Astronomical Image Processing System
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![[AIPS]](/aips.gif) |
Apple Mac news
Apple has released a new line of Mac computers based on Apple
Silicon rather than the Intel cpus that they have been using.
NRAO has provided AIPS with a Mac Mini with the new M1 chip and
with gfortran 12. I spent several months upgrading AIPS software
to the strict demands of this latest compiler. We are forced to
use this one (or more recent) since they are the only ones that
understand Apple's ARM architecture. This new MACARM AIPS
architecture has been released and may be installed as a binary
release. The really good news is that this relatively
inexpensive computer reached an AIPSMark of 1290, which is a new
record by almost a factor of 2! The Y2K Large test ran in only
29 seconds real time. The same computer running the MACINT load
modules under the Rosetta system had an AIPSMark of 1000.
We have recently tested a Mac Mini with an M4 chip. It ran Y2K
Large in 22 or 23 seconds, an AIPSMark of 1778!
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EOP web site has moved and changed
The names of the JPL TEC files have changed so that names after
day 219 of 2023 are different in form than those before day 220
of 2023. The TECR procedures in VLBAUTIL and VLAPROCS have been
changed in versions 31DEC22 and later. Run the MNJ ("Midnight
Job") which is $HOME/do_daily.hostname to update your
version. Older AIPS versions have not been changed. In June
2024, these procedures were updated to include other data
sources whose names changed at a variety of dates. Most of
this implementation is in 31DEC23 which is now frozen. Some
changes are only in 31DEC24 and later.
The location of the EOP and TEC files used by AIPS has changed
and a new method of downloading them is required (using curl).
The VLBA and VLA procedures that download these files have been
changed to the new requirements in 31DEC19 and later versions.
You will need to be running one of these versions to do the
automatic downloading.
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Binary support has ended for Solaris, Mac PPC, and Linux (32-bit)
The support for the Solaris operating system in Socorro has
been terminated due to the failure of shire in a power outage.
The binary installations of Solaris (and of Mac PPC) are not
provided in the 31DEC18 and later releases. Linux 32-bit
binaries have also been discontinued and do not appear in
31DEC25. If you have one of these sorts of computer, you may
still take AIPS in text form and compile it locally. The code
was corrected a while back to survive modern Fortran compilers.
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NRAO helpdesk
NRAO has instituted a "helpdesk" system
similar to those at other astronomical institutions. AIPS
participates in this effort which is intended to avoid having
problems fall between the cracks. The helpdesk is accessed via
https://help.nrao.edu. Note
that the help site will forward you to my.nrao to create a login
if you do not already have one and the my.nrao site will then
offer a tab to reach the helpdesk. The system for the AIPS
"department" makes use of the daip@nrao.edu list manager system that
we have used for years. Thus, unlike the rest of the NRAO helpdesk,
messages to the AIPS portion will be made public in the daip
archive. This archive is accessible via the web and is well known
to Google among other things. Please switch to the new helpdesk to
allow more systematic handling of your AIPS queries and bug reports.
The daip@nrao.edu email address still works for AIPS queries as
well.
Scheduled Releases
The development version 31DEC26 is
available, the previous development version 31DEC25 is "slushy"
(frequent updates in December, then only patches in 2026). The
31DEC24 version has been frozen hard. (A MNJ on 31DEC23, if it has
not been run since June 2024, might still be useful.) The new rsync
forms of the Midnight Job have been very easy to use and effective
in keeping numerous sites up to date. In 2026, the MNJ will work
sometimes on 31DEC25 if there has been a released patch. The
31DEC26 and 31DEC25 releases are also available as binary
installations (and MNJs). The 31DEC16 and later MNJs no longer
require cvs for binary installations, just rsync. 31DEC24 no longer
requires cvs even for text installations (other than the master
machines in Socorro).
TeK and message server problems
Users have encountered problems getting
the TeK and message servers to work in binary installations.
These servers are programs which run in an xterm and that xterm
must come up with some knowledge of AIPS libraries. This requires
users to modify their login scripts (e.g. .cshrc file for c shell,
.bashrc file for bash). See
for details.
