Explanatory Supplement to the 2MASS All Sky Data Release
and Extended Mission Products
Cutri, R.M. (IPAC/Caltech),
Skrutskie, M.F. (U.Virginia),
Van Dyk, S. (IPAC/Caltech),
Beichman, C.A. (JPL),
Carpenter, J.M. (Caltech),
Chester, T. (IPAC/Caltech),
Cambresy, L. (CDS),
Evans, T.,
Fowler, J. (IPAC/Caltech),
Gizis, J. (U.Delaware),
Howard, E. (UMASS),
Huchra, J. (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA),
Jarrett, T.,
Kopan, E.L.,
Kirkpatrick, J.D.,
Light, R.M,
Marsh, K.A.,
McCallon, H. (IPAC/Caltech),
Schneider, S.,
Stiening, R. (UMASS),
Sykes, M. (U.Arizona),
Weinberg, M. (UMASS),
Wheaton, W.A.,
Wheelock, S. (IPAC/Caltech),
Zacharias, N. (USNO)
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
- 2MASS Overview
- The 2MASS Sky
- Executive Summary of 2MASS All-Sky Data Products
- Point Source Catalog
- Extended Source Catalog
- Image Products
- Distribution Mode for 2MASS Products
- Data Release History
- Cautionary Notes
- General
- Point Source Catalog (PSC)
- Extended Source Catalog (XSC)
- Atlas Images
- Acknowledgments
- 2MASS Personnel
- Referencing 2MASS
- 2MASS Source Naming Convention
- Acknowledging 2MASS in Publications
- Document Change History
II. User's Guide to the 2MASS All Sky Data Release
- General Properties of the Data Release
- Point Source Catalog
- Format
- How to Use the 2MASS PSC
- Selection Criteria
- General Properties
- Photometric Properties
- Astrometric Properties
- Solar System Objects
- Extended Source Catalog
- Format
- How to Use the 2MASS XSC
- Selection Criteria
- General Properties
- Photometric Properties
- Size Distribution
- Relevant Images
- Atlas Images
- Atlas Image Header Description
- Image Anomalies
- Extended Source Postage Stamp Images
- Ancillary Files
- Scan Information Table Format
- Atlas Image Information Table Format
- Known Asteroid Detection List
- Known Comet Detection List
- Known Planet and Satellite Detection List
- XSC Coverage Maps
- PSC and XSC Anomaly File
- All-Sky DVD Release Updates
III. 2MASS Facilities and Operations
- Facilities
- Telescopes
- Camera and Detectors
- Observatory Site Conditions
- Data Acquisition
- Scanning Strategy
- Survey Strategy
- Sky Coverage
- Photometric Calibration Strategy
IV. 2MASS Data Processing
- Processing Pipeline Overview
- Data Processing Strategy
- Nightly Data Processing Steps
- Improvements Incorporated in Final Processing (2MAPPS v3.0)
- Instrumental Frame Correction
- Frame Readouts
- Darks/Electronics Bias Characterization
- Flatfield/Responsivity Characterization
- Frame Calibration Procedure
- Non-Linearity/Saturation Flagging
- Atlas Image Generation
- Point Source Detection and Photometry
- Frame Source Detection and Aperture Photometry
- Profile-Fit Photometry
- Aperture Photometry and Curve of Growth Correction
- The Default Magnitude
- Band Merging and Bandfills
- Optical Source Associations
- Extended Source Identification and Photometry
- The Extended Source Processor
- Summary of Modifications to the Extended Source Processor
- Stellar Number Density Metric: "density"
- Improved Ellipse Fitting and Isophotal Photometry in Crowded Fields
- Large Aperture Photometry: Profile Fitting, Isophotal and Total Magnitudes
- Galaxy Photometry Error Tree
- Stellar Number Density and Confusion Noise
- Position Reconstruction
- Artifact Identification
- Photometric Calibration
- Known Asteroid, Comet, Planet, and Satellite Associations
- Quality Assurance
V. Catalog Generation
- Overview
- Scan Selection
- Source Selection
- Multiple Source Detection Resolution
VI. Analysis of Release Catalogs
- Comparison of Achieved Performance of the All-Sky Release Catalogs with Level 1 Science Specification
- Photometric Sensitivity
- Global Photometric Properties
- 2MASS Photometric System
- Absolute Calibration
- Color Transformations
- Completeness and Reliability
- Position Reconstruction Performance
- Point Source Catalog Position Reconstruction Performance
- Extended Source Catalog Position Reconstruction Performance
- Galactic Plane Performance
- Atlas Image Analysis
