Image of a galaxy

SunPy – Python tools for solar physics data analysis

SunPy is a Python package providing core facilities for accessing, loading, manipulating and analysing solar physics data.

The package offers a common interface across data from many solar instruments and observatories. Its Fido system searches and downloads observations from multiple services using criteria such as time, instrument and wavelength. Supported sources include the Virtual Solar Observatory, JSOC, CDAWeb, HEK, SOLARNET and several mission-specific archives.

SunPy also provides metadata-aware containers for two-dimensional observations and time-dependent measurements. Map objects combine image arrays with FITS metadata and support coordinate-aware operations, while TimeSeries handles observational data sharing a common time axis.

This is free and open source software.

Key Features

  • Search and download solar physics data with Fido.
  • Query multiple remote data services through a common interface.
  • Search observations by time, instrument, wavelength and other attributes.
  • Access VSO, JSOC, HEK, CDAWeb, SOLARNET and mission archives.
  • Metadata-aware Map objects for two-dimensional observations.
  • Convert between physical and pixel coordinates.
  • Crop, rotate and visualise astronomical images.
  • Combine observations using MapSequence and CompositeMap.
  • TimeSeries containers with instrument-specific data handling.
  • Select time ranges and combine multiple time series.
  • Support FITS, CSV and CDF time-series data.
  • Solar coordinate frames and coordinate transformations.
  • Quick-look plotting and rich Jupyter representations.

Website: github.com/sunpy/sunpy
Support:
Developer: SunPy Project
License: BSD 2-Clause “Simplified” License

SunPy is written in Python. Learn Python with our recommended free books and free tutorials.


Related Software

Astronomical Data Analysis Tools
AstropyCollection of Python software packages for astronomy
CARTACube Analysis and Rendering Tool for Astronomy
AstroImageJPowerful tool for astronomical image analysis and precise photometry
TOPCATTool for OPerations on Catalogues And Tables
astroMLPython module for machine learning and data mining
DS9Astronomical imaging and data visualization application
SirilAstronomical image (pre-)processing software
SkyfieldPure-Python astronomy package
SherpaModeling and fitting application for Python
IRAFImage Reduction and Analysis Facility
PyRAFPython-based IRAF command language
THELITool for the automated reduction of astronomical images
ASTAPAstrometric STAcking Program
ORSAFramework for celestial mechanics investigations
CRUSHData reduction and imaging for select astronomical cameras

Read our verdict in the software roundup.


Best Free and Open Source Software Explore our comprehensive directory of recommended free and open source software. Our carefully curated collection spans every major software category.

This directory is part of our ongoing series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. It features hundreds of detailed reviews, along with open source alternatives to proprietary solutions from major corporations such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk.

You’ll also find interesting projects to try, hardware coverage, free programming books and tutorials, and much more.

Discovered a useful open source Linux program that we haven’t covered yet? Let us know by completing this form.
Subscribe

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.

Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted