In Summer and Fall 2022, Joe Burchett, Jon Holtzman, and Bill Ketzeback commissioned the multi-object mode of KOSMOS. To use this mode, one must design a slitmask and have it fabricated and shipped it to the mountain. The masks are fabricated by a company in Tempe, AZ. Therefore, we recommend starting the mask design process well in advance of any run where user intend observe with them. Note that Burchett has a grant account at NMSU to pay for the mask fabrication and shipping, so mask orders should go through him (jnb at nmsu.edu). Please have mask designs ready by three weeks before the run?

Bill has set up a virtual machine at APO with the KOSMOS mask design software, KMS. To access the machine, you'll first need VPN access, a VPN client, and a VNC viewer. OpenVPN and RealVNC are popular choices for these last two. For VPN access, contact Shane Thomas (shane at apo.nmsu.edu).

Starting up the software:

1. Use OpenVPN to connect to APO network on your local computer
2. Once connected open your VNC viewer on your computer
3. In the VNC viewer enter 10.75.1.160:5901 for the server address.
4. Depending on the viewer you use, you may get an Encryption Popup warning you that it is an Unencrypted connection to VNC Server: 10.75.1.160::5901 (TCP). Press Continue or Connect.
5. The password will be foenix; no username is needed
6. A grey desktop will appear with menus in the upper left under “Applications” and “Places”. A terminal window may already be open with the title workers@KMSMachine: ~
7. If already open type at the % prompt type: bash kms.sh &. If no terminal window is open, open one (under Applications/Utilities), navigate to the KMS directory with $KMSROOT/bin, and start the software with bash kms.sh &

Using the software:

• The user manual can be found here: https://noirlab.edu/science/programs/ctio/instruments/COSMOS/manual
• Note that software is very old and clunky, but we've now used it to successfully design several masks. Once you place a slitlet, it cannot be deleted; you have to clear the mask and add the slitlets again. To make matters worse, you can open a previously saved mask design to edit.
• Select a minimum of 3-5 alignment stars with r = 12-16 mag that are relatively uniformly distributed within the field of view.
• Generally, you'll follow a procedure that looks something like this:
  1. Open the software and load the image of your field.
  2. Init Mask
  3. Import a catalog for science targets and a separate catalog for the alignment stars
  4. To place alignment star boxes, select 4“ for the slit width and length. auto-slit and select alignment star catalog.
  5. For science targets, select desired slit width and length. auto-slit and select science catalog.
  6. Add, by hand, some regions of blank sky that can be used for subtraction.
  7. Name your design and save it.
• Note that the software does not use any logic to ensure slitlets are spaced so that the spectra will not overlap. It's best if your input catalog is filtered to ensure proper spacing (e.g., more than ~15” separation in declination if you are using a position angle of 0).
• Once you've output the design (it makes two files), notify Bill (bketzeba at apo.nmsu.edu), and he and Joe will inspect them and initiate the fabrication order.