apo-wiki

User Tools

Site Tools

Trace:
uc:uc20250805_august_5_2025

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
Next revision 		Previous revision
uc:uc20250805_august_5_2025 [2025/08/26 20:59]
nchanove 		uc:uc20250805_august_5_2025 [2025/08/26 21:48] (current)
nchanove
Line 13: Line 13:
   * Seattle - nothing to report (by email)   * Seattle - nothing to report (by email)
   * Oklahoma - nothing to report   * Oklahoma - nothing to report
-  * NMSU - There is still an interest in trying to understand/mitigate the abnormally high background seen when taking long (20-30 min) exposures with KOSMOS. It manifests as a snow pattern in the background pixels. The engineering staff is still working to address this issue, but if other users have seen this in their data it would be really helpful to know.+  * NMSU - There is still an interest in trying to understand/mitigate the abnormally high background seen when taking long (20-30 min) exposures with KOSMOS. It manifests as a snow pattern in the background pixels. The engineering staff is still working to address this issue but if other users have seen this in their data it would be really helpful to know.
   * NAPG - no report   * NAPG - no report
   * JHU - nothing to report (by email)   * JHU - nothing to report (by email)
Line 66: Line 66:
 ---- ----
  
-=== Additional site, telescope and instrument discussion === +=== Additional site, telescope and instruments discussion === 
  
-The summer shutdown is complete; it was fairly short this year. We accomplished daytime engineering in the first week and used the second week for on-sky engineering. All of the necessary baseline tasks in order to return the telescope to scientific operations were completed. This includes handwashing all the mirrors, a  spring cleaning of the enclosure and instrumentation, greasing/lubricating various moving parts, and vacuum servicing KOSMOS and ARCES. The KOSMOS servicing did not seem to alleviate the high dark current reported last month, so we may need to unseal the cryostats and go into the instrument to investigate it further. We currently plan to do this during Q4. The ARCES servicing went as expected; it was OK for a short time after cooling but then the inter-order light ratios plummeted (indicating lots of scattered light), which means the contamination migrated within the instrument. It will be taken back out of service to mitigate that over the next 1.5 weeks; we've already started that process, and the instrument should be available for use the night of August 22 (note added in proof: it was back on August 15!).+The summer shutdown is complete; it was fairly short this year. We accomplished daytime engineering in the first week and used the second week for on-sky engineering. All of the necessary baseline tasks in order to return the telescope to scientific operations were completed. This includes handwashing all the mirrors, a  spring cleaning of the enclosure and instrumentation, greasing/lubricating various moving parts, and vacuum servicing KOSMOS and ARCES. 
 + 
 +The KOSMOS servicing did not seem to alleviate the high dark current reported last month, so we may need to unseal the cryostats and go into the instrument to investigate it further. We currently plan to do this during Q4. The ARCES servicing went as expected; it was OK for a short time after cooling but then the inter-order light ratios plummeted (indicating lots of scattered light), which means the contamination migrated within the instrument. It will be taken back out of service to mitigate that over the next 1.5 weeks; we've already started that process, and the instrument should be available for use the night of August 22 (note added in proof: it was back on August 15!).
  
 The 3.5m telescope is working as expected; the seasonal motion errors are more frequent but not unexpected given the current season. The 3.5m telescope is working as expected; the seasonal motion errors are more frequent but not unexpected given the current season.
Line 74: Line 76:
 The 0.5m telescope is working as expected but the cameras (FlareCam and dcam-spare) continue to have problems. There was a loss of vacuum in the CCD canisters, which resulted in frosting/icing within the dewar. Cary serviced dcam-spare and got it back to reliable performance but FlareCam is less reliable and continues to get worse with age. The 0.5m telescope is working as expected but the cameras (FlareCam and dcam-spare) continue to have problems. There was a loss of vacuum in the CCD canisters, which resulted in frosting/icing within the dewar. Cary serviced dcam-spare and got it back to reliable performance but FlareCam is less reliable and continues to get worse with age.
  
