Data Analysis FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

See the following pages for more specialized help:

Spot/Leopard FAQ (downloading your data)

MOPEX/APEX FAQ

Bandmerge FAQ

General Questions

Q. How do I get access to my data?
A. Instructions on how to access your data can be found on the Data Archives page.

Q. I've downloaded my data from Leopard, but I'm confused by all these files. Why do I have more than one file per observation? What do all these different filenames mean? Which ones do I need to reduce my data?
A. Descriptions of all the filenames produced by the different instruments can be found on the instrument data products pages: IRAC; IRS; MIPS-24; MIPS-70; MIPS-160.

Q. What are the Post-BCD (pbcd) data products I downloaded from Leopard, and can I use them for science?
A. The pbcd products available from the archive are intended as quick-look images of your data only, and great care should be taken if using them for science. Post-BCD products have been produced with generic namelists, so the parameters have not been optimised for your data set, and in worst-case scenarios may be completely unsuitable.

Q. I've read all of the documentation and the FAQ pages, and I still can't find the answer to my question. How do I get help?
A.If you are having problems with SSC-supported software (MOPEX/APEX, Bandmerge, SPICE, CUBISM, IRSCLEAN, IRSFRINGE, or The GeRT) then please drop us an email at the Spitzer Helpdesk and we'll be happy to help. If you are having problems with Contributed Software then please contact the appropriate distributor.