Linux compiler troubles
Older versions of the gnu Fortran compiler do not work with AIPS.
Versions 4.4.7 and beyond do seem to work after some cleaning up of
the AIPS code. Gnu Fortran versions 7 and 8 required revision of
the handling of the AIPS pseudo array processor code. The latter
used to use a COMMON for its dynamic memory base, which did not
compile well on gfortran versions > 6. Using a variable passed down
from above instead works well. The Mac (Intel) and Linux (64-bit)
binary releases use gfortran version 6.4. The new Mac ARM (M1) cpu
chip required the use of gfortran 11 (or later). That compiler is
very strict about apparent inconsistencies and so forced a lot of
changes to code that was in fact working correctly.
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Also, see the Users'
FAQ: answers to Frequently Asked Questions, the
AIPS Managers' FAQ:
answers to AIPS Managers (and installers) Frequent Questions. The AIPS Manager FAQ page is especially helpful if you are
having trouble getting the AIPS TV to run properly or are encountering
other general difficulties or wish to configure new machines and disks
in your AIPS environment.
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31DEC26
is the new primary development version of AIPS. It is ready
for installation.
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31DEC25
is now the "slushy" version of AIPS. It will be changed in 2025
for most things, but only for major bug fixes in 2026. It is ready
for installation. The 6-month progress report on 31DEC25
is available as 31DEC25
AIPSLetter dated 30 June 2025 (PS, 1011700 bytes).
It is also available gzipped
(463204 bytes) and PDF,
(189975 bytes).
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31DEC24
is the now frozen version of AIPS. It was be changed in 2024
for most things, but only for major bug fixes in 2025. It is
available for installation. The final report on 31DEC24 is
available as 31DEC24
AIPSLetter dated 31 December 2024 (PS, 1025100
bytes). It is also available gzipped, (468261 bytes) and PDF, (197643 bytes). The 6-month
progress report on 31DEC24 is available as 31DEC24 AIPSLetter dated 30
June 2024 (PS, 1033672 bytes). It is also available gzipped (475695 bytes) and PDF, (192158 bytes).
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31DEC23
was the frozen version of AIPS. Due to the upgrade to RedHat 8,
it was completely frozen in mid June 2024. It is no longer
available for installation. The final report on 31DEC23 is
available as 31DEC23
AIPSLetter dated 31 December 2023 (PS, 1017389
bytes). It is also available gzipped, (465648 bytes) and PDF, (188112 bytes). The 6-month
progress report on 31DEC23 is available as 31DEC23 AIPSLetter dated 30
June 2023 (PS, 1018605 bytes). It is also available gzipped (467038 bytes) and PDF, (182929 bytes).
There are files used by the MNJ ("Midnight Job") which may not
transfer properly with the MNJ for sites that compile the AIPS
code locally. They are named AIPSUPD, UPDCONFIG, UPDERROR, and
UPDPSYNC. Copies of these files are in the same data areas as
the 31DEC23.tar.gz for download via the web or via ftp. Put
them in the $AIPS_ROOT/31DEC23/$ARCH/UPDATE directory.
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31DEC22
is an obsolete version of AIPS. It is no longer available for
installation. The final report on 31DEC22 is available as 31DEC22 AIPSLetter dated 31
December 2022 (PS, 1041563 bytes). It is also available gzipped,
(498836 bytes) and PDF,
(183318 bytes). The 6-month progress report on 31DEC22 is
available as 31DEC22
AIPSLetter dated 30 June 2022 (PS, 1082649 bytes).
It is also available gzipped
(498836 bytes) and PDF,
(183318 bytes).
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31DEC21
is an obsolete version of AIPS. It is no longer available for
installation. The final report on 31DEC21 is available as 31DEC21 AIPSLetter dated 31
December 2021 (PS, 1015726 bytes). It is also available gzipped,
(462833 bytes) and PDF,
(189631 bytes). The 6-month progress report on 31DEC21 is
available as 31DEC21
AIPSLetter dated 30 June 2021 (PS, 946615 bytes).
It is also available gzipped
(444817 bytes) and PDF,
(152823 bytes).
