits file.
  • Chandra Legacy Survey (CLS) Catalog (12 Jul 2016)
    This catalog of Chandra X-ray sources (from Civano et al. 2016, ApJ, 819, 62), which contains information on 2,273 new X-ray sources as well as updated information on 1,743 C-COSMOS sources, is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalog (Version 3XMM-DR6) (07 Jul 2016)
    The updated version of this catalog (from Rosen, Webb, Watson et al. 2016, A&A, 590, A1) containing 678,680 X-ray source detections (an increase of 112,718 compared to DR5) drawn from a total of 9,160 XMM-Newton EPIC observations made between 2000 Feb 3 and 2015 June 4 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (07 Jul 2016)
    A new Swift clock correction file has been added to the Swift SC Caldb (CALDB update version 20160706), and the Swift XRT CALDB has been updated to version 20160609 ...
  • Reminder: ROSES-2016 Astrophysics Theory Program Proposal Deadline Is Nearing! (06 Jul 2016)
    Proposals for the ATP component of the ROSES-2016 NASA Research Opportinity are due no later than July 8th.
  • XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalogue: 3XMM-DR6 Released (05 Jul 2016)
    Latest release of the XMM SSC: 3XMM-DR6
  • INTEGRAL AO-14 General Program Approved (28 Jun 2016)
    The INTEGRAL AO-14 General Program, as recommended by the Time Allocation Committee (TAC) and approved by ESA's Director of Science and Robotic Exploration (Prof. Alvaro Gimenez), has been released and the observers have been informed.
  • The Million Quasars Catalog (27 Jun 2016)
    The latest version (v4.8, 22 June 2016) of the Million Quasars (MILLIQUAS) Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009 - 2016) containing more than one million (1,422,497 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in both Browse and in Xamin.
  • Hitomi HXI CALDB Data Updated (24 Jun 2016)
    The Hitomi HXI CALDB has been updated to include 2 files, ah_hx1_instmap_20140101v002.fits and ah_hx2_instmap_20140101v002.fits, which were inadvertently left out of the June 22 2016 release
  • Large Quasar Astrometric Catalog, 3rd Release (23 Jun 2016)
    The 3rd edition of this catalog (from Souchay et al. 2015, A&A, 583, A75), which contains cross-identifications, optical, IR and radio data for 321,957 quasars, is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Hitomi CALDB Data Updated (22 Jun 2016)
    The Hitomi CALDB has been released for the HXI (version 20160606), the SXI (version 20160614), the SGD (version 20160614), Generic Mission (Gen) data (version 20160606) and the SXS (version 20160606)...
  • Suzaku CALDB updated (16 Jun 2016)
    The Suzaku CALDB has been updated for the XIS (update version 20160607) ...
  • LISA Pathfinder Mission Paves Way for Space-based Detection of Gravitational Waves (14 Jun 2016)
    LISA Pathfinder (LPF), an ESA-led mission with NASA contributions, has successfully tested a key technology needed to build a space-based observatory for detecting gravitational waves: it has reduced non-gravitational forces on the two floating test masses to a level about 10,000 times smaller than drag-free control technologies used on all previous science missions.
  • Happy 4th Birthday to NuSTAR (14 Jun 2016)
    The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) spacecraft was launched on a Pegasus XL rocket dropped from a Lockheed L-1011 "TriStar" aircraft flying over the Pacific Ocean near the Kwajalein Atoll on June 13, 2012. Since then it has made over 1660 hard X-ray observations in science mode which have yielded (to date) hundreds of refereed and other publications.
  • Results of 2016 NASA SMD Astrophysics Senior Review of Operating Missions (10 Jun 2016)
    The Astrophysics Division held the 2016 Senior Review in February and March this year. There were individual panels for the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory that were separate from the main comparative panel. Both the Hubble and Chandra reviews were undertaken as incremental reviews from those held in 2014. The panel reports and the NASA response document for the 2016 Senior Review are now available.
  • NICER, the New NASA Mission Studying Neutron Stars, Is On Track for Launch (09 Jun 2016)
    On June 8th, NICER arrived at Kennedy Space Center. The launch for NICER onboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft is currently set for February 2017. NICER will deploy as an external attached payload on the ISS ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 2.
  • Second Announcement of 11th INTEGRAL Conference (25 May 2016)
    The 11th INTEGRAL Conference: Gamma-Ray Astrophysics in Multi-Wavelength Perspective to be held 10-14 October 2016 in Amsterdam is now open for registration and abstract submission. The abstract submission deadline is 1 July 2016.
  • NICER Passes Pre-Ship Review (25 May 2016)
    NICER has cleared another major milestone review, and the flight payload yesterday passed its Pre-Ship Review at Goddard, and will depart for Kennedy Space Center on June 7. The launch date for NICER is currently scheduled for February 1, 2017.
  • HEASoft 6.19 Released (12 May 2016)
    Released May 11, 2016. This release is primarily driven by updates to the NuSTAR software and the release of NuSTARDAS v1.6.0, and the first public release of analysis software for the Hitomi mission, but also includes updates to other packages...
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (12 May 2016)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on May 12, 2016 (CALDB version 20160502, corresponding to the internal NuSTAR project release 20160315). This is a patch release, and includes a new CALDB file nuCchu123range20100101v001.fits, which defines how the CHU combinations are split using the nusplitsc FTOOL.
  • Hitomi CALDB Data Released (12 May 2016)
    The Hitomi CALDB has been released for the HXI (version 0160422), the SXI (version 20160510), the SGD (version 20160310), Generic Mission (Gen) data (version 20160422) and the SXS (version 20160510)...
  • NuSTARDAS v1.6.0 Released (11 May 2016)
    Released on May 11th, 2016, NuSTARDAS v1.6.0 was included in the HEASoft 6.19 release on the same date. NuSTARDAS v1.6.0 users should make sure to use version 20160502 (or later) of the NuSTAR CALDB. An updated version of the NuSTARDAS users guide (v1.9.0) is also available.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (09 May 2016)
    A new Swift clock correction file has been added to the Swift SC Caldb (update version 20160504) ...
  • Updated IRAM 30-m Telescope Observation Log (29 Apr 2016)
    The latest version of the IRAM 30-m telescope observing log (Dan et al. 1991-2015, IRAM Newsletters) containing 350,493 observations completed through December 31, 2014 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Updated IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer Observation Log (29 Apr 2016)
    The latest version of the IRAM PdBI observing log (Dan et al. 1991-2015, IRAM Newsletters) containing 19,689 observations completed through September 30, 2014 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • CFITSIO Version 3.39 released (28 Apr 2016)
    Version 3.39 released February 2016; added ffhisto3 and fits_open_extlist, other updates...
  • Operation Plan of the X-ray Astronomy Satellite ASTRO-H (Hitomi) (28 Apr 2016)
    On April 28 (JST), JAXA issued a press release which stated that they have determined that they cannot restore Hitomi's functions, and that, accordingly, they will cease efforts to restore Hitomi and will focus on the investigation of the causes of the anomaly.
  • Suzaku CALDB updated (24 Apr 2016)
    The Suzaku CALDB has been updated for the XIS (update version 20160401) ...
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (22 Apr 2016)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on April 22, 2016 (CALDB version 20160421). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 57, valid through 2016-04-21.
  • April 15th JAXA Update on the Status of the Hitomi Satellite (21 Apr 2016)
    On April 15 (JST), JAXA held a press briefing to explain the status of the X-ray Astronomy Satellite "Hitomi" (ASTRO-H) and their continuing activities to re-establish communications with the satellite.
  • April 8th JAXA Update on the Status of the Hitomi Satellite (13 Apr 2016)
  • April 1st JAXA Update on the Status of the Hitomi Satellite (07 Apr 2016)
  • March 29th Update on the Status of the Hitomi Satellite (30 Mar 2016)
  • Chandra CALDB 4.7.1 installed at the HEASARC (29 Mar 2016)
    CalDB 4.7.1 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.7.1 was released on March 25, 2016...
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (28 Mar 2016)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on March 28, 2016 (CALDB version 20160325). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 56, valid through 2016-03-25.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (28 Mar 2016)
    A new Swift clock correction file has been added to the Swift SC Caldb (update version 20160321), and swuphot20041120v108.fits has been restored to the UVOTA caldb.indx file (update version 20160321)...
  • The Hitomi Satellite Has Had a Communications Failure (28 Mar 2016)
  • First Announcement of 11th INTEGRAL Conference (18 Mar 2016)
    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research and the Astronomical Institute "Anton Pannekoek" of the University of Amsterdam are organizing the 11th INTEGRAL Conference: Gamma-Ray Astrophysics in Multi-Wavelength Perspective. It will be held 10-14 October 2016 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  • X-Ray Selected High-Redshift AGN Catalog (18 Mar 2016)
    This catalog containing the properties of 209 Chandra (C-COSMOS and ChaMP) X-ray sources that comprise the largest high-redshift (z > 3) X-ray-selected AGN sample to date (from Kalfountzou et al. 2014, MNRAS, 445, 1430) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • INTEGRAL Observes Positron Annihilation during V404 Cygni Outburst (17 Mar 2016)
    A team led by scientists at the Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik (MPE) in Garching, Germany report the discovery of intense bursts of photons at energies near 511 keV, which they interpret as the signature of positron-electron annihilation near the microquasar V404 Cygni. The results have been published in the 17 March 2016 issue of Nature.
  • IRAS 20126+4104 Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (16 Mar 2016)
    This catalog containing the X-ray properties and multiwavelength counterparts of 150 Chandra X-ray sources detected in an ACIS-I observation of the IRAS 20126+4104 massive star-forming region (from Montes et al. 2015, ApJS, 219, 41) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Keith Gendreau, the NICER PI, will be in a Google Hangout on March 18, 3pm EDT (16 Mar 2016)
    The AAS's "Future in Space Hangout" on March 18 at 3pm EDT will feature the CATS (Cloud-Aerosol Transport System) and NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) payloads on the ISS, with Keith Gendreau the NICER PI participating. The hangout will address questions such as how missions are selected to run on the ISS and what the technical challenges are building instruments for operation onboard the ISS.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (13 Mar 2016)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on March 13, 2016 (CALDB version 20160222). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 55, valid through February 22, 2016.
  • XSPEC 12.9.0k Released (13 Mar 2016)
    Patch 12.9.0k, released February 25, allows negative redshifts when using xsatbl or addTableCalc.
  • PIMMS updated to Version 4.8b (13 Mar 2016)
    Version 4.8b released on March 1, 2016; support for IXO has been discontinued....
  • CFITSIO Version 3.38 released (13 Mar 2016)
    Version 3.38 released February 2016; contains a fix for a critical bug affecting Intel 15 and 16 compilers with -O2 (or higher) optimization flag ...
  • The Million Quasars Catalog (09 Mar 2016)
    The latest version (v4.7, 2 March 2016) of the Million Quasars (MILLIQUAS) Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009 - 2016) containing more than one million (1,393,164 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in both Browse and in Xamin.
  • Viewing tool updated (08 Mar 2016)
    The Viewing software has been updated to version 3.4. Chandra's Sun-angle constraint has been updated. For Chandra, it will also now report the visibility windows for unrestricted observations.
  • NuSTAR Cycle 2 Results (04 Mar 2016)
    The list of NuSTAR targets accepted by the Cycle 2 peer review is now available. Cycle 2 observations will start to be routinely performed on May 1, 2016. Written evaluations will be sent to all NuSTAR Cycle 2 PIs in the next few weeks. As specified in the AO, U.S. PIs of proposals with category A or B targets will be invited to submit phase-2 funding proposals. Note that 0.5 Ms of NuSTAR observing time is also available through the Chandra Cycle 18 CfP, due March 15, 2016.
  • Roma-BZCAT Multi-Frequency Catalog of Blazars (03 Mar 2016)
    The 5th edition of this catalog containing information on the multi-frequency properties of 3561 blazars and blazar candidates (from Massaro et al. 2013, Ap&SS, 357, 75) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Viewing and WebPIMMS tools updated (01 Mar 2016)
    These tools have been updated to reflect the renaming of Astro-H to Hitomi.
  • The Hitomi Satellite Has Completed Its Critical Initial Operation Phase (29 Feb 2016)
    The JAXA X-ray astronomy satellite Hitomi, formerly known as Astro-H, has successfully completed a sequence of important operations, including turning the cooling system on, test operation of the Soft X-ray Spectrometer (SXS), and extending the Extensible Optical Bench (EOB) for the Hard X-ray imager (HXI). Hitomi is now in a stable condition and will perform the initial functional verification of the onboard instruments for the next month and a half.
  • 14th INTEGRAL Announcement of Opportunity (29 Feb 2016)
    The ESA Director of Science and Robotic Exploration (Prof. Alvaro Gimenez) has released the 14th Announcement of Opportunity for observing proposals with INTEGRAL. The deadline for proposal submission is April 8, 2016. Additional information can be found on the ESA INTEGRAL website.
  • Joint NuSTAR/INTEGRAL Observing Time is Available in INTEGRAL AO-14 (29 Feb 2016)
    In the just-released INTEGRAL Fourteenth Announcement of Opportunity, ESA is providing the opportunity to propose for coordinated observations with NuSTAR for a total of 100 ks of available time. The deadline for INTEGRAL AO-14 proposals is April 8th, 2016.
  • Xamin Version 3.0 (23 Feb 2016)
    Yesterday we released a major update to our Xamin interface. We hope the new interface is more attractive and user friendly. It also includes a major upgrade to the underlying JavaScript library. Features in the new interface are described below. ... Continue reading ...
  • Release of Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2016, Omnibus Solicitation NNH16ZDA001N (20 Feb 2016)
    NASA's Science Mission Directorate announced the release of its annual ROSES omnibus solicitation for 2016 on February 19, 2016. Table 2 listing the individual programs in order of their due date can be found here.
  • AEGIS-X Deep Survey Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (19 Feb 2016)
    This catalog containing the properties of 937 X-ray sources (and their multiwavelength counterparts) found in deep Chandra imaging of the central region of the Extended Groth Strip (from Nandra et al. 2015, ApJS, 220, 10) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Astro-H Launch Successfully Launched! (17 Feb 2016)
    The JAXA X-ray astronomy satellite Astro-H has been successfully launched today (Feb 17) at 3:45am, EST from the Tahegashima Space Center in Japan. This mission (which has a significant contribution from NASA) has been renamed Hitomi, the Japanese word for "eye" or more specifically the "pupil" (of the eye).
  • Suzaku CALDB updated (15 Feb 2016)
    The Suzaku CALDB has been updated for the XIS (update version 20160204) ...
  • Gravitational waves detected 100 years after Einstein's prediction (12 Feb 2016)
    For the first time, scientists have observed ripples in the fabric of space-time called gravitational waves, arriving at Earth from a cataclysmic event in the distant universe, namely the merger of two black holes to produce a single, more massive spinning black hole. This finding confirms a major prediction of Albert Einstein's 1915 general theory of relativity and opens an unprecedented new window to the cosmos.
  • Scientists to Provide Update on the Search for Gravitational Waves (11 Feb 2016)
    100 years after Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves, the National Science Foundation gathers scientists from Caltech, MIT and the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) Scientific Collaboration to update the scientific community on their efforts to detect them. The findings will be released at 10:30am today EST and are expected to be revolutionary.
  • HEASoft 6.18 Released (10 Feb 2016)
    Released February 6, 2016. This release features updates to the Swift/XRT software and compatibility of a new set of analysis software for the Astro-H mission pre-launch testing, and updates to other packages...
  • XMM-Newton SAS v15.0.0 Released (05 Feb 2016)
    The latest release of the XMM-Newton Science Analysis Software.
  • Pictor A: Blast from Black Hole in a Galaxy Far, Far Away (02 Feb 2016)
    To obtain images of the jet from the central super-massive black hole in the active galaxy Pictor A, Hardcastle et al. (2016, MNRAS, in press) used NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory at various times over 15 years. Chandra's X-ray data have been combined with radio data from the Australia Telescope Compact Array to allow a detailed study of the spatial, temporal and spectral properties of the AGN, jet, hotspot and lobes.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (31 Jan 2016)
    A new makefilter parameter file for the Swift XRT has been added to the Swift XRT Caldb (update version 20160121) ...
  • INTEGRAL X-Rays Earth's Aurora (26 Jan 2016)
    Normally busy with observing high-energy black holes, supernovae and neutron stars, ESA's INTEGRAL space observatory recently had the chance to look back at our own planet's aurora. INTEGRAL detected high-energy auroral X-rays on 10 November 2015 as it turned to Earth, although it was looking for something else at the time, namely the diffuse cosmic X-ray background (CXB). On this occasion, the X-rays from Earth's aurora drowned out the CXB, providing exciting serendipitous science.
  • LISA Pathfinder Arrives at its "Worksite", the Sun-Earth L1 Point (22 Jan 2016)
    After a six-week journey, LISA Pathfinder (LPF) arrived at its destination today, an orbit around the Sun-Earth first libration point (L1), where it will soon start testing technologies crucial for exploring the gravitational Universe. LPF will test the key elements that could be used by a future mission to detect gravitational waves.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (20 Jan 2016)
    A new Swift clock correction file has been added to the Swift SC Caldb (update version 20160113) ...
  • Lists of Swift Cycle 12 Recommended Targets and Proposals Are Now Available (19 Jan 2016)
    The lists of Swift Cycle 12 Guest Investigator Program recommended targets and proposals have been posted.
  • CCFits updated (19 Jan 2016)
    CCFITS was updated to version 2.5 on January 19, 2016 ...
  • Crafoord Prize in Astronomy 2016 Award Winners (15 Jan 2016)
    Roger Blandford and Roy Kerr have been awarded the 2016 Crafoord Prize in Astronomy for fundamental work concerning rotating black holes and their astrophysical consequences. The press release reads, in part: "Black holes are the origin of the universe's most powerful light... Roger Blandford's theoretical work deals with the violent processes behind this strong radiation. Roy Kerr created one of the most important tools in modern astrophysics and cosmology early in his career, when he discovered a mathematical description of rotating black holes..."
  • AllWISE Catalog of Mid-Infrared AGNs (13 Jan 2016)
    This catalog containing an all-sky sample of ~1.4 million active galactic nuclei (AGNs) meeting a two-color infrared photometric selection criterion applied to sources from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer final catalog release (from Secrest et al. 2015, ApJS, 221, 12) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Fermi Cycle 9 GI Proposal Submission Deadline is January 22nd (07 Jan 2016)
    The high-energy community is reminded that proposals to the Fermi Cycle-9 Guest Investigator Program should be submitted through the HEASARC's ARK/RPS online facility by 16:30 EST on January 22, 2016. For additional details and instructions on how to propose, please refer to information on the above web site and to the Fermi appendix (D.6) to the 2015 ROSES NRA.
  • NASA News: Andromeda Galaxy Scanned with High-Energy X-ray Vision by NuSTAR (05 Jan 2016)
    NuSTAR has captured the best high-energy X-ray view yet of a portion of our nearest large, neighboring galaxy, Andromeda (M 31). The space mission has observed 40 "X-ray binaries" -- intense sources of X-rays comprised of a black hole or neutron star feeding off a stellar companion. Daniel Wik of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center presented these results at the 227th meeting of American Astronomical Society in Kissimmee, Florida
  • RXTE's 20th Birthday in Orbit (29 Dec 2015)
    Happy birthday to NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). RXTE was launched 20 years ago on December 30, 1995, made thousands of observations of X-ray sources (leading to about 2,900 refereed publications to date), and was decommissioned on January 5, 2012 (spacecraft reentry is expected in 2016). Explore the science highlights of RXTE here.
  • Viewing tool updated (29 Dec 2015)
    Swift's orbital pole constraints have been updated in the Viewing tool. The revised coefficients extrapolate the trend for the next year.
  • Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) Launches! (17 Dec 2015)
    China's DAMPE satellite (now renamed Wukong) lifted off earlier today on a Long March 2-D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, on its way to a 500-km altitude sun-synchronous orbit. During Wukong's 3-year mission it will detect high-energy (5 GeV - 10 TeV) gamma rays and electrons as well as cosmic ray protons and heavy ions so as to search for possible dark matter signatures. Congratulations to the Wukong team!
  • Chandra CALDB 4.7.0 installed at the HEASARC (16 Dec 2015)
    CalDB 4.7.0 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.7.0 was released on December 15, 2015...
  • XMM-Newton XXL Survey (15 Dec 2015)
    Astronomy and Astrophysics, ESA and ESO have issued a joint press release announcing the A and A special feature on "The XXL Survey: First Results" that includes 13 papers based on XMM-Newton data.
  • NICER Passes Pre-Environmental Review (14 Dec 2015)
    NICER has cleared another major milestone review, and the nearly-complete flight payload is poised to begin environmental (electromagnetic, vibration, thermal, etc.) testing. Delivery to NASA's Kennedy Space Center is anticipated in June 2016 for the planned August launch.
  • INTEGRAL OSA 10.2 Released (10 Dec 2015)
    The ISDC has released INTEGRAL Offline Scientific Analysis Software (OSA) version 10.2. The main improvements of version 10.2 over version 10.1 are updated instrument calibrations. The new software is available for download from the ISDC and the HEASARC.
  • XMM-Newton AO-15 Budget Information (07 Dec 2015)
    Any XMM specific GO grant program for AO-15 is dependent on the results of the 2016 Senior Review, expected in late spring 2016. Any eligible PIs will be notified subsequently about grant proposal details.
  • XMM-Newton AO-15 Results Released (04 Dec 2015)
    The list of XMM-Newton observing proposals accepted by the AO-15 Observing Time Allocation Committee is now available.
  • NuSTAR Guest Observer Cycle 2 Deadline Is Near (03 Dec 2015)
    The deadline for NuSTAR Cycle 2 GO proposals is imminent: proposals are due no later than 4:30 pm EST on December 11th.
  • The Million Quasars Catalog (03 Dec 2015)
    The latest version (v4.6, 30 November 2015) of the Million Quasars (MILLIQUAS) Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009 - 2015) containing more than one million (1,392,544 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • LISA Pathfinder Mission Launches! (03 Dec 2015)
    ESA's LISA Pathfinder lifted off earlier today on a Vega rocket from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on its way to the L1 point where it will demonstrate technology for observing gravitational waves from space. Congratulations to the LPF team for a great start to this mission!