- Estimating Photometric Errors Using 2MASS Atlas Images
- Compromised J-band Photometry for Sources with dist_edge_ew=251E and hemis='s'
A1. Introduction to the 2MASS Extended Mission and Ancillary Data Products
- Overview
- The Ancillary Data Products
- Ancillary Product Documentation
- Acknowledgements
- Executive Summary of the 2MASS Ancillary Data Products
- Survey Source "Reject" Tables and Full Image Atlas
- Long Exposure (6x) Source Working Databases, Catalogs and Images
- Calibration Scan Source Working Databases and Images
- Merged Source Information Tables
- Combined Calibration Scan Images and Source Tables
- Distribution Mode for the 2MASS Ancillary Data Products
- Cautionary Notes
- General
- Point Source Reject Table, Working Databases and 6x Catalog
- Extended Source Reject Table, Working Databases and 6x Catalog
- Atlas Images
- Source Naming Convention
- Auxiliary Tables
- Known Asteroid Association Lists
- Known Comet Association Lists
- Planet and Planetary Satellite Association Lists
A2. Full Survey Image Atlas and Source "Reject" Tables
- Overview
- Multi-Epoch Observations
- Low SNR and Other Unreliable Extractions
- Cautionary Notes
- General Properties
- Scope
- Survey "Reject" Table Contents
- Survey Sky Coverage
- "Reject" Table Reliability
- Photometric and Astrometric Properties
- Survey "Reject" Table and Metadata Table Formats
- Survey Point Source "Reject" Table
- Survey Extended Source "Reject" Table
- Survey Scan Information Table
A3. Long Exposure (6X) Scan Databases, Catalogs and Images
- Overview
- 6x Target Fields
- Relationship to Main 2MASS Survey
- Additional 6x Scan Products
- Cautionary Notes
- General Properties
- Scope of the 6x Observations
- Detailed 6x Field Properties
- Analysis of 6x Position Reconstruction
- 6x Working Database and Metadata Table Formats
- 6x Point Source Working Database
- 6x Extended Source Working Database
- 6x Scan Information Table
- Data Acquisition
- Differences in Scanning Strategy from Main Survey
- Sky Coverage
- Photometric Calibration Strategy
- Data Processing
- Pipeline Modifications Relative to Final Survey Processing (2MAPPS v3.0)
- Position Reconstruction
- Photometric Calibration
- Extended Source Processing
- Artifact Identification
- 6x Catalog Generation
- Overview
- Scan Selection
- Source Selection
- Multiple Source Detection Resolution
A4. Calibration Scan Working Databases and Images
- Overview
- Multi-Epoch Measurements
- Additional Calibration Scan Products
- Cautionary Notes
- General Properties of the Calibration Scan Working Databases
- Calibration Scan Working Database and Metadata Table Formats
- Calibration Point Source Working Database
- Calibration Extended Source Working Database
- Calibration Scan Information Table
- Calibration Scan Data Processing
- Photometric Calibration
- Position Reconstruction
- Data Quality Assessment
A5. Working Database Source Reliability Estimation
- Introduction
- The Reliability Score
- Estimating Source Reliability
- Other Reliability Indicators
- Point Sources
- Extended Sources
A6. Merged Working Databases
- Overview
- Scope and Usage
- Cautionary Notes
- The Merging Process
- Associating Groups of Detections
- Pre-filtering the WDB Tables
- Computing Merged Source Parameters
- Merged Database Table Formats
- Merged Point Source Information Tables
- Merged Extended Source Information Tables
- Merged Source Cross-Reference (Link) Tables
- Analysis of Merged Source Information Tables
A7. Combined Calibration Scan Images and Source Lists
- Overview
- Inventory of Calibration Scans
- Cautionary Notes
- Calibration Scan Image Combination
- Image Registration
- Position Correction
- Sensitivity Scaling
- Image Anomaly Identification
- Depth-of-Coverage
- Source Lists
- Source Extraction
- Astrometric and Photometric Calibration
- Artifact Identification
- Source Table Format
- Combined Calibration Scan Data Access
- General Properties of the Combined Calibration Field Data
Last modified 2008 September 7. For assistance, contact
The 2MASS Helpdesk