http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/ 2026-04-30T19:04:17+00:00 http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/ http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/_media/wiki/logo.png text/html 2025-11-06T21:48:38+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/apo-song_first_light?rev=1762465718&do=diff APO-SONG first light This page describes some of the initial spectra and testing of the full SONG node over the first month or so of observations. October 1, 2025 around 9:00pm local MDT was the first night where starlight went from the telescope through the focal plane unit into the 80-meter 50 micron fiber, into the spectrograph and onto the detector. Jon Holtzman and Chas Miller were at APO in the operations building. Jason Jackiewicz, Travis Metcalfe, and Jessica Klusmeyer were on Zoom. text/html 2025-10-21T19:49:04+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/apo_lab_results?rev=1761076144&do=diff APO lab testing September 2025 - fiber tests Testing with fiber from FTO, two spools, each with 3 legs. Spool1=241587, Spool2=241586. Each spool has 3 legs. Also tested with short 50 micron fiber. Tests going through FPU calibration channel. Did several sequences. Images are 50s flat (quartz+LED) and 120s ThAr; if sequence has 3 images, the first is a guider image. text/html 2025-10-13T01:37:42+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/calibration?rev=1760319462&do=diff Calibration Calibration spot Position The calibration spot moves up and down as the calibration stage is moved. To move the calibration stage left/right one needs to adjust one of the screws on the mirror mount for the mirror in front of the Shelyak. I believe that turning the top screw CW (from behind the mirror) moves the spot to the right. text/html 2025-05-12T17:50:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/construction_phase?rev=1747072228&do=diff Project Management in Construction Phase Work Breakdown Structure The work breakdown structure (WBS) describes all project deliverables. 1 SONG in NM Construction * 1.1 Project Management * 1.1.1 NSF start (M) * 1.1.2 WBS development and approval text/html 2026-04-23T18:31:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/dates?rev=1776969087&do=diff Important dates 4/22/2026 : liquid-cooled CCD reinstalled, chiller implemented. Stage maximum velocities reduced. Iodine cell realigned 4/17/2026 : iodine cell re-aligned. Old Maestro re-installed 4/8/2026 : replacement Maestro controller installed text/html 2024-02-10T19:43:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/dome_control?rev=1707594209&do=diff Dome control Dome control is implemented through software running on a Raspberry Pi. Initial implementation controls dome motors through the Autoscope box with Opto 22 relays, but goal would be to just control the dome relays directly. The Raspberry Pi has a RELAYPlates card with 7 relays, which control shutter direction, shutter power, dome direction, dome power, and watchdog reset. These relays connect the control lines to ground. text/html 2024-09-11T21:30:51+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/fiber_run?rev=1726090251&do=diff Fiber Fiber cladding and termination We inherited fiber from the Australia SONG project. This was about 500 meters of octagonal (50/70/95) fiber. We signed a contract with FiberTech Optica (FTO) in Canada to construct 2 separate 83m cables (for redundancy), each with 3 fibers in it (for science fiber, cal fiber, and extra fiber), with a ferrule on one end and a FC connector on the other, and sent them the fiber in July 2024. text/html 2025-12-11T04:43:59+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/focal_plane_unit?rev=1765428239&do=diff Focal Plane Unit The focal plane unit consists of a heated for wavelength calibration, an acqusition/guide camera for placing and keeping stars on the 50 micron spectrograph fiber, and a calibration channel for flat fielding and injection of ThAr calibration. text/html 2024-01-27T03:20:47+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/journal_abbs?rev=1706325647&do=diff text/html 2025-04-28T20:33:55+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/lab_results?rev=1745872435&do=diff Lab data from UT250425 Data taken just preceding spectrograph disassembly in lab. Data from calibration source taken both directly with 50 micron fiber and through calibration channel. Solar data through long (poor throughput) 200 micron fiber, using a mirror to reflect sunlight onto the fiber tip (in the building lobby). text/html 2024-07-15T17:19:53+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/meetings?rev=1721063993&do=diff Meetings * SONG 2024 Science meeting, September 18-20, 2024, Tenerife, Spain. text/html 2024-01-27T04:08:15+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/observatory_dome_and_pier?rev=1706328495&do=diff Observatory Dome structure The observatory was designed by the M3 corporation, and the original drawings of the dome are [ here]. The dome is a 16-foot Ash-Dome. Observatory Control System The dome has motorized upper and lower slit sections. Control of the upper slit and dome rotation is done through a custom relay box on the S side of the dome constructed by the Autoscope Corporation; the lower slit is controlled through a box on the N side, designed and constructed by Dave Woods. There i… text/html 2024-08-29T16:11:51+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/observatory_structure?rev=1724947911&do=diff Observatory dome and pier Dome structure The observatory was designed by the M3 corporation, and the original drawings of the dome are [ here]. The dome is a 16-foot Ash-Dome. Telescope pier The PW1000 is fastened to a custom plate that is attached to the pier with bolts. The pier before installation is shown in these photos. Also shown is new electrical work done in the center of the pier to have the right adapter plug for the PW1000. text/html 2026-03-06T20:38:08+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/observing_procedure?rev=1772829488&do=diff Observing procedure Observing is done using virtual destop on the song1m virtual machine. There should be a terminal with at least 3 tabs, running: * aposong : main control window * status : populates status window and databases * guider : process that waits for guide commands from aposong text/html 2026-04-24T19:54:56+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/on_sky_testing?rev=1777060496&do=diff April 2026 A new iodine cell was installed. We implemented a shutter in the direct calibration channel. We got the repaired liquid cooled CCD back from QHY and