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--- uc:uc2026 [2026/06/02 17:23] – nchanove
+++ uc:uc2026 [2026/07/06 16:32] (current) – holtz
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 ===== APO 3.5-m Users Committee Meeting, 6/02/2026 =====
-Attending: Nancy Chanover (NMSU), Amanda Townsend (APO), Chip Kobulnicky (UWy), Bill Ketzeback (APO), Misty Bentz (GSU), Kevin Schlaufman (JHU), Aleksandr Mosenkov (BYU), Adam Kowalski (CU), Moire Prescott (NMSU), Eric Bellm (UW), Russet McMillan (APO), Ben Williams (UW), Mike Skrutskie (UVa), Sarah Tuttle (UW)
+Attending: Nancy Chanover (NMSU), Amanda Townsend (APO), Chip Kobulnicky (UWy), Bill Ketzeback (APO), Misty Bentz (GSU), Kevin Schlaufman (JHU), Aleksandr Mosenkov (BYU), Adam Kowalski (CU), Moire Prescott (NMSU), Eric Bellm (UW), Russet McMillan (APO), Ben Williams (UW), Anne Verbiscer (UVa), Sarah Tuttle (UW)
-Cary Smith (APO),   Denise Stephens (BYU),  Michael Hayden (OU)
 === User feedback and comments from institutional representatives ===
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   * Wyoming - nothing to report
   * Williams - no report
-  * Washington - user pointed out calendar page provides Postscript calendars
+  * Washington - a user pointed out that the calendars on the scheduling web page are provided in Postscript form and requested that they be changed to PDFs. Response: YES, we will do this!
   * UVa - nothing to report
   * Oklahoma - no report
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 === Additional site, telescope and instruments discussion ===
-Mix of late spring good weather and pollen/dust. Some telescope/instrument issues. See above for specific
+We've experienced a mix of late spring good weather and some closures due to elevated pollen and/or dust. We had some telescope and instrument issues over the past month; see above for specifics. Nancy asked how long ARCES would be out of commission if the IOL degrades quickly and it requires servicing before the summer shutdown. Bill replied that it would be down for 2-3 weeks. The TUI connection problem described above has been difficult to diagnose. It does not seem to be correlated with software version, computer OS, or location of observer.
-s. ACES issue w/autfill system. TUI problem.
-Just released Tui 3.2.2 - TUI downloads page.Need to update language on web page for how to download it.
+A new version of TUI (3.2.2) was just released. The text on the TUI downloads page on the website will be updated in the next day or two to reflect the current way for users to download TUI (through GitHub).
+The job listing for an entry-level mechanical engineering position for the 3.5m is now posted: [[https://careers.nmsu.edu/jobs/mechanical-engineer-remote-locations-new-mexico-united-states-c27e97b9-8d02-4d3e-addf-be3de0f8b3f2]] . Please encourage any candidates who are interested in observatory work to apply.
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 === 2026 Q2 3.5m scheduling ===
-The Q2 schedule is posted.  Two upcoming dates (OPEN) June 18B and 22B; both dark.
+The Q2 schedule is posted. There are two OPEN dates remaining (on June 18B and 22B); both are dark.
-There is very little unassigned time because of numerous partial night programs. Both unassigned DD half nights are dark B halves in June. Users can request this time at any point although given that it is later in the quarter we likely will not make a decision about it immediately. ToO noted
+Users should submit requests for this time to the scheduling team (Amanda Townsend, Russet McMillan, Ben Williams, and Nancy Chanover), and cc their institutional scheduler. Amanda reminded anyone with an unused ToO to notify the observing staff if plans have changed.
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 === 2026 Q3 3.5m scheduling ===
-The 3.5m summer shutdown is scheduled for July 20 - August 2. The institutional allocations for Q3 were sent out yesterday; proposals are due on May 26.
+Amanda is working on the Q3 schedule; thanks to everyone for getting their requests in and for answering follow-up emails. As a reminder, the 3.5m summer shutdown is scheduled for July 20 - August 2.
