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uc:uc20221206_december_6_2022 [2022/12/06 18:47]
nchanove 		uc:uc20221206_december_6_2022 [2022/12/06 22:25] (current)
nchanove
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   * BYU - nothing to report   * BYU - nothing to report
   * JHU - nothing to report   * JHU - nothing to report
-  * Washington - Eric recently had a new user asking about our TOO policies and discovered that it is challenging or impossible to find that information on the APO web site - Nancy took the action to make sure that the TOO policy is findable on the web site (also investigate site search issue) and that any links from the APO web site to the TDAWG report point to the new(er) wiki, docu-wiki +  * Washington - Eric recently had a new user asking about our TOO policies and discovered that it is challenging or impossible to find that information on the APO web site - Nancy took the action to make sure that the TOO policy is findable on the web site (also investigate site search issue) and that any links from the APO web site to the TDAWG report point to the new(er) wiki, docu-wiki ([[http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/apo-wiki/]])
   * Oklahoma - nothing to report (by email)   * Oklahoma - nothing to report (by email)
   * Georgia State - nothing to report   * Georgia State - nothing to report
   * Colorado - nothing to report   * Colorado - nothing to report
-  * Seattle - Joanne asked about the turnaround time for the production of slit mask templates to test the MOS capability of KOSMOS. Bill repled1-2 weeks, that's after the mask is designed, learn software +  * Seattle - Joanne asked about the turnaround time for the production of slit mask templates to test the MOS capability of KOSMOS. Bill replied that it takes 1-2 weeks for the manufacturing once the mask is designed. 
   * FGCU - nothing to report   * FGCU - nothing to report
   * UVa - nothing to report   * UVa - nothing to report
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 === Additional telescope and instrument discussion ===  === Additional telescope and instrument discussion === 
  
-ARC policy changed slightly. Boosters are no longer required beyond first set of shots, matches NMSU and State of NM policy.+ARC's COVID policy has changed slightly. Boosters beyond first set of shots are no longer required; this is in line with the NMSU COVID policy, which in turn is aligned with the policies of the State of New Mexico. The current ARC policy is posted on the APO web site; any changes will be announced to the Users Committee as well as through other channels.
  
-Telescope is performing better - Bill found a fix for a perplexing altitude issue, testing spares for that fix. KOSMOS behaving oddly; Sarah investigating a bias issue. DIS, Echelle. Gordon just finished having Mac, Windows, Linux versions of TUI for python 3.1. Have not yet updated downloads page but will do that later this week.+The telescope is performing better; Bill recently found a fix for a perplexing altitude issue, and they are testing spares for that fix today. KOSMOS has been behaving oddly (more below); Sarah will be traveling to APO in January to investigate a bias issue. Gordon just finished testing new Mac, Windows, and Linux versions of TUI for python 3.1. The TUI downloads page has not yet been updated to reflect these most recent versions but we will do that later this week.
  
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 === KOSMOS update ===  === KOSMOS update === 
  
-Bias issue. In small # of images, change of bias level during readout of image, occurs in both amplifiers. Variations by row. But not always all the way across the row, i.e. not always into the overscan. Investigating how often it is not possible to fix the problem with the overscan. May be a pattern where it occurs early in night but not clear yet. Looking at some approaches. Ultimately will need to adjust voltages. Right now trying to asses. Users should check images, take multiple spectra per target if possible.+We recently discovered an issue with the bias levels on KOSMOS. In a small number of images, there is a change of bias level during readout of an image. This occurs in both amplifiers and there are bias variations by row, but not always all the way across a given row, i.e. not always into the overscan. We are currently investigating how often it occurs, and for what percentage of those times it is not possible to fix the problem with the overscan. There may be a pattern where it occurs early in night but that is not clear yet. Ultimately we may need to adjust some voltages on the detector; Sarah Tuttle will be coming to the site in January to investigate this in person. Until we know more, users should check each one of their exposures, and when possible take multiple spectra per target in the event that one is unusable.
  
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 === Q4 3.5m scheduling === === Q4 3.5m scheduling ===
  
-Have 2 open dates coming soon Dec 13B (brightish) and Dec 16B (grey), also Dec 17B - requested, and then some dark slots (short, but still 4 hrs since long nights) on 27-29, 31 Dec (5 slots total, 2 requests received so far). No schedule update until finish Q1 (maybe Dec 9 or 10) +We have two open dates coming up soon: Dec 13B (brightish) and Dec 16B (grey); Dec 17B is also open but has been requested. Then we have some dark slots (shorter, but still ~ 4 hours of time since the winter nights are longer) on 27-29 and 31 December. We have 5 slots total in late December, with 2 requests received so far. We welcome requests and are eager to fill the mid-December time, although we will not publish a schedule update until the Q1 schedule is finished (so around Dec 9 or 10).
- +
- +
-Regarding the remainder of the OPEN/DD time in Q4, Nov 15B will be assigned to Jeff Bary (NAPG). The rest of the available time is in December, and there is a lot of it. Interested users are reminded to look for OPEN and DD01 blocks listed in the Q4 schedule and request it if desired, especially if they can make use of small blocks of time, especially with ARCES or Agile (for which no instrument change would be required).+
  
