README web version of /home/usg/OPS/MTS/readme_xml/readme_81022804

Principal Investigator Email Address

• kohnaka@mpifr-bonn.mpg.de

Estimated Total Execution Time (hours, including overheads)

• 1.5

General Description

• MIDI observations to probe the MOLsphere and the dust formation zone of
   the non-Mira M giant BK Vir, for which our AMBER GTO observations are also approved
   for P81.  Our aim is to derive the physical properties of the molecular gas and
   the innermost region of the dust shell from the MIDI+AMBER observations and to obtain
   new insights into the mass loss mechanism in usual(non-Mira-type) AGB stars.  Although
   the variability of BK Vir is 
  smaller than that of Mira stars, it is preferable to execute all runs (381.D-0228A/B/C/D/E)
   and our AMBER GTO program (081.D-0233A) as close in time as possible, in order to
   avoid possible temporal variations.  
  
  Acqusition images should also be obtained both for the science target and the calibrators
   for the following reasons: 1) the science target may turn out to be much more extended
   than currently modeled.  2) Individual chopped frames in an acquisition image data
   set (i.e., a movie of sky-subtracted frames) provide us with information on the
   image quality and residual image motion, which is valuable for assessing systematic
   errors in the observed visibilities.  Therefore, acqusition images should be obtained
   not only for the science target but also for the calibrators.
  
  The number of frames for photometric exposures can be changed by the night-time
   astronomer, depending on the actual brightness of the source 
  (whether it is the science target or a calibrator) as well as the atmospheric conditions.
  
  No finding chart is attached for HD89484, because it is so bright that the 5x5 arcmin
   area around it appears totally saturated in the optical image.

Waiver Requests

• No Waiver Request was submitted

Critical Observing Condition Constraints

• All OBs should be carried out under thin cirrus or better conditions.

Time-Critical Aspects

• NONE

Special Execution Requirements

• NONE

Special Calibration Information

• We request two calibrator measurements in the CAL/SCI/CAL sequence.  We
   prepared OBs for two calibrators, HD89484 and tet Cen.  It is preferable to observe
   different calibrators before and after the science target (i.e., HD89484--SCI--tet
   Cen or tet Cen--SCI--HD89484), but it is also acceptable to observe the same calibrator
   before and after the science target, if one of them is not observable.  For this
   reason, two OBs for each calibrator is prepared. 
  
  Name       : HD89484
  Coordinates: 10:19:58.427  +19:50:28.53
  V mag      : 2.1
  N mag      : -1.2
  Sp. Type   : K1IIIb
  UD diameter: 7.7 +/- 0.3 mas
  Source     : CHARM2
  
  Name       : tet Cen
  Coordinates: 14:06:40.949  -36:22:11.84
  V mag      : 2.1
  N mag      : -0.76
  Sp. Type   : K0III
  UD diameter: 5.3 +/- 0.06 mas
  Source     : CHARM2

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 ?

• N/A

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 for each science star OB the corresponding calibrator
 star OB (and vice versa) in the 'Instrument Comments' field ?

• YES

Did you check that your chosen calibrator is bright enough for the instrument
 mode used ?

• YES

If you use calibrator stars which are not in the CalVin database, did
 you specify their characteristics in the README file and in the OBs ?

• YES

Did you verify that your coordinates are as accurate as possible (2Mass
 coordinates recommended) and that they include proper motions if available ?

• YES

Did you specify the LST range of the calibrators such that they cover
 the range from 30 min before the start of the LST range of the science target to
 30 min after the end of the LST range of the science target ?

• N/A