FACT Open Data

You can find an overview talk about the FACT open data release as PDF on github.

Crab Nebula Observations

In November 2017 the FACT Collaboration decided to make a first step into the direction of Open Data and release a sample of 17.7 hours of Crab Nebula observations measured in November 2013 available to the general public, along with simulations needed to perform analysis of this data sample.

We encourage to use this data for training, education and outreach for FACT and gamma-ray astronomy in general.

Please cite [1] and [2] if you use the data provided here.

Runwise Metadata

Important runwise metadata is available in csv format here

Raw Data

The raw data as saved on disk by the Telescope is provided in zfits[3] format. The data is available here.

Both FACT Data Analysis chains start from this data format.

• FACT-Tools, contact: Maximilian Noethe or just open a GitHub issue
• MARS, contact: Thomas Bretz

To analyse the data, telescope metadata is needed. This data is provided as one standard fits file per service for each night here. Especially important for the analysis are the YYYYMMDD_DRIVE_CONTROL_TRACKING_POSITION.fits files, containing the pointing direction of the telescope measured every two seconds and the YYYYMMDD_DRIVE_CONTROL_SOURCE_POSITION.fits containing information about the currently observed source. These two files are needed for the FACT-Tools standard analysis.

PhotonStream Data

The data sample in the PhotonStream format, arrival times of each individual photon that FACT measured for the events. A more in-depth description and the data is available here. This data might be the most approachable raw data format for newcomers to gamma-ray astronomy.

DL1 to DL3 Data

Higher level analysis results from the FACT-Tools analysis chain are available at factdata.app.tu-dortmund.de. An example higher level analysis is available at github.com/fact-project/open_crab_sample_analysis

High Level Analysis Results

• Results of the FACT Quick Look Analysis are available on the Monitoring Website.

References

1. Anderhub et al., Design and operation of FACT – the first G-APD Cherenkov telescope, 2013.
2. Biland et al., Calibration and performance of the photon sensor response of FACT — the first G-APD Cherenkov telescope
3. Ahnen et al., Data compression for the First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope, 2015.