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31DEC20
is another obsolete version of AIPS. It is no longer available
for installation. The final report on 31DEC20 is available as 31DEC20 AIPSLetter dated 31
December 2020 (PS, 2700146 bytes). It is also available gzipped, (691630 bytes) and PDF, (481271 bytes). The 6-month
progress report on 31DEC20 is available as 31DEC20 AIPSLetter dated 30
June 2020 (PS, 1010321 bytes). It is also available gzipped (463109 bytes) and PDF, (186199 bytes).
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31DEC19
is an obsolete version of AIPS. It is no longer available
for installation. The final report on 31DEC19 is available as 31DEC19
AIPSLetter dated 31 December 2019 (PS, 864697 bytes).
It is also available gzipped,
(433388 bytes) and PDF,
(187651 bytes). The 6-month progress report on 31DEC19 is
available as 31DEC19
AIPSLetter dated 30 June 2018 (PS, 869314 bytes).
It is also available gzipped,
(402257 bytes) and PDF,
(141532 bytes).
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31DEC18
is an obsolete version of AIPS. It was the last Intel-compiled
version for Macs. The final report on 31DEC18 is available as 31DEC18
AIPSLetter dated 31 December 2018 (PS, 8022909 bytes).
It is also available gzipped,
(1008277 bytes) and PDF,
(244403 bytes). The 6-month progress report on 31DEC18 is available as 31DEC18
AIPSLetter dated 30 June 2018 (PS, 867221 bytes).
It is also available gzipped,
(401469 bytes) and PDF,
(140662 bytes).
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- 31DEC06 and later releases contain a port to
the MacIntosh OS/X system running on Intel cpus. This includes
a full binary installation produced with the gfortran compiler.
The iMac which was originally used for the Mac Intel ort has been
replaced with a more modern Mac mini.
- Since the end of January 2009, Linux systems
running on 64-bit hardware with 64-bit operating systems have
the choice of using LNX64 rather than LINUX as their AIPS
architecture. The binary version for LNX64 is compiled with a
a 64-bit gfortran compiler and runs somewhat faster than the
LINUX version run on the same machines.
- From September 1, 2005 through October, 2017,
the binary versions for Linux were compiled with the Intel
compiler version 9.0. Those load modules developed oddities on
newer computers, especially in Europe. We have switched to
gfortran 6.3 which has performance about equal to the Intel load
modules (on those computers that ran them properly).
- If you own a MacIntosh OS X computer, you
may now run AIPS. All available AIPS versions contain the
MACINT port and 31DEC22 contains code for the new ARM (M1) cpu
chip (MACARM). The Mac version is now compiled with gfortran
which allows load modules to be built to support older Mac OS
versions back to 13.0. Read also the rather obsolete Mac installation instructions which are
supplements to the A Guide to the Install
Wizard instructions.
- When you get
31DEC26 or 31DEC25, use
the new install wizard; we have a good on-line guide that will help you
through it. Read it!
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- The 15OCT99, 31DEC00, 31DEC01, 31DEC02, 31DEC03 31DEC04 31DEC05 31DEC06 31DEC07 31DEC08 31DEC09 31DEC10 31DEC11 31DEC12 31DEC13 31DEC14 31DEC15 31DEC16 31DEC17 releases of AIPS
are no longer available; the number of bug fixes and differences
between them and the current version have become too great. The
continued significant demand for a frozen, even if obsolete,
version was the main reason we decided to resume regular
releases.
TWO VLBI TUTORIALS
Two extensive tutorials on VLBI data reduction in AIPS have been
prepared, complete with data sets, introductory material about AIPS,
and detailed instructions. They are simple VLBA project including
self-calibration and
spectral-line VLBA project plus astrometry. Users new to, or
rusty in, VLBI data reduction are encouraged to try these tutorials.
Appendix C and Chapter 9 of the AIPS CookBook
are also recommended.
There are now two versions of the VLBA pipeline. They have been
improved and may be useful to you. In addition, a pipeline for reducing
VLBA data from secondary phase-stopping positions has been written. See
the new VLBAPIPE information or the older
VLBARUN information for details.
