Initial Implementation Strategy for Drizzle with ACS

In order to provide geometric correction for single pointing ACS images, and to provide geometric correction together with simple image combination for associations of ACS images, we describe plans to implement the “drizzle” code by means of a python wrapper, and to use this wrapper in calacs. The initial strategy will endeavour to be robust and scientifically accurate, although not necessarily optimal. An upgrade path is outlined which could lead to significantly improved processing, involving an iterative pass through the data. The tools will be available stand-alone, offering a greater degree of flexibility than in pipeline implementation. The output product will be a multiple extension fits file containing the data (units counts per second), a weight image and a context image. The latter are provided by the drizzle program and are related to the variance and data quality arrays respectively.