July 22, 1998
Dear Colleague,

Version 4.0 of the COBE Data Analysis Software package is now available.  This
version is capable of ingesting nearly all of the COBE data sets, including
those recently released products which have new formats (e.g., the DIRBE CIO and
DCAF files, and the new FIRAS covariance matrix).  An effort was made to ensure
compatibility with IDL version 5.  Problems reported by several users pertaining
specifically to the PC package we believe to have been rectified.  This version
likely reflects the final major upgrade to the software package.

You may obtain the new software and documentation by anonymous ftp from
rosette.gsfc.nasa.gov in the pub/cobe-gi directory or via your Web browser at

  http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/astro/cobe/cgis.html.

Please acknowledge your use of COBE data in publications with the following
statement:  "The COBE datasets were developed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight
Center under the guidance of the COBE Science Working Group and were provided by
the NSSDC."

Your comments and suggestions are welcome.  If you report installation
difficulties or software bugs, other users will benefit from your experience.
For assistance, please contact me.

Sincerely,

	David Leisawitz, COBE Deputy Project Scientist
	Code 631
	NASA/GSFC
	Greenbelt, MD  20771

	voice:     301-286-0807
	Internet:  leisawitz@stars.gsfc.nasa.gov