There are sometimes considerations which users of older versions of
AIPS must take into account due to changes in the latest version. In
addition, there are sometimes bugs introduced into the latest version
which then get repaired in that version. Such matters may affect
those users who keep their AIPS up to date. These bugs often do not
get reported in the AIPSLetter since they were temporary but might be
of concern for diligent users. They are reported in CHANGE.DOC
but those reports are sometimes fragmentary and confusing. Do not
hestitate to e-mail to daip@nrao.edu with any questions.
You really should be getting 31DEC26 or 31DEC25 instead of patching an older version!
Information on all patches may be accessed from the
patches page,
With previous releases, we did not change the frozen release tar
ball; user sites were required to download the text files and do any
compilations themselves. But, beginning with 31DEC04, we provide binary
releases for which user sites are not required to have compilers.
Therefore, we have reversed our policy. These patches have been applied
to the official code of 31DEC17 and later releases and may be downloaded
using an appropriate "Midnight Job". Any tarball taken after the change
date listed below will already have the patches applied. We no longer
provide the individual corrected files with instructions. The MNJ will
work both for locally compiled and binary installations.
Beginning with 31DEC21, we no longer have a formal
patch procedure. Corrections for serious bugs are simply applied to
the "NEW" version at NRAO and may be obtained via the MNJ. The files
31DEC24, 31DEC23, and
31DEC22 list brief summaries of
the changes made to the corresponding release while it was NEW. The
file CHANGE.DOC will provide information
on any code changed in the current NEW.
... will be of interest to you if you want the latest versions
updated nightly, weekly, or occasionally. It can do either text or
binary updates depending on which sort you did with install.pl.
The WENSS/WISH files have been corrected (2 July 2004) to omit the
sources which are the sum of other "components" also appearing in the
lists. Note that the survey files shipped with AIPS releases include
the shorter lists of the stronger sources. The full lists are only
available from this ftp site.
AIPS Memos, Reports, old AIPSLetters, the Cookbook, Going
AIPS, access to the newest versions of the HELP files,
search CHANGE.DOC and more. The most recent AIPS Memos
are:
- number 127,
discussing editing in AIPS (SPFLG, FTFLG, TVFLG)
June 12, 2025
- number 126,
discussing spectral index fitting in AIPS
January 27, 2025,
revision dated April 24, 2025
- number 125,
discussing calibration of linearly-polarized data
revised April 16, 2024,
- number 124,
discussing TVIEW, a new task for exploring image cubes,
revision dated April 22, 2025
- number 123,
discussing the new pulse-cal cabilities of DiFX and AIPS,
revision dated December 11, 2024,
- number 122,
discussing the usage of AGAUS and ZAMAN spectral absorption
modeling tasks,
revision dated October 6, 2025,
- number 121,
discussing the usage of the UFLAG gridded data flagging task, dated
revision dated April 30, 2025,
- number 120,
discussing the usage of the TVSPC data exploration task,
revision dated April 25, 2025,
- number 119,
discussing the usage of the TVSAD Gaussian modeling task, dated
December 15, 2014,
- number 118,
discussing the usage of XGAUS, ZEMAN, and RMFIT spectral modeling
tasks revision dated October 6, 2025,
- number 117,
discussing the detailed FITS format used by AIPS, revision dated October 1, 2025,
- number 116,
discussing new RFI mitigation options in AIPS, dated June 2010,
- number 115,
discussing new auto-boxing for Clean capabilites in AIPS, dated June 29, 2009,
- number 114,
re-stating the FITS-IDI convention with corrections and added
tables, revision dated Jul 19, 2022,
- number 113,
discussing a "new" geometric way to handle the W problem, dated May 22, 2009,
- number 112,
discussing the AIPS pipeline for VLA data reduction, dated March
19, 2007,
- number 111,
discussing phase referencing with more than one calibrator using
ATMCA, dated January 6, 2005,
- number 110,
discussing strategy for removing troposppheric and clock errors
using DELZN, revised October 21, 2009, dated August 31, 2004,
- number 109,
discussing AIPS on DVDs and read-only data systems, dated
January 20, 2004,
- number 108,
discussing weights for VLA data, dated January 21, 2003,
- number 107,
discussing the differences between FRING and KRING, dated April
8, 2002,
- number 106,
discussing the Brandeis scheme for making movies in AIPS dated
June 6, 2001,
- number 105,
discussing the new RUN file to simplify VLBA data reduction
dated February 28, 2001 and April 26, 2001,
- number 104,
discussing the new Y2K performance test dated September 8, 2000, and
- number 103,
discussing data weighting in AIPS dated 2000-03-21.