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 === Update on Sunspot Situation ===
-In early January there was a mercury leak at the Dunn Solar Telescope; NSF decommissioning telescope & entrie site. Residents lease termination; house trailer remove by end of August. Class impacts after Q3. Discussing w/NSF re: affect on water at APO, keeping dust minimal, informing us of explosives, light pollution at night, etc.
+In early January there was a mercury leak at the Dunn Solar Telescope. This led the NSF to move forward with decommissioning the telescope and the entire Sunspot site. Residents received notifications that their  leases were being terminated and APO was informed that our house trailer must be removed from the grounds by the end of August. The loss of three housing spots (in the trailer), plus additional pressure on the on-site housing that may be used temporarily for staff who have to relocate, may have an impact on general housing availability at APO this fall. We are in discussions with the NSF regarding additional impacts that the decommissioning will have on APO (most significantly access to water, but also keeping dust minimal when bringing down buildings, informing us of explosive detonations ahead of time, reducing light pollution at night, etc.). We will notify the user community of any developments that impact telescope operations and student training visits.
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-=== Call for papers/grants info ===
+=== New ARC Board Chair ===
-Nancy expressed an interest in collecting more information from the users concerning the impact that the 3.5m has had on grants being awarded to researchers at ARC member institutions. She already collects related information from users at two different points in the year: publications resulting from 3.5m/ARCSAT data in June-July, and science highlights for ARC Board meeting in October. She will add the grant information request to one of these calls.
+Effective July 1, Chip Kobulnicky of the University of Wyoming will be the new Chair of the ARC Board of Governors. Congratulations, Chip! And thank you to Mike Crenshaw for his years of service in this important role.
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-=== Instrument initiatives ===
-Ocotillo - parts in shop, assembling, software to control camera in work, first fiber bundle in lab, all optics in hand except for 1 expect in 2 weeks, Orange channel is ready for mechanical design. Once in building stage Caleb will shift to that. Blue channel is nearly optimized. Box is ready to be filled.
+=== Call for papers/grants info ===
+Nancy issued her annual call for scientific papers and student theses/dissertations that make use of data acquired with the 3.5m and/or ARCSAT. Please send her all such papers (accepted or published) covering Jan. 1 2025 to present no later than July 31, 2026. New this year: Nancy is also collecting information concerning funding awards that have been enabled through access to the 3.5m. Please send her the following information for any APO-related grants: PI name, Funding Agency/Program, Project Title, Total Budget (if willing to share it), period of performance (years only), and relevant 3.5m instrument(s). This information will not be made public, but will be summarized for the ARC Board.
-https://careers.nmsu.edu/jobs/mechanical-engineer-remote-locations-new-mexico-united-states-c27e97b9-8d02-4d3e-addf-be3de0f8b3f2
+----
+=== New instrument initiatives ===
+  * Ocotillo - Sarah reported progress on having the necessary parts in the shop. Assembly is underway, software to control the camera is in work, and the first fiber bundle is in progress in the lab. All optics are in hand except for one, which she expects to receive in two weeks. The orange channel is ready for mechanical design. Once the red channel is in the building stage Caleb will shift to work on the orange channel. The blue channel is nearly optimized.
+  * ASPEN - Work on the Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector is proceeding as it will be used with ARCES even before ASPEN is completed. The ASPEN Preliminary Design Review is scheduled for later this month. This will be an important milestone in refining and finalizing the instrument design.
+  * SoonerCam: see site report for progress related to SoonerCam and the Agile rotator.
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 New action items from this meeting:
-  * xxxx
+  * APO: update scheduling webpage to replace Postscript calendars with PDF versions.
+  * APO: update text on TUI downloads page to reflect new procedure for downloading TUI.
+  * UC reps: notify your users about OPEN time available in June.
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 === All Other Business ===
-xxx
+None.
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