uc:uc20250401_april_1_2025
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uc:uc20250401_april_1_2025 [2025/04/01 16:19] nchanove |
uc:uc20250401_april_1_2025 [2025/04/01 17:30] (current) nchanove |
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| - | Attending: Nancy Chanover (NMSU), | + | Attending: Nancy Chanover (NMSU), Bill Ketzeback (APO), Ben Williams (UW), Aleksandr Mosenkov (BYU), |
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| - | Bill Ketzeback (APO), Ben Williams (UW), Aleksandr Mosenkov (BYU), Michael Hayden (OU), Anne Verbiscer | + | |
| === User feedback and comments from institutional representatives === | === User feedback and comments from institutional representatives === | ||
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| * BYU - nothing to report | * BYU - nothing to report | ||
| * UVa - nothing to report | * UVa - nothing to report | ||
| - | * Colorado - | + | * Colorado - nothing to report (by email) |
| - | * Seattle - nothing to report | + | * Seattle - Joanne observed last night so sent an email report: Amanda was very helpful with aligning the slit masks for MOS observations with KOSMOS; Joanne has also gotten better at making them. |
| - | * Georgia State - nothing to report | + | * Georgia State - no report |
| - | * Oklahoma - | + | * Oklahoma - nothing to report |
| - | * JHU - nothing to report | + | * JHU - nothing to report |
| - | * NMSU - | + | * NMSU - nothing to report |
| * NAPG - no report | * NAPG - no report | ||
| * Wyoming - no report | * Wyoming - no report | ||
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| === Additional site, telescope and instrument discussion === | === Additional site, telescope and instrument discussion === | ||
| - | xxx update | + | The site has seen an increase in number of tour requests from various groups (school groups, amateur astronomer organizations, |
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| + | The 3.5m telescope is functioning normally. The ARCSAT library support problems persist, even with the spare dcam in use (a new, basically out of the box camera). This could be due to the challenge associated with USB communication over such a long distance. We are currently unsure how to move forward because although there are some options, they are pricey. See below for further discussion of ARCSAT. | ||
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| + | The ARCTIC diffuser rotator is still not working reliably. The staff continues to troubleshoot this, and in the meantime has disabled the rotation capability. The diffuser can still be used in the non-rotating mode. We are hoping to resolve this soon. | ||
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| + | ARCES is still experiencing shifts in flat fields. We are unsure of the cause of it at this time, so we advise users not to use super-flats in their reductions until we can further understand the problem. We are hopeful that some of the ongoing PypeIt work for ARCES may provide some diagnostic information that can help us address this. | ||
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| + | Agile is back from the repair shop but currently has two problems. (1) Something has happened with the software control of the camera readout rate. We can verify that the camera health is as expected but the current ICC is unable to change the readout speed from slow to fast, which means that the minimum exposure times are much longer than some programs would like. (2) The instrument rotator motor is not receiving power from the control cabinet. We verified that the amplifier is not putting out any current even though it does power up. We have a few spares, so are now looking into how those are programmed to see if a spare could be reprogrammed. | ||
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| + | There was a KOSMOS problem reported earlier this month but it turned out to be a user error. | ||
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| + | The APOLLO team is pleased to report that we got returns from the Next Generation Lunar Retroreflectors that were placed on the lunar surface by Firefly Aerospace' | ||
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| === 2025 Q2 3.5m scheduling === | === 2025 Q2 3.5m scheduling === | ||
| - | xxx update | + | The Q2 3.5m schedule is out; it started today. There is no DD time this quarter, and very little OPEN time due to the scheduling inefficiencies associated with several programs that required short time slots. There are a few bright B half slots in April starting on April 17, along with a few ToO payback slots towards end of quarter that will be rescheduled if the ToOs don't get called in. Users are encouraged to review the schedule and request any OPEN time that they can use. |
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| === 2025 Q2 0.5 scheduling === | === 2025 Q2 0.5 scheduling === | ||
| - | xxx update this xxx | + | The Q2 ARCSAT schedule just came out last week and it is relatively full. |
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| === Status of new instrument initiatives === | === Status of new instrument initiatives === | ||
| - | xxx update | + | Early discussions regarding the development of a replacement high speed imager, SoonerCam, are ongoing. We expect to be able to share an information/ |
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| + | Our preliminary proposal to the NSF for a replacement echelle was not invited for a full proposal. Work on the instrument continues with the goal of completing the Preliminary Design Review | ||
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| + | We have no updates concerning Ocotillo. | ||
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| === DIS Decommissioning Plans === | === DIS Decommissioning Plans === | ||
| - | xxx | + | The plan just needs to be finalized and then put into execution. We hope to have more information to share next month. |
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| === Future of ARCSAT Working Group === | === Future of ARCSAT Working Group === | ||
| - | xxx | + | A new working group was recently formed: the Future of ARCSAT Working Group (FAWG, or " |
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| === Impact of Satellite Constellations on 3.5m Observing === | === Impact of Satellite Constellations on 3.5m Observing === | ||
| - | A new page has been added to the 3.5m wiki to demonstrate the effects of satellite streaks on ARCTIC imaging. This page will be updated as more information is provided to us. If users report instances of satellite contamination we would like to know! Please have them notify Nancy. The new page is here: [[: | + | A new page has been added to the 3.5m wiki to demonstrate the effects of satellite streaks on ARCTIC imaging. This page will be updated as more information is provided to us. If users report instances of satellite contamination we would like to know! Please have them notify Nancy. The new page is here: [[: |
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| * Nancy: get Mt. Cuba Foundation proposal for new KOSMOS grisms submitted. STATUS: OPEN. The proposal is done; Nancy needs to confirm with NMSU's Office of Grants and Contracts whether they need to be involved in the submission since it's a small proposal. She plans to submit it before the next Users Committee meeting. | * Nancy: get Mt. Cuba Foundation proposal for new KOSMOS grisms submitted. STATUS: OPEN. The proposal is done; Nancy needs to confirm with NMSU's Office of Grants and Contracts whether they need to be involved in the submission since it's a small proposal. She plans to submit it before the next Users Committee meeting. | ||
| * Nancy: Ensure that a short description of the impact of satellites be posted on the APO website somewhere and updated every 6 months or so. Nancy received examples of this issue from Anne Verbiscer and will get something added to the current (and new) web site. STATUS: CLOSED. | * Nancy: Ensure that a short description of the impact of satellites be posted on the APO website somewhere and updated every 6 months or so. Nancy received examples of this issue from Anne Verbiscer and will get something added to the current (and new) web site. STATUS: CLOSED. | ||
| - | * UC reps: remind your users to review the Q1 schedule and request OPEN/DD time if they can make a good case for it. STATUS: | + | * UC reps: remind your users to review the Q2 schedule and request OPEN/DD time if they can make a good case for it. STATUS: |
| - | + | ||
| - | New action items from this meeting: | + | |
| - | * UC reps: TBD | + | New action items from this meeting: None |
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uc/uc20250401_april_1_2025.1743524364.txt.gz · Last modified: 2025/04/01 16:19 by nchanove
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