get_pointing_table#

aiapy.calibrate.util.get_pointing_table(source, *, time_range=None)[source]#

Retrieve 3-hourly master pointing table from the given source.

This function can either fetch the pointing table from JSOC or from aia.lmsal.com.

This function queries JSOC for the 3-hourly master pointing table (MPT) in the interval defined by start and end. The 3-hourly MPT entries are computed from limb fits of images with T_OBS between T_START and T_STOP.

Note

A MPT entry covers the interval [T_START:T_STOP); that is, the interval includes T_START and excludes T_STOP.

Note

While it is generally true that TSTOP = T_START + 3 hours, there are edge cases where T_STOP is more than 3 hours after T_START because of a calibration, an eclipse, or other reasons, but the fits are still calculated based on images from T_START to T_START + 3 hours. Pointing is not stable during these periods, so the question of which MPT entry to use is not relevant.

Note

The LMSAL pointing table is a static copy of the JSOC table dated from 11/20/2024. It was designed as a stop-gap measure while the JSOC recovered from its recent water damage.

Parameters:

source (str) – Name of the source from which to retrieve the pointing table. Must be one of "jsoc" or "lmsal".
time_range (Time, optional) – Time range for which to retrieve the pointing table. You can pass in a Time object or a tuple of start and end times.

Return type:

QTable