  • The 500-Myr-old Open Cluster M 37 Chandra X-Ray Source Catalog (02 Dec 2015)
    This catalog listing the X-ray properties and optical counterpart information for 774 sources detected by Chandra in 5 observations totalling 440.5 ks towards M 37 (NGC 2099) (from Nunez et al. 2015, ApJ, 809, 161) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NICER Manifested on SpaceX-11 ISS Resupply Flight (01 Dec 2015)
    Previously scheduled for a December 2016 launch on SpaceX-12, NICER will now fly to the International Space Station with two other payloads on SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)-11, in the Dragon vehicle's unpressurized Trunk. Launch is planned for no earlier than 15 August 2016, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
  • XSPEC 12.9.0h Released (24 Nov 2015)
    Patch 12.9.0h, released November 19, restores the ability to read in XFLT keywords whose values are numbers encoded as strings.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (16 Nov 2015)
    A new Swift clock correction file has been added to the Swift SC Caldb (update version 20151105) ...
  • Fermi Finds Hints of Gamma-ray Cycle in the Active Galaxy PG 1553+113 (15 Nov 2015)
    Astronomers using data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have detected hints of periodic changes in the brightness of a so-called "active" galaxy, whose emissions are powered by a supersized black hole. If the 2.18 year gamma-ray period is confirmed, the discovery would mark the first years-long cyclic gamma-ray emission ever detected from any galaxy, which could provide new insights into physical processes near the black hole (see Ackermann et al. 2015, ApJL, 813, L41 for more details).
  • Fermi Has Detected an extremely bright gamma-ray pulsar in the Large Magellanic Cloud (13 Nov 2015)
    The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope Large Area Telescope (LAT) Collaboration has detected pulsed gamma-ray emission from a previously known X-ray pulsar in the LMC, PSR J0540-6919 (2015, Science, 350, 801). This object is the first gamma-ray pulsar detected in another galaxy and, at 20 times more luminous in gamma-rays than the Crab pulsar, the brightest yet observed in this energy band.
  • NASA's Swift Spots its Thousandth Gamma-ray Burst (12 Nov 2015)
    The Swift spacecraft has detected its 1,000th gamma-ray burst (GRB). GRBs are the most powerful explosions in the universe, typically associated with the collapse of a massive star and the birth of a black hole. "Detecting GRBs is Swift's bread and butter, and we're now at 1,000 and counting," said Neil Gehrels, the Swift principal investigator at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. "The spacecraft remains in great shape after nearly 11 years in space, and we expect to see many more GRBs to come."
  • XSPEC 12.9.0f,g Released (10 Nov 2015)
    Patch 12.9.0f fixes a problem with the installation of the NEI v2 files. Patch 12.9.0g fixes a problem with the interpretation of levels in plot contour.
  • Swift and NuSTAR Observe a Major Flare of the Supermassive Black Hole in Markarian 335 (10 Nov 2015)
    The baffling and strange behaviors of black holes have become somewhat less mysterious recently, thanks to observations by NASA's Swift and NuSTAR observatories which caught the supermassive black hole (SMBH) in Mrk 335 in the midst of a giant eruption of X-ray light. These observations (discussed in Wilkins et al. 2015, MNRAS, 454, 4440) help address an ongoing puzzle: How do SMBHs flare?
  • Sesame (VizieR) name resolver support added to HEASARC tools (28 Oct 2015)
    Support for resolving the names of astronomical objects according to VizieR using the Sesame name resolver service has been added to the HEASARC's Coordinate Converter, Viewing, nH, X-Ray Background, and the High Energy Source Finder tools, as well as ARK/RPS, Browse, and Argus. This feature is particularly useful in resolving Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) object names, for example.
  • VLA Gould's Belt Survey Serpens Region Source Catalog (27 Oct 2015)
    This catalog listing the radio properties and counterpart information for 146 sources detected by the JVLA at 4.5 and/or 7.5 GHz in deep (~17 microJy) radio continuum observations of the Serpens molecular cloud, the Serpens south cluster, and the W40 regiona (from Ortiz-Leon et al. 2015, ApJ, 805, 9) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Supermassive Black Hole Caught 'Feasting' on a Star (21 Oct 2015)
    Using high-resolution XMM-Newton and Chandra data, astronomers have detected the last 'cry' from a star that passed too close to the central black hole of its host galaxy, PGC 043234, and is being destroyed and 'swallowed', a phenomenon known as a tidal disruption event. See Miller et al. (2015, Nature, 526, 542) for the gruesome details.
  • XSPEC 12.9.0e Released (18 Oct 2015)
    Patch 12.9.0e fixes an issue data and back commands and OGIP type-II spectrum files.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (17 Oct 2015)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on October 17, 2015 (CALDB version 20151008). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 52, valid through October 8, 2015.
  • The X-ray View of Black Hole Activity in the Local Universe (13 Oct 2015)
    The goal of this conference, to be held in Zurich, Switzerland from Feb 17-19, 2016, is to present and discuss (via invited and contributed talks) the latest results of space-based X-ray missions (e.g., NuSTAR, Swift, MAXI) on nearby supermassive black-hole growth. The deadline for abstract submission is fairly soon (Nov 6, 2015).
  • XMM-Newton 15th Announcement of Opportunity (13 Oct 2015)
    ESA received 431 valid proposals, requesting 81 Ms of science time, for this 1-year long AO (which closed on October 9th), with 14.5 Ms of observing time available for distribution. The over-subscription factor is 5.6. A total of 47 proposals for Large Programs were received, while Triggered/ToO observations were requested in 58 proposals. For the joint programs, 22 requested time for the XMM-HST program, 10 for the XMM-SWIFT program, 6 for the XMM-VLT program, 5 for the XMM-Chandra program, and 43 for the XMM-NuSTAR program.
  • Updated Planck Sunyaev Zel'dovich PSZ1 Catalog (09 Oct 2015)
    The updated version of the all-sky Planck catalog of 1,227 clusters and cluster candidates (PSZ1) derived from Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect detections using the first 15.5 months of Planck satellite observations from Planck Collaboration 2015, A&A, 581, A14 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton AO-15 Solicitation Closed (09 Oct 2015)
    XMM-Newton Fourteenth Announcement of Opportunity Closed.
  • Viewing tool updated (07 Oct 2015)
    Support for NuSTAR has been added to the HEASARC's Viewing tool, and the Suzaku option has been removed due to its retirement.
  • Suzaku CALDB updated (07 Oct 2015)
    The Suzaku CALDB has been updated for the XIS (update version 20151005) ...
  • Milky Way Star Clusters (MWSC) Catalog (01 Oct 2015)
    This catalog listing the properties of the 3,000+ open clusters in the Galaxy has been updated to include 63 newly discovered clusters from Scholz et al. 2015, A&A, 581, A39. The new version of MWSC is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Swift Cycle 12 GI Program (29 Sep 2015)
    NASA received 185 proposals, requesting a total observing time of 15.8 Ms and $6.0M in funds for 1,555 targets. Considering PIs and Co-Is, more than 600 individual scientists responded to the Swift Cycle 12 call. The Swift Cycle 12 Peer Review will be held in December to evaluate the merits of submitted proposals. The results of the Peer Review will be posted in late December 2015.
  • Astrosat, India's First Astronomy Satellite Launched into Space (28 Sep 2015)
    Astrosat, an Indian multi-wavelength observatory including 1 ultraviolet and 4 X-ray instruments, was successfully launched into space on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle today (Sep 28) at 04:30 GMT. Congratulations to all of our Indian colleagues and their international collaborators!
  • Sgr A*, Milky Way's Super-Massive Black Hole, Shows Signs of Increased Chatter (28 Sep 2015)
    3 orbiting X-ray space telescopes (Swift, Chandra and XMM-Newton) have detected an increased rate of X-ray flaring from Sgr A*, the usually quiet giant black hole at the center of our galaxy, in the last year compared to the previous 14 years of long-term monitoring. In a recently accepted paper, Ponti et al. (2015, MNRAS, in press) discuss whether this is normal behavior that was unnoticed due to limited monitoring, or if these flares were triggered by the recent close passage of the mysterious, dusty object "G2".
  • Reminder: The Deadline for Swift Cycle 12 proposals is Now Closed (28 Sep 2015)
  • Chandra CALDB 4.6.9 installed at the HEASARC (27 Sep 2015)
    CalDB 4.6.9 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.6.8 was released on September 23, 2015. Note that this release requires CIAO 4.3 or higher...
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (25 Sep 2015)
    A new Swift clock correction file has been added to the Swift SC Caldb (update version 20150911) ...
  • NGC 55 Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (25 Sep 2015)
    This catalog listing the X-ray properties of 154 highly significant X-ray sources detected by Chandra in archival ACIS-I observations of the nearby SB(s)m galaxy NGC 55 (from Binder et al. 2015, AJ, 150, 94), as well as the similar catalogs of X-ray sources from NGC 2403 and NGC 4214 from the same reference, are now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Second Catalog of Hard Fermi-LAT Sources (2FHL) (23 Sep 2015)
    The 2FHL Catalog of 360 sources detected above 50 GeV by the Fermi-Large Area Telescope (LAT) in 80 months of observations (compiled using the newly delivered Fermi Pass 8 event-level analysis software) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NGC 404 Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (22 Sep 2015)
    This catalog listing the X-ray properties and counterpart information for 74 highly significant X-ray sources detected by Chandra in a 97-ks ACIS-S observation of the nearby S0 Galaxy NGC 404 (from Binder et al. 2013, ApJ, 763, 128) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Catalog of 2XMM Flares Detected from Tycho-2 Stars (18 Sep 2015)
    This catalog listing the 0.2-12.0 keV X-ray properties of 170 flares and other types of variabi1ity detected in 2XMM sources that are stars in the Tycho-2 Catalog (from Pye et al. 2015, A&A, 581, A28) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • 7th NuSTAR Baseline Mission Public Data Release (17 Sep 2015)
    334 new NuSTAR data sets (total exposure time of ~10 Msec) from observations made as part of the baseline mission phase from 2012 August 1st to 2015 April 30th were released to the public NuSTAR archive on September 17th. These NuSTAR data are accessible via the usual HEASARC archive interfaces, i.e., Xamin and Browse, by querying the NuSTAR master catalog, 'numaster'. NuSTAR data can also be accessed from the HEASARC FTP site.
  • NuSTAR Guest Observer (GO) Cycle 2 Solicitation Released (15 Sep 2015)
    Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science for 2015 (ROSES-15) Amendment 26 (released on Sep 10, 2015) contains the revised text and new due date for Appendix D.10 soliciting proposals to the NuSTAR GO Cycle 2 opportunity. The new due date for proposal submission is Dec 11, 2015. Proposals should be submitted via the HEASARC's ARK Remote Proposal System (RPS). For more information about this AO, please visit the NuSTAR Proposal page
  • News Story: A Black Hole May Be "Hiding" In the Bright Globular Cluster 47 Tucanae (11 Sep 2015)
    Miller-Jones et al. (2015, MNRAS, in press) may have discovered the first black hole inside a globular cluster. Based on its X-ray and radio properties as well as the the confirmed accretion signature in its optical/ultraviolet spectrum, this object (the previously known X-ray source X9) discovered inside the 47 Tuc cluster may be a quiescent stellar-mass black hole.
  • M31 Chandra HRC X-Ray Source Catalog (10 Sep 2015)
    This catalog listing the 0.1-10.0 keV X-ray properties and proposed counterparts of 166 X-ray sources detected by the Chandra High Resolution Camera in a 17-epoch survey of M31 (from Williams et al. 2004, ApJ, 609, 735) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NGC 6791 Open Cluster Chandra X-Ray Source Catalog (09 Sep 2015)
    This catalog listing the 0.3-7.0 keV properties of 86 X-ray sources detected by Chandra in a 60-ks observation of the central (8 arcmin radius) region of the 8-Gyr open cluster NGC 6791 (from van den Berg et al. 2013, ApJ, 770, 98) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (08 Sep 2015)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on September 7, 2015 (CALDB version 20150904). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 51, valid through September 4, 2015.
  • Fv 5.4 released (01 Sep 2015)
    Updated September 2015; bug fixes, more ...
  • XSPEC 12.9.0b,c,d Released (01 Sep 2015)
    Patch 12.9.0b fixes an issue with the The (b)vvapec model' patch 12.9.0c fixes a subtle problem when defining linked parameters in models; and patch 12.9.0d fixes a problem in which the lmod command does not work if invoked from an xspec.rc file.
  • M108 (NGC 3556) Chandra Discrete X-Ray Source Catalog (31 Aug 2015)
    This catalog listing the 0.3-7.0 keV properties of 83 discrete sources detected by Chandra in a 60-ks observation of the isolated edge-on spiral galaxy M 108 (from Wang et al. 2003, ApJ, 598, 969) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Scientific Mission of Suzaku Declared Complete (28 Aug 2015)
    JAXA has announced that it is abandoning its heroic effort to recover Suzaku, and declared the mission complete.
  • NGC 1068 Chandra Compact X-Ray Source Catalog (28 Aug 2015)
    This catalog listing the 0.4-5.0 keV properties of 84 compact sources detected by Chandra in a 50-ks observation of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068 (from Smith & Wilson 2003, ApJ, 591, 138) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton AO-15 Proposals are Solicited: Due by October 9th (25 Aug 2015)
    The XMM-Newton Call for Observing Proposals, soliciting Guest Observing proposals for the 15th cycle (AO-15) observing program for ESA's X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton), has been released by ESA today. This Announcement of Opportunity solicits proposals for observations to be performed during a 12-month period commencing in May 2016.
  • XMM-Newton AO-15 Solicitation Released (25 Aug 2015)
    XMM-Newton observing proposals are solicited in response to the Fourteenth Announcement of Opportunity.
  • NuSTAR COSMOS Field X-Ray Source Catalog (24 Aug 2015)
    This catalog listing the 3-24 keV properties of 91 sources detected by NuSTAR in 121 observations totalling 3 Ms in a 1.7 sq. deg. region of the COSMOS field, 87 of which have Chandra and/or XMM counterparts (from Civano et al. 2015, ApJ, 808, 185) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • X-Raying the Tumultuous Heart of Our Galaxy (24 Aug 2015)
    A new image of powerful remnants of dead stars and their mighty action on the surrounding gas from ESA's XMM-Newton X-ray observatory reveals some of the most intense processes taking place in the central 1.5 degrees of our own galaxy, the Milky Way. Inter alia, newly discovered extended features, such as SNRs, superbubbles and X-ray filaments are reported in this new study by Ponti et al. (2015, MNRAS, 453, 172).
  • Sixth International Fermi Symposium Abstract and Regular Registration Deadline is Near (20 Aug 2015)
    The 6th International Fermi Symposium will be held in Washington, DC from Nov 9-13, 2015. This meeting will focus on the scientific investigations and results enabled by Fermi, the mission and instrument characteristics, future opportunities, and coordinated observations and analyses. The registration and abstract submission deadline is Sep 14, while the late registration deadline is Oct 30.
  • AKARI North Ecliptic Pole Deep Field Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (18 Aug 2015)
    This catalog listing the X-ray properties of 457 sources detected by Chandra in 300 ks of observations of the AKARI North Ecliptic Pole (NEP) deep field, of which 377 objects fall in the deep Subaru imaging region (from Krumpe et al. 2015, MNRAS, 446, 911) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Dr. Stephen S. Murray, High-Energy Astrophysicist, Dies at Age 70 (18 Aug 2015)
    Prominent astrophysicist Stephen (Steve) S. Murray died on Monday, August 10, 2015. Dr. Murray is widely recognized for advancing the field of high-energy astrophysics through the development of instruments and hardware as well as his research. During his long and distinguished career, he worked on four major high-energy missions, starting with Uhuru. He built instruments for Einstein in the 1970s, ROSAT in the 1980s, and most recently for Chandra, for which he was PI for the High-Resolution Camera.
  • PIMMS updated to Version 4.8 (18 Aug 2015)
    Version 4.8 released; contains a revised pile-up formula for XMM-Newton EPIC instruments, and it also contains updated EPIC effective area curves and updated ASTRO-H HXI effective area curves....
  • NGC 3115 Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (18 Aug 2015)
    This catalog listing the X-ray properties and source type information for 482 sources detected by Chandra in 1.1 Ms of observations of the nearby lenticular galaxy NGC 3115 (from Lin et al. 2015, ApJ, 808, 19) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Oxymoronic Black Hole in Center of RGG 118 Provides Clues to Growth (12 Aug 2015)
    Baldassare et al. (2015 ApJL, in press) used Chandra and the 6.5-meter Clay Telescope in Chile to identify the smallest supermassive black hole (SMBH) ever detected in the center of a galaxy. This object is about 50,000 solar masses, or less than half the mass of the previous smallest-known SMBH. It lies in the center of a dwarf disk galaxy, called RGG 118, and could provide clues as to how larger black holes formed along with their host galaxies 13 billion years or more in the past.
  • Physics of the Cosmos Program Analysis Group (PhysPAG) News (11 Aug 2015)
    On Friday August 7th, at the IAU General Assembly, the PhysPAG, Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group (ExoPAG), and Cosmic Origins (COPAG) leaders gave summaries of their anticipated reports to Dr. Paul Hertz, the Director of NASA's Astrophysics Division, in response to his decadal flagship mission charge. The presentations are available at the above link.
  • XSPEC 12.9.0a Released (06 Aug 2015)
    Fixes a bug in the calculation of agauss/zagauss models.
  • Swift BAT 100-Month Supergiant Fast X-Ray Transient (SFXT) Catalog (05 Aug 2015)
    This catalog listing over a thousand Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) flares detected from 11 SFXTs in the time range from 2005 February 12 to 2013 May 31 (from Romano et al. 2014, A&A, 562, A2) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Australia Telescope Chandra Deep Field-South and SDSS Stripe 82 20-GHz Source Catalog (05 Aug 2015)
    This catalog listing the 20-GHz and 1.4-GHz radio flux densites of 85 sources detected by the AT in a total area of 5 sq. deg. in the CDF-S and in Stripe 82 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (from Franzen et al. 2014, MNRAS, 439, 1212) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (03 Aug 2015)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the XRT (update version 20150721) and the UVOTA (update version 20150717)...
  • Physics of the Cosmos (PCOS) Newsletter (03 Aug 2015)
    The PCOS Program Office is pleased to announce that the August 2015 PCOS Newsletter is now available, including updates on LISA Pathfinder (LPF), Athena and Euclid, and a message from Paul Hertz, the Director of NASA's Astrophysics Division.
  • NASA Selects Proposals to Study Neutron Stars, Black Holes and More (31 Jul 2015)
    NASA has selected five proposals submitted to its Explorers Program to conduct focused scientific investigations and develop instruments that fill the scientific gaps between the agency's larger missions. The selected proposals, three Astrophysics Small Explorer missions (PRAXyS, IXPE and SPHEREX) and two Explorer Missions of Opportunity, will study polarized X-ray emissions from neutron star-black hole binary systems, the exponential expansion of space in the early universe, galaxies in the early universe, and star formation in our Milky Way galaxy.
  • HEASoft 6.17, XSPEC 12.9.0 released (30 Jul 2015)
    Released July 29, 2015; primarily driven by updates to the NuSTAR and Swift/XRT software, but also includes updates to other packages which have been revised to mirror the current development versions in use at the HEASARC. XSPEC version 12.9.0 also released as part of HEASoft 6.17....
  • VLA Gould's Belt Survey Taurus-Auriga Complex Source Catalog (29 Jul 2015)
    This catalog listing the radio properties and counterpart information for 610 sources detected by the JVLA at 4.5 and/or 7.5 GHz in large-scale (127 different target fields), deep (~18-25 microJy) observations of the Taurus-Auriga complex (from Dzib et al. 2015, ApJ, 801, 91) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Pulsar Punches Hole In Stellar Disk (28 Jul 2015)
    The double star system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 contains a star about 30 times as massive as the Sun and a pulsar. According to Pavlov et al. (2015, ApJ, 806, 192) the fast-moving pulsar in this binary appears to have punched a hole in a disk of gas around its companion star and launched a fragment of the disk outward at an average speed of 7 per cent of the speed of light. Chandra is tracking this cosmic clump, which appears to be picking up speed as it moves out.
  • VLA Gould's Belt Survey Orion Complex Source Catalog (17 Jul 2015)
    This catalog listing the radio properties and counterpart information for 374 sources detected by the JVLA at 4.5 and/or 7.5 GHz in large-scale (2.26 sq. deg.), deep (~60 microJy) observations of the Orion Molecular Clouds A and B (from Kounkel et al. 2014, ApJ, 790, 49) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • VLA Gould's Belt Survey Ophiuchus Complex Source Catalog (16 Jul 2015)
    This catalog listing the radio properties and counterpart information for 189 sources detected by the JVLA at 4.5 and/or 7.5 GHz in large-scale (~2000 sq. arcmin), deep (~20 microJy) observations of the Ophiuchus star-forming complex (from Dzib et al. 2013, ApJ, 775, 63) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Chandra Cycle 17 Accepted Proposals and Targets Lists Are Now Available (16 Jul 2015)
    The Peer-Review recommended targets and proposals for Chandra Cycle 17, including GTO and GO proposals, joint proposals with other ground-based and/or satellite facilities, archive, theory, large and multicycle proprosals, have now been publically released.
  • Deep XMM-Newton Survey of M33 X-Ray Source Catalog (15 Jul 2015)
    This catalog listing the X-ray properties of 1,296 sources detected by the EPIC cameras in a deep 8-field XMM-Newton mosaic of M33 covering the galaxy out to the D25 isophote down to a limiting X-ray luminosity of 4 x 1034 erg/s at the distance of M 33 (from Williams et al. 2015, ApJS, 218, 9) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • INTEGRAL AO-13 General Program Approved (13 Jul 2015)
    The INTEGRAL AO-13 General Program, as recommended by the Time Allocation Committee (TAC) and approved by ESA's Director of Science and Robotic Exploration (Prof. Alvaro Gimenez), has been released and the observers have been informed.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (10 Jul 2015)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20150707)...
