With the latest releases in mid-March of IRAF V2.11.1 for SGI systems running IRIX 6 and for IBM systems running AIX 4, platform support for V2.11 is available now for the most popular IRAF systems. These include SunOS and Solaris, Dec Alpha systems running Digital Unix V4.0, Hewlett-Packard systems running HP-UX 10.20, SGI IRIX, IBM AIX, and PC-IRAF for Slackware Linux V3.3, Red Hat Linux V5.0, and FreeBSD V2.2.5.
The V2.11 upgrade for VMS running on the VAX and the DEC Alpha is in early testing now (with help from the Space Telescope Science Institute), and a general release is planned sometime in the fall. Interest in an IRAF port to Macintosh systems continues to be strong. We are concerned about future support for MkLinux by Apple since it has taken so long to finish the DR3 release (Developer's Release 3). Depending on the timing, we may be taking a look at Rhapsody as well as a possible alternative base for the IRAF port. Rhapsody, a new operating system for the Macintosh under development by Apple (originally by NEXT) is due for release this fall. Rhapsody is a server OS for the Mac based on a Mach kernel and BSD Unix. It would provide the ability to run Macintosh applications but probably would not provide a full Unix environment and suite of Unix applications as Linux does. The next release of PC-IRAF will also include the Solaris x86 port. This will complete the initially planned round of platform ports for the PC-IRAF project.
The IRAF group helped commission and test the new NOAO Mosaic CCD Camera with thinned, science-grade CCDs in June. This involved minor bug fixes and extensions of the software to deal with the CCDs being read out from the opposite amplifier than was the case with the first Mosaic; i.e., data from each CCD was flipped relative to the earlier system. The data feed (Picfeed), data capture agent, keyword translation module, the real-time display, MSCRED data reduction software, system setup at the telescope, and Save-the-Bits were affected.
During the commissioning some enhancements to the Data Capture Agent control panels (the DCA GUI) were added and tested. These primarily involved more control over the real-time display. The display program is also being modified to apply "on-the-fly" calibration (flat fielding) since the new detectors exhibit significant flat field patterns that limit the evaluation of data as it is taken if the flat field variations are not removed.
The IRAF group, working with Tod Lauer, have been involved in the preliminary design of the planned Mosaic Archive Pipeline. This "off-line" pipeline will use the Mosaic data reduction tools to reduce all Mosaic data taken with the new camera. The reduced data will be archived for community access after a proprietary period.
Several new Web pages are now available from the IRAF homepage to help users get more out of IRAF: A "Tips & Tricks" page (http://iraf.noao.edu/tips) was added to provide a place where shortcuts, clever script tricks, and just plain good ideas about how to do something could be shared. Users should feel free to submit their own tips; the pages will be updated as new tips are collected. For those who think they already know all the tricks, an "IRAF Quiz" page (http://iraf.noao.edu/quiz) is available for you to test your prowness. The answer key should prove interesting even for those who decide not to submit answers.
Lindsey Davis was invited to present a paper on "Stellar Photometry in IRAF" at the Global Network of Astronomical Telescopes (GNAT) workshop on "CCD Precision Photometry" in early June in San Diego prior to the AAS meeting. Lindsey also participated in their hands-on session giving IRAF photometry demos to an enthusiastic group of participants. Lindsey's paper will be published in the workshop Proceedings.
Members of the IRAF group will be attending the ADASS '98 Conference in early November (see the accompanying article in this section). Several papers will be presented on the latest IRAF projects. The IRAF group will be available to answer questions about IRAF installations, reductions and programming tools.
For further information about the IRAF project please see the IRAF Web pages at http://iraf.noao.edu/ or send email to iraf@noao.edu. The USENET-based adass.iraf newsgroups (also available via mailing list subscription by filling out a form on the IRAF Web page) provide timely information on IRAF developments and are available for the discussion of IRAF related issues.
Doug Tody, Jeannette Barnes