ASCA Update

[Ascanews Account <MUKAI@lheavx.gsfc.nasa.gov>]

	1. Yet another deadline reminder
	2. Bug in mathpha affecting addascaspec
	3. PGP survey
	4. Rev 2 Getting Started Guide in LaTeX/PostScript formats
	5. HEAD Meeting : Abstracts due on Aug 1

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1. Yet another reminder
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ASCA proposal deadline is Wed, Aug 13th --- only ~2 weeks left!

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2. Bug in mathpha affecting addascaspec
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Mathpha 4.3.0 and most other versions do not correctly update the BACKSCAL
keyword in the combined source spectrum (the value has to be set to 1.0).
This results in a wrong amount of background subtraction.  The command

example% fparkey 1.0 comb_src.pha+1 backscal

would reset the BACKSCAL keyword in the file comb_src.pha to 1.0.

The modified version of addascaspec (v1.24) is available from

	ftp://legacy.gsfc.nasa.gov/asca/scripts/reduction/addascaspec

This should replace $FTOOLS/scripts/addascaspec after editing the first
line to point to your local version of perl.

This and other bugs/features are listed in

	http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/asca/soft_ascabug.html

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3. PGP survey
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Recently, the ASCA Data Processing Team began making proprietary data
available by FTP. PI's data rights are protected by encrypting the data
in the public archive using the PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) software.
You can read more about this system at 

	http://adfwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/asca/pgp/pgp.html

We would like to learn how the user community has responded to this system.
It would help us a great deal if you could answer the following questions:

1) Have you heard of this system for encrypting ASCA data?

2) Is PGP already installed at your institution?

3) Have you tried installing PGP yourself?

4) If you have, was it easy or difficult? Were you successful?

5) Have you tried decrypting ASCA data?

6) If so, was it easy or difficult?

7) Was your overall impression of the system favorable or unfavorable?

8) Do you have any suggestions for improving the system?

Please direct your answers to ascamat@ssvs.gsfc.nasa.gov with the words
"PGP survey" in the subject field.  Thank you for your cooperation.

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4. Rev 2 Getting Started Guide in LaTeX/PostScript formats
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The new Getting Started Guide for Rev 2 ASCA data is now also available
in LaTeX and PostScript formats.  They can be obtained from

	ftp://legacy.gsfc.nasa.gov/asca/doc/start_guide_v6_1.tex
	ftp://legacy.gsfc.nasa.gov/asca/doc/start_guide_v6_1.ps

The html version is at

    http://adfwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/asca/processing_doc/GS/getting_started.html

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5. HEAD Meeting : Abstracts due on Aug 1
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The 1997 meeting of the AAS High Energy Astrophysics Division will be held
Nov 4-7, 1997, at the Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado.  Abstracts are due
on Aug 1.  For further information please visit the Eureka Scientific website:

		http://www.eurekasci.com