The PySALT user package is the primary reduction and analysis software tools for the SALT telescope.  Currently, these tools include basic data reductions for RSS and SALTICAM in both imaging, spectroscopic, and slot modes. Basic analysis software for slot mode data is also provided.  These tools are primarily written in python/PyRAF with some additional IRAF code. 

Instructions for the installation of the PySALT package are below.  They are also provided in the tarball.  In order to install PySALT, several other packages have to be installed as well including python, PyRAF, and IRAF.   Descriptions and links to each of those packages are included under dependencies.  All of the dependent programs are available on the SALT ftp site.  If you are downloading the package from outside South Africa, it is suggested that the dependencies be downloaded from their original source.

• Installation instructions for PySALT
• Dependencies of PySALT

The PySALT user package v0.50 was released on 4 Apr 2014 and can be downloaded. Release notes are available. Older versions of the software can are also available as well as a development version. The source code is available from a github repository.  

Documentation is availabe on the Github Wiki, in user manuals, and also provided within the package itself. For developers, API documentation and design documents are also available.

The PySALT package is under rapid development and may add additional functionality to the development version before it is available in the stable release. The nightly build of the development version is available from the github repository. Instructions and further information are available on the wiki. Please contact salthelp@salt.ac.za if you are interested in contributing any code.

If you use data reduced by the SALT science pipeline or use the PySALT software, please provide a link to 'http://pysalt.salt.ac.za/' and cite the following paper:

Crawford, S.M., Still, M., Schellart, P., Balona, L., Buckley, D.A.H., Gulbis, A.A.S., Kniazev, A., Kotze, M., Loaring, N., Nordsieck, K.H., Pickering, T.E., Potter, S., Romero Colmenero, E., Vaisanen, P., Wiliams, T., Zietsman, E., 2010. PySALT: the SALT Science Pipeline. SPIE Astronomical Instrumentation, 7737. ADS