Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 14:46:15 -0800 (PST)
Subject: New/Updated Documentation and S13 Reprocessing


Contents of mailing:

1. Spitzer Cycle 3 Proposal Deadline: Thursday, February 16 1:00 PM PST
2. Reprocessing of Spitzer Data with Version 13 Pipelines
3. Updated IRAC and MIPS Data Handbooks Released (or coming soon)
4. Obtaining Spectra of Very Faint Sources with the IRS
5. How to Design IRS Spectral Maps
6. Outline of IRS Data Reduction
7. MIPS 70-micron Sensitivity in Low-Background Fields


1. Spitzer Cycle 3 Proposal Deadline: Thursday February 16 1:00 PM PST

Reminder: The deadline for Spitzer Cycle 3 proposals is Thursday
February 16 2006 at 1:00 PM Pacific Standard Time. Submitted proposals
will automatically be assigned an identification number, in the order
received, starting at 30001. If you have any questions regarding
submission of a Cycle 3 proposal contact our Helpdesk at
help@spitzer.caltech.edu



2. Reprocessing of Spitzer Data with Version 13 Pipelines

The SSC has begun reprocessing the IOC/SV and science mission
data with version 13 of our pipelines (S13), starting with IRS data.
IRS campaigns through 21.3 (May 28 2005) have been reprocessed,
archived and released. Campaigns 22-25 are anticipated to be
completed and released within one week.

Over the next few months IRAC and MIPS campaigns will also be
reprocessed, archived, and released. Observers can use Leopard, the
Archive interface, to see the pipeline version of their data (the
'Version' column in the query results window). If it is S12.4 or
earlier please be patient as it will be replaced with S13 data as
we proceed with reprocessing the campaigns.

The current processing status of any campaign can be found here
(IRS information will be updated in the next day or two):

http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/archanaly/status/



3. Updated IRAC and MIPS Data Handbooks Released (or coming soon)

IRAC DH version 3.0 changes include description of the flux calibration
history, new text on the creation of uncertainty images, pipeline
version S13 changes, description of imask, description of scattered
light rings, revised extended source calibration discussion,
description of superboresight pointing refinement. Additional small
updates to text in many places.

Available now here:
http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/irac/dh/


MIPS DH version 3.2 changes include updating a variety of
items to reflect S13 modifications, including new
calibration factors.

Available within a week here:
 http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/mips/dh/



4. Obtaining Spectra of Very Faint Sources with the IRS

A new SSC memo that discusses the observing and data reduction
strategies recommended for ultradeep spectroscopy with the IRS

http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/irs/documents/irs_ultradeep_memo.pdf
http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/irs/documents/irs_ultradeep_aors.aor



5. How to Design IRS Spectral Maps

A brief HTML guide to designing IRS spectral maps from which accurate
flux intensities and spectral images of extended sources can be obtained.

http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/irs/documents/specmap_bop/



6. Outline of IRS Data Reduction

A three page PDF document that discusses in detail the steps that need
to be followed to reduce IRS data.

http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/irs/documents/IRSDataReductionSteps.pdf



7. MIPS 70-micron Sensitivity in Low-Background Fields

Deep observations of HDF-N constrain the confusion level for
the MIPS-70 band. The sensitivity for short integration
times is consistent with previous measurements (7.2 mJy for
5 sigma in 500 seconds on-source in a low background), and
the instrument noise integrates down with nearly square
root(t) for long integration times (10ks) for the low
background HDF-N field. The sensitivity at intermediate and
higher backgrounds is currently being investigated.

See the full report here:
http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/mips/documents/sens_hdf.pdf