Astronomical Image Processing System: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox software

| name = AIPS

| logo = [[File:Logo.aips.png|64px]]

| screenshotlogo size = 64px

| status screenshot = ActiveAIPS_usage.png

| caption = AIPS 31DEC21 running on macOS

| developer = [[NRAO]]

| latest_release_version =

| latest_release_date =

| status = Active

| programming language = [[FORTRAN]] and [[C (programming language)|C]]

| operating_system = [[Unix-like]]

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| website = http://www.aips.nrao.edu/index.shtml

}}

{{Portal|Astronomy}}

The '''Astronomical Image Processing System''' (AIPS) is a software package to support the reduction and analysis of data taken with radio telescopes. Developed predominantly for use with the then under-construction [[Very Large Array|VLA]], the generality inherent in its design allowed it to become the standard data-reduction package for most radio interferometers, including [[VLBI]]. Limited single-dish capability is also featured. Although partially replaced by [[AIPS++#AIPS++/CASA|CASA]], it continues to evolve and remains widelyin useduse.

{{no footnotes|date=March 2014}}

The '''Astronomical Image Processing System''' (AIPS) is a software package to support the reduction and analysis of data taken with radio telescopes. Developed predominantly for use with the then under-construction [[Very Large Array|VLA]], the generality inherent in its design allowed it to become the standard data-reduction package for most radio interferometers, including [[VLBI]]. Limited single-dish capability is also featured. Although partially replaced by CASA, it continues to evolve and remains widely used.

==History==

Development of AIPS started at [[NRAO]] in 1978, two years before the VLA became fully operational. Originally written in [[FORTRAN 66]],<ref>{{cite conference|last1=Wells|first1=Donald|title=NRAO's Astronomical Image Processing System|conference=Data Analysis in Astronomy|date=1985|page=202|publisher=[[Kluwer]]}}</ref> AIPS has used [[FORTRAN 77]] since 1989.<ref name="greisen03">{{cite journal|last1=Greisen|first1=Eric|editor1-last=Heck|editor1-first=André|title=AIPS, the VLA, and the VLBA|journal=Information Handling in Astronomy - Historical Vistas|page=114|date=2003|volume=285 |doi=10.1007/0-306-48080-8_7 |bibcode=2003ASSL..285..109G |isbn=978-1-4020-1178-8 }}</ref> The very first AIPS installation was on a [[MODCOMP]] computer, but the package's portability has led to it being installed on many different systems. Pre-compiled versions are today available for users of [[Linux]] and [[MacOS|Mac OS]].<ref name="AIPSFAQ">{{cite web|last1=Greisen|first1=Eric|title=The AIPS FAQ|url=http://www.aips.nrao.edu/aips_faq.html|website=AIPS|publisher=NRAO}}</ref> Since 2018, a pre-compiled version is no longer available for [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]] and users must now build AIPS from source.

{{unreferenced|date=October 2014}}

Development of AIPS started at [[NRAO]] in 1978, two years before the VLA became fully operational. Originally written in [[FORTRAN 66]], AIPS has used [[FORTRAN 77]] since 1989. The very first AIPS installation was on a [[MODCOMP]] computer, but the package's portability has led to it being installed on multiple systems and is today mostly used by astronomers running [[Linux]] or [[Mac OS]].

AtOver the same timeyears, the capabilities of AIPS have also greatly expanded. Initial usage was focused on the VLA, but it has gone on to be used to reduce data from practically all radio interferometers, including [[MERLIN]]<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Argo|first1=Megan|title=The e-MERLIN Data Reduction Pipeline|journal=Journal of Open Research Software|date=2015|volume=3|doi=10.5334/jors.bp|s2cid=55991387|url=https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/files/31675355/1502.04936v1|doi-access=free|arxiv=1502.04936}}</ref> and the [[GMRT]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncra.tifr.res.in/ncra/gmrt/gmrt-users/aips-help|title=AIPS Info|website=GMRT|publisher=NCRA|access-date=2021-07-07}}</ref> and, to a lesser extent, the [[Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope|WSRT]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://old.astron.nl/radio-observatory/astronomers/analysis-wsrt-data/analysis-wsrt-dzb-data-classic-aips/analysis-wsrt-d|title=Analysis of WSRT DZB data with classic AIPS|website=WSRT|publisher=ASTRON|access-date=2021-07-07}}</ref> and [[Australia Telescope Compact Array|ATCA]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atnf.csiro.au/computing/software/atca_aips/atcal_html.html|title=Analysis of ATCA data|website=Australia Telescope Compact Array|publisher=ATNF|access-date=2021-07-07}}</ref> The ability to calibrate VLBI data (including [[space VLBI]]) was added in the 1990s, primarily to support operations with the [[Very Long Baseline Array|VLBA]], but in the process becoming the main data-reduction package for the [[European VLBI Network|EVN]] and combined VLBA/EVN observations (Global VLBI).<ref name="greisen03"/> Single-dish support was also added in the 1980s, with particular application to NRAO's [[ARO 12m Radio Telescope|12-m radio telescope]] and the 91-m transit telescope.

