script AstroImageJ

[sharrold]

Hello,

Is there a way to create a script to run AstroImageJ? I would like to control AstroImageJ from the command line because I would like to repeat data reductions quickly and reliably.

My goal is to do fixed-aperture time-series photometry with Barycentric time correction. Basically, I'd like to use AstroImageJ to do what Maestro and WQED already do.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thank you,
Sam Harrold
__________
Samuel Harrold
Graduate Student
Astronomy Department
University of Texas at Austin

[karenacollins]

Hi Sam,
    At this time, AstroImageJ does not support a scripting/command line capability. However, scripting is a frequent request, so the capability will likely be offered in a future AIJ release. From reviewing the Maestro user guide, my understanding is that you want to feed AIJ an ASCII file with lists of calibration and science image names, and a list of target and comp star X,Y positions. Then you want to start AIJ from the command line with some potential command line options to have it reduce the science images and perform multi-aperture photometry without any GUI-based interaction. If this interpretation is incorrect, or if you want to provide more specific details about how you would prefer to see scripting implemented, I would consider your input as part of a future scripting implementation.
On 9/4/2012 1:13 PM, sharrold [via AstroImageJ] wrote:

Hello,

Is there a way to create a script to run AstroImageJ? I would like to control AstroImageJ from the command line because I would like to repeat data reductions quickly and reliably.

My goal is to do fixed-aperture time-series photometry with Barycentric time correction. Basically, I'd like to use AstroImageJ to do what Maestro and WQED already do.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thank you,
Sam Harrold
__________
Samuel Harrold
Graduate Student
Astronomy Department
University of Texas at Austin

---

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NAML

[sharrold]

Hi Karen,

Thanks for the fast response! Yes, that is correct.

We use Maestro to:
- align all images in the observing sequence (thousands of contiguous frames, spanning several hours)
- find all stars common to all frames, identify a star manually if not detected automatically
- calculate the gain, dark current, and readout noise from the calibration frames
- extract photometry using several fixed apertures
- select the best fixed aperture for the target star and each comparison star over image sequence from those with the highest calculated photometric SNR (usually slightly less than 1 FWHM of the star averaged over the entire image sequence)
- make a light curve, relative flux vs times

We use WQED to:
- divide the relative flux of the target star by the comparison stars
- select portions of the data to discard (due to clouds, observer error, etc)
- divide by a low-order polynomial to correct for differential atmospheric extinction
- apply Barycentric time corrections

We analyze the subsequent light curve using Period04.

I suppose some of the above may be best scripted by the user using macros that can be called from the command line. Other parts are probably best handled by AstroImageJ directly.

Thank you so much for making this useful tool! AstroImageJ will do a lot for our white dwarf research group because it is extremely versatile, and it is truly cross-platform.

Thank you!
Sam

[karenacollins]

Sam,
   Thank you for the detailed input. We will consider it as one of our key feature requirements when designing a scripting interface for AIJ. We also appreciate your kinds words regarding AIJ, and are very glad to hear it is useful to your white dwarf research group.

Karen

On 9/4/2012 4:26 PM, sharrold [via AstroImageJ] wrote:

Hi Karen,

Thanks for the fast response! Yes, that is correct.

We use Maestro to:
- align all images in the observing sequence (thousands of contiguous frames, spanning several hours)
- find all stars common to all frames, identify a star manually if not detected automatically
- calculate the gain, dark current, and readout noise from the calibration frames
- extract photometry using several fixed apertures
- select the best fixed aperture for the target star and each comparison star over image sequence from those with the highest calculated photometric SNR (usually slightly less than 1 FWHM of the star averaged over the entire image sequence)
- make a light curve, relative flux vs times

We use WQED to:
- divide the relative flux of the target star by the comparison stars
- select portions of the data to discard (due to clouds, observer error, etc)
- divide by a low-order polynomial to correct for differential atmospheric extinction
- apply Barycentric time corrections

We analyze the subsequent light curve using Period04.

I suppose some of the above may be best scripted by the user using macros that can be called from the command line. Other parts are probably best handled by AstroImageJ directly.

Thank you so much for making this useful tool! AstroImageJ will do a lot for our white dwarf research group because it is extremely versatile, and it is truly cross-platform.

Thank you!
Sam

---

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NAML