  • NASA News Feature: Fermi Sees Record Flare from a Black Hole in a Distant Galaxy (10 Jul 2015)
    Five billion years ago, a great disturbance rocked a region near the monster black hole at the center of the galaxy 3C 279. On June 14, the pulse of high-energy light produced by this event finally arrived at Earth, setting off detectors aboard Fermi and other satellites. Astronomers around the world turned instruments toward the galaxy to observe this brief but record-setting flare in greater detail.
  • NASA News Feature: Swift Reveals a Black Hole Bull's-eye Around V404 Cygni (09 Jul 2015)
    What looks like a shooting target but is actually an image of nested rings of X-ray light centered on an erupting black hole? On June 15, Swift detected the start of a new outburst from the black-hole binary system, V404 Cygni. Since then, astronomers around the world have been monitoring the ongoing light show. On June 30, a team led by Andrew Beardmore (U. Leicester) imaged the system using the X-ray Telescope aboard Swift, revealing a series of concentric rings extending about one-third the apparent size of a full moon.
  • New Evidence for a Precocious Black Hole in the Galaxy CID-947 (09 Jul 2015)
    According to Trakhtenbrot et al. (2015, Science, 349, 168) the super-massive black hole (SMBH) in the otherwise normal, rather distant galaxy called CID-947 weighs a collossal 10% of its host galaxy's mass, whereas in today's local universe, SMBHs typically only reach a mass of 0.2 - 0.5% of their host galaxy's mass. This result obtained using the Keck 10-m telescope suggests that, in the early universe, SMBHs could grow much efficiently than their host galaxies.
  • Report of the Astrophysics Archives Programmatic Review, May 6-7, 2015 (09 Jul 2015)
    NASA's Astrophysics Division, Science Mission Directorate regularly requests comparative reviews of its Archival Data Centers (HEASARC, MAST, IRSA, NEA, NED and ADS) with the goal of maximizing the scientific return of these centers in the present constrained funding environment. The report of the 2015 Programmatic Review is available here.
  • Searing Sun As Seen in the Hard and Soft X-ray and UV Bands (08 Jul 2015)
    The surface of the Sun is lit up in a bouquet of colors in a new composite image containing data from NuSTAR, the Hinode X-Ray Telescope (XRT) and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). The high-energy X-rays seen by NuSTAR are shown in blue in this image, green represents lower-energy X-rays seen by the Hinode XRT, and yellow and red the UV light viewed by the SDO instruments. Iain Hannah of the University of Glasgow presented this image on July 8, at the UK RAS's National Astronomy Meeting in Wales.
  • NuSTAR Stares Deep into Hidden Lairs of Black Holes (06 Jul 2015)
    Lansbury et al. (2015, ApJ, in press) have used NuSTAR and its hard X-ray capability to observe nine galaxies where supermassive black holes (SMBHs) were thought to be extremely active but largely obscured, at least in the soft X-ray band. Five of these candidates were found to contain hidden SMBHs, feasting on surrounding material. This study supports the theory that potentially millions of SMBHs exist in the universe hidden from view at most wavelengths.
  • Swift AGN & Cluster Survey (SACS) Total-Band (0.2-10 keV) Point Source Catalog (06 Jul 2015)
    This catalog of 22,563 Swift XRT point sources which were detected in the total X-ray band (0.2-10 keV) in 125 sq. degrees of serendipitous fields (from Dai et al. 2015, ApJS, 218, 8) is now available in Browse and Xamin, along with the catalogs of 17,748 soft-band (0.5-2.0 keV) point sources, 10,060 hard-band (2-10 keV) point sources and 442 soft-band (0.5-2.0 keV) extended sources which were presented in the same paper.
  • NICER Blanketeer Featured on CBSnews (06 Jul 2015)
    Paula Cain, who makes the blanket which will protect NICER, was featured on CBSnews.com.
  • NICER Project Systems Engineer Featured on nasa.gov (06 Jul 2015)
    Charles Baker, the Project Systems Engineer for NICER, was interviewed on nasa.gov.
  • NASA News Feature: Astronomers Predict Fireworks from A Rare Stellar Encounter in 2018 (04 Jul 2015)
    Astronomers are gearing up for high-energy fireworks coming in early 2018, when PSR J2032+4127, a stellar remnant the size of a city, 'meets' its companion, MT91 213, one of the brightest stars in our galaxy. The cosmic light show will occur when this pulsar discovered by Fermi reaches periastron in its orbit about its massive companion. Scientists plan a global campaign to watch the event, from radio wavelengths to the highest-energy gamma rays detectable.
  • Chandra CALDB 4.6.8 installed at the HEASARC (02 Jul 2015)
    CalDB 4.6.8 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.6.8 was released on July 1, 2015. Note that this release requires CIAO 4.3 or higher...
  • NASA News Feature: NASA Missions Monitor a Waking Black Hole (02 Jul 2015)
    NASA's Swift satellite detected a rising tide of high-energy X-rays from the constellation Cygnus on June 15, just before 2:32 p.m. EDT. About 10 minutes later, the Japanese experiment on the ISS called the Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI) also picked up the flare. The outburst came from V404 Cygni, a binary system located about 8,000 light-years away that contains a black hole. Every couple of decades the black hole fires up in an outburst of high-energy light, becoming an X-ray nova.
  • News Article: Pulsar's Unusual Behavior May Help Scientists Understand Their Fundamental Structure (30 Jun 2015)
    Using data from Swift and RXTE, a team led by Frank Marshall of NASA/GSFC observed that the pulsar B0540-69 radically changed the rate at which its rotation rate slowed after 12 years of a steady decline. There is not enough data yet to classify the pulsar as intermittent, but the article notes that the behavior of this object may help solve the fundamental questions about what is inside them and why they shine at all.
  • Press Release: NASA Simulation Suggests Black Holes May Make Ideal Dark Matter Labs (28 Jun 2015)
    A new computer simulation by Jeremy Schnittman of NASA/GSFC shows that dark matter particles colliding in the extreme gravity of a black hole can produce strong, potentially observable gamma rays. Detecting this emission would provide a new tool for understanding both black holes and the nature of dark matter, the elusive substance accounting for most of the mass of the universe.
  • Stage-I Selections for the Fermi Cycle-8 GI Program Completed (27 Jun 2015)
    The stage-I selections for the Fermi Cycle-8 Guest Investigator Program have now been completed. The list is available here. The selection letters and peer evaluations will be distributed in the near future.
  • Fermi LAT Pass 8 data now available (25 Jun 2015)
    Fermi LAT Pass 8 data is now available from the Fermi Science Support Center's LAT data servers. The Pass 8 LAT data includes a number of improvements over the reprocessed Pass 7 data. Improvements include a better PSF, improved energy measurement, and increased acceptance across the whole energy band. As of the Pass 8 release date (June 24, 2015), reprocessed Pass 7 data is no longer available from the LAT data servers. Details can be found here.
  • Fermi Science Analysis Environment Updated for LAT Pass 8 Data (25 Jun 2015)
    The FSSC is pleased to announce the availability of a new version of the Fermi Science Tools, v10r0p5, released on June 24, 2015. This version includes support for pass 8 processed data and must be used in order to analyze pass 8 data. Details and software download can be found here.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (22 Jun 2015)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on June 22, 2015 (CALDB version 20150612). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 49 (good through June 12, 2015).
  • Australia Telescope Local Group Dwarf Spheroidals (dSphs) 2.1-GHz Components Catalog (19 Jun 2015)
    This catalog of 1,834 radio source components detected by the ATCA in the fields of 6 Local Group dSphs (Carina, Fornax, Sculptor, Bootes II, Segue 2, and Hercules) from Regis et al. (2015, MNRAS, 448, 3731) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Recovery Effort for Suzaku After Communication Failure (19 Jun 2015)
    Communication with Suzaku has become intermittent since June 1, preventing normal operations. Recovery effort continues.
  • Chandra Finds Evidence for Serial Black Hole Eruptions from the SMBH in NGC 5813 (18 Jun 2015)
    The supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy group NGC 5813 has erupted multiple times over a period of 50 million years, according to a new study by Randall et al. (2015, ApJ, 805. 112) which analyzed 650 ksec of Chandra data accumulated in 9 pointings made between 2005 and 2011.
  • xTime tool updated (11 Jun 2015)
    Support for the LIGO and GPS time system has been added to xTime.
  • Fermi LAT CALDB update (11 Jun 2015)
    The HEASARC CALDB for the Fermi LAT has been updated to version v10r0p5_20150509. This is the first version of the LAT caldb to include the instrument response functions for Pass 8 processed data...
  • NASA XMM-Newton Budget AO Released for AO-14 (05 Jun 2015)
  • Catalog of XMM Optical Monitor UV Sources in the Chandra Deep Field-South (03 Jun 2015)
    The XMMOMCDFS Catalog listing the UV and optical properties of 1,173 sources detected in a 17 by 17 square arcminute region of the CDF-S by the XMM-Newton OM (from Antonucci et al. 2015, A&A, 574, A49) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • INTEGRAL 2015: The New High Energy Sky after a Decade of Discoveries (02 Jun 2015)
    The INTEGRAL 2015 workshop will be held 5-9 October 2015 in Rome. It will focus on providing an up-to-date view of the high-energy sky.
  • New Constraints on Quantum Gravity from X-ray and Gamma-Ray Observations (01 Jun 2015)
    A team of scientists has used X-ray and gamma-ray observations of some of the most distant objects in the Universe to better understand the nature of space and time. Their results set limits on the quantum nature, or "foaminess" of spacetime at extremely tiny scales 1000 times smaller than the nucleus of a hydrogen atom. Perlman et al. (2015, ApJ, 805. 10)) reached this conclusion from observations of very distant quasars in the soft X-ray (Chandra) and gamma-ray (Fermi and VERITAS) bands.
  • Catalog of XMM Sources in the Herschel TeraHertz Large Array Survey (H-ATLAS) Field (29 May 2015)
    The XMMATLAS Catalog listing the X-ray properties of 2,050 sources detected in 7.1 square degrees in the H-ATLAS field by XMM-Newton (from Ranalli et al. 2015, A&A, 577, A121) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (28 May 2015)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on May 28, 2015 (CALDB version 20150526). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file.
  • Fermi 2FGL Unassociated Gamma-Ray Sources Possible Radio Identifications Catalog (27 May 2015)
    This catalog of 865 radio point sources detected by the VLA and/or the ATCA at 5 - 9 GHz within the 3-sigma localizations of 460 "unassociated" Fermi LAT (2FGL) gamma-ray sources (from Schinzel et al. 2015, ApJS, 217, 4) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Swift Discovers a Strong Ultraviolet Pulse from a Newborn Type Ia Supernova (23 May 2015)
    New observations made by Swift have provided an unprecedented clue to the origin of some Type Ia supernova explosions. The UVOT telescope aboard Swift started observing the Type Ia SN iPTF14atg only 4 days after the explosion, and unveiled a bright pulse of UV emission. This is consistent with theoretical expectations of emission from the collision of material ejected from the explosion of the white dwarf with the companion star from which it has been accreting matter, according to Cao et al. (2015, Nature, 521, 328).
  • The Faint Images of the Radio Sky at 20-cm (FIRST) Catalog (19 May 2015)
    The latest/last (2014 December 17) version of the FIRST Catalog containing 946,432 20-cm sources detected by the VLA in 10,575 square degrees of the sky (from Helfand et al. 2015, ApJ, 801, 26) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • The Million Quasars Catalog (18 May 2015)
    The latest version (v4.5, 10 May 2015) of the MILLIQUAS Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009 - 2015) containing more than one million (1,153,110 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XSPEC 12.8.2p Released (15 May 2015)
    Fixes an error in the calculation of derivatives for the cstat with background and pgstat statistics
  • Very Large Array M31 1.4-GHz Source Catalog (14 May 2015)
    This catalog (from Galvin & Filipovic 2014, SerAJ, 189, 15) of 1,131 detections of 916 discrete 1.4-GHz sources in archived VLA observations covering the field of M31 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton Optical Monitor (OM) Serendipitous UV Survey Source Catalog, v2.1 (14 May 2015)
    The updated version 2.1 of the XMM OM-SUSS Catalog listing the optical and UV properties of 6,246,432 source detections made by the XMM-Newton OM (v1.0 is described in Page et al. 2012, MNRAS, 426, 903) is now available in Browse and Xamin, as is the associated list of 7,170 XMM observations from 2000 to 2013 in which these sources were found.
  • Star Explosion is Lopsided, Finds NASA's NuSTAR (08 May 2015)
    The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array spacecraft has found evidence that the massive star which created supernova SN 1987A exploded in a lopsided fashion, sending ejected material flying in one direction and the core of the star in the other: the 44 Ti gamma-ray emission lines produced in the innermost ejecta are narrow and redshifted by 700 km/s, according to Boggs et al. (2015, Science, 348, 670).
  • Atacama Cosmology Telescope 2008 Southern Survey 148/218 GHz Source Catalog (07 May 2015)
    This catalog (from Marsden et al. 2014, MNRAS, 439, 1556) of 191 sources detected by the ACT at 148 and/or 218 GHz is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Fermi LAT Sources Refined Associations Catalog (06 May 2015)
    This catalog of 2,219 unique gamma-ray sources detected by the Fermi Large Area Telescope, a refined and merged list of all of the associations of 1FGL plus 2FGL (from Massaro et al. 2015, ApJS, 217, 2), is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (01 May 2015)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20150428)...
  • ROSAT All-Sky Survey Two Selected Fields X-Ray Source Catalog (01 May 2015)
    This catalog of 370 X-ray point sources above a maximum likelihood threshold of 8 detected by the PSPC in two 10 by 10 degree fields (in Com and Sge) during the ROSAT All-Sky Survey (from Greiner & Richter 2015, A&A, 575, A42) is now available in Browse and Xamin, along with the catalog of 722 possible optical counterparts of these X-ray sources which was presented in the same paper.
  • Chandra Suggests Black Holes Gorging at Excessive Rates (30 Apr 2015)
    A group of unusual giant black holes may be consuming excessive amounts of matter, according to a new study using Chandra. This finding (by Luo et al. 2015, ApJ, in press) that some quasars are even more adept at devouring material than previously realized may help astronomers understand how the largest black holes were able to grow so rapidly in the early Universe.
  • NuSTAR Captures Possible 'Screams' from Zombie Stars (29 Apr 2015)
    Peering into the heart of the Milky Way galaxy, NuSTAR has spotted a mysterious glow of hard X-rays that, according to Perez et al. (2015, Nature, 520, 646), could be the "howls" of dead stars as they feed on stellar companions. This hard X-ray emission, sharply peaked on the Galactic Center, "could indicate a significantly more massive population of accreting white dwarfs, large populations of LMXBs or MSPs, or particle outflows interacting with the surrounding radiation field, dense molecular material or magnetic fields."
  • XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalog (Version 3XMM-DR5) (28 Apr 2015)
    The updated version of this catalog (from Rosen et al. 2015, A&A, submitted) containing 565,962 X-ray source detections drawn from a total of 7,781 XMM-Newton EPIC observations made between 2000 Feb 3 and 2013 Dec 20 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalogue: 3XMM-DR5 Released (28 Apr 2015)
    Latest release of the XMM SSC: 3XMM-DR5
  • Suzaku Cycle 10 Target List Available (21 Apr 2015)
    The list of accepted Suzaku AO-10 targets is now available.
  • Mysterious 'Cold Spot': Fingerprint of Largest Structure in the Universe? (20 Apr 2015)
    Szapudi et al. (2015, MNRAS, 450, 288) have used the WISE-2MASS IR galaxy catalogue matched with Pan-STARRS1 (PS1) galaxies to search for a supervoid in the direction of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) cold spot. Their results are indeed consistent with such a supervoid as a plausible cause for the WMAP/Planck cold spot
  • Fermi LAT High-Energy (1FHL) Source Catalog (17 Apr 2015)
    This catalog of 514 gamma-ray sources detected at energies above 10 GeV by the Fermi Large Area Telescope in its first 3 years of operations (taken from Ackermann et al. 2013, ApJS, 209, 34) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Swift Data Reprocessing (17 Apr 2015)
    The Swift Data Center is now reprocessing the Swift data for the entire mission in chronological order using the current version of the Swift Data Center pipeline (v. 3.16.08). All the data for 2005 have been reprocessed and delivered to the HEASARC. The archives in Italy and UK are currently populating their archives with the new data. Currently the reprocessing rate is about 3 months per month.
  • Astronomers discover two classes of Type Ia Supernovae (14 Apr 2015)
    Milne et al. 2015, ApJ, 803, 20 have found that type Ia supernovae commonly used to measure distances in the universe fall into distinct populations not recognized before. The data collected with Swift were crucial because the differences between the populations are subtle in visible light, but became obvious only through Swift's dedicated follow-up observations in the ultraviolet with UVOT.
  • XSPEC 12.8.2n Released (13 Apr 2015)
    Updated April 8, 2015. Corrections for the feld abundance table values for the elements Cl, Cr, Mn, and Co.
  • XSPEC 12.8.2m Released (02 Apr 2015)
    Updated April 2, 2015. Fixes an error in the Goodman-Weare option for MCMC which caused confidence regions to be about 70% of their correct size, and performance improvements.
  • Updated IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer Observation Log (02 Apr 2015)
    The latest version of the IRAM PdBI observing log (Dan et al. 1991-2015, IRAM Newsletters) containing 18,443 observations completed through September 30, 2013 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • 6th NuSTAR Public Data Release (01 Apr 2015)
    679 new NuSTAR data sets from the first 24 months of observations were released to the public NuSTAR archive on March 31st. NuSTAR data are accessible via the usual HEASARC archive interfaces, i.e., Xamin and Browse, by querying the NuSTAR master table (numaster). NuSTAR data can also be accessed from the HEASARC FTP site.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (31 Mar 2015)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20150302)...
  • Suzaku CALDB updated (31 Mar 2015)
    The Suzaku CALDB has been updated for the XIS (update version 20150312) ...
  • Swift X-Ray Telescope Cluster Survey (SWXCS) Catalog (27 Mar 2015)
    This catalog of 263 X-ray group and cluster candidates detected by the Swift XRT in ~ 3,000 high Galactic latitude fields in the period from 2005 to 2012 (from Liu et al. 2015, ApJS, 216, 28) is now available in Browse and Xamin, along with the catalog of 383 possible optical, other X-ray and/or S-Z counterparts of these sources which was presented in the same paper.
  • Hubble, Chandra Find Clues that May Help Identify Dark Matter (27 Mar 2015)
    Using observations from the Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory, astronomers have found that dark matter does not slow down when colliding with itself, meaning it interacts with itself less than previously thought. Harvey et al. (2015, Science, 347, 1462) argue that this finding narrows down the options for what this mysterious substance might be.
  • Proceedings of the 10th INTEGRAL Workshop Available Online (26 Mar 2015)
    The Proceedings of the 10th INTEGRAL Workshop: A Synergistic View of the High-Energy Sky held 15-19 September 2014 in Annapolis, MD, is now available online via Proceedings of Science.
  • Suzaku, Herschel Link a Black-hole 'Wind' to a Galactic Gush of Star-forming Gas (26 Mar 2015)
    By combining observations in X-rays by Suzaku with infrared observations by Herschel, Tombesi et al. (2015, Nature, 519, 436) have connected a fierce "wind" produced near the monster black hole in the galaxy IRAS F11119+3257 to an outward torrent of cold gas a thousand light-years across. The finding validates a long-suspected feedback mechanism enabling a supermassive black hole to influence the evolution of its host galaxy.
  • South Polar Telescope Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SPT-SZ) Survey Catalog (24 Mar 2015)
    This catalog of 677 galaxy cluster candidates detected at high (>= 4.5) significance in the 2500 square degree SPT-SZ survey (taken from Bleem et al. 2015, ApJS, 216, 27) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Near-UV Detected Bright Early-M Dwarf Stars Catalog (23 Mar 2015)
    This catalog of ~800 nearby early-M dwarf stars with GALEX NUV fluxes signficantly in excess of their expected basal levels (taken from Ansdell et al. 2015, ApJ, 798, 41) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (20 Mar 2015)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on March 20, 2015 (CALDB version 20150316). This updates the fpm gain and the NuSTAR clock correction file.
  • GK Persei: "Mini Supernova" Explosion Could Have Big Impact (20 Mar 2015)
    Chandra observations of the remnant of the 1901 classical nova GK Per may provide clues to the dynamics of other, much larger stellar eruptions. Takei et al. (2015, ApJ, 801, 92) analyzed Chandra observations made in 2000 and 2013 and find that the X-ray luminosity of the remnant has decreased by about 40% over the 13 years whereas the temperature has essentially remained constant, at about 1 MK, suggesting the shock wave is expanding into a very low density ISM.
  • XSPEC 12.8.2l Released (18 Mar 2015)
    Updated March 12, 2015. When a new minimum is found and accepted during a steppar run, the new best-fit information is now propagated to the contour plot.
  • Norma Arm Region Chandra Survey (NARCS) Point & Extended Source Catalog (16 Mar 2015)
    The NARCS catalog of 1,415 X-ray sources in a 2 by 0.8 degrees region in the direction of the Norma spiral arm (taken from Fornasini et al. 2014, ApJ, 796, 105) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Aperture Photometry Light Curves for Fermi LAT 3FGL Catalog Sources (12 Mar 2015)
    Aperture photometry light curves of all Fermi LAT 3FGL sources with 30 day time resolution, together with their power spectra, are now available. These will normally be updated weekly. In addition, results of an automatic search for flaring 3FGL sources are also provided with weekly updates here.
  • PPM-XL Bright M Dwarfs Catalog (11 Mar 2015)
    This catalog of 8,479 M dwarfs brighter than a K-magnitude of 9 selected out of the PPM-XL Catalog (taken from Frith at al. 2013, MNRAS, 435, 2161) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • 13th INTEGRAL Announcement of Opportunity (09 Mar 2015)
    ESA Director of Science and Robotic Exploration (Prof. Alvaro Gimenez) has released the 13th Announcement of Opportunity for observing proposals with INTEGRAL. The deadline for proposal submission is April 17, 2015. Additional information can be found on the ESA INTEGRAL website and on the "Proposals and Tools" page of the NASA INTEGRAL GOF.
