The Imaging and Slitless Spectroscopy Instrument for Surveys (ISSIS): expected radiometric performance,operation modes and data handling

ISSIS is the instrument for imaging and slitless spectroscopy on-board WSO-UV. In this article, a detailed comparison between ISSIS expected radiometric performance and other ultraviolet instruments is shown. In addition, we present preliminary information on the performance verification tests and on the foreseen procedures for in-flight operation and data handling.     

The SORCE Science Data System

The SORCE Science Data System produces total solar irradiance (TSI) and spectral solar irradiance (SSI) data products on a daily basis, which are formulated using measurements from the four primary instruments onboard the SORCE spacecraft. The Science Data System utilizes raw spacecraft and instrument telemetry, calibration data, and other ancillary information to produce and distribute a variety of data products that have been corrected for all known instrumental and operational effects. SORCE benefits from a highly optimized object-oriented data processing system in which all data are stored in a commercial relational database system, and the software itself determines the versions of data products at run-time. This unique capability facilitates optimized data storage and CPU utilization during reprocessing activities by requiring only new data versions to be generated and stored. This paper provides an overview of the SORCE data processing system, details its design, implementation, and operation, and provides details on how to access SORCE science data products.     

On the Origin of the 1999 Leonid Storm as Deduced from Photographic Observations

Photographic multi-station observations of 18 Leonid meteorsobtained by the Spanish Photographic Meteor Network are presented. For each meteoroidthe radiant position, trajectory data and orbital parameters are discussed and compared totheoretical radiant positions and orbital elements of particles ejected from 55P/Tempel–Tuttle in 1899.We discuss the role of mean velocity imprecision in the dispersion of some orbital parameters,specially the semimajor axis. Finally, by applying the dust trail theory we have adjusted the1999 Leonidstorm orbits to a defined semimajor axis value to test the quality of photographic observations.     

A Hamiltonian theory for an elastic earth: Elastic energy of deformation

In this paper we study only the perturbation due to the deformation of the elastic mantle by a tidal body force. In a previous publication (Getino and Ferrándiz, 1989a) we defined two canonical systems of variables - we gave them the names ofelastic variables of Euler and Andoyer respectively. Next, using them, we obtained the canonical expression of rotational kinetic energy. In the present paper, using the same variables, we build up the elastic energy which is produced by the deformation of the elastic mantle. We show that the three termsm = 0, 1, 2 corresponding to the second order of the development in spherical harmonics of the perturbing potential, a tidal potential, are of the same order of magnitude. In addition, the numerical integration for a particular Earth Model (Takeuchi's Model 2) is performed, with the aim of obtaining a numerical estimate of the coefficients which intervene in both this energy and the previously mentioned kinetic energy.     

The hydrogen Balmer,Paschen, and Brackett series lines in quiescent prominences

To calculate the Balmer, Paschen, and Brackett line intensities, we solved the statistical equilibrium equations for a twenty level plus continuum atom of hydrogen.From the temperature, ionization, and the first three level populations of the prominence models deduced in a previous work we have calculated the populations of the twenty bound levels and the integrated intensities corresponding to the series mentioned above. The method was also applied to the Heasley and Mihalas theoretical models.Since the Lyman series are optically thick, we have worked out two different options: (a) assume radiative balance in these lines and (b) correct the radiative rates by multiplying them with an integro-exponential function EI2 which depends on the line optical depth at the thread center. The first option is shown to be the more consistent.The integrated line intensities from the Balmer series have been compared with the observations and a clear difference was noted between quiescent and active prominences in the sense that the active prominence case can not be well fitted with the available models.To evaluate the influence of the pressure, the temperature, the thermal conduction coefficient and the turbulence, velocity on the spectrum we have compared the results from different models.From this study we conclude that only the lines arising from the lower levels up to 8–10 can give us information about the physical parameters that characterized the solar prominences since the intensities from the higher members of the series depend only on atomic properties because of the small departures from LTE of the upper levels involved.Member of the Carrera del Investigador, CONICET, Argentina.     

A Hamiltonian theory for an elastic earth: First order analytical integration

In this article an approximate analytical integration is performed of the Hamiltonian corresponding to the rotational motion of an Earth whose elastic mantle is deformed by rotation and lunisolar attraction, using Deprit's perturbation method for the first order. Besides the usual terms, this Hamiltonian includes the perturbation of the kinetic energy and the elastic energy produced with the deformation, as well as their causes, the tidal and the centrifugal potential; these new terms have already been studied for the tidal deformation in previous articles (Getino and Ferrándiz, 1990a, 1990b). The effects of the deformation due to the centrifugal potential are studied in this article, following the same method as that used for the tidal deformation. Numerical tables of the periodic perturbations corresponding to the nutation in obliquity and longitude are obtained. As for the secular effects, a theoretical value of 457 days is obtained for Chandler's period.     

Constraining the LMC cluster age gap: Washington photometry of NGC 2155 and SL 896 (LW 480)

We carried out Washington system photometry of the intermediate-age Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) star clusters NGC 2155 and SL 896 (LW 480). We derive ages and metallicities from the T ₁ versus     colour–magnitude diagrams (CMDs). For the first time an age has been obtained for SL 896,     . For NGC 2155 we derive     . The two clusters basically define the lower age limit of the LMC age gap. In particular, NGC 2155 is confirmed as the oldest intermediate-age LMC cluster so far studied. The derived metallicities are     and     for NGC 2155 and SL 896, respectively. We also studied the CMDs of the surrounding fields, which have a dominant turn-off comparable to that of the clusters themselves, and similar metallicity, showing that one is dealing with an intermediate-age disc where clusters and field stars have the same origin. We inserted the present clusters in the LMC and Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) age–metallicity relations, using a set of homogeneous determinations with the same method as in our previous studies, now totalling 15 LMC clusters and four SMC clusters, together with some additional values from the literature. The LMC and SMC age–metallicity relations appear to be remarkably complementary, since the SMC was actively star-forming during the LMC quiescent age gap epoch.     

关于卫星影像多项式法纠正中若干问题的分析

二次多项式方法在卫星影像纠正处理过程中已得到广泛应用。纠正影像的精度取决于控制点的数量与分布状况，根据经验，在一景卫片上一般选取25～30个均匀分布的控制点即可满足影像平面精度的要求。多景影像拼接涉及到无缝镶嵌问题；应用ERDAS IMAGINE将多景已纠影像拼接为一体，作为Photoshop的背景影像，应用Photoshop的图像编辑与处理功能修改存在误差的线状地物影像，可实现影像无缝镶嵌。评定纠正影像的平面精度一般采用3种方法：一是精度估算；二是对照参考图量测同名点误差、计算平面精度；三是测算接边精度。