NEWS: Anglo-Australian Telescope Schedule: 05B V1.0
Scott Croom
Expires: 30-Jun-2005
Dear AAT User,
This letter accompanies the release of Version 1.0 (the first issued
version) of the AAT observing schedule for Semester 05B. The schedule
can also be found on the WWW at http://www.aao.gov.au/aat_schedule.html.
This schedule can now be considered official, and you can make travel
arrangements based on it. Observers will be consulted about
any change which may affect them.
Support Astronomer Guidelines : We also draw your attention to the
Guidelines for AAO Support Astronomers released on the AAO WWW pages at
www.aao.gov.au/astro/supguide.html These set out the services
that AAO staff aim to provide visiting astronomers, and against which
we can be graded in your Observer's Report Form at the end of your run
(www.aao.gov.au/cgi-bin/make_obs_form).
Finally, all observers must read through the attached "Guidelines for
AAT Observers" - they contain important information on how to get the
most from your AAT observing time. In particular, please be sure to
fill in the WWW travel form at http://www.aao.gov.au/admin/travel.html
Note that it is the responsibility of the principal contact named on
your proposal to inform collaborators of their allocation and these
guidelines.
Good Observing
Scott Croom
AAT Scheduler
sc...@aaoepp.aao.gov.au
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Guidelines for AAT Observers
A "Must-do" Checklist
1. Use only the WWW travel form (http://www.aao.gov.au/admin/travel.html)
to make bookings and keep us informed of your plans.
2. All observers must read the Safety Guidelines.
3. Make contact with your support astronomer well in advance of your run.
4. Fill out your Observer's Report Form
(http://www.aao.gov.au/cgi-bin/make_obs_form) at the end of your last
night.
Support
A night assistant and technical support are always provided at the
telescope. A support astronomer (noted on the schedule) is available to
advise on your observations, and will assist at the telescope if
required. He or she will usually contact you a month or so before your
observing run. If you wish to contact them ahead of time, you can append
aaoepp.aao.gov.au to the name on the schedule to obtain an use the
e-mail (i.e., if your support astronomer is CGT, you can e-mail
c...@aaoepp.aao.gov.au)
Travel, Accommodation & Arriving at the AAT
Accommodation in Sydney, travel to and from the telescope, and
accommodation at the telescope should be booked using the WWW
form. General travel information can be obtained from the travel
pages. Changes to your travel should be arranged with our Travel
Officer, (r...@aaoepp.aao.gov.au). We particularly ask observers to
use only this form to make accommodation bookings at the telescope.
Observers can make their own arrangements elsewhere, but again we ask
that you use the form to let us know what those arrangements are.
A study desk, torch/flashlight, and AAT keycard will be allocated for
your use at the telescope. If you arrive at night, the AAT building will
be locked (though the ANU Lodge will not). You may phone the night
assistant from the entrance to request admission to pick up your
keycard. Observers will also find information on their study desks about
visitor computer accounts, connecting laptops, etc.
Observing Guidelines
* You are strongly encouraged to arrive at the telescope one day
prior to your observing run. The trip from Sydney can be a long
one, and may not leave sufficient time to set-up for your run if
you arrive on the day your run starts. This problem is even worse
for instruments requiring complex set-ups like 2dF.
* If your required set-up changes from that which you originally
proposed, it is essential that you contact your support astronomer
(see schedule), and the AAT scheduler (sc...@aaoepp.aao.gov.au
<mailto:sc...@aaoepp.aao.gov.au>) to inform them of the change.
Significant changes made at the last minute may be difficult, or
impossible, for the telescope staff to accommodate.
* 2dF observers should thoroughly familiarize themselves with the
2dF documentation available on the 2dF Homepage, including
the 2dF Manual, Information for Observers and a list of Frequently
Asked Questions. 2dF is a very complex instrument! We have
developed a list of "Frequently Made Mistakes",
available from the 2dF WWW page, and which we encourage observers
to read. You should liaise with your support astronomer before
your run if there is anything which is unclear. Because of the
complexity of 2dF set-ups, it is essential you are ready to begin
work by 4 hours before dark on the day of your run. For this
reason 2dF observers must always arrive at the telescope on the
day before. Many problems can be fixed if they are caught the day
before observing starts!
* Seeing measurements are usually made at the start of each night
using a Differential Image Motion Monitor (DIMM), causing
interruptions of several minutes. We ask observers to be patient
with this small loss of time.
* Every observer should fill out an Observer's Report Form
at the end of their last night. The information provided in these
forms is vital to the continued improvement in the Observatory's
facilities.
* You are encouraged to bring your own writable DVDs, as
AAO-supplied DVDs will be charged for. Writeable CDs are supplied
free of charge.
* Observers must also pay for their overseas telephone calls. Please
settle debts with Rhonda Martin in the AAT Reception; the AAO
accepts VISA, MasterCard and Bankcard. These charges are separate
from the accommodation charges payable to the ANU Lodge.
Override Programs
The Time Allocation Committees can award time to over-ride programs. The
guidelines under which these programs operate can be found at
http://www.aao.gov.au/local/www/sll/applications/override.html. In
general, no one scheduled program can be over-ridden for more than 3
hours without payback.
Safety at the AAT
The following is excerpted from the Safety Guidelines which every
observer will find on their desk when the arrive at the AAT. Observers
must follow these guidelines at all times.
Admission to areas of the AAT building above Floor 2 is allowed only
with the permission of an observatory staff member. Only the current
observers should be at the control room level. No-one (observers
included!) may enter the dome at night without the knowledge and
approval of the night assistant, whether to check the instrument or
the weather etc. Everyone entering the dome at night must collect a
torch/flashlight and carry it with them at all times. Anyone
unfamiliar with the telescope or dome should ask for a 5 minute
orientation tour. Please ensure that your colleagues appreciate
these requirements.
See also Dome Safety: http://www.aao.gov.au/local/www/ljw/dome.html
Visits and Talks at Epping
We encourage observers to visit the AAO Laboratory in Epping,
Sydney. In particular, we encourage visitors to present colloquia --
please contact Quentin Parker (q...@aaoepp.aao.gov.au) if you would
like to give us a talk. Facilities available include a library, PCs,
Linux and UNIX workstations running Starlink, IRAF, and IDL
software. Please let us know your requirements.
Preprints and Reprints
It is important that we maintain complete records of publications based
on AAT and UKST observations. Please send two copies of preprints and
reprints of published and conference papers to the Epping librarian
(l...@aaoepp.aao.gov.au). We also request an acknowledgement to the AAO
in any publications which result from use of the facilities.
Visitor Instruments
Observers awarded time with a Visitor Instrument are encouraged to
examine the Guidelines for Visitor Instruments
(http://www.aao.gov.au/visitor_inst/wwwvisitor.html) to ensure their
instrument arrives in time for their run to go smoothly.