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uc:uc20250401_april_1_2025

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uc:uc20250401_april_1_2025 [2025/04/01 16:58]
nchanove 		uc:uc20250401_april_1_2025 [2025/04/01 17:30] (current)
nchanove
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-Attending: Nancy Chanover (NMSU), Bill Ketzeback (APO), Ben Williams (UW), Aleksandr Mosenkov (BYU),  Michael Hayden (OU), Eric Bellm (UW), Ben Williams (UW), Anne Verbiscer (UVa), Moire Prescott (NMSU),+Attending: Nancy Chanover (NMSU), Bill Ketzeback (APO), Ben Williams (UW), Aleksandr Mosenkov (BYU),  Michael Hayden (OU), Eric Bellm (UW), Ben Williams (UW), Anne Verbiscer (UVa), Moire Prescott (NMSU)
  
 === User feedback and comments from institutional representatives === === User feedback and comments from institutional representatives ===
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   * Oklahoma - nothing to report   * Oklahoma - nothing to report
   * JHU - nothing to report (by email)   * JHU - nothing to report (by email)
-  * NMSU - no report+  * 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 === 
  
-Tours - adding more capabilities.+The site has seen an increase in number of tour requests from various groups (school groups, amateur astronomer organizations, etc.). We've been working with an NMSU graduate student to help lead those tours, which has been an immense help. We want to be able to welcome the public to the observatory and adding this additional tour-giving capacity enables us to keep doing that.
  
-ARCSAT library support problems persist, even with spare dcam (new out of the box) - could be due to USB communication over the long distance. Unsure how to move forward - there are some options but they are pricey.+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.
  
-ARCTIC diffuser rotator still not working reliably. Still troubleshooting- disabled rotation for the time being. Hoping to resolve it soon.+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.
  
-ARCES - still experiencing shifts in flat fields. Unsure of the cause of it at this time - advise users not to use super flats in their reductions until we can further understand the problem. Hoping Holtz/PypeIt work can help us troubleshoot the problem.+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.
  
-Agile - two problems: something happened with software control of camera readout rate - can verify that camera health is as expected but current ICC is unable to change readout speed from slow to fast. Min exp times much longer than some programs would like. Second problem they are troubleshooting is instrument rotator motor is not receiving power from control cabinet. Verified that amplifier is not putting out any current even though it does power up - have a few spares, looking into how those are programmed to see if a spare could be reprogrammed.+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.
  
-KOSMOS - problem earlier this month - user error.+There was a KOSMOS problem reported earlier this month but it turned out to be a user error.
  
-APOLLO - got returns from NGLR.+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's Blue Ghost 1 mission. Congratulations to all on this tremendous achievement!
  
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 === 2025 Q2 3.5m scheduling === === 2025 Q2 3.5m scheduling ===
  
-Q2 schedule is out. No DD time this quarter, very little open time. A few bright B half slots in April (starting Apr 17). A few ToO paybacks towards end of quarter.+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 ===
  
-ARCSAT schedule just came out last week. Relatively full.+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 === 
  
-SoonerCam - info sheet coming.+Early discussions regarding the development of a replacement high speed imager, SoonerCam, are ongoing. We expect to be able to share an information/specification sheet or white paper about the instrument fairly soon. 
 + 
 +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 this calendar year, and additional sources of funds are being investigated. 
 + 
 +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 "fog") was established to review the needs/desires of the ARC community regarding past, present and future uses of ARCSAT. We expect that they will want to issue a survey of the broad ARC community concerning ARCSAT usage and desired capabilities, so the UC will be asked to help the FAWG get responses. Stay tuned!
  
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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: [[:satellites|]]+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: [[:satellites|]] We will also add a link to this wiki from the new web site once an appropriate place is identified.
  
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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: CLOSED. +  * 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: OPEN.
- +
-New action items from this meeting: +
  
-  * UC reps: TBD+New action items from this meeting: None
  
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uc/uc20250401_april_1_2025.1743526697.txt.gz · Last modified: 2025/04/01 16:58 by nchanove

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