Skylab Data

There are quite a few inconsistencies and little quirks in the data that we've had to deal with in creating the images. There are also many factors such as vignetting function and stray light mask which must be addressed in order to calibrate the data. So, a rather voluminous fits header has been added to the data.

A sample file name is: atmwlce_73d155.012541.fr02315.09cl.D.481x480.X00092.37.fts ,
where 73 is the year (with 1900 subtracted), 155 is the day of year, 012541 is the observation time (1 hour, 25 minutes, 41 seconds) in UT. The frame number was 2315. The image was exposed for 09 seconds with the clear filter. 481x480 is the image size. The original tape the image came from was X00092, file 37. This is a fits file. Further explanation...


The exposure time, the filter, and the roll are three characteristics which change regularly from image to image.

The exposure times can be 3, 9, or 27 seconds.

The Filter

There are four filters.
Here are images exemplifying each:

The Roll

Roll is the direction of solar north with respect to the -Y axis in arc-minutes.
Positive roll is in the CCW (Counter ClockWise) direction.
ROLL= 10800: north at top, east  on left, south at bottom,
             west  under the pylon on the right.
ROLL= 5400: east at top, south on left, west at bottom, north under the pylon on the right.
ROLL= 0: south at top, west on left, north at bottom, east under the pylon on the right.
ROLL= -5400: west at top, north on left, east at bottom, south under the pylon on the right.

Here are images exemplifying each. Each of these was taken with the clear filter:


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Author: Cathy Andrulis

Last revised February 2, 1996 - Cathy Andrulis