  • Applications for 2015 Fermi Summer School Are Due Soon! (04 Mar 2015)
    The deadline for applications for the 2015 Fermi Summer School, which will run from May 26 through June 5, 2015, is March 13th.
  • NuSTAR Cycle 1 Results (03 Mar 2015)
    The list of NuSTAR targets accepted by the Cycle 1 peer review is now available, Cycle 1 observations will start to be routinely performed on April 1, 2015. Written evaluations will be sent to all NuSTAR Cycle 1 PIs in the next few weeks. As specified in the AO, U.S. PIs of proposals with category A or B targets will be invited to submit phase-2 funding proposals. Note that 0.5 Ms of NuSTAR observing time is also available through the Chandra Cycle 17 CfP, due March 17.
  • Chandra CALDB 4.6.7 installed at the HEASARC (26 Feb 2015)
    CalDB 4.6.7 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.6.7 was released on February 23, 2015. Note that this release requires CIAO 4.3 or higher...
  • An Intriguing New Member of the Black Hole Family Tree (26 Feb 2015)
    A newly discovered cosmic object may help provide answers to some long-standing questions about how black holes evolve and influence their surroundings, according to Mezcua et al. (2015, MNRAS, in press), who observed it with Chandra and the European VLBI Network. This intriguing object, called NGC2276-3c, is located in an arm of the spiral galaxy NGC 2276. With an inferred mass of 50,000 solar masses, it appears to be an 'intermediate-mass black hole' or IMBH.
  • NASA, ESA Telescopes Give Shape to Furious Black Hole Winds (19 Feb 2015)
    Five simultaneous observations by Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) and the XMM-Newton observatory are showing that fierce winds from a supermassive black hole in PDS 456 blow outward in all directions -- a phenomenon that had been suspected, but difficult to prove until now. See Nardini et al. (2015, Science, 346, 860) for the full details.
  • The Million Quasars Catalog (19 Feb 2015)
    The latest version (v4.4, 6 February 2015) of the MILLIQUAS Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009 - 2015) containing more than one million (1,151,011 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Release of Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2015, Omnibus Solicitation NNH15ZDA001N (19 Feb 2015)
    NASA's Science Mission Directorate announced the release of its annual ROSES omnibus solicitation for 2015 on February 13, 2015. Table 2 of individual programs in order of due date can be found here.
  • Low Frequency Array Bootes Field 62-MHz Source Catalog (29 Jan 2015)
    This catalog of 329 62-MHz sources detected by LOFAR in a field in Bootes (from Van Weeren at al. 2014, ApJ, 793, 82) is now available in Browse and Xamin, along with 3 other tables based on data from the same paper from observations of a field centered on 3C 295 of 62-MHz sources, 46-MHz sources and 34-MHz sources.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (23 Jan 2015)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on January 23, 2015 (CALDB version 20150123). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 44, valid up to 2015-01-23.
  • Updated IRAM Pico Veleta 30-m Telescope Observation Log (21 Jan 2015)
    The latest version of the IRAM 30-m telescope observing log (Dan et al. 1991-2015, IRAM Newsletters) containing the details of 280,283 observations completed through 2013 December 31 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XSPEC 12.8.2k Released (21 Jan 2015)
    Updated January 21, 2015. It is now possible to retrieve the values of the variable fit parameters at each point of a steppar run in either xspec or PyXspec
  • Bright Extra-Galactic AT20G Sources Polarizations Catalog (20 Jan 2015)
    This catalog of 187 bright extragalactic sources listing polarization data at 4.8, 8.6 and 18 GHz (from Massardi at al. 2013, MNRAS, 436, 2915) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • General CALDB updated (17 Jan 2015)
    Update 17 Jan 2015: added new leap second (01 July 2015) into leapsec_010715.fits file.
  • INTEGRAL orbit change in January and February 2015 to foster a safe disposal by 2029 (16 Jan 2015)
    A side effect of the orbit change is that INTEGRAL will no longer have revolutions of 3 sidereal days. Instead, one aims at implementing a scheme of 3 revolutions in 8 days. See ISOC news web page for details.
  • New INTEGRAL data distribution policy for AO-12 (16 Jan 2015)
    In AO-12 the data access rights policy has changed with respect to previous AOs. See ISDC data distribution web page for a description and new download interface.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (16 Jan 2015)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on January 14, 2015 (CALDB version 20150114). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 43, valid up to 2015-01-14.
  • XSPEC 12.8.2j Released (16 Jan 2015)
    Updated January 15, 2015. Fix to the optxagnf model ...
  • Third Fermi LAT (3FGL) Catalog Released (15 Jan 2015)
    The 3FGL catalog is based on the first 4 years of LAT science data. It contains 3,033 sources of gamma-rays from 100 MeV to 300 GeV. The catalog is provided as a FITS table and as PDF files, and is accompanied by important caveats as well as a draft of the paper describing the details of the catalog preparation. The 3FGL catalog represents a major milestone and is a great accomplishment by the international Fermi-LAT team.
  • Lists of Accepted Swift Cycle 11 Recommended Targets and Proposals Are Available (14 Jan 2015)
    The lists of Swift Cycle 11 Guest Investigator Program recommended targets and proposals have been posted.
  • Suzaku Cycle 10 GO Proposal Submission Deadline is Soon (13 Jan 2015)
    The high-energy community is reminded that proposals to the Suzaku Cycle 10 Guest Observer Program should be submitted (by US-based proposers) through the HEASARC's ARK/RPS online facility by 16:30 EST on February 3, 2015.
  • Fermi Cycle 8 GI Proposal Submission Deadline is At Hand (13 Jan 2015)
    The high-energy community is reminded that proposals to the Fermi Cycle-8 Guest Investigator Program should be submitted through the HEASARC's ARK/RPS online facility by 16:30 EST on January 22, 2015.
  • The Million Quasars Catalog (13 Jan 2015)
    The latest version (v4.3, 11 January 2015) of the MILLIQUAS Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009 - 2015) containing more than one million (1,116,659 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Optically-Selected SDSS QSOs NVSS Detections Catalog (13 Jan 2015)
    This catalog of 354 SDSS QSOs in 2 selected redshift ranges which were detected in the NRAO VLA Sky Survey at 20 cm (from Condon at al. 2013, ApJ, 768, 37) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Suzaku CALDB updated (10 Jan 2015)
    The Suzaku CALDB has been updated for the XIS (update version 20150105) ...
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (10 Jan 2015)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20150107)...
  • Will the Real Monster Black Hole Please Stand Up? (09 Jan 2015)
    As described in Ptak et al. (2015, ApJ, in press), a new high-energy X-ray image from NuSTAR has pinpointed the 'true' monster in two colliding galaxies, collectively called Arp 299, that are located 44 Mpc away. Each of the galaxies has a supermassive black hole at its heart. NuSTAR has revealed that the black hole located in Arp 299-B, the western of the galaxy pair, is actively gorging on gas, while its partner Arp 299-A is either dormant or hidden under gas or dust.
  • NASA Observatories Take an Unprecedented Look into Superstar Eta Carinae (09 Jan 2015)
    At this week's AAS Meeting, Eta Car, the most luminous and massive stellar system within 10,000 light-years, and known for its surprising behavior such as 2 massive eruptions in the 19th century, was showcased. A long-term study led by Ted Gull, Mike Corcoran, Tom Madura and Mairan Teodoro has used NASA satellites, ground-based telescopes and theoretical modeling to produce the most comprehensive picture of Eta Carinae to date.
  • Chandra Detects Record-Breaking Outburst from Milky Way's Supermassive Black Hole (07 Jan 2015)
    At this week's AAS Meeting, Haggard et al. have presented Chandra observations of the largest X-ray flare ever detected from the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, Sgr A*. The magnitude of this event raises questions about the behavior of this 4.5 million solar mass black hole and its surrounding environment.
  • XSPEC 12.8.2h Released (30 Dec 2014)
    Updated December 30, 2014. Adds a new function to PyXspec which makes available the results of the most recent Fit.steppar() run ...
  • PIMMS updated to Version 4.7d (24 Dec 2014)
    Version 4.7d updated, though still somewhat preliminary, effective area curve for the NICER mission...
  • NuSTAR Observes Sun Sizzling in High-Energy X-Rays (22 Dec 2014)
    For the first time, NuSTAR, a mission designed to observe black holes and other objects far from our solar system has turned its gaze back closer to home, capturing images of the Sun, and producing the most sensitive solar portrait ever taken in hard X-rays. Future NuSTAR images should provide even better data as the sun winds down its solar cycle and might capture the hypothesized nanoflares that may energize the solar corona.
  • Chandra Weighs Most Massive Galaxy Cluster in Distant Universe (22 Dec 2014)
    A newly discovered galaxy cluster, XDCP J0044.0-2033 nicknamed the Gioiello or Jewel Cluster, is the most massive cluster ever detected with an age of 800 million years or less. Using data from Chandra, Tozzi et al. (2015, ApJ, in press) have accurately determined the mass and other properties of this cluster, an important step in understanding how galaxy clusters have evolved over cosmic time.
  • Chandra Cycle 17 Call for Proposals Has Been Released (18 Dec 2014)
    The Chandra X-ray Center is pleased to announce the release of the Chandra Cycle 17 Call for Proposals (CfP). The CfP, the Proposers' Observatory Guide (POG), proposal planning software, and general information are posted on the above web site. The deadline for Cycle 17 proposals to be submitted by is 2015 March 17, 6:00pm EDT.
  • New Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Catalog Web Site (17 Dec 2014)
    This web site includes search tools to query the Swiftgrb database at the HEASARC and external sites for additional information on the GRBs. The Swiftgrb database contains information for each burst detected by Swift, as well as data products obtained from all instruments on Swift (currently through Dec 2012).
  • Chandra CALDB 4.6.5 installed at the HEASARC (16 Dec 2014)
    CalDB 4.6.5 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.6.5 was released on December 16, 2014. Note that this release requires CIAO 4.3 or higher...
  • WISE Blazar-like Radio-Loud Source (WIBRaLS) Catalog (16 Dec 2014)
    This catalog of 7,855 sources classified as BL Lacs, FSRQs, or mixed candidate blazars based on their WISE mid-IR colors being similar to those of confirmed gamma-ray blazars (from D'Abrusco et al. 2014, ApJS, 215, 14) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XSPEC 12.8.2g Released (15 Dec 2014)
    Updated December 15, 2014. Change for recorn component ...
  • Chandra Bulge Field X-Ray Point Source Catalog (15 Dec 2014)
    This catalog of 2,002 Chandra X-ray point sources detected in the Chandra Bulge Field (from Morihana et al. 2013, ApJ, 766, 14) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Chandra Observatory Identifies 28 ULXs in Colliding Galaxy Pair (11 Dec 2014)
    Using Chandra X-ray data as well as Spitzer IR and GALEX UV data, Mineo et al. (2014, ApJ, in press) have now tallied a total of 28 ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) located between the collding galaxies NGC 2207 and IC 2163. Twelve of these vary over a span of several years, including seven that were not detected before because they were in a 'quiet' phase during earlier observations.
  • XMM-Newton CFHTLS W1 Field Galaxy Groups Catalog (11 Dec 2014)
    This catalog of the properties of 128 X-ray selected groups of galaxies detected in the CFHTLS W1 field (from Gozaliasl et al. 2014, A&A, 566, A140) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Suzaku AO-10 Released (11 Dec 2014)
    AO-10 proposals, for XIS observations between 2015 May-Oct, are due on 2015 February 3.
  • The Million Quasars Catalog (11 Dec 2014)
    The latest version (v4.2, 6 December 2014) of the MILLIQUAS Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009 - 2014) containing more than one million (1,046,163 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XMMAO (XMM-Newton Accepted Targets) Table (11 Dec 2014)
    The latest version of the table of accepted XMM-Newton targets, updated to include AO-14 results, is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton AO-14 Results Released (10 Dec 2014)
    The list of XMM-Newton observing proposals accepted by the AO-14 Observing Time Allocation Committee is now available.
  • XMM-Newton XSA v8.3 Released (04 Dec 2014)
    The latest release of the XMM-Newton Science Archive tool.
  • Enhanced Bibcode Access In Xamin (02 Dec 2014)
    The recently released version 2.1.6 of Xamin has some enhanced capabilities for handling bibcode queries. For some time the web interface has allowed users to ask whether any tables have rows that index observations which are referenced in a particular ... Continue reading ...
  • INTEGRAL science operations confirmed until 31 December 2016 (01 Dec 2014)
    During a meeting on 19 and 20 November 2014, the ESA Science Programme Committee (SPC) approved the confirmation of science operations until 31 December 2016, as well the indicative extension of science operations for INTEGRAL until 31 December 2018, subject to a mid-term review in 2016. See the full story on the SPC decision.
  • Revised Bologna Catalog of Clusters and Candidates in M31 (V. 5) (18 Nov 2014)
    The RBC catalog of over 2000 confirmed and/or suspected globular clusters in the M31 Galaxy (from Galleti et al. 2009, A&A, 508, 1285 and previous papers) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTAR Guest Observer AO1 Deadline Is Near (14 Nov 2014)
    The deadline for NuSTAR proposal submission is 4:30 pm EST on November 25th .
  • IceCube & 3 NASA X-ray Telescopes Find Sgr A* May Be a Neutrino Factory (14 Nov 2014)
    Based on an analysis of data from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, Chandra, Swift, and NuSTAR, Bai et al. (2014, Phys. Rev. D, 90, 063012) have discovered that the giant black hole at the center of the Milky Way may be producing neutrinos. If confirmed, this would be the first time neutrinos have been traced back to a black hole.
  • XMM-Newton SAS v14.0.0 Released (13 Nov 2014)
    The latest release of the XMM-Newton Science Analysis Software.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (12 Nov 2014)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20141107)...
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (07 Nov 2014)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on November 7, 2014 (CALDB version 20141107). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 42, valid up to 2014-11-07.
  • Chandra Observatory Identifies Impact of Cosmic Chaos on Star Birth (28 Oct 2014)
    Zhuravleva et al. (2014, Nature, in press) have analyzed the Chandra data for the nearby cool-core clusters of galaxies Persesu and Virgo and conclude that turbulence may be preventing hot gas there from cooling, addressing a long-standing question of why galaxy clusters do not form large numbers of stars.
  • INTEGRAL IBIS AGN Catalog (24 Oct 2014)
    This catalog of the classification and X-ray properties of 272 active galactic nuclei which have been detected by the INTEGRAL IBIS instrument (from Malizia et al. 2012, MNRAS, 426, 1750) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • 5th NuSTAR Public Data Release (23 Oct 2014)
    214 new NuSTAR data sets from the first 24 months of observations were released to the public NuSTAR archive on September 23rd. NuSTAR data are accessible via the usual HEASARC archive interfaces, i.e., Xamin and Browse, by querying the NuSTAR master table (numaster). NuSTAR data can also be accessed from the HEASARC FTP site.
  • Browse bug fix (22 Oct 2014)
    Bug fix to Browse v. 8.4. Fixed calculation of data product download size for the Create Download Script option. ...
  • Fermi Finds Hints of Starquakes in Magnetar Burst 'Storm' (22 Oct 2014)
    Fermi detected a rapid-fire "storm" of high-energy blasts from the highly magnetized neutron star (magnetar) SGR J1550-5418 on Jan. 22, 2009. Now Huppenkothen et al. 2014, ApJ, 787, 128 have discovered underlying signals related to seismic waves rippling throughout the magnetar. Such signals were first identified during the fadeout of rare giant flares produced by magnetars.
  • The Million Quasars Catalog (21 Oct 2014)
    The latest version (v4.1, 20 October 2014) of the MILLIQUAS Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009 - 2014) containing more than one million (1,043,468 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • ROSES-14 Amendment 39: Revised Text and New Due Date for D.6, Fermi Guest Investigator - Cycle 8 (20 Oct 2014)
    The changes to the text are the inclusion of joint observations with INTEGRAL, some clarifications about two-year projects, a larger range for possible funding levels, and a later due date. Proposals are now due by 4:30 pm Eastern time on January 22, 2015.
  • VLA-COSMOS Survey 324-MHz Continuum Source Catalog (20 Oct 2014)
    This catalog of the properties of 182 324-MHz radio sources detected by the Very Large Array in the COSMOS field (from Smolcic et al. 2014, MNRAS, 443, 2590) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (20 Oct 2014)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on October 20, 2014 (CALDB version 20141020). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 41, valid up to 2014-10-20.
  • AT Large Area Survey (ATLAS) CDF-S and ELAIS-S1 1.4-GHz Data Release 2 Components Catalog (16 Oct 2014)
    This catalog of the properties of 2,588 1.4-GHz components detected by the Australia Telescope in the CDF-S & ELAIS-S1 fields (from Hales et al. 2014, MNRAS, 441, 2555) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XSPEC 12.8.2f Released (16 Oct 2014)
    Updated October 15, 2014. 64-bit support by udmget ...
  • 15 Years of Science with Chandra Symposium Registration Deadline Extended (15 Oct 2014)
    The registration and poster submission deadlines for the 15 Years of Science with Chandra Symposium have been extended until October 24, 2014. The registration fee will be raised to $600 after that day. Please note that October 24, 2014 is also the deadline for booking the hotel rooms at the conference rates. Please book your room early.
  • Massive Star-Forming Regions (MSFRs) Omnibus X-Ray Catalog (MOXC) (15 Oct 2014)
    The MOXC catalog of the properties of 20,623 X-ray point sources observed by Chandra/ACIS towards 12 MSFRs located at distances ranging from 1.7 to 50 kpc (from Townsley et al. 2014, ApJS, 213, 1) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (14 Oct 2014)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on October 14, 2014 (CALDB version 20141014). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 40, valid up to 2014-10-09.
  • XMM-Newton AO-14 Solicitation Closed (10 Oct 2014)
    XMM-Newton Fourteenth Announcement of Opportunity Closed.
  • Catalog of Dynamical Masses of Selected Orbital Binary Systems (09 Oct 2014)
    This catalog listing the masses of 652 orbital binaries with known trigonometric parallaxes and orbits of high quality (from Malkov et al. 2012, A&A, 546, A69) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • A ULX with a Black Hole Whose Mass is Less Than 15 Solar Masses (08 Oct 2014)
    Motch et al. (2014, Nature, 514, 198) have used Swift, Chandra and XMM-Newton, as well as ground-based optical telescopes, to study the Ultraluminous X-ray (ULX) source P13 in the galaxy NGC 7793. They constrain the black hole mass in this binary to be less than 15 solar masses, so it is not an intermediate-mass black hole.
  • NASA's NuSTAR Telescope Discovers Shockingly Bright Dead Star (08 Oct 2014)
    Bachetti et al. (2014, Nature, 514, 202) used NuSTAR (together with Chandra and Swift) to find a pulsating "dead" star beaming with the energy of about 10 million suns. This is the brightest pulsar ever recorded. The surprising find is helping astronomers better understand the mysterious sources of blinding X-rays, called ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs), which, until now, were all thought to be black holes.
  • DS9 Updated (08 Oct 2014)
    Version 7.3.2; DS9 now fully supports 64 bit applications across all platforms. New support for 64 bit MacOSX Aqua has been added, along with 64 bit Windows Cygwin, gui improvements, more ...
  • Reminder: XMM-Newton AO-14 Deadline is Very Near (08 Oct 2014)
    A friendly reminder that XMM-Newton proposals are due THIS Friday, i.e., 10 October 2014, at 12:00 UT = 8:00am EDT.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (02 Oct 2014)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20140903)...
  • Suzaku CALDB updated (02 Oct 2014)
    The Suzaku CALDB has been updated for the XIS (update version 20141001) ...
  • Catalog of Swift XRT Counterparts to Unidentified 1FGL Sources (26 Sep 2014)
    This catalog listing 267 X-ray sources found in the Swift XRT FoV in observations of 134 high-latitude unidentified Fermi gamma-ray sources (from Takeuchi et al. 2013, ApJS, 208, 25) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NICER Passes Critical Design Review (19 Sep 2014)
    NICER unanimously passed its CDR "with flying colors".
  • Milky Way Star Clusters (MWSC) Catalog (18 Sep 2014)
    This catalog listing the properties of the 3,000+ open clusters in the Galaxy has been updated to include 139 newly discovered clusters from Schmeja et al. 2014, A&A, 568, A51. The new version of MWSC is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (17 Sep 2014)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on September 17, 2014 (CALDB version 20140917). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 39, valid up to 2014-09-17.
  • Einstein Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Now Accepting On-Line Applications (17 Sep 2014)
    The 2015 Call for Proposals for new Einstein Fellows has been posted. These appointments are expected to begin on or about Sep 1, 2015. This CfP provides an opportunity for highly qualified, recent post-doctoral scientists to conduct independent research that is broadly related to the science goals of the NASA Physics of the Cosmos program. The deadline for applications is Nov 6, 2014 at 5:00pm EST.
  • The Pulse of a Dead Star Powers Intense Gamma Rays (16 Sep 2014)
    When the most massive stars explode as supernovae, they don't fade into the night, but sometimes glow ferociously with high-energy gamma rays. What powers these energetic stellar remains? NuSTAR is helping to untangle the mystery.
  • Green Catalog of Galactic SNRs (May 2014 Version) (15 Sep 2014)
    The latest (2014) version of this catalog containing the radio properties of 294 supernova remnants in the Galaxy (from Green 2014, BASI, in press) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NGC 300 Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (12 Sep 2014)
    This catalog listing the X-ray properties of 95 point-like sources detected by the Chandra ACIS-I in the nearby (2.0 Mpc) spiral galaxy NGC 300 (from Binder et al. 2012, ApJ, 758, 15) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XSPEC 12.8.2e Released (11 Sep 2014)
    Updated September 8, 2014. eplog bug fixed, other improvements ...
