CASA Update

CASA Team

Figure 1

Zoom

Figure 2

These images were created during the CASA tutorials at the June NRAO Synthesis Imaging Workshop. Top: CO(1-0) kinematics (moment 1) of the galaxy NGC4826 from the BIMA SONG survey (see Helfer, Thornley, Regan et al. 2003, ApJS, 145, 259). Bottom: Archival VLA 6 cm continuum and polarization image of Jupiter. View scripts and data.

Zoom

The Common Astronomy Software Applications (CASA) package being developed by NRAO and ALMA will be used for offline reduction and analysis of both ALMA and Expanded Very Large Array (EVLA) data. CASA is fully scriptable and offers a growing suite of data reduction tasks written in C++ with a Python interface, plotting through matplotlib, and a Qt based Viewer.

CASA is now being used regularly to reduce data from the ALMA Test Facility (ATF) in New Mexico, and is also being used to fill data from the new EVLA correlator. The CASA development team recently carried out data reduction tutorials for ~50 participants at the 11th NRAO Synthesis Imaging Workshop in June. The tutorials included data ranging from Very Large Array (VLA) HI spectral line, VLA continuum polarization, and Berkeley Illinois Maryland Association (BIMA) millimeter CO line data, and the participant feedback was very positive.

The CASA package is currently (mid-July 2008) on Patch 2 of its Beta release, and is now available to the astronomical community for download. A CASA helpdesk is also available from the same site. Please try out CASA on your own data and join us in our efforts to improve and expand its capabilities. More information on the status of CASA, how to get started, and its current capabilities can be found at the CASA website.