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Explanatory Supplement for the 2015 data release

By the Planck Collaboration

The Explanatory Supplement is a reference text accompanying the public data delivered from the operations of the European Space Agency’s Planck satellite during its mission.

1. Introduction
   1. The Planck mission
   2. The spacecraft
   3. Ground segment and operations
   4. Survey scanning and performance
   5. Questions and answers
2. The Instruments
   1. HFI design, qualification, and performance
      1. Cryogenics
      2. Cold optics
      3. Detection chain
      4. Operations
      5. Performance summary
      6. Annexes
   2. LFI design, qualification, and performance
      1. Instrument description
      2. Ground tests
      3. In-flight calibration
      4. Performance summary
      5. Systematic effects
      6. Sorption cooler
      7. Annexes
3. Data processing
   1. HFI data processing
      1. Pre-processing
      2. TOI processing
      3. ADC correction
      4. Beams
      5. Mapmaking
      6. Spectral response
      7. Internal overall validation
      8. Summary of HFI data characteristics
   2. LFI data processing
      1. Pre-processing
      2. TOI processing
      3. Beams
      4. Galactic stray light removal
      5. Mapmaking
      6. Systematic effects uncertainties
      7. Internal overall validation
      8. Summary of LFI data characteristics
   3. HFI/LFI joint data processing
      1. Detector pointing
      2. Compact Source Catalogues
      3. Astrophysical component separation
      4. CMB power spectra and Planck likelihood code
4. Mission products
   1. Time-ordered data
   2. Sky temperature and polarization maps
   3. Instrument model
   4. Scanning beams
   5. Effective beams
   6. Catalogues: PCCS • PSZ • PGCC
   7. CMB and astrophysical component maps
   8. CMB spectrum and likelihood code
   9. Cosmological parameters and MC chains
   10. Additional maps: Lensing map • Compton parameter map
   11. Simulation data Not ready for release
   12. Dates of observations
5. Software utilities
   1. Unit conversion and colour correction
6. Operational data
   1. Survey history data
   2. Planck operational state history
   3. Space radiation environment monitor
7. Appendix
   1. Glossary
   2. List of acronyms