RHESSI Data

RHESSI Level-0 data files contain the full raw telemetry data in packed format.  Even though these files are in standard FITS format, they should be read only through the RHESSI SSW software due to the complicated unpacking algorithms.  The Level-0 files are large(~2 GB / day), and are broken up into ~15 orbit files per day.  They are consecutive; the start time of each file is given in the file name.  Because the RHESSI data consists of the time and energy of every photon, the software can bin the data from the Level-0 files into arbitrary time and energy bins selected by the user.  The Level-0 files are usually available within 8 hours after the observations were taken, with gaps filled in within a day or two.

The Observing Summary files are smaller daily FITS files (~2 MB / day) that contain various rates pre-binned to coarse energy and time resolution.  The files can be copied and read quickly, but there is no flexibility in accumulation options.  These files can be read by a standard FITS reader, but using the RHESSI SSW software will again provide the most benefit.

A flare list, quicklook time profile and image plots, and much more are generated on a daily basis.

Use the links to the left to access the Level-0 and quicklook files, the flare list, and the RHESSI Browser.  For a more complete description of the RHESSI data files that are available, how to access them, and how to use them in the RHESSI software, please see the Accessing RHESSI Data document.

For an overview of the pipeline processing that reads the telemetry data and creates the Level 0 files and the quicklook products, see RHESSI Data Handling.

For a description of the software used to read and analyze the RHESSI Data see the Software Section.

Problems? Contact Kim Tolbert.