  • SMC ATCA 8640-MHZ Source Catalog (11 Sep 2014)
    This catalog listing the properties of 457 radio sources detected by the Australia Telescope Compact Array at 8640 MHz towards the SMC (from Wong et al. 2012, SerAJ, 184, 93), as well as a catalog of 601 4800-MHz sources in the field of the SMC from the same reference, are both now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • SMC MOST 843-MHZ Source Catalog (11 Sep 2014)
    This catalog listing the properties of 1,689 radio sources detected by the Molonglo Obs. Synthesis Telescope at 843 MHz towards the SMC (from Wong et al. 2011, SerAJ, 183, 103), as well as a catalog of 1,560 1400-MHz sources in the field of the SMC from the same reference, are both now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • M 31 VLA 325-MHZ Source Catalog (10 Sep 2014)
    This catalog listing the properties of 405 radio sources detected by the Very Large Array at 325 MHz in an area of 7.6 square degrees towards M 31 (from Gelfand et al. 2004, ApJS, 7155, 89) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NGC 2903 Central Region Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (08 Sep 2014)
    This catalog listing the X-ray properties of 92 point-like sources detected by the Chandra ACIS-S in the central region of the late-type barred spiral galaxy NGC 2903 (from Yukita et al. 2012, ApJ, 758, 105) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Updated IRAM Pico Veleta 30-m Telescope Observation Log (05 Sep 2014)
    The latest version of the IRAM 30-m telescope observing log (Dan et al. 1991-2014, IRAM Newsletters) containing 243,162 observations completed through 2013 June 30 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Release of OSA 10.1 for INTEGRAL Data Analysis (04 Sep 2014)
    The ISDC has released OSA 10.1. It contains several improvements and bug fixes including improved image reconstruction for IBIS/ISGRI and energy calibration for JEM-X. This software is available for download both from the ISDC and the HEASARC.
  • Chandra CALDB 4.6.3 installed at the HEASARC (02 Sep 2014)
    CalDB 4.6.3 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.6.3 was released on August 29, 2014. Note that this release requires CIAO 4.3 or higher...
  • Chandra X-Ray Observatory Observes Eta Carinae Star System (27 Aug 2014)
    As one of the first objects observed by Chandra after its launch some 15 years ago, this double star system continues to reveal new clues about its nature through the X-rays it generates. Hamaguchi et al. (2014, ApJ, 784, 125) discuss the X-ray minimum coincident with the last periastron in 2009: the same team has been obtaining new Chandra data of the current Eta Car periastron/X-ray minimum.
  • NuSTAR Guest Observer Cycle 1 Solicitation Released (26 Aug 2014)
    ROSES-14 Amendment 32 contains a new call under Appendix D.11 soliciting proposals to the NuSTAR Guest Observer - Cycle 1 announcement of opportunity which was released on August 26, 2014. The due date for proposals is November 25, 2014.
  • XMM-Newton AO-14 Solicitation Released (26 Aug 2014)
    XMM-Newton observing proposals are solicited in response to the Fourteenth Announcement of Opportunity.
  • Web Hera version 3.0 available (25 Aug 2014)
    Version 3.0 of Web Hera is now available. Web Hera allows users to analyze nearly any dataset archived at the HEASARC directly via the web, without having to download or install software. Version 3.0 is a major upgrade to Web Hera capabilities, which now provies the ability to run Chandra and XMM-SAS (in addition to FTools) software, to view header information and table contents of FITs file on the fly, tighter integration with Xamin, and other improvements.
  • Delay of Suzaku AO-10 (25 Aug 2014)
    AO-9 period has been extended by 2 month, with a corresponding delay in the release of AO-10
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (25 Aug 2014)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on July 25, 2014 (CALDB version 20140814). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 38, valid up to 2014-04-14.
  • RXTE Decodes the Rhythm of an Unusual Black Hole (19 Aug 2014)
    Pasham et al. 2014, Nature, in press have uncovered rhythmic pulsations from a rare type of black hole 12 million light-years away by sifting through archival data from NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer satellite. The signals have helped astronomers identify an unusual midsize black hole called M82 X-1, which is the brightest X-ray source in the M 82 galaxy.
  • 15 Years of Science with Chandra Symposium: Abstracts for Oral Presentations Can Still Be Submitted! (18 Aug 2014)
    The deadline for Abstracts for Oral Presentations has been extended to August 28th: the meeting will highlight key science results from the past 15 years and a panel discussion focusing on key science topics for the next 10+ years of operation of the Chandra X-ray Observatory.
  • Fermi Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor Solar Flare Catalog (18 Aug 2014)
    This catalog, listing the properties of 3,128 Fermi GBM triggers associated with known solar flares, is now available in Browse and Xamin. It will be updated on a daily basis, so the number of flares in the table will increase from this initial number.
  • NICER at the HEAD Meeting (17 Aug 2014)
    The NICER Special Session at the 2014 meeting of the High Energy Astrophysics Division (HEAD) of the American Astronomical Society will be held on Wednesday, August 20, at 1:30 pm in the Great Lakes Grand Ballroom of the Westin Michigan Avenue hotel in Chicago. Please join us!
  • NICER Critical Design Review (16 Aug 2014)
    NICER's next step towards launch, the Critical Design Review, is planned for September 2014. NICER remains on-track for launch on the SpaceX-12 ISS resupply flight currently scheduled for October 2016.
  • Chandra Observatory Searches for Trigger of the Recent Nearby Supernova SN 2014J (14 Aug 2014)
    New data from Chandra offer a glimpse into the environment of a star before it exploded earlier this year, and insight into what triggered one of the closest supernovae witnessed in decades. The data gathered on the Jan. 21 explosion, a Type Ia supernova, allowed Margutti et al. (2014, ApJ, 790, 52) to rule out one possible cause, single-degenerate systems with steady mass loss until the terminal explosion.
  • 10th INTEGRAL Workshop Releases 3rd Circular (14 Aug 2014)
    The 10th INTEGRAL Workshop "A Synergistic View of the High Energy Sky" to be held September 15-19, 2014 in Annapolis, MD has released its 3rd circular in which it announces an extension of the early registration deadline to 22 August 2014. The program is now posted on the workshop website.
  • LMC N11 Giant H II Region Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (14 Aug 2014)
    This catalog listing the properties and proposed counterparts of 165 X-ray point sources detected by the Chandra ACIS in the field of the N11 H II region in the Large Magellanic Cloud (from Nazé et al. 2014, ApJS, 213, 23) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTAR Sees Rare "Blurring" of Black Hole Light (12 Aug 2014)
    NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) has captured an extreme and rare event in the regions immediately surrounding the supermassive black hole in Markarian 335. A compact source of X-rays that sits near the black hole, called the corona, has moved closer to the black hole over a period of just days so that the black hole's intense gravity has blurred and stretched its X-ray emission.
  • The Million Quasars Catalog (06 Aug 2014)
    The latest version (v4.0, 5 August 2014) of the MILLIQUAS Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009 - 2014) containing more than one million (1,021,959 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Fermi Finds that Novae are a New Class of Gamma-Ray Sources (05 Aug 2014)
    Observations by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope of several stellar eruptions, called novae, firmly establish these relatively common outbursts almost always produce gamma rays, the most energetic form of light, according to a new paper in Science by the Fermi LAT Collaboration (2014, Science, 345, 554).
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (30 Jul 2014)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20140718) and the XRT (update version 20140709)...
  • NASA's DXL Rocket Settles Interstellar Debate (29 Jul 2014)
    New findings (Galeazzi et al. 2014, Nature, in press; Snowden et al. 2014, ApJL, 791, L14) from the DXL (Diffuse X-ray emission from the Local Galaxy) mission have resolved a decades-old puzzle about a fog of low-energy X-rays observed over the entire sky. Astronomers have now confirmed the long-held suspicion that much of this glow stems from a region of million-degree interstellar plasma known as the local hot bubble.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (25 Jul 2014)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on July 25, 2014 (CALDB version 20140715). This updates the NuSTAR clock correction file to version 37, valid up to 2014-07-15.
  • PIMMS updated to Version 4.7a (25 Jul 2014)
    Version 4.7a contains an updated post-launch effective area curve file for NuSTAR...
  • Viewing tool updated (22 Jul 2014)
    The Swift pole constraints have been updated in the Viewing tool. The revised coefficients extrapolate the trend for the next year. The web interface has also been enhanced with improved error handling.
  • NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory Celebrates 15th Anniversary (22 Jul 2014)
    Fifteen years ago, the Chandra X-ray Observatory was launched into space aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. Since its deployment on July 23, 1999, Chandra has helped revolutionize our understanding of the universe through its unrivaled X-ray vision. To celebrate its 15th anniversary, four new images of supernova remnants, the Crab Nebula, Tycho, G292.0+1.8, and 3C58 , are being released.
  • Fermi Finds A 'Transformer' Pulsar (22 Jul 2014)
    In late June 2013, an exceptional binary containing a rapidly spinning neutron star, the 1.7-millisecond pulsar named PSR J1023+0038, underwent a dramatic change in behavior never before observed. The pulsar's radio beacon vanished, while at the same time the system brightened fivefold in gamma rays, the most powerful form of light, according to measurements by the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope.
  • 2XMMi/SDSS Galaxy Cluster Survey (21 Jul 2014)
    This catalog listing the X-ray and optical properties of 145 X-ray-detected clusters of galaxies (Takey et al. 2014, A&A, 564, A54) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Chandra Cycle 16 Accepted Proposals and Targets Lists Are Now Available (17 Jul 2014)
    The peer-review recommended targets and proposals for Chandra Cycle 16 for regular, large, multicycle and XVP-type programs, as well as the approved joint proposals with other ground-based and/or satellite facilities, theory proposals and archive proposals, have been released.
  • Low-Frequency Radio Catalog of Flat-Spectrum Sources (LORCAT) (16 Jul 2014)
    This catalog of 28,358 radio sources with flat spectra between 325/352 MHz and 1400 MHz (from Massaro et al. 2014, ApJS, 213, 3) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • BeppoSAX High-Energy Large Area Survey (HELLAS) X-Ray Source Catalog (15 Jul 2014)
    This catalog of 147 5-10 keV X-ray sources detected by the BeppoSAX MECS in a survey of 85 sq.deg. (from Fiore et al. 2001, MNRAS, 327, 771) is now available in Browse and Xamin. The related table of radio sources and/or upper limits at the positions of these X-ray sources (from Ciliegi et al. 2003, MNRAS, 342, 575) is also available
  • Chandra CALDB 4.6.2 installed at the HEASARC (14 Jul 2014)
    CalDB 4.6.2 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.6.2 was released on July 9, 2014. This release corrects an error in the HRC branch index file which causes the 2012 and 2013 HRC-I BKGRND files to be selected in reversed order, which affects HRC-I-related tools such as hrc_bkgrnd_lookup and fluximage. Note that this release requires CIAO 4.3 or higher...
  • VLA Low-Frequency Sky Survey Redux (VLSSr) Source Catalog (10 Jul 2014)
    The latest version of the VLSSr catalog (from Lane et al. 2014, MNRAS, 440, 327) of 92,965 74-MHz radio sources (components) above a 5-sigma threshold in 3 pi sr of the sky is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • WebPIMMS tool updated (09 Jul 2014)
    WebPIMMS has been updated with a revamped web interface that has improved error handling.
  • NGC 1316 (Fornax A) Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (09 Jul 2014)
    This catalog listing the properties of 95 X-ray point sources detected by the Chandra ACIS in the field of NGC 1316 (and NGC 1317) from Kim & Fabbiano 2003, ApJ, 586, 826 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NGC 1512/NGC 1510 XMM-Newton X-Ray Source Catalog (09 Jul 2014)
    This catalog listing the X-ray properties and identifications of 106 X-ray sources detected by XMM-Newton in the field of this pair of interacting galaxies (Ducci et al. 2013, A, 145, 143&A, 566, A115) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XSPEC 12.8.2a Released (09 Jul 2014)
    Updated July 7, 2014. Adds "nowrite" option to PyXspec AllData.fakeit command ...
  • M 83 Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (07 Jul 2014)
    This catalog listing the X-ray properties and identifications of 458 point sources detected by the Chandra ACIS in 12 observations of M 83 totalling 790 ks (Long et al. 2014, ApJS, 212, 21) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • INTEGRAL AO-12 General Program Approved (03 Jul 2014)
    The INTEGRAL AO-12 General Program, as recommended by the Time Allocation Committee (TAC) and approved on June 12 by ESA's Director of Science and Robotic Exploration (Prof. Alvaro Gimenez), has been released and the observers have been informed.
  • HEASoft 6.16 released (03 Jul 2014)
    Released July 2, 2014; updates to NuSTAR mission software (nustardas v. 1.4.1); support for the 64-bit architecture on Mac OS X; other changes...
  • XSPEC 12.8.2 Released (03 Jul 2014)
    Updated July 2, 2014. The code underlying the NEI models has been rewritten to accommodate the AtomDB 3.0 files, new models added, other changes ...
  • Suzaku CALDB updated (01 Jul 2014)
    The Suzaku CALDB has been updated for the XIS (update version 20140701) ...
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (01 Jul 2014)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on July 1, 2014 (CALDB version 20140414).
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (30 Jun 2014)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the XRT (update version 20140610)...
  • Call for U.S. Scientists to serve on the ATHENA Science Study Team (30 Jun 2014)
    NASA is now soliciting applications and nominations for individuals affiliated with US institutions to participate in the ESA Science Study Team for the "Advanced Telescope for High-ENergy Astrophysics" (ATHENA)... Applications are due Monday, July 7, 2014 at 5 pm local time.
  • The Million Quasars Catalog (30 Jun 2014)
    The latest version (v3.9, 30 June 2014) of the MILLIQUAS Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009 - 2014) containing more than one million (1,262,723 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • ESA's Athena Mission to Study the Hot and Energetic Universe (27 Jun 2014)
    ESA has selected the Athena advanced telescope for high-energy astrophysics as its second 'Large-class' science mission. The observatory will use a large X-ray telescope to study the hot and energetic Universe. Athena takes the 'L2' slot in ESA's Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 plan, with launch foreseen to occur in 2028.
  • Alpha Persei Open Cluster XMM-Newton X-Ray Source Catalog (27 Jun 2014)
    This catalog listing the X-ray properties of 102 X-ray sources sources (including 39 likely cluster members) detected by XMM-Newton towards part of the Alpha Per Cluster (Pillitteri et al. 2013, AJ, 145, 143) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • COSPAR Announces its 2014 Award Winners (26 Jun 2014)
    Honorees include David McComas of SRI and Jean-Loup Puget of IAS (winners of the Space Science Award), Carlé McGetchin Piters of Brown University (winner of the International Cooperation Medal), Mikhail Marov of the Vernadsky Institute (winner of the William Nordberg Medal), and Eugene Churazov of the Max-Planck Institute for Astrophysics (winner of the Harrie Massey Award).
  • ChIcAGO Survey Chandra X-Ray Source Catalog (25 Jun 2014)
    This catalog listing the X-ray properties of 253 Chandra point sources detected by Chandra within 3 arcmins of 93 unidentified ASCA Galactic Plane Survey sources in the ChIcAGO Survey (Anderson et al. 2014, ApJS, 212, 13) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Mysterious X-ray Signal in Galaxy Clusters Intrigues Astronomers (25 Jun 2014)
    A mysterious X-ray signal has been found in a detailed study (Bulbul et al. 2014, ApJ, 789, 13) of galaxy clusters using the Chandra X-ray Observatory and XMM-Newton. One intriguing possibility is that the X-rays are produced by the decay of sterile neutrinos, a type of particle that has been proposed as a candidate for dark matter.
  • CALDB initialization file updated (24 Jun 2014)
    The caldb setup and initialization files (caldbinit.*) have been updated so that they no longer overwrite the $CALDB, $CALDBCONFIG and $CALDBALIAS environment variables if they are already defined. Note that first-time installers of the CALDB will need to edit the caldbinit.csh (c-shell variants) or caldbinit.sh (bash-variants) to properly define these environment variables to point to their local CALDB installation.
  • Fermi Cycle 7 Stage-I Proposal Selections (24 Jun 2014)
    NASA Headquarters has completed the stage-I selection process for the Fermi Cycle-7 Guest Investigator program. A list of the proposal titles, abstracts and PIs is now posted on this web site (pdf file).
  • Selected Hickson Compact Groups Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (23 Jun 2014)
    This catalog listing the X-ray properties of 1,049 point source detections made by Chandra in the fields of 9 HCGs (Tzanavaris et al. 2014, ApJS, 212, 9) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Swiftly Moving Gas Streamer Eclipses Supermassive Black Hole in NGC 5548 (20 Jun 2014)
    An international team of astronomers, using data from Hubble, Swift, NuSTAR, Chandra, XMM-Newton and INTEGRAL, has detected a stream of gas flowing rapidly outward from the SMBH at the heart of the galaxy NGC 5548, blocking 90% of its emitted X-rays. This behavior may provide new insights into how SMBHs interact with their host galaxies.
  • Updated IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer Observation Log (19 Jun 2014)
    The latest version of the IRAM PdBI observing log (Dan et al. 1991-2014, IRAM Newsletters) containing 17,748 observations completed through March 31, 2013 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • CFITSIO Version 3.37 released (11 Jun 2014)
    Version 3.37 released June 3; support reading bzip2 compressed FITS files, other changes...
  • Swift X-Ray Telescope Returns to Normal Observing (10 Jun 2014)
    J.A. Kennea and D.N. Burrows (PSU) report on behalf of the Swift/XRT team that, at 17:58UT on June 10th, 2014, Swift's XRT was commanded into Auto State, returning it to a normal observing setup.
  • Updated tuned HXD/PIN NXB files for Suzaku observations since 2012 August (10 Jun 2014)
    Version 2.2 NXB files are more accurate than Version 2.0 files for observations since 2012 August.
  • Swift CALDB updated (09 Jun 2014)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20140605)...
  • Update on Swift X-ray Telescope Status (06 Jun 2014)
    "The Swift XRT instrument resumed observations in a somewhat degraded mode while we continue to investigate the underlying anomaly. The intention is to remain in this mode at least through the end of Monday June 9th. The XRT is now operating in a special calibration mode that was used occasionally in the first several years of operations in which it is being manually commanded for each observation, through commands embedded in the uploaded spacecraft timeline."
  • Fermi LAT CALDB update (05 Jun 2014)
    The HEASARC CALDB for the Fermi LAT has been updated to version v9r33p0_20140604...
  • XSPEC 12.8.1p Patch Released (05 Jun 2014)
    Updated June 5, 2014. Bug fix for the pstat statistic ...
  • Fermi Science Analysis Environment Updated (04 Jun 2014)
    The FSSC is pleased to announce the availability of a new version of the Fermi Science Tools (v9r33p0), released on June 3. This version includes support for the CALDB, plotting in the non-ROOT version of the tools and a new tool gtburst. Details can be found here. The LAT team has released an updated model of Galactic diffuse emission (gll_iem_v05_rev1.fit), and made corresponding updates to the photon data. All users of LAT data should update their analysis to use the new model
  • Black Hole "Batteries" Keep Blazars Going and Going (03 Jun 2014)
    Astronomers studying two classes of blazars - BL Lacs and FSRQs - monitored by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have found evidence that they represent different sides of the same cosmic coin. By unraveling how these objects are distributed throughout the universe, Ajello et al. (2014, Summer AAS Mtg) suggest that the apparently distinctive properties defining each class likely reflect a change in the way the galaxies extract energy from their central black holes.
  • Chandra Helps Explain 'Red and Dead Galaxies' (31 May 2014)
    NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has shed new light on the mystery of why giant elliptical galaxies have few, if any, young stars. This new evidence, presented in Werner et al. (2014, MNRAS, 439, 2291), highlights the important role that supermassive black holes play in the evolution of their host galaxies.
  • Carina Nebula Complex Gum 31 Chandra Point Source Catalog (29 May 2014)
    This catalog listing the X-ray and infrared properties of 679 point source detections made by Chandra in the Gum 31/NGC 3324 region of Carina (Preibisch et al. et al. 2014, A&A, 564, A120) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • 10th INTEGRAL Workshop Abstract Deadline Approaches (29 May 2014)
    This is a reminder that abstracts are due on May 31 for the 10th INTEGRAL Workshop "A Synergistic View of the High Energy Sky" to be held September 15-19, 2014 in Annapolis, MD, USA. Please visit the conference website for details of abstract submission and registration.
  • Suzaku CALDB updated (23 May 2014)
    The Suzaku CALDB has been updated for the XIS (update version 20140520) ...
  • XSPEC 12.8.1n,o Patches Released (23 May 2014)
    Updated May 20, 2014. Fix to MCMC analysis using the Goodman-Weare algorithm, and cleared up pstat/pgstat confusion ...
  • Fermi and Radio Observations of Violent Gamma-Ray Outbursts Near Supermassive Black Holes (22 May 2014)
    These observations allow the origin of gamma-ray flares in the nuclear regions of active galaxies to be localized. Fuhrmann et al. (2014, MNRAS, 441, 1899) place the emission site of these flares at parsec-scale distances outside of the broad-line region.
  • Swift is Highly Ranked by the 2014 Senior Review (22 May 2014)
    The Astrophysics Division's Senior Review in March and April this year ranked Swift first among the nine operating missions that were considered by its panel: "Swift continues to provide unique and exciting science both as stand-alone results and as part of multi-wavelength campaigns". Swift has been approved to continue operations through 2018 (subject to the 2016 Senior Review).
  • NuSTAR is Highly Ranked by the 2014 Senior Review (22 May 2014)
    The Astrophysics Division's Senior Review in March and April this year ranked NuSTAR second among the nine operating missions that were considered by its panel. NuSTAR has been approved to continue operations through 2018 (subject to the 2016 Senior Review) and will have a Guest Observer Program, with GO observations starting in 2015.
  • SDSS Quasar Catalog (10th Data Release: DR10Q) (22 May 2014)
    The SDSS DR10Q Catalog listing the X-ray, UV, optical, IR and radio properties of 166,583 quasars identified in the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) of the SDSS-III via visual inspection of their spectra (Paris et al. 2014, A&A, 563, A54) is now available in Browse and Xamin
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (20 May 2014)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20140416)...
  • Mark Your Calendars: "Swift: 10 Years Of Discovery" Conference Announced (19 May 2014)
    The Swift project has announced the dates for this conference (to be held in Rome), which will highlight key science results from the first 10 years of Swift operations, as December 2-5, 2014. More information will be available in early June.
