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Come analyze HEASARC, IRSA, and MAST data in the cloud! The Fornax Initiative is now welcoming all interested beta users.

HEASoft and XSPEC are now available as conda packages. See details ....

HEASARC Software

The following software is supported by the HEASARC. Most of this software is designed for professional researchers and advanced students for the analysis of scientific astronomical observations in FITS format. These software packages are to be downloaded to the users machine. Web-based tools are available in our tools page.
This page includes sections on:
  • HEASoft and its sub-packages
  • Other Software, which includes: HEASoft in Docker, SciServer, and other tools

HEASoft is a unified package of several High Energy tools including:
CFITSIO A library for reading and writing FITS files for C and Fortran programmers.
Ftools General FITS file utility programs and mission-specific data analysis tools.
Xselect Multipurpose tool for filtering event files and generating images, spectra, and light curves.
HEASoftpy A Python 3 interface to HEASoft
Xspec X-ray astronomical spectral data analysis.
Xronos X-ray astronomical timing data analysis.
Ximage X-ray astronomical imaging data analysis.
XSTAR Program for calculating physical conditions and emission spectra in photoionized gases.
FV Interactive editor and viewer for astronomical data files in FITS format.

These are additional tools or software suppored by the HEASARC
HEASoft in a Container Install and run HEASoft in a Docker container
HEASoft and XSPEC in conda Install HEASoft or XSPEC as conda packages
SciServer Run HEASoft (and CIAO, Fermitools, XMM-SAS, Spex etc) in an online platform without a need to install the software or download the data. Define your own collaboration groups, share code and results, etc.
PIMMS Estimate the count rates from fluxes or vice versa, or estimate the count rates in one instrument from those measured in another.
ASTRO-Update Latest Versions of Useful Multi-mission Software
FITS Data Formats, Standards and HEASARC Conventions for High-Energy Astrophysics Data

  • Chandra CALDB 4.12.4 installed at the HEASARC (28 Apr 2026)
    The Chandra CalDB 4.12.4 is now installed in and available from the HEASARC CALDB. Chandra 4.12.4 was released by the CXC on April 28, 2026.
  • IXPE Caldb Updated (28 Apr 2026)
    The IXPE Caldb has been updated for the GPD (version 20260424) and XRT (version 20260331). Downloads are available from the IXPE Calibration page. Users can also access the HEASARC IXPE caldb via remote access.
  • XRISM Caldb Update (15 Apr 2026)
    The XRISM Caldb for the Resolve and XTEND instruments has been updated to version 20260315 (CALDB 13). Tar files can be downloaded from the XRISM Calibration page.
  • NuSTAR Caldb Update (15 Apr 2026)
    The NuSTAR FPM caldb was updated to version 20260407. This release includes a new clock correction file, v226, using a new temperature model. Please see the release notes for more details. In addition, the previous caldb version 20260401, which includes a the clock correction file v225 was also released

    • ASCA | BeppoSAX | CGRO | Chandra | EUVE | EXOSAT | Fermi | HEAO-1 | INTEGRAL | NICER | NuSTAR | OSO-8 | ROSAT | RXTE | Suzaku | Swift | XMM-Newton

    Old tools:

    • Profit: GUI tool for visualizing and modeling high-resolution spectra.
    • Maki: Displays fields of view for various instruments on FITS images. Supports the Suzaku XIS & HXD, Chandra ACIS & HRC, XMM EPIC, and RXTE PCA detectors.
    • Hera (DEPRECATED): Run the HEASoft software suite on the Hera servers at the HEASARC, without having to install the software packages locally.