Asi_movies++ is a complete re-write of CSA's old asi_movies. It comes in the form of two separate programs: a light-weight asi_browse and a somewhat more bloated asi_tools (the latter not public domain). These new programs will be written in IDL v5.2, using IDL widgets, pointers, and objects. The program will run under IDL on any UNIX platform. However, the code should, in principle, be platform independent, so as to allow the program to run under most other operating systems supported by IDL. As in the case of asi_movies, their predecessor, asi_browse and asi_tools take their input from the distributed CANOPUS ``BETA'' files.

Main Features of asi_browse:

• Loop through raw, decompressed ASI images [fwd, freeze, step single frame, etc.]
• Generate hardcopy of current frame [PostScript]
• Generate hardcopy of entire BETA file, in thumbnail (quicklook) format [PostScript]
• Extract currently displayed ASI frame as GIF-format file
• Explode entire ASI BETA file into a series of GIF files [save into separate directory]
• Interactive image scaling [log/lin]
• Image ``zoom'' feature
• Grid overlays [geomagnetic at specified altitude]
• Get geomagnetic coordinates of cursor location within image [mouse click required]
• Simultaneous viewing of images from two different wavelengths (filters)
• View (and/or save) calibration/dark/starfield data for current hour
• Header dumps [to screen and/or log file]
• Interactive color bar adjustments [select table]

Main Features of asi_tools:

• Includes the same features as above asi_browse
• Image projections (``warping'') [various algorithms, specified altitude]
• On-the-fly calibration: Interactively obtain pixel values in Rayleighs [User Beware!]
• Overlay magnetometer data, other data
• Generate the BETA file's ``keogram'' [X Display and PostScript]
• Possibly: Indicate satellite position [takes NORAD elements as input]

[The below deadline has expired, but the note is retained for completeness.]

NOTE: Please submit suggestions as to any additions/deletions to the above list to T. S. Trondsen by email (trondsen@phys.ucalgary.ca, with Subject Line: ASIMOVIES) by April 30, 1999. Note however the original purpose of asi_movies: it's an advanced beta-file browsing tool, not a complete scientific data analysis tool.

RELEASE LOG

1. OCTOBER 1 2000: ASI_BROWSE V1.1 RELEASED OCTOBER 1, 2000
2. MAY 9 2003: Asi_browse-1.1-3 distro released. Now runs fine under Linux/Windows (little endian arch.) -- Thanks, Magda!
3. MAY 13 2002: Asi_browse-1.1-4 released. Minor bug fix - can now read betafiles organized in a more complicated directory structure.

IDL SOURCE CODE:

The latest release (see above) of Asi_browse may be obtained by direct download. The original V1.0 release is available on CDROM from The Canadian Space Agency. All released versions contain a comprehensive PDF document by TechniQuill/Terry Hughes detailing how to install and configure the program. All supporting files (such as grids, tables, documentation) are included in the release. Note that this IDL program is only considered useful to personnel making use of ASI data, due to the somewhat specialized image format used.

SAMPLE SCREENSHOTS:

• A V0.9 Screenshot, 65 kb.
  
  

COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION SET

... will be available here in hypertext format at a future date. There is a preliminary text file available for the V0.9 release, however.

UPDATE: documentation in pdf format is now found here

Author: T.S. Trondsen (trondsen@phys.ucalgary.ca)
Approved by: L. L. Cogger (cogger@phys.ucalgary.ca)
URL: www.phys.ucalgary.ca/~trondsen/asi_movies.html
Last Modified: Tue May 23 11:48:45 MDT 2000

© Copyright 1998 Trond S Trondsen, University of Calgary, Institute for Space Research - All rights reserved.
THE CANOPUS PROJECT IS FUNDED IN PART BY THE CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY (CSA)