  • Results of 2014 NASA SMD Astrophysics Senior Review of Operating Missions (19 May 2014)
    The Astrophysics Division held the 2014 Senior Review in March and April this year. Three panel were convened to review a) Hubble, b) Chandra, and c) the rest of the operating missions. The panel reports and the NASA response document for the 2014 Senior Review are now available.
  • 4th NuSTAR Public Data Release (07 May 2014)
    163 new NuSTAR data sets from the first 18 months of observations were released to the public NuSTAR archive on May 7th. NuSTAR data are accessible via the usual HEASARC archive interfaces, i.e., Xamin and Browse, by querying the NuSTAR master table (numaster). NuSTAR data can also be accessed from the HEASARC FTP site.
  • SDSS Stripe 82 XMM Source Catalog (22 Apr 2014)
    The SDSS Stripe 82 XMM Source Catalog listing the X-ray, UV, optical, IR and radio properties of 2,358 X-ray detections made by XMM-Newton (LaMassa et al. 2013, MNRAS, 436, 3581) is now available in Browse and Xamin, as is the list from the same paper of 1,146 Chandra detections in the same Stripe 82 field.
  • Ritter Catalog of Cataclysmic Variables, Version 7.21 (21 Apr 2014)
    The latest (7.21: March-2014) versions of the Cataclysmic Binaries Catalog, the Low-Mass X-ray Binaries Catalog and the Binaries Related to CVs Catalog (Ritter & Kolb 2003-2014) are all now available in Browse and in Xamin.
  • Chandra Source Catalog, v1.1 (16 Apr 2014)
    Version 1.1 of the Chandra Source Catalog listing the properties of 106,586 point and compact source detections made by Chandra (CSC v1.0 is described in Evans et al. 2010, ApJS, 189, 37) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Mark Your Calendars: 15 Years of Chandra Symposium Announced (10 Apr 2014)
    The Chandra Science Center has announced the dates for this symposium (to be held in Boston) which will highlight key science results from the first 15 years of Chandra operations as November 18-21, 2014. More information will be available shortly.
  • 2014 Einstein Postdoctoral Fellows Chosen (04 Apr 2014)
    NASA has announced the selection of the 2014 Einstein Fellows who will conduct research related to NASA's Physics of the Cosmos (PCOS) program, which aims to expand our knowledge of the origin, evolution, and fate of the Universe. The PCOS Program consists of a suite of operating science missions and possible future missions that focus on specific aspects of these questions.
  • Upcoming NICER Presentations Announced (03 Apr 2014)
    There will be an overview presentation on the NICER mission design at the SPIE "Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2014: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray" conference in Montreal in June, 2014, and NICER science will be the subject of a Special Session at the High-Energy Astrophysics Division (HEAD) meeting in Chicago in August, 2014.
  • Fermi Data Tantalize With New Clues To Dark Matter (03 Apr 2014)
    A new study of gamma-ray light from the center of our galaxy makes the strongest case to date that some of this emission may arise from dark matter. Using publically available Fermi data, researchers have developed new maps showing that the galactic center produces more high-energy gamma rays than can be explained by known sources and that this excess emission is consistent with some forms of dark matter.
  • Suzaku Cycle 9 Review Results E-mailed (31 Mar 2014)
    PIs of Suzaku Cycle 9 proposals submitted to the US have been notified via e-mail.
  • XMM-Newton Optical Monitor Serendipitous UV Survey Source Catalog, v2.0 (31 Mar 2014)
    The new version of the XMM OM-SUSS Catalog listing the optical and UV properties of 5,595,331 source detections made by the XMM-Newton OM (v1.0 is described in Page et al. 2012, MNRAS, 426, 903) is now available in Browse and Xamin, as is the associated list of 6,604 XMM observations in which these sources were found.
  • Forward to Phase C (31 Mar 2014)
    NICER's engineers and scientists have successfully passed several major project milestones, including a Preliminary Design Review by an independent team of experts, an initial Payload Safety Review by an International Space Station (ISS) panel, and a Confirmation Review at NASA HQ. NICER is now in Phase C
  • Chandra CALDB 4.6.1 installed at the HEASARC (26 Mar 2014)
    CalDB 4.6.1 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.6.1 was released on March 26, 2014. Note that this release requires CIAO 4.3 or higher...
  • XSPEC 12.8.1m Patch Released (21 Mar 2014)
    Updated March 21, 2014. Inaccuracy in the gabs model fixed ...
  • BICEP2 detects B-mode Polarization at Degree Angular Scales (18 Mar 2014)
    The BICEP2 CMB polarimeter experiment designed "to search for the signal of inflationary gravitational waves in the B-mode power spectrum around l = 80" has indeed found such a signal "inconsistent with the null hypothesis at a significance of > 5 sigma" (BICEP2 Collab. arXiv:1403.3985), as reported in many news articles today.
  • XMM-Newton reveals a candidate period for the spin of RX J1605.3+3249 (13 Mar 2014)
    The "Magnificent Seven" is a group of thermal X-ray emitting isolated neutron stars whose properties are closer to magnetars than to classical rotationally-powered pulsars. To date, rotation periods have been determined for all but RX J1605+3249. Pires et al. (2014, A&A, 563, A50) report the successful detection by XMM of its pulsed emission, a period of 3.38 sec, and evidence of a spindown that implies a dipole field of about 7 x 1013G.
  • Herschel Stripe 82 Survey (HerS) Source Catalog (11 Mar 2014)
    The catalog of 32,815 sources detected by Herschel SPIRE at 250 um in 79 square degrees along the SDSS Stripe 82 (from Viero et al. 2014, ApJS, 210, 22) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Fermi LAT First Gamma-Ray Burst Catalog (11 Mar 2014)
    The Fermi Large Area Telescope First Gamma-Ray Burst Catalog (Ackermann et al., 2013, ApJS, 209, 11) of 35 GRBs detected between August 2008 and July 2011 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton OM Object Catalog (Version 2) (08 Mar 2014)
    The new version of the XMM OMCat, the Catalog of Serendipitous Sources detected with the XMM-Newton Optical Monitor (Kuntz et al. 2008, PASP, 120, 740), is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Chandra and XMM-Newton Provide Direct Measurement of Distant Black Hole's Spin (05 Mar 2014)
    Reis et al. (2014, Nature, in press) have used the Chandra and XMM-Newton observatories to show that the supermassive black hole in RX J1131-1231, a gravitationally lensed quasar at a redshift of 0.658, is spinning extremely rapidly. This first direct measurement of the spin of such a distant black hole is an important advance for understanding how black holes grow over time.
  • PIMMS updated to Version 4.7 (05 Mar 2014)
    Includes effective area curves for MAXI SSC and GSC all-sky monitor instrument, other changes...
  • XMM-Newton Slew Survey Source Catalogs (Version 1.6) (01 Mar 2014)
    The updated versions of the XMM Slew Survey "Clean" and "Full" Source Catalogs are now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • IRAS Point Source Catalog Redshift Catalog (27 Feb 2014)
    The PSCz catalog (the 'short version') of redshifts and other information for almost all galaxies brighter than 0.6 Jy at 60 micron in the unobscured 84% of the sky, from Saunders et al. (2000, MNRAS, 317, 55), is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Suzaku Cycle 9 Target List Available (26 Feb 2014)
    The list of accepted Suzaku AO-9 targets is now available.
  • Second GBM Catalog of Gamma-Ray Bursts Available at the HEASARC (25 Feb 2014)
    The Fermi Science Support Center and the GBM Team are pleased to announce the availability of the second GBM catalog of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) in the HEASARC Browse and Xamin interfaces. The catalog will soon be published in the Astrophysical Journal Supplement.
  • 12th INTEGRAL Announcement of Opportunity (24 Feb 2014)
    ESA Director of Science and Robotic Exploration (Prof. Alvaro Gimenez) has released the 12th Announcement of Opportunity for observing proposals with INTEGRAL. The deadline for proposal submission is April 4, 2014. Additional information can be found on the ESA INTEGRAL website and on the "Proposals and Tools" page of the NASA INTEGRAL GOF.
  • Massive Young Star-Forming Complex Study in IR & X-Rays (MYStIX) Probable Complex Members (23 Feb 2014)
    The MYStIX catalog of 31,549 likely young stars located in 20 nearby massive star-formation regions, from Broos et al. (2013, ApJS, 209, 32), is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • With A Deadly Embrace, 'Spidery' Pulsars Consume Their Mates (21 Feb 2014)
    Using data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, NRAO's Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, optical telescopes and also high-powered computer clusters, astronomers are studying "black widow" and "redback" pulsars in close binary systems which are in the process of "devouring" their companions. Watch the video.
  • The Million Quasars Catalog (21 Feb 2014)
    The latest version (v3.8, 16 February 2014) of the MILLIQUAS Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009-2014) containing more than one million (1,253,131 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • RXTE Reveals the Cloudy Cores of Active Galaxies (19 Feb 2014)
    Using data from NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE), an international team (Markowitz et al. 2014, MNRAS, in press) has uncovered a dozen instances where X-ray signals from active galaxies dimmed as a result of a cloud of gas moving across our line of sight.
  • Suzaku/HXD Also Operational (19 Feb 2014)
    The Suzaku team has returned the HXD instrument to normal operation. Suzaku is now carrying out GO observations using both the XIS and the HXD.
  • NASA's NuSTAR Untangles Mystery of How Stars Explode (19 Feb 2014)
    NuSTAR observations of the supernova remnant Cas A is helping to unravel one of the biggest mysteries in astronomy, how massive stars explode.
  • Chandra Sees Runaway Pulsar Firing an Extraordinary Jet (18 Feb 2014)
    NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has seen a fast-moving pulsar escaping from a supernova remnant while spewing out a record-breaking jet - the longest of any object in the Milky Way galaxy - of high-energy particles. The peculiar behavior of the pulsar, known as IGR J11014-6103, can likely be traced back to its birth in the collapse and subsequent explosion of a massive star.
  • Globular Cluster Systems in Galaxies Catalog (12 Feb 2014)
    This catalog containing data on the globular cluster systems of 422 galaxies, from Harris et al. (2013, ApJ, 772, 82), is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (12 Feb 2014)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20140211)...
  • A New Catalog of Globular Clusters in the Milky Way (11 Feb 2014)
    The latest version of the McMaster catalog containing data on 157 globular clusters in our galaxy, from Harris (1996, AJ, 112, 1487 and 2010, eprint arXiv 1012.3224), is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Milky Way Star Clusters Catalog (11 Feb 2014)
    The MWSC catalog containing data on 3,006 stellar clusters in our galaxy, from Kharchenko et al. (2012, A&A, 543, A156; 2013, A&A, 558, A53), is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • U.S. XMM-Newton GOF Image Gallery Launched (07 Feb 2014)
    Science images created using ESAS tasks in the SAS
  • Massive Young Star-Forming Complex Study in IR & X-Rays (MYStIX) IR-Excess Source List (07 Feb 2014)
    The MYStIX IRES source catalog for 18 star-forming complexes containing 20,719 sources, 8,686 of them probable complex members, from Povich et al. (2013, ApJS, 209, 31), is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • 3rd NuSTAR Public Data Release (05 Feb 2014)
    104 New NuSTAR data sets from the first year of observations were released to the public NuSTAR archive on February 5th. NuSTAR data are accessible via the usual HEASARC archive interfaces, i.e., Xamin and Browse, by querying the NuSTAR master table (numaster). NuSTAR data can also be accessed from the HEASARC FTP site.
  • XSPEC 12.8.1k Patch Released (5 Feb 2014)
    Updated February 4, 2014. Fix for reading table model files.
  • Massive Young Star-Forming Complex Study in IR & X-Rays (MYStIX) Mid-IR Source List (04 Feb 2014)
    The MYStIX Spitzer IRAC source list for 10 star-forming complexes containing 783,337 mid-IR sources (Kuhn et al. 2013, ApJS, 209, 29) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Suzaku Observations Resumed (4 Feb 2014)
    The Suzaku team has returned the attitude control system and the XIS instrument to normal mode, and re-started GO observations. It will probably take another several weeks to resume observations using the HXD.
  • Suzaku CALDB updated (04 Feb 2014)
    The Suzaku CALDB has been updated for the XIS (update version 20140203) ...
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (03 Feb 2014)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the XRT (update version 20140120)...
  • Massive Young Star-Forming Complex Study in IR & X-Rays (MYStIX) X-Ray Source List (31 Jan 2014)
    The MYStIX catalog of Chandra X-ray sources in 10 star-forming complexes containing 11,315 sources (Kuhn et al. 2013, ApJS, 209, 27) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Complete Chandra Galactic Bulge Survey X-Ray Point Source Catalog (31 Jan 2014)
    The final version of this catalog containing 1658 Chandra X-ray sources in 12 sq. deg of the Galactic Bulge (Jonker et al. 2011, ApJS, 194, 18 and 2014, ApJS, 210, 18) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTARDAS v1.3.1 Released (31 Jan 2014)
    Released January 28, 2014, NuSTARDAS v1.3.1 was included in the HEASoft 6.15.1 release. NuSTARDAS v1.3.1 users should make sure to use version 20131223 of the NuSTAR caldb. An updated version of the NuSTARDAS Users Guide (v.1.5) is also available here.
  • HEASoft 6.15.1 released (30 Jan 2014)
    Released January 28, 2014; updates to NuSTAR mission software (nustardas v. 1.3.1) and the Swift XRT analysis sotware, other changes. Note that nustardas v 1.3.1 requires version 20131007 or later of the NuSTAR CALDB.
  • Updated IRAM Pico Veleta 30-m Telescope Observation Log (29 Jan 2014)
    The latest version of the IRAM 30-m telescope observing log (Dan et al. 1991-2014, IRAM Newsletters) containing 216,770 observations completed through 2012 Dec 31 as well as the latest version of the IRAM PdB Interferometer observing log containing 16,930 observations through 2012 Sep 30 are now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Reminder: Upcoming Deadline for the COSPAR 2014 Assembly and Scientific Events (24 Jan 2014)
    Abstracts for COSPAR 2014 to be held August 2 to 10 in Moscow must be submitted by February 14th.
  • South Polar Telescope Sunyaev-Zeldovich Survey Point Source Catalog (23 Jan 2014)
    This catalog of 1,545 mm-wave sources detected at 95, 150 and/or 220 GHz (from Mocanu et al. 2013, ApJ, 779, 61) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Suzaku Observations Interrupted (23 Jan 2014)
    Secular degradation of on-board batteries led to a safehold on January 16. The team in Japan is in the process of restoring normal operation.
  • Planck-ATCA Co-eval Observations (PACO) Project Bright Sample Catalog (17 Jan 2014)
    This catalog of 1,004 observations at 4.5-40 GHz of 180 AT20G radio sources taken from the PACO Bright Sample (Massardi et al. 2011, MNRAS, 415, 1597) as well as the catalog of 674 similar observations of 152 AT20G sources from the PACO Faint Sample (Bonavera et al. 2011, MNRAS, 416, 559) are now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update (17 Jan 2014)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on January 17, 2014 (CALDB version 20131223). Because of the large size of some calibration files, for NuSTAR data processing and analysis we recommend downloading the NuSTAR CALDB and installing it locally, rather than accessing the NuSTAR CALDB at the HEASARC remotely.
  • Nature Letter: MWC 656, A Be-type Star with a Black-Hole Companion (16 Jan 2014)
    Casares et al. (2014, Nature, 505, 378) report observations of an accretion disk line mirroring the orbit of the Be star MWC 656, the candidate counterpart of the γ-ray source AGL J2241+4454, which indicate that a black hole of 3.8 to 6.9 solar masses orbits this star. The non-detection of X-rays suggests there is a radiatively inefficient accretion flow onto the black hole.
  • VLA Extended-Chandra Deep Field-South Source Classification Catalog (15 Jan 2014)
    This catalog of classifications of 883 radio sources detected at 1.4 GHz by the VLA in a deep survey of the E-CDF-S field (from Bonzini et al. 2013, MNRAS, 436, 3759) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Swift CALDB updated (13 Jan 2014)
    The Swift CALDB has been updated for the XRT (update version 20131220)...
  • Suzaku CALDB updated (13 Jan 2014)
    The Suzaku CALDB has been updated for the XIS (update version 20131231) ...
  • Dead Star and Distant Black Holes Dazzle in X-Rays (09 Jan 2014)
    Two new views from NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, showcase the telescope's talent for spying objects near and far. One image shows the energized remains of a dead star, a structure nicknamed the "Hand of God" after its resemblance to a hand. Another image shows distant black holes buried in blankets of dust.
  • Death By Black Hole In Small Galaxy? (09 Jan 2014)
    A bright, long duration flare may be the first recorded event of a black hole destroying a star in a dwarf galaxy. The evidence comes from two independent studies (Maksym et al. (2013) and Donato et al. (2013)) using data from the Chandra, EUVE, and XMM-Newton observatories.
  • NASA's Fermi Makes First Gamma-ray Study of a Gravitational Lens (06 Jan 2014)
    An international team of astronomers, using NASA's Fermi observatory, has made the first-ever gamma-ray measurements of a gravitational lens, a kind of natural telescope formed when a rare cosmic alignment allows the gravity of a massive object to bend and amplify light from a more distant source.
  • The Year in Pictures According to HEAPOW (31 Dec 2013)
    The High Energy Astrophysics Picture of the Week this week has a collage of the 52 pictures from 2013 which illustrates the wonderful richness and amazing phenomena of the high-energy universe.
  • 10th INTEGRAL Workshop - A Synergistic View of the High-Energy Sky (30 Dec 2013)
    The 10th INTEGRAL Workshop, `A Synergistic View of the High-Energy Sky', will be held in Annapolis, MD, USA, from September 15 to 19, 2014.
  • Australia Telescope 20-GHz (AT20G) High-Angular Resolution Catalog (18 Dec 2013)
    This catalog of 6-km visibilities of 5,890 radio sources detected at 20 GHz by the ATCA in the entire southern hemisphere in the AT20G Survey (from Chhetri et al. 2013, MNRAS, 434, 956) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XSPEC 12.8.1i,j Patches Released (18 Dec 2013)
    Updated December 18, 2013. When attempting to change the AtomDB version used by the Apec models, the xset APECROOT < version number > command only works when called BEFORE the first Apec model is loaded. Once an Apec model is loaded, the AtomDB version becomes fixed regardless of future adjustments to xset APECROOT. Our thanks to Ming Sun for pointing this out. Report added on Dec 18, 2013. ...
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (13 Dec 2013)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20131211)...
  • Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope Herschel-ATLAS/GAMA Equatorial Fields 325-MHz Radio Source Catalog (12 Dec 2013)
    This catalog of 5,263 discrete radio sources detected at 325 MHz by the GMRT in 3 fields from the Herschel-Astrophysical Terahertz Large-Area and Galaxy and Mass Assembly Surveys (from Mauch et al. 2013, MNRAS, 435, 650) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Chandra Cycle 16 Call for Proposals Has Been Released (12 Dec 2013)
    The Chandra X-ray Center is pleased to announce the release of the Chandra Cycle 16 Call for Proposals. The deadline for Cycle 16 proposals to be submitted by is 2014 March 13, 6:00pm EDT.
  • XMM-Newton SAS v13.5.0 Released (12 Dec 2013)
    The latest release of the XMM-Newton Science Analysis Software.
  • COSPAR Press Release: Rare Magnetar Identified (12 Dec 2013)
    A new transient magnetar, 3XMM J186536.6+003317, pulsing in X-rays every 11.56 s is the ninth of its class, It was identified during a COSPAR Capacity Building Workshop for young researchers in developing countries. The magnetar is likely part of a binary star system together with an "anti-magnetar" (a young neutron star with a low magnetic field). This study of Zhou et al. will be published in January in ApJL.
  • XMMAO (XMM-Newton Accepted Targets) Table (09 Dec 2013)
    The latest version of the table of accepted XMM-Newton targets, updated to include AO-13 results, is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton AO-13 Results Released (09 Dec 2013)
    The list of XMM-Newton observing proposals accepted by the AO-13 Observing Time Allocation Committee is now available.
  • CFITSIO Version 3.36 released (09 Dec 2013)
    Version 3.36 released December 6; major changes to the compression code for FITS binary tables, other changes...
  • Updated AGILE Catalog of Bright Gamma-Ray Sources and Variability (07 Dec 2013)
    This catalog of results from a variability study of a sample of 54 bright gamma-ray (30 MeV - 50 GeV) sources detected by AGILE. (from Verrecchia et al. 2013, A&A, 558, A137) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • INTEGRAL AO-11 Data Rights Proposals approved (03 Dec 2013)
    The ESA Director of Science and Robotic Exploration, Prof. Alvaro Gimenez, has approved the recommendation of the Time Allocation Committee (TAC) for proposals to obtain data rights for targets within approved AO-11 observations.
  • Extension Of Abstract Submission Deadline for Suzaku-MAXI Conference 2014 (03 Dec 2013)
    Due to an ambiguity in the precise time of the deadline, some potential participants tried to submit an abstract on Dec 2, local time (e.g., in the US), after the abstract submission system was already closed. The meeting organizers have re-opened the system, with a new deadline of Dec 5 at 24:00 UT (= Dec 5 19:00 EST = Dec 5 16:00 PST).
  • Do Black Holes Come in Size Medium? (02 Dec 2013)
    In the stockroom of our cosmos, black holes come in size small and large. NASA's NuSTAR is helping to find our more about why medium-sized black holes are missing.
  • ESA News: ESA's New Vision To Study The Invisible Universe (02 Dec 2013)
    The hot and energetic Universe and the search for elusive gravitational waves will be the focus of ESA's next two large science missions. The science theme "the hot and energetic universe" was selected as the 2nd Large-class mission (L2) in ESA's Cosmic Vision science program, expected to be pursued with an advanced X-ray observatory with a launch date in 2028, while the "gravitational Universe" theme was selected as the L3 mission with a planned 2034 launch date.
  • New NuSTAR Public Data Release (26 Nov 2013)
    New NuSTAR data were released to the public NuSTAR archive on November 25. NuSTAR data are accessible via the usual HEASARC archive interfaces, i.e., Xamin and Browse, specifically by querying the NuSTAR master table (numaster). NuSTAR data can also be accessed from the HEASARC FTP site. NuSTAR calibration data are available from the HEASARC CALDB.