MAIL GROUPS
The AIPS group maintains three e-mail exploder lists. The first,
called daip, is restricted to immediate members of the AIPS group and
a few NRAO scientist advisors. The other two are, however, open to
any suitable person. Membership is moderated, of course, because SPAM
has become so annoying.
The group intended for discussion of AIPS issues is called
bananas and is used, among other things, to announce patches
to the "frozen" versions of AIPS. Traffic is light. You can subscribe
yourself to this list on-line.
The group intended for discussion of problems related to the
"Midnight Job" is called mnj and is used to announce AIPS
Manager things related to the current MNJ. Traffic is light, but the
announcements can have a serious impact on any site attempting to stay
current with the development version of AIPS. You can subscribe
yourself to this list on-line.
FITS-IDI
The FITS Interferometry Data Interchange
format is a set of FITS
binary table definitions and a set of conventions for using them to
transport radio interferometry data between different software
packages.
The FITS Interferometry Data Interchange Convention (formerly Format)
has been accepted as an IAU-acknowledged convention. This convention
was documented by Chris Flatters in AIPS
Memo 102 which, unfortunately, was not accompanied by an editable
text version. Therefore, Eric Greisen had to re-type the document.
While doing so, he updated some matters, corrected minor wording
issues, and added 5 new sections for 5 new tables, 3 of which are
actually in use. Interested parties should review AIPS
Memo 114 revised (ps) or AIPS
Memo 114 revised (pdf); it has been submitted to the IAU FITS
Committee. Greisen has attempted to highlight the changed parts in
red in this draft. The current draft is dated July 2022 and
includes the MODEL_COMPS table and comments from Lorant
Sjowerman, Bill Cotton, and others. Please e-mail
egreisen@nrao.edu with comments.
Help for the weary AIPS Installer. Very much experimental and
incomplete, and probably needs updating, but better than nothing.
The AIPS Benchmark was known as the "DDT" (Dirty
Dozen Tasks); we have results for a variety of systems. A more modern
test called "Y2K" has been developed in 2000 to test faster
computers and to use IMAGR rather than MX. For 31DEC22 we have new master images and data sets. In
addition, we have a HUGE test using multi-resolution IMAGR on
Cygnus A. Changes to CALIB and VTESS in particular
forced this update, while faster computers make Y2K LARGE run in as
little as 22 seconds (Mac Mini with ARM M4 chip)!
The former designated-AIP-of-the-week program rotation has been
halted due to the lack of personnel. The e-mail address
(daip@nrao.edu) was the best method of reaching all
the members of the AIPS Group and will still work. However, we ask
you to use the new NRAO-wide helpdesk instead. Go to https://help.nrao.edu
and login with your my.nrao.edu username and password. There you may
peruse the "knowledge base" (currently empty), enter new tickets in
any of several departments including AIPS, and review and update any
tickets you have submitted.
AIPS is copyrighted by Associated Universities, Inc. using the GNU
copyright form. The full text is available with every AIPS release and
may be read here.
This is the Flexible Image Transport System, and is the
standard data interchange format used by most Astronomical Software,
including AIPS. Follow the above reference for a very extensive
set of documentataion, including a large resource list for Astronomy on
the internet.
The primary AIPS address is the daip one
referenced on our main Contact page, and general
queries, requests for documents, ftp access, and so on should be
directed there. Application-oriented questions should be directed to
the Designated AIP.
Modified on $Date: 2025/12/08 21:59:57 $
Eric W. Greisen
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