XMM-Newton Science Analysis System: User Guide



1.2 More information on the web

It is assumed that the SAS user is familiar with the basic characteristics and operation modes of the scientific instruments on board XMM-Newton. This information is available in the XMM-Newton User Handbook [3].

Another important document is the XMM-Newton Data File Handbook [29], which provides a detailed description on the format, structure and content of the XMM-Newton files distributed to users from the XMM-Newton Science Archive (XSA) [4].

Detailed descriptions of individual SAS tasks can be accessed in several ways: through the SAS on-line documentation web page [6], by passing the -m option when running a particular SAS task, or by clicking the "Help Task" button of the (main) SAS Graphical User Interface (GUI), discussed in detail in § 3.

Last, issues concerning SAS and XMM-Newton data analysis are reported in the SAS watchout pages, along with recommended workarounds and/or solutions, and useful tricks and tips:

http://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/sas-watchout



European Space Agency - XMM-Newton Science Operations Centre