  • The Million Quasars Catalog (26 Nov 2013)
    The latest version (v3.7, 26 November 2013) of the MILLIQUAS Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009-2013) containing more than one million (1,273,361 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (26 Nov 2013)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20131106)...
  • NuSTARDAS v1.3.0 Released (25 Nov 2013)
    Released November 25, 2013; NuSTARDAS v1.3.0 was included in the HEASOFT 6.15 release. Note that nustardas v 1.3.0 requires version 20131007 of the NuSTAR CALDB.
  • HEASoft 6.15 released (25 Nov 2013)
    Released November 25, 2013; updates to NuSTAR mission software (nustardas v. 1.3.0), other changes. Note that nustardas v 1.3.0 requires version 20131007 of the NuSTAR CALDB.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Updated (25 Nov 2013)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on November 25, 2013 to CALDB version 20131007. Because of the large size of some calibration files, for NuSTAR data processing and analysis we recommend downloading the NuSTAR CALDB and installing it locally, rather than accessing the NuSTAR CALDB at the HEASARC remotely.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Update: Version 20131007 (25 Nov 2013)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase was updated on November 25, 2013 (CALDB version 20131007). Because of the large size of some calibration files, for NuSTAR data processing and analysis we recommend downloading the NuSTAR CALDB and installing it locally, rather than accessing the NuSTAR CALDB at the HEASARC remotely.
  • XSPEC 12.8.1f-h Patches Released (22 Nov 2013)
    Updated November 21, 2013. Fixes and enhancements to PyXSPEC and APEC ...
  • Chandra CALDB 4.5.9 installed at the HEASARC (21 Nov 2013)
    CalDB 4.5.9 is now installed and available at the HEASARC. Chandra 4.5.9 was released on November 19, 2013. Note that this release requires CIAO 4.3 or higher...
  • Fermi Cycle-7 Call for proposals has been issued (18 Nov 2013)
    The Fermi Science Support Center is pleased to announce that the call for proposals to participate in the Fermi Cycle-7 Guest Investigator Program has been issued by NASA HQ as an amendment to the 2013 ROSES NRA. Prospective proposers are urged to review these documents as there are several changes to the program relative to past mission cycles.
  • ESA News: Black Hole Boasts Heavyweight Jets (14 Nov 2013)
    Based on XMM-Newton and supporting ATCA radio observations, Diaz Trigo et al. (2013, Nature, in press) have found evidence that the relativistic jets of the stellar-mass black-hole candidate binary system 4U 1630-47 contain high-velocity (2/3 x c) baryonic matter.
  • XSPEC 12.8.1e Released (13 Nov 2013)
    Updated November 7, 2013. Bugfix to eqpair model ...
  • Fermi Pass 7 reprocessed data available (12 Nov 2013)
    Pass 7 data has been reprocessed (P7REP) with updated instrument calibrations which improve the LAT PSF above 3 GeV and provide a new on-orbit PSF ...
  • The RXTE AGN Timing & Spectral Database (07 Nov 2013)
    In this database, provided for the community by the UCSD/CASS X-ray Group (R.E. Rothschild, A.G. Markowitz, E.S. Rivers, and B.A. McKim), systematically-analyzed light curves and spectra for all AGN observed by RXTE during its entire mission are now available. The flux per observation in 4 energy bands and XSPEC-compatible spectral data can be downloaded for any source directly from the website. Information such as long-term average fluxes and the typical ranges in variations of flux or photon index for a given source should be useful in future observing programs.
  • ATCA/ADF-S 20-cm Radio Source Catalog (07 Nov 2013)
    This catalog of 530 discrete radio source components detected by the Australia Telescope Compact Array in deep 20-cm observations of the AKARI Deep Field South (from White et al. 2012, MNRAS, 427, 1830) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Radio-Selected Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglow Catalog (05 Nov 2013)
    This catalog from Chandra and Frail (2012, ApJ, 746, 156) containing information on a sample of 304 GRB afterglows which were observed at radio wavelengths is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton/Sloan Digital Sky Survey Galaxy Cluster Survey Catalog (31 Oct 2013)
    This catalog from Takey et al. (2013, A&A, 558, A75) containing information on 530 X-ray selected galaxy clusters and groups with optical confirmation and redshifts from the SDSS is now available in Browse and Xamin, replacing the previous version given in Takey et al.'s earlier study (2011, A&A, 534, A120).
  • Suzaku Study Points to Early Cosmic Seeding (31 Oct 2013)
    A new study based on Suzaku Key Project observations indicates that most of Iron in the Perseus Cluster predates the formation of this cluster.
  • MILLIQUAS - The Million Quasars Catalog (29 Oct 2013)
    The latest version (v3.6, 23 October 2013) of the MILLIQUAS Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009-2013) containing more than one million (1,277,383 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Fermi LAT CALDB update (28 Oct 2013)
    The CALDB for the Fermi LAT has been updated to version v9r32p5_20131024...
  • Fermi Science Analysis Environment Updated (25 Oct 2013)
    Fermi SAE updated to version v9r32p5 on October 24, 2013. This release includes numerous updates and bug fixes ...
  • NASA News: A Glimpse of the Violent Past of the Milky Way's Giant Black Hole, Sgr A* (25 Oct 2013)
    Using Chandra observations, Clavel et al. (2013, A&A, 558, A32) have found evidence that the normally dim region very close to the supermassive black hole Sgr A* at the center of the Milky Way flared up with at least two luminous outbursts in the past few hundred years. This discovery comes from a new study of rapid variations in the X-ray emission from gas clouds surrounding Sgr A* which the authors show are likely caused by 'light echoes' of these flares.
  • New Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope Science Tools Release (25 Oct 2013)
    The Fermi Science Support Center is pleased to announce the availability of a new version of the Fermi Science Tools, developed jointly with the Large Area Telescope Collaboration and the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor Team, which include inter alia a new set of tools to analyze moving targets in the Fermi LAT data.
  • Small Magellanic Cloud XMM-Newton Point Source Catalog (24 Oct 2013)
    This catalog from Sturm et al. (2013, A&A, 558, A3) containing information on 3,053 point and moderately extended X-ray sources detected towards the SMC by XMM-Newton is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XSPEC 12.8.1c,d Released (23 Oct 2013)
    Updated October 23, 2013. 12.8.1c adds new features to PyXspec; 12.8.1d fixes a steppar bug ...
  • Herschel Space Observatory Log of Observations (22 Oct 2013)
    This catalog of 37,093 observations made by Herschel during its 4 years of operations berfore the Helium cryogen was exhausted (from the Herschel Science Centre) is now available in Browse and (within half a day) Xamin.
  • XSPEC 12.8.1b Released (30 Sep 2013)
    Updated September 27, 2013. Model syntax bug fixed ...
  • Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope Field I 150-MHz Radio Source Catalog (28 Sep 2013)
    This catalog of 206 discrete radio sources detected by the GMRT in a deep observation performed to characterize the statistical properties of the radio foreground at this frequency (from Ghosh et al. 2012, MNRAS, 426, 3295) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton Large-Scale Structure Optical Counterparts and Redshifts Catalog (26 Sep 2013)
    This catalog from Melnyk et al. (2013, A&A, 557, A81) containing information on optical counterparts and redshifts of 4,206 X-ray sources detected in the XMM-LSS Deep ('2XLSSd') survey is now available in Browse and (within half a day) Xamin.
  • NASA News: Astronomers Uncover a 'Transformer' Pulsar (26 Sep 2013)
    Papitto et al. (2013, Nature, 501, 517), using a fleet of orbiting X-ray telescopes (INTEGRAL, Swift, XMM-Newton and Chandra) and ground-based radio telescopes, have discovered a millisecond pulsar with a dual identity. In a feat that has never before been observed, the star readily shifts back and forth between two mutually exclusive styles of pulsed emission, one in X-rays, the other in radio.
  • GOODS North Field Very Large Array 1.4 GHz Source Catalog (25 Sep 2013)
    This catalog of 1230 discrete radio sources detected by the VLA above a 5-sigma detection threshold of ~20 uJy at phase center in the GOODS-North field (from Morrison et al. 2010, ApJS, 188, 178) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Chandra News: Coma Cluster: Clues to the Growth of the Colossus in Coma (23 Sep 2013)
    A team of astronomers (Sanders et al. 2013, Science, 341, 1365) has discovered enormous arms of hot gas in the Coma cluster of galaxies by using Chandra and XMM-Newton. These features, which span at least half a million light years, provide insight into how the .Coma cluster has grown through mergers of smaller groups and clusters of galaxies to become one of the largest gravitationally-bound structures in the Universe
  • Roma-BZCAT Multi-Frequency Catalog of Blazars (23 Sep 2013)
    This catalog containing information on the multi-frequency properties of 3149 blazars and blazar candidates (from Massaro et al. 2013, A&A, 495, 691) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Einstein Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Now Accepting On-Line Applications (20 Sep 2013)
    The 2014 Einstein Fellowship Call for Proposals has been posted. The deadline for applications is November 7, 2013.
  • Deadline for Swift Cycle 10 Guest Investigator Program Proposals Is Very Near (20 Sep 2013)
    Proposals for the Swift Cycle 10 component of the ROSES-2013 NRA are due no later than 4:30 pm EDT on September 26th. Details on the AO and proposal submission instructions are now available, as well as a list of Cycle 10 FAQs.
  • XMM-Newton Deep Survey in the Chandra Deep Field-South 5-10 keV Source Catalog (20 Sep 2013)
    This catalog containing information on 137 X-ray sources detected by XMM-Newton in the 5-10 keV band in the CDF-S (from Ranalli et al. 2013, A&A, 555, A42) is now available in Browse and Xamin, as well as the companion table of 2-10 keV sources from the same reference.
  • IC 2944/2948 Clusters XMM-Newton X-Ray Source Catalog (19 Sep 2013)
    This catalog containing information on 368 X-ray sources detected by XMM-Newton and their optical/IR counterparts in the young open cluster(s) IC 2944/2948 (from Nazé et al. 2013, A&A, 555, A83) is now available in Browse and (within half a day) Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton SAS v13.0.3 Released (19 Sep 2013)
    The latest release of the XMM-Newton Science Analysis Software.
  • 2nd MAXI Gas Slit Camera High Galactic-Latitude Source Catalog (18 Sep 2013)
    This catalog of 500 X-ray (4-10 keV) sources detected by the MAXI GSC in its first 37 months of operations (from Hiroi et al. 2013, ApJS, 207, 36). which replaces the previous 146-source version based on 7 months of observations, is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Suzaku CALDB updated (16 Sep 2013)
    The Suzaku CALDB has been updated for the XIS (update version 20130916) ...
  • Swift CALDB Updated (16 Sep 2013)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20130911).
  • INTEGRAL AO-11 Call for Data Rights Proposals (09 Sep 2013)
    ESA has released the INTEGRAL AO-11 Call for Data Rights Proposals. These proposals are to obtain the data rights for targets within the previously approved AO-11 observing program. Proposals are due 4 October 2013, 14:00 CEST.
  • NuSTAR Catches Black Holes on the Fly (06 Sep 2013)
    NASA's black-hole-hunter spacecraft, the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, has "bagged" its first 10 supermassive black holes, the first of hundreds expected from the mission over the next two years. NuSTAR, which has a mast the length of a school bus, is the first telescope capable of focusing the highest-energy X-ray light into detailed pictures.
  • WebSpec Updates (05 Sep 2013)
    WebSpec has just been updated, with new XIS responses and backgrounds for Suzaku AO-9, new EPIC responses for XMM-Newton AO-13, and new NuSTAR responses and backgrounds.
  • Proposal Tools Available for Joint NuSTAR-XMM Newton Observing Opportunity (05 Sep 2013)
    Proposal tools (Target Visibility, straylight, and deadtime calculators, along with simulation and software guides) have been made available by the NuSTAR project.
  • Suzaku AO-9 Proposals Due on Nov 13, 2013 (3 Sep 2013)
    The AO-9 Call for Proposals has been released. The deadline for US-based observer is 4:30 pm EST on Nov 13, 2013.
  • NASA News: NuSTAR Delivers the "X-Ray Goods" (29 Aug 2013)
    NuSTAR is giving the wider astronomical community a first look at its unique X-ray images of the cosmos. The first batch of data from the black-hole hunting telescope is publicly available today, Aug. 29, via NASA's HEASARC.
  • The NuSTAR Archive Opens (29 Aug 2013)
    The NuSTAR Public Data Archive has officially opened. NuSTAR data are accessible via the usual HEASARC archive interfaces, i.e., Xamin and Browse, specifically by querying the NuSTAR master table (numaster). NuSTAR data can also be accessed from the HEASARC FTP site. NuSTAR calibration data are available from the HEASARC CALDB.
  • NuSTAR CALDB Released (29 Aug 2013)
    The NuSTAR CALibration DataBase (CALDB version 20130509) was released on August 14, 2013. Because of the large size of some calibration files, for NuSTAR data processing and analysis we recommend downloading the NuSTAR CALDB and installing it locally, rather than accessing the NuSTAR CALDB at the HEASARC remotely.
  • Joint NuSTAR-XMM Newton Observing Opportunity (28 Aug 2013)
    XMM-Newton AO13 offers the opportunity to propose for joint observations with NuSTAR
  • NASA XMM-Newton AO-13 Dear Colleague Letter (27 Aug 2013)
    NASA is pleased to call to the attention of members of the U.S. scientific community the release by the European Space Agency (ESA) of the Announcement of Opportunity (AO), "XMM-Newton Call for Observing Proposals", soliciting Guest Observing proposals for the 13th cycle (AO-13) observing program for ESA's X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton).
  • XMM-Newton AO-13 Solicitation Released (27 Aug 2013)
    XMM-Newton observing proposals are solicited in response to the Thirteenth Announcement of Opportunity.
  • Chandra CALDB 4.5.8 released (23 Aug 2013)
    CalDB 4.5.8 released 23 August 2013 and installed at the HEASARC on 23 August 2013. Note Caldb 4.5.8 is not compatible with CIAO versions earlier than CIAO 4.3...
  • NASA's Fermi Celebrates Five Years in Space, Enters Extended Mission Phase (21 Aug 2013)
    During its 5-year primary mission, Fermi has given astronomers an increasingly detailed portrait of the universe's most extraordinary phenomena, from giant black holes in the hearts of distant galaxies to thunderstorms on Earth. On Aug. 11, 2013, Fermi entered an extended phase of its mission - a deeper study of the high-energy cosmos.
  • M 31 Central Field Chandra HRI X-Ray Point Source Catalog (20 Aug 2013)
    This catalog containing information on 318 X-ray point sources detected in M 31's central regions by the HRC-I over 13 years of Chandra observations (from Hofmann et al. 2013, A&A, 555, A65) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • ARK/RPS Scheduled Downtime for 2013-08-15 Completed (15 Aug 2013)
    The scheduled maintenance for the ARK database has completed, and ARK/RPS is fully operational. If you encounter any issues, please contact the ARK Help Desk.
  • MILLIQUAS - The Million Quasars Catalog (14 Aug 2013)
    The latest version (v3.5, 11 August 2013) of the MILLIQUAS Catalog (Eric Flesch 2009-2013) containing more than one million (1,302,716 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XSPEC 12.8.1 Released (12 Aug 2013)
    Released August 8, 2013. New models, new statistics, other changes. Part of HEASoft 6.14 release ...
  • VLA SDSS Stripe 82 Survey 1.4-GHz Source Catalog (08 Aug 2013)
    This catalog containing information on 17,969 20-cm sources and their SDSS optical counterparts in 'Stripe 82' (from Hodge et al. 2011, AJ, 142, 3) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • HEASoft 6.14 released (08 Aug 2013)
    Released August 7, 2013; new software for the NuSTAR mission and updates to the Swift mission software, other changes...
  • 4th Fermi International Symposium Proceedings Now Available (07 Aug 2013)
    The proceedings of the 4th Fermi Symposium are now available! All submitted papers are compiled in the proceedings, as well as being available on arXiv. Thanks to everyone who participated in making the 4th Fermi Symposium such a success!
  • Lynds 1641 and Iota Ori Regions XMM-Newton X-Ray Source Catalog (07 Aug 2013)
    This catalog containing information on 1060 X-ray sources and 1041 IR counterparts in a portion of the Orion A Cloud (from Pillitteri et al. 2013, ApJ, 768, 99 & 2013, ApJ, 773, 80) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • INTEGRAL's Journey Through the High Energy Sky (06 Aug 2013)
    The INTEGRAL workshop "INTEGRAL's Journey Through the High Energy Sky" will be held in Rome 15-18 October, 2013. Abstracts can be submitted until 20 September 2013. Additional information can be found at the above link.
  • Suzaku CALDB updated (02 Aug 2013)
    The Suzaku CALDB has been updated for the XIS (update version 20130724) ...
  • Swift CALDB Updated (02 Aug 2013)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20130715).
  • VLA Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep Field (SXDF) 1.4-GHz Source Catalog (02 Aug 2013)
    This catalog containing information on 505 20-cm sources and their optical counterparts in the SXDF (from Simpson et al. 2006, MNRAS, 372, 741) and the later catalog of optical spectroscopy and redshifts for these sources (Simpson et al. 2012, MNRAS, 421, 3060) are now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • ROSAT/XMM-Newton 13-hr Deep Field Chandra X-Ray Source Catalog (31 Jul 2013)
    This catalog containing 214 Chandra sources in the 13-hr, +38-deg Deep Field observed by both ROSAT and XMM-Newton (from McHardy et al. 2003, MNRAS, 342, 802) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Press Release: Chandra and XMM-Newton See Eclipsing Planet in X-rays for First Time (30 Jul 2013)
    For the first time since exoplanets were discovered almost 20 years ago, X-ray observations have detected an exoplanet passing in front of its parent star. An advantageous alignment of a planet and its parent star in the system HD 189733 enabled Chandra and XMM-Newton to observe a dip in X-ray intensity as the planet transited the star, according to Poppenhaeger et al. (2013, ApJ, in press).
  • All-Wavelength Extended Groth Strip (EGS) International Survey 20-cm (AEGIS20) Fully Identified Sample Counterpart Catalog (29 Jul 2013)
    This catalog containing 511 20-cm sources in part of the EGS and their R-band and IRAC counterparts (from Willner et al. 2012, ApJ, 756, 72) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • ROSAT/XMM-Newton 13-hr Deep Field 20-cm VLA Source Catalog (25 Jul 2013)
    This catalog containing 449 20-cm sources in the 13-hr, +38-deg Deep Field observed by both ROSAT and XMM-Newton (from Seymour et al. 2004, MNRAS, 352, 131) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Press Release: Team led by U. Leicester Sets New Record for Cosmic X-Ray Sightings (23 Jul 2013)
    The XMM-Newton Survey Science Center, led by a team from Leicester's Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, used the University's 'ALICE' supercomputer to help them produce a new X-ray catalog, dubbed '3XMM'. This new catalog contains over half a million X-ray source detections, and is the largest catalog of X-ray sources ever produced.
  • XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalog (Version 3XMM-DR4) (23 Jul 2013)
    The updated version of this catalog, now containing 531,261 X-ray source detections (Watson et al. 2013, in preparation), is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalogue: 3XMM-DR4 Released (23 Jul 2013)
    Latest release of the XMM SSC: 3XMM-DR4
  • XMM-Newton XSA v8.0 Released (23 Jul 2013)
    The latest release of the XMM-Newton Science Archive tool.
  • All-Wavelength Extended Groth Strip International Survey (AEGIS) VLA 20-cm Source Catalog (23 Jul 2013)
    This catalog containing 1,122 20-cm sources in the EGS (from Ivison et al. 2007, ApJ, 660, L77) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Faint Images of the Radio Sky at 20-cm (FIRST) Catalog (18 Jul 2013)
    The latest (2013 June 05) version of the FIRST Catalog containing 971,268 20-cm sources (originally published in White et al. 1997, ApJ, 475, 479) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Proceedings of 2012 INTEGRAL workshop published (18 Jul 2013)
    The proceedings of the 9th INTEGRAL workshop "An INTEGRAL view of the high-energy sky", Paris, 15-19 October 2012, have been published today (update from initial March release).
  • Planck Catalog of Compact Sources Public Release 1 (PCCS1) 100, 143, 217, 353, 545 and 857 GHz Source Tables (16 Jul 2013)
    These 6 tables of 100-857 GHz radio sources (from the Planck Collaboration 2013, A&A, in press) are now available in Browse and Xamin. These tables supersede the Planck Early Release tables (which have been removed).
  • Chandra Cycle 15 Accepted Targets Lists Now Available (12 Jul 2013)
    The peer-review recommended targets for Chandra Cycle 15 for regular, large, multicycle and XVP-type proposals, as well as for joint proposals with other facilities, theory proposals and archive proposals, have been released.
  • 2014 Einstein Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program Call for Proposals (12 Jul 2013)
    Applications from recent (after Jan 1 2011) PhDs in astronomy, physics and related disciplines are solicited to this NASA-sponsored post-doc program for research in high-energy astrophysics, cosmology and dark energy, and gravitational astrophysics which is relevant to current and future missions of NASA's Physics of the Cosmos program. The deadline is Thursday November 7th, 2013.
  • MILLIQUAS - The Million Quasars Catalog (12 Jul 2013)
    The latest version (v3.4, 11 July 2013) of the MILLIQUAS Catalog (Eric Flesch 2013) containing more than one million (1,248,691 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Australia Telescope 2FGL Unassociated Sources Radio Source Catalog (09 Jul 2013)
    This catalog (from Petrov et al. 2013, MNRAS, 432, 1294) of 424 radio sources found within the 99% error ellipses of 411 gamma-ray sources south of +10 degrees that were marked as 'unassociated' in the 2nd Fermi LAT Catalog is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • The Xamin Command Line Interface (CLI) and Data Products (03 Jul 2013)
    We recently reviewed how data products are handled in the Xamin Command Line Interface and feel that some information on how to download data products might be helpful. (For help getting set up to use the CLI interface see our ... Continue reading ...
  • Chandra CALDB 4.5.7 released (01 Jul 2013)
    CalDB 4.5.7 released 28 June 2013 and installed at the HEASARC on 01 July 2013. Note Caldb 4.5.7 is not compatible with CIAO versions earlier than CIAO 4.3...
