Comparing and combining the Saskatoon, QMAP, and COBE CMB maps

We present a method for comparing and combining maps with different resolutions and beam shapes, and apply it to the Saskatoon, QMAP, and COBE-DMR data sets. Although the Saskatoon and QMAP maps detect signals at the 21σ and 40σ levels, respectively, their difference is consistent with pure noise, placing strong limits on possible systematic errors. In particular, we obtain quantitative upper limits on relative calibration and pointing errors. Splitting the combined data by frequency shows similar consistency between the Ka and Q bands, placing limits on foreground contamination. The visual agreement between the maps is equally striking. Our combined QMAP+Saskatoon map, nicknamed QMASK, is publicly available on the web together with its 6495×6495 noise covariance matrix. This thoroughly tested data set covers a large enough area (648 square degrees-currently the largest degree-scale map available) to allow a statistical comparison with COBE-DMR, showing good agreement.