-APOLLO had numerous laser and optical alignment issues over the last month and a NASA team came back to the site to work on it. We believe the instrument is now back to working order but there may be additional work to be done to address a recent laser frequency issue.+APOLLO had numerous laser and optical alignment issues over the last month and a NASA team came back to the site to work on it. We believe the instrument is now functional but there may be additional work to be done to address a recently discovered laser frequency issue.
  
 As a reminder, we have a current opening (covered by two different job postings) for the 3.5m chief telescope engineer. We are currently reviewing applications for telescope operator/support astronomer position. As a reminder, we have a current opening (covered by two different job postings) for the 3.5m chief telescope engineer. We are currently reviewing applications for telescope operator/support astronomer position.
Line 80: Line 82:
 ---- ----
  
-=== 2025 Q2 3.5m scheduling ===+=== 2025 Q3 3.5m scheduling ===
  
-The time in Q2 is fully allocated; no OPEN or DD slots remain. There are a couple of ToO paybacks slots that have not been called in yet.+The 3.5m schedule for Q3 has been in flux given the recent echelle engineering. Users who lost observing time due to the echelle servicing or weather are especially encouraged to request OPEN/DD time in Q3. To request this time please follow the standard procedure by emailing your request to Ben Williams, Russet McMillan, Amanda Townsend, Nancy Chanover, and your institutional scheduler.
  
 ---- ----
  
-=== 2025 Q2 0.5 scheduling ===+=== 2025 Q4 3.5m scheduling ===
  
-The Q2 ARCSAT schedule has one week of OPEN time remaining (June 12-19). The long-standing policy for filter requests and changes is now published on the ARCSAT webpage in an effort to make it more visible. **Users who are asking for filter changes must make the request at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled observing night when the new filters are needed. The APO staff cannot support filter changes on weekends and holidays.**+All allocations for Q4 have been sent to the institutional schedulers; proposals are due on August 25. Note that the allocation emails stated that our ability to offer a virtual training in Q4 is uncertain due to staffing limitations; we indicated that we MAY offer it in Q4.
  
 ---- ----
  
-=== 2025 Q3 3.5m scheduling ===+=== 2025 Q3 0.5 scheduling ===
  
-The 3.5m summer shutdown is scheduled for 7-17 July, inclusive. We have received all requests for Q3 (thanks to everyone for getting them in on time or close to it!). So far we are not aware of any major conflicts. The schedule is currently being built and we hope to have a version to distribute next week. Once the Q3 schedule for the 3.5m is published we will issue a call for ARCSAT Q3 requests. ARCSAT will have the same shutdown schedule as the 3.5m so there will be less time available in Q3.+Next week is the only open week remaining in the ARCSAT Q3 schedule.
  
 ---- ----
Line 100: Line 102:
 === Status of new instrument initiatives ===  === Status of new instrument initiatives === 
  
-A replacement high speed imager, SoonerCam, is under development. A survey of all past/present/future users of such an instrument (i.e. current and former Agile users, or those who want to use a modern high speed imager) was distributed. We really need to hear from users concerning anticipated needs for frame rate, binning, etc. as this information will drive some design decisions. We plan to add a focal reducer but the pixels are currently very small. Here is the email sent to 35m-general requesting survey responses: +  * SoonerCam: we received a modest number of survey responses and will proceed using the information we have. The camera was purchased and a meeting is scheduled in two weeks to discuss the next steps. 
- +  * KOSMOS grisms: we are still awaiting a decision on the proposal we submitted for funds to support the purchase of three new grisms for KOSMOS. 
- +  * ASPEN: we are still awaiting a decision on the proposal we submitted for funds to support the development of the new echelle spectrograph. Work on the design of the new optical echelle spectrograph continues with the goal of completing the Preliminary Design Review in early 2026. 
-''Dear APO 3.5m users, +  * Ocotillo: a number of purchase orders were executed and we expect the first batch of hardware to come in within the next month or so.
- +
-We are purchasing a new qCMOS high-speed camera, **SoonerCam**, to replace the old camera on Agile. This camera provides a read-noise of 0.3 e- in the ultra-quiet scan mode. It's a 4096x2304 pixel camera with 4.5 micron pixels. It can provide up to 25 frames/s in this mode.  Using Agile's current setup, the camera provides **0.05 arcsec per pixel (or a field of view of 115" x 205")**.'' +
- +
-''Before finalizing the design and installation at the telescope, we would love to hear your thoughts or feedback on what would make this new camera suitable for your science needs.'' +
- +
-''If you are interested in using this new capability, can you please provide feedback on: +
-[[https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJG6zQg7YtGxGhAtaKULHyzZVZe29uHCiegcHdM0edglN1gw/viewform?usp=sharing]]'' +
- +
-''Thank you,'' +
-''On behalf of the SoonerCam team (including the Astro group at OU, Sarah Tuttle, Bill Ketzeback and the APO engineering/software team, and Nancy Chanover),'' +
-''-Muk'' +
- +
-**We really need users to complete this survey by the end of June. If anyone has specific requests or suggestions regarding desired capabilities for SoonerCam, that should be noted in the final question of the survey.** +
- +
-Work on the new optical echelle spectrograph continues with the goal of completing the Preliminary Design Review this calendar year. Another grant proposal is in the works. +
- +
-Regarding Ocotillo, we are trying to get final quotes so that we can start purchasing materials and optics to assemble the first channel. Some vendors are slow in responsiveness these days.+
  