  • Press Release: NASA Decommissions Its "Galaxy Hunter" Spacecraft (30 Jun 2013)
    NASA has turned off its Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) spacecraft after a decade of operations in which the venerable space telescope used its ultraviolet vision to study hundreds of millions of galaxies across 10 billion years of cosmic time, as well as to observe stars, supernovae and black holes in our own and/or other galaxies.
  • Xamin Data Products Download Commands (27 Jun 2013)
    In addition to the option to download data products as a tar file Xamin will display a list of separate download commands. Users can then transfer individual data files from the command line or create a download script. These download ... Continue reading ...
  • Fermi Science Analysis Environment Support for Ubuntu 12 (27 Jun 2013)
    Binary distributions of the Fermi SAE are now available for Ubuntu 12 (12.04-12.10) in 32 and 64 bit flavors ...
  • INTEGRAL Science Operations Extended until 31 December 2016 (24 Jun 2013)
    The ESA Science Programme Committee has approved extending the INTEGRAL mission through 2016. As with previous extensions, this is subject to a mid-term confirmation in late 2014.
  • Phoenix Deep Survey Optical & Near-IR Counterparts and Redshifts Catalogs (21 Jun 2013)
    These two catalogs of the properties of 246 (Georgakakis et al., 1999, MNRAS, 306, 708) and 778 (Sullivan et al. 2004, ApJS, 155, 1) radio sources in the Phoenix Deep Field are now available in Browse and (within half a day) Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton ESA Mission Extension (21 Jun 2013)
    ESA's Science Programme Committee approved a new extension for XMM-Newton until 31 December 2016
  • XMM-Newton SAS v13.0.1 Released (21 Jun 2013)
    The latest release of the XMM-Newton Science Analysis Software.
  • Brightest M Dwarfs in the Northern Sky Spectroscopic Catalog (20 Jun 2013)
    This catalog of the 1,564 brightest (J < 9) M-dwarf candidates in the northern sky, 1,408 of which are confirmed to be late-K and M dwarfs (from Lépine & et al. 2013, AJ, 145, 102), is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Lepine and Shara Northern Stars with Proper Motions > 0.15"/yr Catalog (19 Jun 2013)
    The LSPM-North catalog of 61,977 high-proper-motion stars (from Lépine & Shara 2005, AJ, 129, 1483) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • The Turbulent, High-Energy Sky Is Keeping NuSTAR Busy (18 Jun 2013)
    NuSTAR keeps an eye on sudden changes in the high-energy sky
  • INTEGRAL AO-11 General Program Approved (18 Jun 2013)
    The INTEGRAL AO-11 General Program, as recommended by the Time Allocation Committee (TAC) and approved on June 3 by the ESA Director of Science and Robotic Exploration (Prof. Alvaro Gimenez), has been released and the observers have been informed.
  • Swift CALDB Updated (17 Jun 2013)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20130606).
  • Black Hole Naps Amidst Stellar Chaos (17 Jun 2013)
    NuSTAR teamed up with Chandra to show that the supermassive black hole in the Sculptor galaxy is no longer actively feeding.
  • NASA News Feature: NASA-Led Study Explains Decades of Black Hole Observations (14 Jun 2013)
    A new study (Schnittman et al. (2013, ApJ, 769, 156)) confirms long-held suspicions about how stellar-mass black holes produce their highest-energy light. "Our work traces the complex motions, particle interactions and turbulent magnetic fields in billion-degree gas on the threshold of a black hole..." said lead researcher Jeremy Schnittman, an astrophysicist at NASA/GSFC.
  • NASA News Feature: Astronomers Identify Dozens of Black Holes in M 31 Using Chandra Data (13 Jun 2013)
    Using data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, researchers (Barnard et al. (2013, ApJ, 770, 148) have discovered an unprecedented bonanza of black holes in the Andromeda Galaxy, one of the nearest galaxies to the Milky Way. The 26 new black hole candidates belong to the stellar mass category, meaning they formed in the death throes of very massive stars and typically are 5 - 10 solar masses.
  • JPL Latest News: NuSTAR Finds Black Hole in NGC 253 "Napping" Amidst Stellar Chaos (12 Jun 2013)
    Nearly a decade ago, the Chandra X-ray Observatory caught signs of what appeared to be a black hole snacking on gas at the middle of the nearby Sculptor galaxy (NGC 253). Now, NuSTAR has taken a peek at this starburst galaxy, and found the black hole is currently "asleep", according to Lehmer et al. (2013, ApJ, in press).
  • Fermi Cycle-6 Phase-2 Proposal Deadline is Nearing (12 Jun 2013)
    Phase-2 (budget) proposals for the Fermi Cycle-6 GI Program are due on June 24, 2013. If you have been invited to submit a phase-2 proposal, please refer to the instructions on the Proposals web page for submission details.
  • Updated Nearby Galaxy Catalog (06 Jun 2013)
    This catalog of 869 known nearby galaxies which are either within 11 Mpc or have radial velocities rel. to the LG centroid of < 600 km/s (from Karachentsev et al. 2013, AJ, 145, 101) is now available in Browse and Xamin, replacing the earlier version (from Karachentsev et al. 2004, AJ, 127, 2031).
  • Catalog of X-Ray Selected BL Lac Objects (05 Jun 2013)
    This table of the properties of 312 X-ray selected BL Lacs (from Kapanadze 2013, AJ, 145, 31) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • News Feature: A Joint Chandra/Spitzer Study Suggests Black Holes Are Abundant Among The Earliest Stars (05 Jun 2013)
    By comparing infrared and X-ray background signals across the same stretch of sky, an international research team (Cappelluti et al. (2013, ApJ, in press) has discovered evidence of a significant number of black holes that accompanied the first stars in the universe. Based on data from NASA's Chandra X-ray and Spitzer IR space telescopes, they conclude that 1 of every 5 sources contributing to the IR signal is a black hole.
  • Extended Chandra Deep Field South 2nd Data Release 1.4-GHz VLA Source Catalog (24 May 2013)
    This table of 883 1.4-GHz radio sources and 49 components detected above a 5-sigma threshold in the ECDF-S (from Miller et al. 2013, ApJS, 205, 13) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • News Feature: NASA Builds Unusual Testbed for Analyzing X-Ray Navigation Technologies (22 May 2013)
    Pulsars have a number of unusual qualities: like zombies, they shine even though they are technically dead, and they rotate rapidly, emitting powerful and regular beams of radiation that are seen as flashes of light, blinking on and off at intervals from seconds to milliseconds. A NASA/GSFC team has built the Goddard X-ray Navigation Laboratory Testbed to simulate these distinctive pulsations.
  • XSPEC 12.8.0l,m Released (20 May 2013)
    Released May 17, 2013. improves the handling of the corner cases where 1 or more norm parameters are set to zero during a fit. Also 12.8.0l released May 10, 2013 - fix for PyXspec bug affecting change is made to the response gain through one Python RModel object ...
  • XMM-Newton Cluster Survey Catalog, Data Release 1 (15 May 2013)
    This catalog of 503 clusters detected in the XMM-Newton Cluster Survey 1st Data Release (from Mehrtens et al. 2012, MNRAS, 423, 1024) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XMM-Newton SAS v13.0.0 Released (09 May 2013)
    The latest release of the XMM-Newton Science Analysis Software.
  • XMM-Newton Survey Science Center Survey of the Galactic Plane (08 May 2013)
    This catalog of 739 X-ray sources detected by XMM-Newton, and their optical/infrared counterparts, in 26 fields along the Galactic Plane (from Nebot Gomez-Moran et al. 2013, A&A, 553, A12) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Swift CALDB Updated (07 May 2013)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20130507).
  • Radio-Selected Extended Chandra Deep Field South Source Catalog (06 May 2013)
    This catalog of the derived X-ray properties and redshifts of 268 radio-selected Chandra X-ray sources in the 4-Ms CDF-S and E-CDF-S fields (from Vattakunnel et al. 2012, MNRAS, 420, 2190) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Planck Catalog of Sunyaev-Zeldovich Sources Release 1 (03 May 2013)
    This table of 1227 clusters and cluster candidates detected by their S-Z effect on the CMB (from the Planck Collaboration 2013, A&A, in press) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • GALEX Time Domain Survey (TDS) Catalog of Ultraviolet Variable Sources (01 May 2013)
    This catalog of 1078 GALEX NUV sources in the TDS fields which varied by more than 5 sigma in at least one epoch (from Gezari et al. 2013, ApJ, 766, 60) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NASA News Release: Chandra Studies Giant Gas Cloud in System NGC 6240 (01 May 2013)
    Scientists have used Chandra to make a detailed study of an enormous cloud of hot gas enveloping two large, colliding galaxies in the system called NGC 6240. This unusually large reservoir of gas contains as much mass as 10 billion Suns, spans about 300,000 light years, and radiates at a temperature of more than 7 million degrees, according to (Nardini et al. (2013, ApJ, 765, 141).
  • Catalog of XMM-Newton X-ray Sources in the M 83 Starburst Galaxy (30 Apr 2013)
    This catalog of 189 X-ray sources detected by XMM-Newton towards M 83 (from Ducci et al. 2013, A&A, 553, A7) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NASA News Release: The Day the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope Dodged a 1.5-ton Bullet (30 Apr 2013)
    NASA scientists don't often learn that their spacecraft is at risk of crashing into another satellite. But when Julie McEnery, the project scientist for NASA's Fermi satllite, checked her e-mail on March 29, 2012, she found herself facing this precise situation: Fermi was just one week away from an unusually close encounter with Cosmos 1805, a defunct Soviet spy satellite!
  • ESA Releases INTEGRAL AO-11 Proposal Statistics (25 Apr 2013)
    A total of 55 proposals were recieved with 62 Msec of observing time requested. A breakdown of the number of proposals by science category can be found at the above link.
  • Fermi LAT CALDB update (24 Apr 2013)
    The CALDB for the Fermi LAT has been updated to version v9r31p1_20130424...
  • Planck Catalog of Compact Sources Public Release 1 (PCCS1) 30-, 44- and 70-GHz Source Tables (24 Apr 2013)
    These 3 tables of 30-, 44- and 70-GHz radio sources (from the Planck Collaboration 2013, A&A, in press) are now available in Browse and Xamin. The remaining PCCS1 tables of higher frequency sources will be available shortly.
  • Fermi Science Analysis Environment Updated (24 Apr 2013)
    Fermi SAE updated to version v9r31p1 on April 24, 2013. This release includes numerous updates and bug fixes ...
  • XSPEC 12.8.0k Released (24 Apr 2013)
    Released March 19, 2013. This replaces the AtomDB v2.0.2 files of patch 12.8.0i with corrected versions including calculations up to 100 keV ...
  • Ritter Catalog of Cataclysmic Binaries (Version 7.19) (19 Apr 2013)
    The latest (7.19: March-2013) versions of the Cataclysmic Binaries Catalog, the Low-Mass X-ray Binaries Catalog and the Binaries Related to CVs Catalog (Ritter & Kolb 2003-2013) are all now available in Browse and in Xamin.
  • Updated IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer Observing Log (19 Apr 2013)
    The latest version of the IRAM PdB Interferometer observing log (Dan et al. 1991-2013, IRAM Newsletters) containing 15,849 observations through 2012 March 31 is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • DS9 Updated (16 Apr 2013)
    Version 7.2; new support for loading and saving FITS images, data cubes, mosaics and other image formats, more ...
  • Fermi in the News: Blazar Markarian 421's Flare-up is Cosmic Coincidence (16 Apr 2013)
    The skies are currently being flooded with the brightest display of gamma rays - the Universe's highest-energy light - ever seen by astronomers. The culprit is a staggering flare-up of Markarian 421, a "blazar" that hosts a supermassive black hole.
  • NASA News Release: Suzaku 'Post-mortem' Yields Insight into Kepler's Supernova (13 Apr 2013)
    The exploding star observed in 1604 by Johannes Kepler held a greater fraction of heavy elements than the sun, according to an analysis of X-ray observations from the Suzaku satellite. The findings will help astronomers better understand the diversity of type Ia supernovae, an important class of stellar explosion used in probing the distant universe.
  • MILLIQUAS - The Million Quasars Catalog (12 Apr 2013)
    The latest version (v3.3, 7 Apr 2013) of the MILLIQUAS Catalog (Eric Flesch 2013) containing more than one million (1,246,268 to be exact) likely quasars is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Swift CALDB Updated (11 Apr 2013)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20130405).
  • NASA News Release: NASA Selects Explorer Investigations for Formulation (05 Apr 2013)
    NASA's Astrophysics Explorer Program has selected two missions for launch in 2017: a planet-hunting satellite and an ISS instrument to observe X-rays from stars. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) were among 4 concept studies submitted in Sep 2012. Congratulations to George Ricker (TESS PI) and Keith Gendreau (NICER PI) & their teams!
  • NICER and the Upcoming Zombie Star Apocalypse (05 Apr 2013)
    NASA Taps the Power of Zombie Stars in a Two-in-One Instrument called NICER.
  • NASA Selects NICER for Development (05 Apr 2013)
    NASA's Astrophysics Explorer Program has selected two missions for launch in 2017: a planet-hunting satellite and an International Space Station instrument to observe X-rays from neutron stars, NICER.
  • NASA News Release: Chandra Detects Extended X-Ray Emission Attributed to Young Stars in the SMC (03 Apr 2013)
    Using Chandra, researchers have discovered extended X-ray emission from the two most densely populated regions in the Small Magellanic Cloud star cluster NGC 602a, which they argue comes from the population of thousands of young, low-mass stars in this cluster (see Oskinova et al. 2013, ApJ, 765, 73 for the full details).
  • Australia Telescope Low-Brightness Survey (ATLBS) 1.4-GHz Source Catalog (02 Apr 2013)
    This table of 1366 1.4-GHz radio sources detected above a threshold of 0.38 mJy in the ATLBS (from Thorat et al. 2013, ApJ, 762, 16) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Arcminute Microkelvin Imager Galactic Plane Survey 16-GHz Source Catalog (28 Mar 2013)
    This catalog of 3503 radio sources detected by the AMI Small Array in a survey of the plane of the Milky Way between l = 76 and 170 deg. (from Perrott et al. 2013, MNRAS, 429, 3330) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Milky Way Project First Data Release Infrared Bubble Catalog (27 Mar 2013)
    This catalog of 5106 infrared bubbles in the plane of the Milky Way (from Simpson et al. 2012, MNRAS, 424, 2442) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Proceedings of 2012 INTEGRAL Workshop Available (26 Mar 2013)
    The first set of accepted papers of the workshop proceedings "An INTEGRAL view of the high energy sky (the first 10 years)" is now available on-line. More to be expected soon.
  • The Multi-Messenger Time Domain Astronomy Conference Has Been Cancelled (25 Mar 2013)
    Due to the US federal government's budget sequester, this meeting (which was to have been held in late May) has unfortunately had to be cancelled.
  • Planck Mission Announces Data Release 1 (23 Mar 2013)
    The Planck team has released sky maps, likelihood software, and other data.
  • Cosmic Microwave Backround Experiments Master Catalog (22 Mar 2013)
    This catalog of 62 gound-based, balloon-borne and satellite-based CMB experiments, together with links to their data products (if public) at the LAMBDA part of the HEASARC, is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • CFITSIO Updated (21 Mar 2013)
    Version 3.34 released March 20; Several enhancements and bug fixes...
  • ESA News Release: Black Hole-Star Pair Orbiting at Dizzying Speed (20 Mar 2013)
    XMM-Newton has helped to identify a star and a black hole that orbit each other at the dizzying rate of once every 2.4 hours, smashing the previous record by nearly an hour, according to Kuulkers et al. (2013, A&A, 552, A32). This compact binary, known as MAXI J1659-152, was first discovered in 2010 by Swift and MAXI...
  • XSPEC 12.8.0j Released (19 Mar 2013)
    Released March 19, 2013. Adds a new test option to the tclout statistic and tclout statmethod commands ...
  • NGC 4649 Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog (19 Mar 2013)
    This catalog of 501 Chandra X-ray sources detected in the merger of 6 individual ACIS-S3 observations or in the individual observations of the elliptical galaxy NGC 4649 (from Luo et al. 2013, ApJS, 204, 14) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Chandra Study of the Kepler SNR Identifies What Triggered the Supernova (19 Mar 2013)
    A new study by Burkey et al. (2013) has used Chandra together with supporting Spitzer data to identify precisely what caused the Type Ia supernova explosion that produced the Kepler supernova remnant, namely that it was triggered by an interaction between a white dwarf and a red giant (AGB) star.
  • Swift CALDB Updated (18 Mar 2013)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the XRT (update version 20130313).
  • M 16 (Eagle Nebula) and NGC 6611 Cluster Chandra X-Ray Source Catalog (18 Mar 2013)
    This catalog of 1754 Chandra X-ray sources in 3 ACIS-I fields towards M 16 (from Guarcello et al. 2012, ApJ, 753, 117) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Allen Telescope Array Pi GHz Sky Survey (PiGSS) Deep Fields Source Catalog (14 Mar 2013)
    The PiGSS catalog of 808 3.1-GHz sources detected in the ELAIS-N1, Coma, Lockman Hole and NDWFS deep fields (Croft et al. 2013, ApJ, 762, 93) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Australia Telescope Large Area Survey (ATLAS) Spectroscopic Classes and Redshifts Catalog (13 Mar 2013)
    This table of new spectroscopic classes and redshifts for 466 1.4-GHz radio sources in ATLAS (from Mao et al. 2012, MNRAS, 426, 3334) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Suzaku CALDB updated (11 Mar 2013)
    The Suzaku CALDB has been updated for the XIS (update version 20130305) ...
  • Swift CALDB Data updated (11 Mar 2013)
    The Swift Caldb has been updated for the SC (update version 20130308)...
  • Xamin V2.2 Released (05 Mar 2013)
    The major change to this version is that Xamin now generates preview image windows giving SkyView survey cutouts for queries that involve a single position. By default DSS and RASS cutouts are created, but this can be controlled in the ... Continue reading ...
  • INTEGRAL AO-11 Call for Observing Proposals Is Open (4 Mar 2013)
    The ESA Director of Science and Robotic Exploration (Prof. Alvaro Gimenez) has released the 11th Announcement of Opportunity for observing proposals with INTEGRAL. This announcement solicits proposals for observations to be carried out from January 2014 for a period of 12 months. Proposals submission is Friday 12 April 2012, 14:00 CEST.
  • NASA News Release: Fermi's Motion Produces a Study in Spirograph (03 Mar 2013)
    Fermi orbits the Earth every 95 minutes, building up increasingly deeper views of the universe with every circuit. Its wide-eyed Large Area Telescope sweeps across the entire sky every three hours, capturing the gamma rays from sources across the universe. These range from supermassive black holes billions of light-years away to intriguing objects in our own Galaxy, such as X-ray binaries, SNRs and pulsars.
  • CFITSIO Updated (03 Mar 2013)
    Version 3.33 released February 28; Several enhancements and bug fixes...
  • Suzaku Cycle 8 Target List Available (28 Feb 2013)
    The list of accepted Suzaku AO-8 targets is now available.
  • NuSTAR helps solve the Spinning Black Hole riddle (27 Feb 2013)
    NuSTAR teamed up with XMM-Newton to definitively measure, for the first time ever, the spin of a supermassive black hole.
  • XMM Large-Scale Structure Deep (2XLSSd) Full-Exposure X-Ray Source Catalog (26 Feb 2013)
    This catalog of 6,721 X-ray sources detected in the complete XMM-LSS, together with the uniform 10-ksec exposures 2XLSS catalog of 5,572 X-ray sources (both from Chiappetti et al. 2013, MNRAS, 429, 1652), are now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • Fornax Dwarf Galaxy XMM-Newton X-Ray Source Catalog (26 Feb 2013)
    This catalog of 107 X-ray sources detected in an observation of the Fornax galaxy (from Nucita et al. 2013, A&A, 550, A18) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • XSPEC 12.8.0h Released (20 Feb 2013)
    Released February 20, 2013. Fix to the lrt Tcl command script ...
  • EUVE Right Angle Program, 1st Catalog (20 Feb 2013)
    The catalog of 114 EUV sources detected by EUVE in its Right Angle Program during its first year of operations (McDonald et al. 1994, AJ, 108, 1843) is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • X-Ray Background Tool v2.5 released (19 Feb 2013)
    The X-Ray Background Tool has been enhanced with support for extraction regions with radii up to 10 degrees.
  • XSPEC 12.8.0g Released (19 Feb 2013)
    Released February 15, 2013. Improvements made for running the Goodman-Weare algorithm in the chain command...
  • Updated IRAM Pico Veleta 30-m Telescope Observation Log (15 Feb 2013)
    The latest version of the IRAM 30-m telescope observing log (Dan et al. 1991-2012, IRAM Newsletters) containing 148,252 millimeter observations is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • NASA News Release: Fermi Proves Supernova Remnants Produce Cosmic Rays (14 Feb 2013)
    A new study using Fermi observations reveals the first clear-cut evidence that the expanding debris of exploded stars produces some of the fastest-moving matter in the universe. This discovery is a major step toward understanding the origin of cosmic rays, one of the Fermi mission's primary goals.
  • NASA News Release: Chandra Suggests Rare Explosion Created Our Galaxy's Youngest Black Hole (13 Feb 2013)
    New data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory suggest a highly distorted supernova remnant, W49B, may contain the most recent black hole formed in the Milky Way. The remnant appears to be the product of a rare explosion in which matter is ejected at high speeds along the poles of a rotating star.
  • MILLIQUAS - The Million Quasars Catalog (13 Feb 2013)
    The latest version (v3.2, 10 February 2013) of the MILLIQUAS catalog (Eric Flesch 2013) containing more than one million (1,221,803) likely quasars is now available in Browse and Xamin.
  • 2013 Fermi Summer School (12 Feb 2013)
    The Fermi project is happy to announce the opening of registration for the 2013 Fermi Summer School, which will run from May 28 through June 7 2013. In addition to comprehensive coverage of gamma-ray astrophysics topics, this year's program will include a special emphasis on searches for dark matter and new physics.

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