The second installment of Science Verification data is now available

The second installment of Science Verification data is now available. These datasets consist of observations of the merging galaxy system known as the Antennae (NGC4038/9), and two observations of the proto-planetary disk TW Hya.  The Antennae dataset is the first mosaic data to be released by ALMA, and so we have provided a new CASA Guide for calibration and imaging.  (The TW Hya data are similar to those previously released, and so do not merit a new CASA Guide, but we strongly recommend that users familiarize themselves with the README file and the data reduction script provided!)  Please remember that ALMA is still in the construction phase, and while we think that the currently available datasets are impressive, the quality of data being collected using ALMA is continuously improving.

The data products released here contain raw, uncalibrated data together with the necessary calibration tables to allow users to try their hands at a complete data reduction process. In the same directory, we also provide the calibrated data, on which users can perform data analysis and post-processing. In addition, reference images generated from the reduced data sets are given as FITS files.

The Science Verification data sets are available through the ALMA Science Portal. Go to ALMA Data --> Science Verification and select the source. Here you will also find links to the CASA Guides.

We thank the large number of staff at the JAO and the ARCs who have participated in the commissioning activities, observations and data reduction that made this release possible.

Reminder:  In order to reduce and/or analyze the ALMA data, users need to use the Common Astronomy Software Applications (CASA) package. The CASA package can be accessed through http://casa.nrao.edu/.  Feedback on the data and on the CASA software are always welcome!