README web version of /home/usg/OPS/MTS/readme_xml/readme_78500803

Principal Investigator Email Address

• sdodoric@eso.org

Estimated Total Execution Time (hours, including overheads)

• 3h15m

General Description

• The aim of this program is to extend the usable wavelength range of 13
   of the classical UV-visible spectro-photometric standard stars (Oke, Hamuy) into
   the near-IR. The primary goal is to prepare for the science operations of X-shooter,
   but all other near-IR spectrographs will benefit from this effort. As Primary Standards,
   we use two HST white dwarf standards (GD71 and GD153) for which the flux distribution
   has been measured above the atmosphere. With SINFONI IFU in "no AO mode", we will
   collect all the incoming flux, even in bad seeing conditions. The whole wavelength
   range from J to K is covered in two setups (J and H+K). For optimal subtraction,
   we sample the sky off the object in a classical ABBA sequence. Every time a star
   of our program is observed, a Primary Standard must also be observed as a calibration
   star during the same night (Cal. OB provided in the ObsBloc directory).
  
  For each night, observations of the Primary Standard will be used to deduce a response
   function by comparing flux levels in pre-identified wavelength regions free of atmospheric
   absorption. We will then calibrate our Secondary Standards and interpolate across
   the full wavelength range using state-of-the art NLTE White Dwarf models.
  
  This program is ideally suited as a filler in bad seeing conditions. The eventual
   quality of our new database of near-IR spectro-photometric standards will directly
   benefit from multiple visits of the stars.
  
  People to contact in case of any problem linked to the execution of this program
   are:
  Joel Vernet, jvernet@eso.org, 6579
  Florian Kerber, fkerber@eso.org, 6757

Waiver Requests

• Waiver  278.D-5008A.01 was granted (13.12.2006)
  
  ------------------------
  Waiver request for OBs that contain multiple instrument configurations: J and H+K
   grating observations within the same OB
  
  We need the full wavelength coverage from the J-band to the K-band for each star
   in our program. We achieve this using two SINFONI gratings: the J and the H+K. For
   each setup, exposure times are rather short, ranging from 20s to 200s. We are therefore
   entirely dominated by preset and acquisition overheads which amount to ~15 min.
   In comparison, changing the grating only takes 2.5 min according to SINFONI User
   Manual. Therefore, observing with the two setups within the same OB is the most
   efficient way to carry out these observations.
  This waiver request applies to runs 278.D-5008 A,B,C,D,F,G,H

Critical Observing Condition Constraints

• Since we are establishing a set of spectro-photometric standards, conditions
   need to be photometric.
  Note that we do not mind rather poor seeing conditions.

Time-Critical Aspects

• None

Special Execution Requirements

• See special calibration requirements

Special Calibration Information

• Our own spectro-photometric standard GD71 and GD153 (OB: CAL_Standard-GD71
   and CAL_Standard-GD153) must absolutely be taken whenever an object of our program
   is observed.
  
  GD71:  Hot DA White Dwarf, J=13.73,H=13.90, K=14.12
  GD153: Hot DA White Dwarf, J=14.01, H=14.12, K=14.31
  
  No telluric standards needed
  
  Remark: these calibration OBs have been put in the nornal ObsBloc directory because
   of a bug not allowing any acquisition sequence inside OBs in the CalBlock directory.

ToO Information

• None

ToO Activators List

• None

Is this a Pre-imaging run ?

• false

Pre-imaging Requirements

• None

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 ?

• YES

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

• YES

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

• YES

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

Did you indicate the magnitude of the brightest object in the field in
 each SINFONI OB?

• YES

If you are using the AO: Did you indicate for every OB the magnitude
 of the guide star, and its distance to the target (if any)?

• N/A

If you submitted OBs for standard stars, did you use the provided StandardStar
 templates?

• YES

If you are using a specific offset pattern or position angle: did you
 check carefully the definition in the manual?

• YES

Did you make really sure that none of your OBs ever saturates the detector?

• YES

If you are using the AO: did you enter the correct Strehl Ratio (on-axis,
 K-band) AND the seeing value in the constraint set?

• N/A