PROJECT NAME: ASTROMETRIC REDUCTION TOOL
Current Version Uploaded On November 15, 2007
About
The Astrometric Reduction Tool (ART.) is a Java desktop application that can be used to accurately determine the equatorial coordinates of an object in a CCD image saved in the FITS format and that does not contain a solution for a World Coordinate System (WCS) in the FITS header. The main body of the solution algorithm used by the application was created by Jordan D Marche and published in the July, 1990 issue of "Sky & Telescope". All other aspects of the application were created by Don Carona of the Texas A&M Physics Observatory.
The Application
General Notes
- The laboratory assignment that is included in the download is a very rough draft. Feel free to make any changes necessary and re-print for students. All of the features of the application are not included in the lab assignment. A more complete instruction set will be added at a later time.
- This application, when used properly, will deliver positions within an arc-second of accuracy. This has been tested between past and current images of minor planets and ephemerides from the Minor Planet & Comet Ephemeris Service.
- The 'Write' feature of the application will embed a "solution" in the header of the FITS file using the 'PLTSLN#' card created and used by the Texas A&M Astronomical Observatory, and therefore, should be saved under a different name as to not overwrite the original file. The solution is not a true WCS at this time and will only be translated by the ART application. Although, this would in no way prevent the file from opening in other applications. A more sophisticated WCS that can be interpreted by other applications is being developed.
Download
Astromectric Reduction Tool v1.3 (~544 kb)
After downloading and expanding the archive, double-click the "Astrometry.jar" file to launch the application. If double-clicking does not work, visit the Java Web Site to get the latest version of the Java software for your computer (it's a free download).
