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--- uc:uc20250902_september_2_2025 [2025/09/02 16:14]
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+++ uc:uc20250902_september_2_2025 [2025/09/02 18:49] (current)
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-UPDATE EVERYTHING BELOW THIS:
+Attending: Nancy Chanover (NMSU), Bill Ketzeback (APO), Misty Bentz (GSU), Aleksandr Mosenkov (BYU), Anne Verbiscer (UVa), Michael Hayden (OU), Kevin Schlaufman (JHU), Joanne Hughes (Seattle U), Moire Prescott (NMSU), Chip Kobulnicky (UWy), Ben Williams (UW)
-Attending: Nancy Chanover (NMSU), Bill Ketzeback (APO), Sarah Tuttle (UW), Chip Kobulnicky (UWy), Ben Williams (UW), Michael Hayden (OU), Misty Bentz (GSU), Eric Bellm (UW), Moire Prescott (NMSU)
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   * Washington - nothing to report (by email)
   * Oklahoma - nothing to report
-  * UVa - nothing to report
+  * UVa - Anne asked about whether there are any backup systems in place to avoid another occurrence of the recent network issue. This was discussed in more detail below.
   * JHU - nothing to report
   * BYU - nothing to report
-  * Seattle - nothing to report
+  * Seattle - Joanne reported that the dark current on KOSMOS has noticeably increased from April to now. See KOSMOS discussion in the below site report for more details.
-  * Colorado - nothing to report
+  * Colorado - no report
   * NAPG - no report
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 === Additional site, telescope and instruments discussion ===
-xxx add stuff here xxx
+There was a recent failure of the main site network's subnet switch, which took out the site phones and 1075 network. This switch handles the common communications network for all site communications, on-site computers, and non-telescope-specific instruments and computers. The switch was replaced and it took about 24 hours to get everything back up and running correctly. It was an old switch so we had no direct spare; it was replaced with another managed switch. These need to be managed switches because they handle communications that pass through some other specific configurations for wifi security and other security protocols. Because it was a managed switch it was not a simple plug-and-play quick swap; the major part of the recovery was to get the network back up and running. Although this was all accomplished by 4 pm the next day, it did unfortunately result in one night of down time. It would be cost prohibitive to reengineer the entire network so there are no plans to overhaul the site network configuration. We are trying to source a replacement for the switch that we used as a spare and will evaluate what other steps we can take to ensure that we are better prepared for this kind of situation if it arises in the future.
+Regarding the open positions, the hiring process is moving forward. Also, we welcome Tim McQuaid, a third-year graduate student at NMSU, who will be replacing Mark Croom as the emergency fill-in observing specialist. Tim has already begun his training so you will likely encounter him soon.
+We continue to have challenges with the camera(s) on the 0.5m. It is possible that the DIS camera can be used once the decommissioning is further along. University of Virginia brought a spare Apogee camera for use on ARCSAT; it is still not known whether that can be used by the broader ARCSAT user community.
+The KOSMOS vacuum servicing didn't resolve the issue of high dark current so we will have to open up the cryostat to see if we can figure out what is causing a decreased hold time or increase in dark current. We are currently planning to do this during Q4; the science schedule indicates that it may not be possible until early December unless the issue becomes critical and we need to take the instrument out of service. Chip reported that a recent UWy user suggested that the dark current is currently so high that the instrument is unusable for faint targets without doubling or tripling the exposure time. Nancy will follow up directly with that user to ascertain if the problem has worsened. This would be an argument for servicing KOSMOS sooner, but we need to balance that with the numerous class visits that will be scheduled in the first two months of Q4, most of which have requested to use KOSMOS.
+ARCES had been displaying increased inter-order light that would indicate some form of contamination in the light path of the CCD. We warmed up half of the cryostat while keeping the shield cold so that the water vapor would migrate to shield. That did improve things significantly but subsequently things degraded somewhat; we are now hoping that it will stabilize or reverse direction. The upgrade to a modern computer for the ARCES ICC is underway.
+NICFPS and TripleSpec are operating as expected. DIS is powered down. APOLLO has been laser ranging and we were recently able to get all 5 retroreflectors but it is still not at peak performance.
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 === 2025 Q3 3.5m scheduling ===
-There is some OPEN time remaining in September (last month of Q3). We have received requests for some of it, but not all. 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. Be sure to include the specific slot you are requesting and a short justification.
+There is some OPEN time remaining in September (last month of Q3). We have received requests for some of it, but not all. 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. Be sure to include the specific slot you are requesting (or specify that any time slot will do) and a short justification.
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 === 2025 Q4 3.5m scheduling ===
-Schedule is in the works.
+The Q4 schedule is in the works; we expect to have a first draft in about a week.
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 === 2025 Q3 0.5 scheduling ===
-Next week is the only open week remaining in the ARCSAT Q3 schedule.
+September 8-17 (next week!) is the only open time remaining in the ARCSAT Q3 schedule.
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 === Status of new instrument initiatives ===
-  * 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.
+  * SoonerCam: we are ordering parts!
-  * 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.
+  * KOSMOS grisms (no change from last month): 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.
+  * ASPEN (no change from last month): 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.
-  * 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.
+  * Ocotillo (no change from last month): a number of purchase orders were executed and we expect the first batch of hardware to come in within the next month or so.
+----
+=== Web site updates ===
+We are close to having something operational. All of the requested pieces and updates were implemented. Although it is not yet finalized, users are encouraged to start using it: [[https://mainapo.apo.nmsu.edu]] UC reps: please notify your users that they should start using the new website and report any bugs to you, to be forwarded on to Ben Williams.
+----
+=== Upcoming events ===
+There are a number of events taking place over the next several months:
+  * We have 4 class groups coming APO in Q4. A fifth one will be moved to Q1. Please be patient with the site staff, who will be shorthanded during this time!
+  * There will be an in-person ASPEN team meeting at NMSU/APO in early October.
+  * We are holding a public-facing Open House at APO on Saturday October 11. This will include site and telescope tours, activities, and talks at the Sunspot Astronomy and Visitor's Center. We look forward to welcoming the public back to the site; our last Open House was in March 2020.
+  * The ARC Board of Governors meeting is on November 4; we will request science highlights from everyone at next month's meeting, with a due date in late October.
+  * The January 2026 AAS meeting will be in Phoenix, and we plan to have a booth. October 6 is the abstract deadline. The deadline for Splinter Session proposals is September 25; does anyone have an interest in an APO science-fest sort of session? UC reps: please poll your users and email Nancy with opinions.
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 New action items from this meeting:
-  * None.
+  * Nancy: follow up with UWy KOSMOS user to determine severity of dark current issue.
+  * UC reps: remind your users to review the Q3 schedule and request OPEN time in September if they can make a good case for it.
+  * UC reps: poll your users about a Jan. 2026 splinter session at the AAS for APO science highlights and networking (or other ideas!).
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