Multi-Resolution HEALPix Maps for Multi-Wavelength and Multi-Messenger Astronomy

TL;DR

This paper introduces mhealpy, a Python library that enables creation and analysis of multi-resolution HEALPix maps, facilitating efficient sharing and joint analysis of sky localization data across multiple wavelengths and messengers.

Contribution

The work presents mhealpy, a novel Python library that extends HEALPix capabilities to support multi-resolution maps for improved multi-messenger astronomy.

Findings

Supports efficient pixel querying and arithmetic operations

Enables adaptive mesh refinement for high-resolution regions

Allows serialization into FITS format for data sharing

Abstract

HEALPix -- the Hierarchical Equal Area isoLatitude Pixelization -- has become a standard in high-energy and gravitational wave astronomy. Originally developed to improve the efficiency of all-sky Fourier analyses, it is now also utilized to share sky localization information. When used for this purpose the need for a homogeneous all-sky grid represents a limitation that hinders a broader community adoption. This work presents mhealpy, a Python library able to create, handle and analyze multi-resolution maps, a solution to this problem. It supports efficient pixel querying, arithmetic operations between maps, adaptive mesh refinement, plotting and serialization into FITS -- Flexible Image Transport System -- files. This HEALPix extension makes it suitable to represent highly resolved regions, resulting in a convenient common format to share spatial information for joint multi-wavelength and multi-messenger analyses.