 ---- ----
  
-=== Future of ARCSAT Working Group ===+=== Open Positions at APO ===
  
-This group is still meeting and exploring various options for the future of ARCSAT. +Please see the site report above.
- +
----- +
- +
-=== Annual Request to Update Publication Record === +
- +
-Please send Nancy any references for 3.5m-related publications (anything published from Jan 1 2024 to now). The deadline is June 30. Understanding the scientific usage and impact of the telescope is critical for evaluating future projects, initiatives, instrument concepts, etc., thus we need your help in updating our publication record! We are now participating in a cross-observatory analysis of scientific impact of ground-based telescopes, so it is especially important that we capture all publications resulting from APO observations. Any publications resulting from ARCSAT data are also requested. The listing should include refereed publications and student theses and dissertations (not conference abstracts unless they are peer reviewed) that made use of data acquired with the 3.5m and/or ARCSAT, published from 2024 to the present. If a paper has been submitted to a journal but has not yet completely gone through the review process, please include that as well, with the name of the journal and “submitted.”+
  
 ---- ----
Line 139: Line 118:
  
 Open action items from previous meetings: Open action items from previous meetings:
-  * Nancy: get Mt. Cuba Foundation proposal for new KOSMOS grisms submitted. STATUS: OPEN. Nancy and Sarah are awaiting updated quotes from the grism vendor and then the proposal will be submitted. +  * UC reps: ask your users to complete the survey regarding needs/desires for a high speed imaging capability. The link to this survey was sent out to 35m-general on May 6, 2025 by Mukremin Kilic. STATUS: CLOSED. 
-  * UC reps: ask your users to complete the survey regarding needs/desires for a high speed imaging capability. The link to this survey was sent out to 35m-general on May 6, 2025 by Mukremin Kilic, and is also included above. STATUS: OPEN.+  * UC reps: ask your users to send Nancy the bibliographic information for any papers published in 2024-2025 that are resulting from 3.5m or ARCSAT data. STATUS: CLOSED 
 +  * UC reps: ask your users to complete the survey from FAWG (per Nancy’s email sent on 7/23/25). Status: OPEN. 
  
 New action items from this meeting: New action items from this meeting:
-  * UC reps: ask your users to send Nancy the bibliographic information for any papers published in 2024-2025 that are resulting from 3.5m or ARCSAT data.+  * None.
  
 ---- ----
Line 155: Line 136:
 === Next meeting === === Next meeting ===
  
-The next meeting will be on July 1, 2025 at 10:30 MDT.+The next meeting will be on September 2, 2025 at 10:30 MDT.
  
 ---- ----
  
uc/uc20250805_august_5_2025.1756241963.txt.gz · Last modified: 2025/08/26 20:59 by nchanove

Page Tools

Donate Powered by PHP Valid HTML5 Valid CSS Driven by DokuWiki