Gravitational Waves FITS files

[alvster]

Hello everyone!

I don't know if this is the correct thread for this, so I apologize in advance if it isn't.

I am a senior year undergrad physics student, and my thesis project has to do with the multi messenger aspects of ultra high energy cosmic rays. One of the things I need is the "parameterization" of Gravitational Waves, more precisely, I need the 90% probability coordinates (I think that's what it is called) of the GW, in coordinates of Declination vs Right Ascension.

I already went to the LIGO data, where they have the sky location probability maps, installed python and healpy, and used the algorithm they give to analyse the file. I don't know why but it doesn't work.

Is there another way to retrieve the data I want from the FITS files? Some kind of software maybe?

Thank you for your attention,

José Alves

[andrew s]

Fits files come in many flavours. If you Google "FITS image viewer packages" you will find a  NASA list they may have what you need.

Regards Andrew 

[pipnina]

There may (there probably is) be libraries around that can get you the data from a FITS file. There is probably one for python as well.

However, failing to find one that suits your needs, you may choose to write a program that reads FITS files yourself: https://fits.gsfc.nasa.gov/fits_documentation.html

Remember that all files on your computer are text files of a sort, you just need to know what the format means to read it.

[alvster]

Thank you for your replies! I will try to find some software to open them.

[Stub Mandrel]

Can you not contact one of the authors of the original paper (there seem to be about 200 to choose from?)

For those unfamiliar, its a pretty unusual distribution:

[alvster]

I already did, but he told me to use the algorithm they give, basically. Unfortunately it isn't working... :(

 

[Whirlwind]

Have you checked you are running the right version of Python?  A lot of older code uses Python v2.x whereas the current version of Python is 3.x.  For a lot of astronomy scripts and programs they tend not to be compatible.

[alvster]

Yes. I actually used both. on 3 it didn't run, and on 2 it ran, but it wasn't doing it properly. I decided to do it the hard way and get the points manually from an interactive map they have.

Thanks to all for the help!