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APEX Modules: Aperture (Photometry)

Namelist Trigger: run_aperture
Output Directory Keyword: OUTPUT_DIR
Default Output Directory: <output_dir>
Depends on: Detect

Important notes: The input image for this module is not set from within the parameter block, but by the keyword in the Global Parameters section of the namelist called use_background_subtracted_image_for_aperture. When using a sky annulus to subtract the background, it is recommended to use the original image as input rather than the background-subtracted one (i.e. use_background_subtracted_image_for_aperture = 0).


PURPOSE

    This module calculates the flux(es) within the specified circular aperture(s) for each source in the extract table. It will optionally subtract a background value from a user-defined annulus. The annulus value can be the mean, median or mode. The aperture photometry is calculated using an exact algorithm to compute a fractional aperture-pixel overlap.

PARAMETER BLOCK

    &APERTURE
     N_Apertures = 1,
     Aperture_Radius_1 = 5.0,,
     Aperture_Radius_2 = 6.0,
     Aperture_Radius_3 = 7.0,
     Use_Annulus = 1,
     Min_Number_Pixels = 10,
     Annulus_Compute_Type = 'mode',
     Inner_Radius = 15,
     Outer_Radius = 25,
    &END

INPUTS

    N_Apertures: (int) Number of circular apertures to draw around each source, between 1 and 3.

    Aperture_Radius_N: (float) Radius of aperture N in pixels.

    Use_Annulus: (1,0) Switch to choose whether or not to subtract the background calculated from a user-defined annulus.

    Min_Number_Pixels: (int) Minimum number of good pixels required in the annulus. If there are fewer, it will not subtract the background.

    Annulus_Compute_Type: (char) The method used to compute the sky background. Choices are mean, median or mode of the good pixels in the background annulus.

    Inner Radius: (float) Inner radius of annulus in pixels.

    Outer Radius: (float) Outer radius of annulus in pixels.


OUTPUTS

    Output Table (aperture.tbl): The aperture fluxes are written into the extract table, along with the number of bad pixels in each aperture. A separate aperture table is also created.

DISCUSSION

The default for this module is to work on median-filtered background-subtracted images if they are there. Because subtracting the background can be difficult, it is generally better to work on the original images, unless the background is complex or you are sure it has been correctly subtracted. To do this, turn this switch off:
 use_background_subtracted_image_for_aperture = 0
in the command-line namelist, or uncheck it in Apex Settings in the GUI.

For more details, see Basic Concepts: Aperture Photometry.





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This file was last modified on Wed Aug 13 16:27:16 2008.
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