README web version of /home/usg/OPS/MTS/readme_xml/readme_60942000

Principal Investigator Email Address

• cszyszka@eso.org

Estimated Total Execution Time (hours, including overheads)

• 01:31:22.000

General Description

• X-shooter provides single broadband spectrum observed under the same conditions
   
  with the same aperture. We expect that relative flux calibration across 
  wavelength range will be much more reliable then ever before. We aim to study 
  temperature and density sensitive line ratios extend across the traditional 
  UV-VIS, to the red and near-IR bands. 
  
  Both nebulae are extended hourglass-shaped nebular object with a bright central
  core. The NGC 6302 is high-excitation low-density nebula, while the M 2-9 is 
  low-excitation but high-density object. These two objects are complementary to each
   
  other in terms of physical conditions and expected emission 
  line spectrum.
  
  The aim of this observation is to obtain deep spectra. To adress the saturation
   problem of the strongest lines we also requested short exposures.
  
  We require to center the slit on the bright core as indicated in finding 
  charts. The position angle of the slit should be 90 deg for both nebulae. This position
   angle has been choosen to cover broad range of physical conditions within the nebula.
   This angle may be significantly different from parallactic angle.
  Two additional finding charts were attached. File 60.A-9420.001a.jpg shows H-aplha
   image (colors) and CO mm emission (contures, discard it). File 60.A-9420.002a.jpg
   shows HST optical image, note that north is *not* up. North axis is aligned with
   long axis of the nebula as indicated an main finding chart. 
  
  Acquisition should be made in slone r' filter since it gather H alpha.
  
  A comprehensive emission line list is expected as an output of this project. 
  In addition we will study sensitivity of X-Shooter for deep spectra of emission
   line objects.

Waiver Requests

• No Waiver Request was submitted

Critical Observing Condition Constraints

• SKY TRANSPARENCY: 3THN
  
  SEEING: 1.2 (arcsec)
  
  LUNAR ILLUMINATION: < 0.8
  
  MOON ANGULAR DISTANCE: > 30 (degrees)

Time-Critical Aspects

• None

Special Execution Requirements

• We aim to measure emission line ratios across large wavelength span. We
   would like
  to avoid wavelength dependent slit loss caused by differential atmospheric
  refraction. Because we require special slit orientation on our objects, to 
  observe the most interesting regions on the nebula, we kindly ask to keep 
  airmass as low a possible. Definitely not higher than 1.3 .

Special Calibration Information

• Standard calibration.

ToO Information

• None

ToO Activators List

• None

Do all your OBs comply with the instrument-specific requirements listed
 on the instrument-specific Phase 2 web page ?

• YES

Do all your finding charts comply with both the general and instrument-specific
 Phase 2 Web Pages ?

• YES

If you submitted OBs for standard stars, did you specify the magnitude
 and spectral type of all standard stars in the OBs ?

• N/A

Have you specified the S/N ratio at given wavelength in the User Comments
 field of each OB?

• YES

Have you included OBs for any calibrations that you need but which are
 not part of the Calibration Plan ?

• N/A

If you are observing Moving Targets, have you attached suitable ephemeris
 files to your OBs?

• N/A

If you have preferences which OBs should be executed first, did you make
 use of the User Priority field in the OBs ?

• YES

If this is a run that requires coordinated observations with other facilities,
 did you give proper instructions in the Time-Critical Aspects Section ?

• N/A