European Southern Observatory New Technology Telescope

General :
Observations :
Operations :

Astronomical Introduction

1 Before the observing run

1.1 Preparation

• Prepare the "NTT Observer Information" sheet using the template in ~nttt/Visitors/visitors.template :
• add the P2PP account and password (listed in ~nttt/Visitors/P2PPaccounts_P66.lis )
• assign one of the ntt* account (select the one that has not been in use for the longest time); for MOS run preparation the observer has also access to the mosntt account on the kechu machine.
• Clean the ntt* account using the clean_ntt scripts.
• Give to the observer the "Observer's Manual" for Emmi/Susi or SOFI.
• Explain the philosophy of observing blocks.
• Discuss the scope of the observing programme to help the observer with
• the observation strategy (remind the visitor that NTT is an Alt-Az telescope, and that circumzenithal observations should be avoided).
• the selection of the templates, and
• the calibration requirements.

1.2 Introduction to JP2PP

Have the observer log on the visitor account, and start JP2PP:

• Explain the directory structure and select the right period and the right directory.
• Explain what Target Packages, Observation Descriptions and Observation Blocks are and how to create them. Show her/him how to retrieve the phase 1 targets.
• Explain what the Local Cache and Import/Export mechanism are.
• When all the OBs are ready, review them with the observer.
• Show him the calibration OB's and explain her/him how to retrieve them.
• When the observers is ready check all the OB's with her/him and export them in the directory jp2pp-impex in a subdirectory with the name of the program.

1.2 Other recommendations

• Give the observer a setup form, fill it with her/him, check it and sign it (for EMMI) : ask him/her to put it in the red box before 7:30 in the morning of his/her first observing night. Stress the importance of this, and insist that he/she does not forget it if he don't want to be waked up the following morning.
• Make an appointment for the introduction at the telescope in the afternoon before the first night. Arrange to meet at the door or earlier for the afternoon tea.
• For the days after the introduction, the visiting astronomer should always coordinate his visit to the telescope with the NTT coordinator. This is true not only for the observations or day calibrations, but also for any touristic visits at the telescope for him or for his friends or colleagues. In case of uncoordinated visit the team is entitled to refuse the entrance of the telescope if this is not compatible with the work done at this moment. In case of uncoordinated visit, entrance to the telescope can be accepted only if someone from the team can attend the visit AND this is not incompatible with the work currently underway in the telescope (If this is not the case, then, please explain it to the visitor and try to coordinate a better time for such a visit with the NTT coordinator and the rest of the team.
• Tell the observer that he/she can use car 97 (only at nightand only during his observing run) and should leave the key on it and park it in its reserved space near dormitory 300.
• Show where the mailboxes are.

2 Introduction at the telescope

• Explain how to get in, give a tour of the building and show all possible exits. Instruct the observer to always carry a flashlight and tell the operators where she/he is going when moving around.
• Introduce the observer to the operators and vice-versa.
• Give an overview of the Control Room:
• The telescope operator controls the telescope, instrument, detector, autoguider and image analysis. He is in charge of troubleshooting. The observer can ask the operator to add some comments to the data log.
• The instrument operator controls BOB (explain its functions), the instrument control panel and the RTD.
• (Consequence of the previous points: the observer does not touch anything on the previously mentioned consoles).
• Check the setup with the observer.
• Astronomer's corner:
• On wg5off
• Show the astronomer the different windows and the use of the NTT menu.
• Display the instrument status panel.
• Display the TCS status panel.
• Display the RTD, then set and attach the camera(s).
• Open an xterm window and cd /data/raw/datalogs and start the fitslist
• show to the observer the reduction facilities ( Skycat, MIDAS, IRAF...)
• Start an xterm in the directory /data/raw/YYYY-MM-DD. The morning calibrations are already there.
• Check disk space and do some cleaning if necessary.
• Check that the datasubscriber is runing and if not start it again from the menu.
• show the observer the use of gasgano to move around the images and create his own directory.
• On wg5dhs
• on the jp2pp-impex directory create a subdirectory with the user id of the observer as name.
• ftp the OBs in the exported form (*.obx) from the ntt* account on kila.
• Start JP2PP. Select the right subdirectory then import the OBs. Explain the connection to BOB.
• Important: netscape, mail, rlogin, etc... are supposed to be done ONLY on the off-line terminal xg56, and NOT on the NTT workstations.
• Inform the observer about relevant current problems and keep him/her informed about progress in fixing them during the course of the run.
• Give to the observer the control room copy of the manuals. Show him the rest of the documentation.
• Things to mention:
• Start the night with an Image Analysis close to the first target (it should be done on the guide star); this can be delayed to the first program object if the night starts with standards), and redo it when you move to a very different altitude (change >20 close to zenith, >10 beyond ZD=40deg).
• The observer should fill in the form for morning calibrations, limited to 2 hours per day  and in no case more than 40 frames unless previously agreed otherwise (e. g. Echelle)  with the support astronomer.
• Mention the wind speed and humidity limits and explain that the night assistants are responsible for the safety of the telescope and instruments.
• The tracking is not very good close to zenith or the meridian: avoid those zones.
• The internal lamps have absorption features at 724 and 880 nm (due to the optical fiber).
• It is the observer's responsibility to save his/her data on a DAT tape (ask one to the night assistants); he is encouraged to check his tape doing a tar tvf on the wg5pl DAT. The saving of the data must be done directly from wg5off.
• Before leaving, don't forget to tell the observer where you can be reached.
• Remind also to the observer that at the end of his run he has to fill the End of Mission Report and show him where to find it on the ESO web pages.

Send comments to: NTT Webmasters <nttweb@www.ls.eso.org> Last Update: June 03, 2000 (GM)