installed it, along with the TCube Edge chiller. When revisiting spectrograph focus, the Esatto focuser would intermittently time out. As a result, it's uncertain whether the reported focus position is repeatable, e.g., after homing the focuser. Given potential repeatability issues, the focuser was just moved until acceptable images w… text/html 2024-01-27T03:32:57+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/planewave_1000?rev=1706326377&do=diff PlaneWave 1000 We employ a PlaneWave 1000 telescope at Apache Point Observatory. The 1-meter telescope is an alt-az, f/6 with a corrected Dall-Kirkham optical design. It has an integrated direct drive mount system. Commissioning Installation Installation was completed on January 17, and initial testing was carried out on January 18, 2024. In the photos you see PW employees Josh, Alex, and Colin. text/html 2023-08-01T21:54:22+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/planewave_cdk_1000?rev=1690926862&do=diff A Planewave Instruments PW 1000 (1-meter) was ordered in early 2023 and is expected to be shipped and installed in early October 2023. text/html 2023-08-04T20:45:06+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/previous_nmsu_1-m_telescope?rev=1691181906&do=diff Old NMSU 1-m telescope [ The telescope before being removed.] From 1995 until June 2023, an AutoScope 1-meter telescope resided in the dome which now hosts the SONG in NM 1-meter. An archived webpage documents that telescope. As described there, in the 2010s, the telescope was equipped with a fiber feed from one of the Nasmyth ports to the SDSS/APOGEE spectrograph, and the telescope was used to feed bright objects to APOGEE during dark time, when the spectrograph was not in use by the 2.5m t… text/html 2026-03-06T20:40:15+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/project_status?rev=1772829615&do=diff SONG in New Mexico Status (updated 3/2026) The SONG spectrograph is assembled and carrying out science observations at Apache Point Observatory. Major milestones: * Integration with SONG network, January 2026 * Commissioning has begun, October 2025 text/html 2023-08-03T22:41:34+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/references?rev=1691102494&do=diff text/html 2026-04-29T21:40:11+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/sidebar?rev=1777498811&do=diff About * SONG Science * Project Status * Team * Meetings Operations Phase * Observing procedure * Software * Internet devices Project Development Phase (complete) Telescope systems * Planewave 1000 * Observatory structure * Telescope and observatory control * Previous NMSU 1-m telescope Instrument systems * SONG spectrograph * Focal plane unit * Fiber run * Spectrograph systems * Spectrograph assembly guide Testing and Commissioning * Important dates … text/html 2026-02-06T05:05:55+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/software?rev=1770354355&do=diff Software Overview Overall software design is to control all components from a main server computer, song1m, located in the main computer room, running Linux. This communicates with the telescope/camera computer, pwi1m, and the dome computer, dome1m, via network communication; this is extendable to additional devices on additional computers. It is largely a client-server model, where the server devices are interfaced over the network through text/html 2024-07-15T17:22:57+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/song_2024_science_meeting?rev=1721064177&do=diff SONG 2024 Science Meeting Meeting link text/html 2023-08-05T14:43:04+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/song_science?rev=1691246584&do=diff SONG Science A detailed understanding of stars underpins much of astrophysics. Stars are the most fundamental astrophysical objects, they are the basic constituents of galaxies, and, to a large extent, the overall properties of the universe are controlled by their evolution. Stars are huge balls of gas, and turbulent motions within them generate sound waves that cause the majority of them to wobble and ring like bells. The measurement and analysis of these acoustic oscillations is the only way… text/html 2025-06-08T23:05:44+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/song_spectrograph?rev=1749423944&do=diff The SONG spectrograph The spectrographs among all sites are effectively the same, and have been designed by Paolo Spano. Requirements Main requirements include: * The spectrograph shall be fiber fed by a 1-m aperture telescope (PlaneWave PW1000 F/6) text/html 2026-01-22T18:46:45+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/song_spectrograph_assembly?rev=1769107605&do=diff Spectrograph assembly guide Room requirements/setup Optical bench mounted on active support system: PFA51507 - 700 mm (27.5“) Active Isolation Frame 900 x 1200mm (36” x 48“). Requires compressed air regulated to 50-100 psi. External table/shelf for camera pump, computer relay/thermister/watchdog (on DIN rail?) text/html 2026-04-24T19:36:33+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/spectrograph_systems?rev=1777059393&do=diff Spectrograph systems Computer There is a spectrograph computer, spec1m, that controls the spectrograph camera (QHY600) and the spectrograph focuser (Esatto). The computer is a OnLogic CL210-G, same as the pwi1m computer, running Windows 11. Camera text/html 2025-01-08T19:24:51+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/start?rev=1736364291&do=diff SONG in New Mexico The Stellar Observations Network Group, SONG, is a growing global network of 1-meter telescopes that will carry out continuous, high-precision radial-velocity measurements of bright stars for asteroseismology. The network currently has two sites that are operating ( text/html 2024-08-19T02:25:30+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/team?rev=1724034330&do=diff Team Below is a list of the participants in the development of the SONG in NM facility. The international SONG participants are listed here. Photo Name Role Link Jason Jackiewicz Professor of Astronomy, Principal Investigator (NMSU) text/html 2025-05-21T15:20:34+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/song-wiki/telescope_and_observatory_control?rev=1747840834&do=diff Telescope and observatory control system Telescope control system Telescope is a Planewave PW1000. It is controlled through the pwi1m computer in the 1m dome, running Windows. pwi1m has two network interfaces. One connects to the telescope internal network on 192.168.10.XXX. pwi1m is 192.168.10.40, the Maestro controller on the telescope is 192.168.10.50, and the OTA controller on the telescope is 192.168.10.60.