README web version of /home/usg/OPS/MTS/readme_xml/readme_77007700

Principal Investigator Email Address

• s.smartt@qub.ac.uk

Estimated Total Execution Time (hours, including overheads)

• 10.0

General Description

• This is a ToO programme to acquire precision astrometry for nearby
  supernovae to be able to identify their progenitor stars in high
  resolution pre-explosion images from HST, VLT, Gemini and/or
  UKIRT. The observations should be taken as soon as possible (within the
  seeing and airmass constraints) after triggering to allow a succesful AO correction
  when the supernova is still bright enough to be used as the AO-reference
  star.
  
  Either 'Autojitter' or 'FixedSkyOffset' imaging of the supernova will be
  obtained with NACO in Ks band using the S27 or S54 camera. The imaging
  template and the camera used for the observation will be decided at the
  time of triggering. One 'template' OB has been submitted for each camera -
  imaging template combination. We use the VIS WFS with the supernova 
  (V ~ 13-15) as the AO-reference star for the observations.
  
  There are no objects brighter than K~10 mag in any of the fields.

Waiver Requests

• We have requested a waiver (WaiverID: 077.D-0077A.01WAV) to use the
  S54 camera in addition to S27.

Critical Observing Condition Constraints

• Seeing < 0.6" and corresponding SR requirements - Sky transparency
   is 
  of less importance since the aim is to derive accurate astrometry but 
  NOT photometry.

Time-Critical Aspects

• The observations should be taken as soon as possible (within the
  seeing and airmass constraints) after triggering. This is to allow a succesful AO
   
  correction when the supernova is still bright enough to be used as the 
  AO-reference star, and a rapid reporting of the supernova progenitor 
  identification from pre-explosion images.

Special Execution Requirements

• The COUNTS SHOULD ALWAYS BE BELOW THE SATURATION LIMIT for the peak
  of the supernova PSF, but also high enough for proper background dominated
  performance. PLEASE ADJUST best-guess DITs to obtain reasonable peak
  values. The supernova counts CAN EXCEED THE LINEARITY LIMIT since the aim
  is to derive accurate astrometry but NOT photometry.
  
  WE REQUEST IMMEDIATE ACCESS to all the ToO data acquired.
  This is to enable a rapid reporting of the supernova
  progenitor identification from pre-explosion HST images,
  and coordination of other follow-up observations of the
  supernova.

Special Calibration Information

• ---(Empty)---

ToO Information

• This ToO programme should be activated soon after the discovery
  of a nearby supernova with existing high resolution pre-explosion
  images of the supernova explosion site. The PI (Smartt), or CoI (Mattila)
  will provide the exact coordinates, a finding chart, and the relevant OB
  files written for the specific target (incl. AO ref. information) at the
  time of triggering. These will be based on the already submitted 'template' 
  OBs with their imaging parameters adjusted for the specific target.

ToO Activators List

• S. Smartt
  S. Mattila

Is this a Pre-imaging run ?

• false

Pre-imaging Requirements

• ---(Empty)---

Source(s) of Pre-imaging

• ---(Empty)---

Pre-imaging sources not listed above

• ---(Empty)---

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

• YES

If this is a pre-imaging run, did you select PRE-IMAGING for the Observing
 Category for each Observing Template ?

• N/A

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

• N/A

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 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 ?

• N/A

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

If you have PSF reference star OBs, do the names of those OBs begin with
 PSF_ ?

• N/A

If there are Finding Charts attached to your OBs, is the field-of-view
 of at least one of these charts 2' x 2' (with clearly labelled field orientation)
 ?

• N/A

Have you clearly marked and labelled your wavefront reference objects
 R1, R2, R3, ... (as specified in the NAOS Preparation Software) on your Finding
 Charts ?

• N/A

Have you specified the magnitude of the brightest object in the field-of-view
 for each OB ?

• YES

Are there objects in any of your fields (including standard stars) which
 are brighter than the limits specified in the User Manual and on NACO web Pages
 ?

• NO

If the previous answer is yes, have you given a list of OBs and a justification
 for the brightness limit violation in the general description field ?

• N/A