Helio logo Heliophysics Feature Catalogue FP7-capacities

The Heliophysics Feature Catalogue (HFC) provides access to existing solar and heliophysics feature data, extracted from images by automated recognition codes.

The catalogue contains geometrical (e.g., gravity center coordinates, contours, area, etc.) and photometric feature parameters (e.g., average, minimum, and maximum intensity, etc.) , but also tracking information to identify co-rotating feature on the solar disc.

Query form Database and fields description Database content Free SQL query Helio Front End

Query form

If 'From' and 'to' are empty, date selection is ignored and query applies to the whole database!

Or Upload dates sample from VOTable

Feature typeObservatory
MEUDON/SOLAR TOWER - SoSoFT 2012-11 2013-07
MEUDON/SPECTROHELIOGRAPH - SoSoFT 1996-01 2017-06
COIMBRA UNIVERSITY/SPECTROHELIOGRAPH - SoSoFT 2012-11 2013-03
Filament criteria 
Min.
Max.
in degrees (0,180)
Length query provide a way to search for filament having a specific size.
Min and Max length currently in the database:0/294
Min.
Max.
in degrees (-90, 90)
Orientation query allows the user to select filament of specific orientations.
Orientation corresponds to the global orientation of the filament counterclockwise from Ox axis (ie E-W axis).

Min and Max orientation currently in the database: -90/89
Min.
Max.
in square degrees
Area query allows the user to select filament of specific visible area.
Min and Max area currently in the database: 0/977
MEUDON/SPECTROHELIOGRAPH - SoSoPro 2003-01 2023-11
Prominence criteria 
Min.
Max.
in km
Height query provide a way to search for prominence having a specific height.
Min and Max length currently in the database:10227/207132
Min.
Max.
in degrees
Allows the user to select prominence of specific latitude elongation.
Min and Max orientation currently in the database: 0/114
Min.
Max.
Intensity query allows the user to select prominence of specific max. intensity.
Min and Max area currently in the database: 32/26248
SDO/AIA - SPOCA-AR 2010-05 2023-11
SOHO/EIT - SPOCA-AR 1996-01 2013-03
SOHO/MDI - SMART 1996-05 2011-02
Active region criteria 
Min.
Max.
in square degrees
Area query allows the user to select active region of specific visible area.
Min and Max area currently in the database: 0/11577
Min.
Max.
Intensity query allows the user to select active region of specific max. intensity.
Min and Max area currently in the database: -2/83076
SOHO/EIT - SPOCA-CH 1996-01 2013-03
SDO/AIA - SPOCA-CH 2010-05 2013-10
SOHO/EIT - CHARM 1996-04 2011-04
Coronal hole criteria 
Min.
Max.
in square mega meters
Area query allows the user to select coronal hole of specific visible area.
Min and Max area currently in the database: 0/1
Min.
Max.
in degrees
Width query allows the user to select coronal hole of specific longitude width.
Min and Max area currently in the database: 1/179
SOHO/MDI - MDISS 1996-05 2011-04
SDO/HMI - SDOSS 2010-04 2023-11
Sunspot criteria 
Min.
Max.
in square degrees
Area query allows the user to select sunspot of specific visible area.
Min and Max area currently in the database: 0/1161
STEREO_A/SWAVES - RABAT3 2007-01 2011-12
WIND/WAVES - RABAT3 1996-01 2011-12
STEREO_B/SWAVES - RABAT3 2007-01 2011-12
Type III criteria 
Min.
Max.
in dB
Intensity query allows the user to select type III of specific max intensity.
Min and Max area currently in the database: 0/83
NANCAY/RADIOHELIOGRAPH - NRH2D 1999-04 2023-11

Solar region selection

Latitude in degrees (-90, 90)

Extend query to symmetric latitude band
Position query provide a way to search for features having a specific position on the Sun.
Specify at least a latitude band.
Longitude in degrees (0, 360)

For filaments











For prominences










For active regions









For coronal holes













For sunspots












For type III







For radio source












The following table provides the list of the features for which data are currently available in the HFC.

FeatureInstrumentRecognition codeBibliographyTracking information
Active RegionSOHO/MDI
SOHO/EIT (171/195 A)
SDO/AIA (171/193 A)		SMART
SPOCA-AR
SPOCA-AR		Higgins et al., 2010
Barra et al., 2009
Barra et al., 2009		No
Yes
Yes
Coronal HoleSOHO/MDI + SOHO/EIT (195 A)
SOHO/EIT (171/195 A)
SDO/AIA (193 A)		CHARM
SPOCA-CH
SPOCA-CH		Krista and Gallagher, 2009
Barra et al., 2009
Barra et al., 2009		No
Yes
Yes
FilamentMeudon H Alpha SpectroheliographSoSoft & TrackFilFuller et al., 2005 - Bonnin et al., 2013Yes
ProminenceMeudon CAII K3 SpectroheliographSoSoProN. FullerNo
SunspotSOHO/MDI
SDO/HMI		MDISS
SDOSS		Zharkov et al., 2005
Zharkov et al., 2005		No
Yes
Type IIIWind/Waves, STEREO/SwavesRABAT3X. BonninNo
Coronal radio emissionNancay Radio HeliographNRH2DC. Renié, X. BonninYes

More in HFC user guide

Query form Database and fields description Database content Free SQL query Helio Front End

API Web Services About HFC

FP7, project No. 238969

The catalogue is accessible from distant clients through its dedicated Helio Query Interface (HQI). This interface is VO-compliant, and allows SOAP, HTTP-GET, and TAP requests on HFC database.

Information about the HFC web services can be found here.

IDL

Useful routines to access and handle HFC data are available in the HELIO SolarSoft package. Information about this package can be found here.

In addition, a stand-alone software for users who want to get only the HFC content using IDL can be downloaded here. Please read the dedicated user guide for more details.

Feedback

Any feedback is much appreciated.
Please send your comments to Jean dot Aboudarham at obspm dot fr, Christian dot Renie at obspm dot fr, or Xavier dot Bonnin at obspm dot fr.

About the HELIO project

The HFC is a service of the Heliophysics Integrated Observatory HELIO, a virtual observatory dedicated to solar and heliophysics.

HELIO is a Research Infrastructures funded under the Capacities Specfific Programme within the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7, project No. 238969). The project started on 1st June 2009 and ended on 30th November 2012.

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