National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The HEASARC is part of Goddard's Office for Guest Investigator Programs. It houses data from many previous and current high energy astrophysics missions, including the Einstein Observatory, EXOSAT, HEAO-1, ROSAT, BeppoSAX, RXTE and ASCA. The HEASARC will be offering support to future missions such as AXAF, XMM, and Astro-E. It is also involved in the development of proposed missions including Constellation-X and GLAST. In addition to these datasets, catalogs and documents are available via the HEASARC On-line Service ( http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/).

The HEASARC supports the analysis of archival data for local visitors and remote users. It provides:

• Access to archival data via the HEASARC On-line Service
  
• Mission-independent data analysis tools
  
• Expertise in analysis techniques and calibrations
  
• Documentation

  The following software packages are available:

• FTOOLS/xselect
  
• XANADU (XSPEC, XIMAGE, XRONOS and QDP)
  
• IRAF/PROS
  
• interfaces to IDL

Sun workstations and access to a VAX/VMS system is available for each visitor. A preprint library, reading room (containing recent copies of many popular journals), and bound sets of Ap.J. and A&A are available in the same building as the HEASARC. Fax machines, photocopiers and laser printers are available for HEASARC visitors' use.

A building near the HEASARC contains the extensive Goddard Library and a full-service cafeteria. Library hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Books may only be checked out by Goddard employees but free photocopying is available to any user. The cafeteria offers a large selection of hot and cold food and is open 7:15 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Snack and cold drink vending machines are available in the same building as the HEASARC. Coffee and tea can also be purchased from the employee club.

The HEASARC is supported by many duty scientists and support staff, covering a broad range of missions and software. Their biographies are available online at: /docs/heasarc/staff/OGIP_staff.html

Support is available Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., though visitors are able to work outside these hours.

The HEASARC shares a building with Goddard's Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics, the ROSAT Guest Observer Facility (GOF), the ASCA GOF and the RXTE GOF, as well as the Compton Observatory Science Support Center, allowing interaction with many other scientists for scientific and data-related discussions.

Use of the HEASARC must be prebooked. This will allow a badge to be ready at the main gate and also will prevent the system from becoming overbooked. Booking the HEASARC is done by contacting Mike Arida by one of the following methods:

Visitors should allow enough advance notice of their visit for the support staff to obtain a badge. For US citizens and Resident Aliens ('Green Card' holders), this is a few days; non-citizens who are non-Resident Aliens should allow two weeks notice. Information about local hotels and how to get to GSFC can be obtained when booking the facility.

A remote helpdesk will provide help with software distribution and installation, advice on data analysis problems and bug reports. This help desk is accessed by contacting us via our Feedback form or via the telephone number used for booking the facility.

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