WMAP DR4 Sky Map File Format DescriptionThe data made available through this page has been updated. The most recent version of this data may be accessed through https://lambda.gsfc.nasa.gov/product/wmap/current/" WMAP maps are stored in FITS binary table extensions. The maps are stored in the first extension in a file; the number of columns in this table depends upon the maps included in the file. Some files also contain the polarization covariance matrices for the maps; if supplied these matrices are stored in a second binary table extension. As previously stated, the first FITS extension contains the maps. Each row in the table represents a single pixel. The number of columns depends upon which maps are included; these columns may be:
The column names for I, Q, U, and N_Obs maps were selected to be compatible with existing HEALPix software. The TEMPERATURE and N_OBS columns are the only columns that exist in files that do not contain polarization maps. The Q_POLARISATION and U_POLARISATION exist in files containing polarization maps; the names were selected to be compatible with existing HEALPix software. The SPUR_SIGNAL columns exists only in polarization map files that contain an 'S' map. The WMAP skymaps are supplied using the HEALPix nested pixel ordering scheme in Galactic coordinates. For the convenience of users who do not have HEALPix software installed, we provide a series of FITS sky map files that give the sky coordinates of each pixel center for various resolutions. Some files that contain polarization maps contain a second FITS extension containing the polarization noise covariance matrices for the pixels in the maps of the first FITS extension. These matrices are used in the map-making process and characterize the noise properties of the polarization maps. See Jarosik, et.al., 2007 and Hinshaw, et.al., 2008 for more details. There are two forms of this matrix, depending upon whether or not a bandpass mismatch term (S map) has been included in the file. If the S map is supplied then the columns of this extension are:
The covariance matrix for a pixel may then be constructed by assembling the row elements into a 3x3 symmetric matrix with the form:
If, on the other hand, the S map is not supplied then the columns of this extension are:
The covariance matrix of a pixel may be constructed by assembling the row elements into a 2x2 symmetric matrix with the form:
Additional Information
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