Starting Xspec
Start up Student Hera (if you have not installed hera on your
computer, follow this link for instructions: install Hera). You should see a login window,
something like this:
Student Hera Login Window.
The first time you login, Student Hera will assign a number to you.
If you record this number somewhere, then you can always login as the
same user.
Once you've logged in, a window will open with the standard Student
Hera tools. For this investigation, you will be using Xspec, a software
package used by professional astronomers to analyze X-ray spectra of all
types of astronomical objects.
To open Xspec, find the name "Xspec" under the Xanadu folder in the
Available Tools box, as shown below.
Student Hera interface.
(Click for a larger view.)
To start Xspec, either double click on the name "Xspec" or
single-click on it and then click the "Run" button. Two additional
windows will appear when Xspec starts: the "xspec Output" window, where
you will enter commands into Xspec, and the POW2.0 window, where plots
of your data will appear. These two windows are shown below:
Xspec Command Window, labeled "xspec Output."
(Click image for a larger view.)
Plot Window, labeled "POW 2.0."
Now that Xspec is open, you can start your data analysis.
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