PI access to automated HET finder charts

[Steven Janowiecki]

Dear HET PIs,

I'm writing to let you know that we have added a new feature to your program tabs on Hydra. Next to each target in your program there are links to access the acquisition camera (ACQ) finders that we automatically generate for each target (labeled in attached screenshot). These are the finder charts that are used by the Telescope Operator and Resident Astronomer to acquire and observe your targets. We refer to them as "fake ACQ images" since the real ACQ images we acquire should look identical to these if all is working well. In most cases these are the only finders we use, but there may be certain situations/targets which require PI-generated finder charts.

This page describes these finder charts in further detail:

https://hydra.as.utexas.edu/?a=help&h=53

I would encourage you all to take a look at the ACQ finders for your targets, and submit your own finder charts only when these are inadequate. If your observation does require a special finder it would help to include that in the notes/comment field of that target so we know to consult your finder.

Let us know if you have any questions about this, or suggestions for further improvements!

Steven