README web version of /home/usg/OPS/MTS/readme_xml/readme_75037601
Principal Investigator Email Address
Estimated Total Execution Time (hours, including overheads)
General Description
This is a FORS2 program to monitor the orbital motions of Eps Indi Ba,Bb,
the nearest known binary brown dwarf system, against a network of background field
stars. The separation was 0.732 arcsec at PA=137 degrees E of N in August 2003.
The system also has a very high proper motion of 4.7 arcsec/yr. Six epochs of observations
are needed in P75, spaced roughly by 1 month throughout the period.
A dithered set (10 x 20 secs) of FORS2 I-band images is taken at each epoch: the
SR collimator is used to get a wide field-of-view, with the 200kHz,1x1,low read-out
mode to get the best possible spatial resolution at the same time.
The target coordinate is an empty point in the sky, roughly where Eps Indi B will
be in late 2007, halfway through a five year monitoring campaign. The plan is to
use the same basic pointing for all observations, in order to ensure that the same
net of field stars is seen throughout, as Eps Indi moves over the background at
4.7 arcsec/yr.
Waiver Requests
A 1 week postponement in the Phase 2 submission deadline: requested Feb
15; granted Feb 16
075.C-0376A.01.WAV: requested Mar 2; granted Mar 18
We request use of the non-standard 200kHz,1x1,low read-out mode of FORS2 in SR optical
mode, to ensure both a wide field-of-view to measure a large astrometric reference
frame, and the best possible spatial resolution, to separate the binary components.
Critical Observing Condition Constraints
We have been granted observations with a seeing constraint of 0.6 arcsec
or better, in order to be able to separate the two sources and obtain accurate relative
positions. The better the image resolution is, the better the results. All efforts
taken to taek the data in excellent seeing conditions will be most appreciated.
Clear conditions are required for our relative photometric measurements within the
field.
Time-Critical Aspects
To ensure good sampling of the motions of Eps Indi Ba and Bb, we require
observations roughly evenly spaced throughout P75. This clearly depends on the availability
of the target, the times when FORS2 is scheduled for service mode observing, and
weather conditions. Ideally we would like the 6 epochs to be spaced by 1 month each
in the May-Oct timeframe (the source is unavailable in April), but practically speaking,
spacings of 0.5-1.5 months would be ok.
Thus we have imposed time constraints in the OBs with each epoch in a 2 month window
and with 1 month spacings between the epochs.
IMPORTANT: These windows are designed to allow for flexibility and thus they overlap.
However, in general, it makes no sense to execute the OBs for two epochs on the
same night or within a few days. Please try and space the epochs sensibly throughout
P75!
Special Execution Requirements
Special Calibration Information
ToO Information
ToO Activators List
Is this a Pre-imaging run ?
Pre-imaging Requirements
Source(s) of Pre-imaging
Pre-imaging sources not listed above
Do all your OBs comply with the instrument-specific requirements listed
on the instrument-specific Phase 2 web page ?
If this is a pre-imaging run, did you select PRE-IMAGING for the Observing
Category for each Observing Template ?
Do all your finding charts comply with both the general and instrument-specific
Phase 2 Web Pages ?
If you submitted OBs for standard stars, did you specify the magnitude
and spectral type of all standard stars in the OBs ?
Have you included OBs for any calibrations that you need but which are
not part of the Calibration Plan ?
If you are observing Moving Targets, have you attached suitable ephemeris
files to your OBs?
If you have preferences which OBs should be executed first, did you make
use of the User Priority field in the OBs ?
If this is a run that requires coordinated observations with other facilities,
did you give proper instructions in the Time-Critical Aspects Section ?
If you have prepared your finding charts with tools other than FIMS,
do they comply with the specifications on the FORS2 Phase 2 web page ?
Last creation of page: Tue Oct 6 15:40:07 2009
If you have comments, please contact usd-help@eso.org