3/22/12

		    IRAF V2.16 Release Now Available


    The release of the IRAF V2.16 system featuring Virtual Observatory (VO)
capabilities is now available.  This release covers both 32-bit and 64-bit
Linux and Mac OSX systems.  This system is RECOMMENDED for all users, and
although the VO features are optional, v2.16 contains a number of important
bug fixes (especially for those on 64-bit platforms).  In addition, v2.16
contains a number of new capabilities affecting all tasks in the system:

	o  Enhanced @-file templates
	o  New VO-CL Command Language
	o  URL Support in all tasks
	o  VOTable Support in all tasks
	o  SAMP interoperability
	o  New VO External Package
	o  Removal of all license restrictions

These are described in more detail in the distribution README file.
Detailed release notes are available in the release README file and
are included below.  Detailed descriptions of the VO capabilities and a
quick-start guide are in preparation and will be available shortly.

    The IRAF v2.16 distribution is available from:

	ftp://iraf.noao.edu/iraf/v216/

Individual distribution files include:

    iraf-src.tar.gz         	Source code only
    iraf-all.tar.gz         	Source + all supported platform binaries
    iraf-linux.tar.gz       	Source + linux/linux64 platform binaries
    iraf-macosx.tar.gz      	Source + macosx/macintel platform binaries

    iraf.lnux.x86.tar.gz        Source + 32-bit Linux binaries
    iraf.lnux.x86_64.tar.gz     Source + 64-bit Linux binaries
    iraf.macx.uni.tar.gz        Source + 32-bit OSX binaries
    iraf.macx.x86_64.tar.gz     Source + 64-bit OSX binaries

Additionally, a full complement of external packages linked against the new
system is available using the dynamic package mechanism introduced in v2.15.

    As the first public release of new core capabilities, we expect that
bugs will be found and we are relying on users to provide testing and
feedback, especially for the science tasks and external package code.
Additional documentation and release updates will be announced on the
IRAF web site

		http://iraf.noao.edu

as they become available.  Comments, questions and suggestions may be
posted to the IRAF user support forums at http://iraf.net.