AIPS has now been in use for overnearly 3040 years and has even outlived its supposed replacement [[AIPS++]], which was eventually rebranded as CASA.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Jaeger|first1=Shannon|title=The Common Astronomy Software Applications (CASA)|journal=Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems ASP Conference Series|date=2008|volume=394|page=623|bibcode=2008ASPC..394..623J|url=http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/2008ASPC..394..623J}}</ref> CASA has gone on to be the main data-reduction package for the upgraded VLA (EVLA) and [[Atacama Large Millimeter Array|ALMA]], but AIPS remains able, to a large degree, to process data from these state-of-the-art instruments. Despite its age and limited resources, AIPS remains widely used and under active development. AIPS is free software and is covered by the terms of the [[GNU General Public License]].

==Description==

AIPS runs under the [[X WindowsWindow System]] with commands entered interactively using a command-line interpreter called POPS. Although relatively primitive, this gives access to a useful collection of e.g. mathematical functions, logical operators and flow control statements. Commands can also be placed in a text file which makes repeating complicated procedures much more convenient and which can be used to create data-reduction [[Pipeline (computing)|pipelines]]. A more modern alternative is to install ParselTongue, a [[Python (programming language)|Python]]-based interface.

As well as the terminal window from which AIPS is started and commands entered, most AIPS sessions will by default contain two other windows, the AIPS TV and the Message Server. The TV is used to visualise data or images and can, for example, be used to interactively edit data or control the progress of a [[deconvolution]]. The Message Server displays useful information reported by each task. Optionally, basic black and white plots can be displayed using TEKSRV, a [[Tektronix 4010|Tektronix 4012]]-based graphics terminal.

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Before any data can be processed by AIPS, they must first be imported into the system's own data areas, usually in [[FITS]] format. The FITS standard was agreed in 1979 and its development is inseparable from that of AIPS. The data can henceforth be processed using a large number (>530) of individual programs, each of which performs a specific task e.g. producing an image from a calibrated data set. Together these allow a user to visualize, edit and calibrate a data set and subsequently make images or fit models. A number of analysis tasks are included (e.g. Gaussian fitting to images or spectra) as well as the possibility to make publication-quality plots.

Extensive help is available to AIPS users, with detailed information on each parameter and task viewable from the command line. There is also a [[user guide]], the AIPS Cookbook, which is built around examples (recipes) of how to run the various tasks. It is available on-line, as well as being packaged with AIPS in [[PDF]] and [[PostScript]] formats. A newsletter (AIPSLetter) is published biannually.

==Primatology==

Although briefly known as RANCID,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Greisen|first1=Eric|editor1-last=Heck|editor1-first=André|title=AIPS, the VLA, and the VLBA|journal=Information Handling in Astronomy - Historical Vistas|page=111|date=2003|volume=285 |publisher=Kluwer|doi=10.1007/0-306-48080-8_7 |bibcode=2003ASSL..285..109G |isbn=978-1-4020-1178-8 }}</ref> the eventual choice of name has led to a preponderance of primate-based humour in and around AIPS. The Cookbook contains "additional recipes", genuineinstructions for preparing food-based concoctionsand drink which all featuringfeature bananas as an ingredient e.g.<ref>{{cite bananatech curriedreport chicken.|first=Eric|last=Greisen|title=The Creation of AIPS|work=AIPS Memo|issue=100|institution=NRAO|page=14|date=1998}}</ref> The programmersprogrammer's guide is called ''Going AIPS!'', the cover of which features a gorilla clutching a [[Tektronix 4010|Tektronix 4012]] graphics terminal whilst standing upon two [[IBM 3420]] Magnetic Tape Units. Various cover designs of the Cookbook and icons also include images of primates.<ref>{{cite tech report |first=Eric|last=Greisen|title=The Creation of AIPS|work=AIPS Memo|issue=100|institution=NRAO|pages=11-13|date=1998}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[IRAF]] - package for processing data from optical telescopes

* [[Starlink Project|Starlink]] - package similar to IRAF, but developed for UK astronomers

{{Portal|Astronomy}}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

* [http://www.linuxjournalaips.comnrao.edu/article/4040 Linuxcook.html JournalAIPS articleCookbook]

* [https://casa.nrao.edu/ CASA home page]

* [http://www.jive.nl/jivewiki/doku.php?id=parseltongue:parseltongue ParselTongue Wiki]

* [http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/4040 Article in Linux Journal]

* [https://casa.nrao.edu/ CASA home page]

[[Category:Radio astronomy]]