Introduction to CASA and Basic Data Reduction Overview

Introduction to CASA
and Basic Data
Reduction Overview
Steven T. Myers
CASA Project Scientist
(NRAO)Beta Release Status
CASA Status:
in Beta Release since October 2007
roughly quarterly “patches”
Current Release: Beta Release Patch 3
target release date October 15
general release
register at my.nrao.edu , no password for download
CASA Tutorial -- 7 October 2008
2Beta Disclaimer
This really is a Beta Release!
still missing functionality
there are known failure modes
will find new problems
Improvements in upcoming patches
move towards handling ALMA/EVLA “use cases”
better handling of calibration
CASA Tutorial -- 7 October 2008
3Curriculum
schedule:
~1 hour orientation lecture + demo (this talk)
hands-on data reduction with datasets:
VLA Continuum Polarization (3C129)
VLA Spectral Line (NGC2403)
BIMA 3mm line mosaic (NGC4826)
intended to be interactive
if you need help - ask!
CASA Tutorial -- 7 October 2008
4Starting CASA
From your workstation (running RHEL):
type ‘casapy-test’ at prompt
this is the pre-release test version of Beta Patch 3 at AOC
quit CASA using ‘exit’
brings up IPython shell plus casalogger GUI
Other releases available for download
not yet built for Patch 3...
CASA Tutorial -- 7 October 2008
5Getting User Support
First stop: Read the Manual!
CASA Home: http://casa.nrao.edu
Cookbook, and “help” within CASA
CASA Helpdesk & Support Cadres
“Helpdesk” under my.nrao.edu
submit Issues
User Support Specialists (Gustaaf at AOC)
CASA Tutorial -- 7 October ...