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 === Q1 3.5m scheduling === === Q1 3.5m scheduling ===
  
-Schedule is in progress; error checking drafts. Rather challenging with classes and visiting instruments and collisions on dates - Amanda doing the bulk of the work, great job so far. Training dates pieced in at the end. Have a lot of quarter night requests. Unassigned time is currently mostly half nights.+The Q1 schedule is in progress; we are at the stage of error checking a draft schedule. Q1 has been a rather challenging quarter to schedule, with several classes, visiting instruments and time-critical events (some with collisions of requested dates), and quarter-night requests. Amanda has been doing the bulk of the work on the Q1 schedule and she is doing a great job so far. The Q1 training dates will be added in towards the end of the schedule building process. Currently the unassigned time is mostly half nights but that may change.
  
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 === Q4 ARCSAT scheduling === === Q4 ARCSAT scheduling ===
  
-All unassigned after Dec 15.+All of the time after December 15 is unassigned; users wishing to observe in mid/late December with FlareCam are welcome to request the time.
  
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 === ARC Board of Governors Meeting Recap === === ARC Board of Governors Meeting Recap ===
  
- +The ARC Board of Governors meeting was held on Monday November 7. A few highlights from the meeting were as follows: 
- +  * Chip Kobulnicky (UWy) has agreed to serve as ARC Board Secretary/Treasurer, replacing Ron Irving from UW. 
-The ARC Board of Governors meeting is on Monday November 7. Thank you to everyone who contributed science highlights; Nancy sent requests to a few individuals and it looks like we will have a packet containing representation from all ARC institutions and lease partners.+  * The Science Highlights and Telescope Impact slide deck is available if users wish to learn more about the science being done with the 3.5m and the scientific impact of the facility. It can be accessed from the wiki ([[http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/apo-wiki/]]), on the page entitled "Information from ARC Board of Governors Meetings". 
 +  * The Board approved a request to move forward with a conceptual design for a new echelle spectrograph. 
 +  * The Board approved our 2023 budget!
  
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 === AAS 241 Meeting === === AAS 241 Meeting ===
  
-xxx +The January 2023 AAS meeting will be 8-12 January in Seattle. We have a spreadsheet where people can sign up to indicate that they are giving a talk or poster that makes use of APO data, and/or sign up to spend a bit of time at the APO booth in the Exhibit Hall: [[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1F_oM3sqCz51Ynb1HvPftlr9RB5zvBFUjJN5yOq5Bu1s/edit?usp=sharing]] . 
- +Several APO staff members will be in attendance this year, and it would be good to have a mix of APO staff and users at the booth through the meeting. Nancy will order stickers to give to people for their badges to indicate that they are presenting results from APO observations. Also, a digital version of the APO logo is available for download so users can add it to their iPosters or talks if they made use of APO data. All of this information is now available on the AAS Meetings page of the wiki ([[http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/apo-wiki/]]). **UC Reps: please notify your department members of these resources and request their participation in our booth and APO promotional efforts.**
-The January 2023 AAS meeting will be 8-12 January in Seattle. It would be good to have a mix of APO staff and users at the booth through the meeting. Nancy will order stickers to give to people for their badges to indicate that they are presenting results from APO observations. Also, we will make a digital image "sticker" available for download so users can add it to their iPoster if they made use of APO data. Nancy will also create a spreadsheet where people can indicate when their talk or poster is, as well as their availability to help out at the booth.  Note added in proof: the spreadsheet is here: [[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1F_oM3sqCz51Ynb1HvPftlr9RB5zvBFUjJN5yOq5Bu1s/edit?usp=sharing]] .+
  
-We will discuss this further at our December UC meeting. 
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 New action items from this meeting: New action items from this meeting:
  
-  * xxx+  * Nancy: make sure that the APO web site gets updated to address the issues reported by Eric B. 
 +  * UC reps: distribute information about the AAS meeting and our request for participation/help at the booth. 
 +  * Nancy: send out a new calendar invitation with the UC meeting dates for 2023.
  
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 === Next meeting === === Next meeting ===
  
-The next meeting will be on xxx Jan 3 or Feb 7? xxx  **Tuesday December 6, 10:30 am MST.**+The next meeting will be on **Tuesday February 7, 10:30 am MST.**
  
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uc/uc20221206_december_6_2022.1670352457.txt.gz · Last modified: 2022/12/06 18:47 by nchanove

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