README web version of /home/usg/OPS/MTS/readme_xml/readme_81505500

Principal Investigator Email Address

• emason@eso.org

Estimated Total Execution Time (hours, including overheads)

• 04hr 15min 00sec

General Description

• UVES standard setup (DIC1 346+58 & DIC2 437+860) observations on a
   new Classical Nova, exploded on Sep 3 2008. 
  The attached FC show were the nova should be. It should not be difficult to identify
   it as it will be the brightest object at the marked position. 
  
  There are 5 OB for 5 epochs. The OBs ARE DIFFERENT from each other as we set longer
   exposure time for the later epochs. Therefore, please pay attention to the OB numbering
   (THEA_dic1|2_1, THEA_dic1|2_2, THEA_dic1|2_3, THEA_dic1|2_4, THEA_dic1|2_5). 
  
  Please execute THEA_1 OB ASAP. The remining OBs, (i.e. THEA_2 to THEA_4) should
   be executed ~7-12 days apart from each other, as they are meant to monitor the
   evolution
   of the transient absorption system (THEA system). The target will be no longer
   visible
   at the end of October. So, please try to schedule these 4 OB in the 1.5 month period
   end-of-September - end-of-October.
  
  See Time Critical Aspects for a tentative/guidline scheduling.
  
  NEW NOTE: Only the last epoch (epoch 5) has left to do. Please note that epoch 4
   and 5 OBs have adopted 2x2 binning for the blue arm exposure and wider slit for
   both arms (0.9" and 0.7" in the Blue and Red respectively). This because of the
   low S/N in the blue. 
  However, epoch 4 spectrum (Blue arm, 437 nm within DIC2 setup) showed saturated
   Hbeta emission. This is NOT a problem since the same line appears as not saturated
   in the Red arm (580 nm, DIC1 setup).  However, I would much appreciate it, that
   the NA make sure that the Hbeta emission is NOT saturated in at least one of the
   2 setups. Hence, I'd suggest to execute DIC1 OB first, check Hbeta in the Red Arm
   (580 setup, REDL/CCD-20 on the left side), and: 
  1) if saturated: reduce the exposure in the DIC2 BLUE ARM only, in order to make
   sure that at least one spectrum is not saturated in the Hbeta line (try reducing
   by e.g. 2 min the first of the 3 DIC2/437nm exposure and further reduced the exptime
   on the second and third exposure if necessary ..)
  2) if not saturated: just continue with the observations and do not even bother
   about the HBeta line in the DIC2 seutp.

Waiver Requests

• Epoch 4 and epoch 5 OB are longer than 1 hr. Should the condition change,
   that's not a problem for me: I'd rather have the OB completed than aborted!
  Waiver submitted.

Critical Observing Condition Constraints

• none. It is important to have the data of this transient event. Bad seeing
   and THIN clouds are OK. The Moon is OK too.

Time-Critical Aspects

• The 5 OBs are menat to monitor the spectroscopic evolution of the nova.
   
  Therefore they should roughly equally spaced in time from ASAP to the end of October
   (when the target has set). 
  Ideally the OB should be separated by 7 days from each other, with a tolerance of
   -2 and +5 days. In other words, 2 epochs can be as close as 5 days (but not all
   of them!) and as far as 12 (again, not all of them!). 
  Missed epochs should be executed asap. 
  
  Assuming that the 1st spectrum is taken on Sep 11, the reminng epoch could be scheduled,
   approximately on:
  _ epoch 2: Sep 18-20
  _ epoch 3: Sep 27-Oct 1
  _ epoch 4: Oct 7-12
  _ epoch 5: Oct 20-30

Special Execution Requirements

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Special Calibration Information

• A hot/blue (WD type) specphot standard with the same setup and during
   any twilight is highly appreciated.

ToO Information

• This is not a ToO, but just a time critical program.

ToO Activators List

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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 ?

• 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?

• 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 ?

• 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

If you need secondary guiding, are there suitable objects within 30 arcsec
 from your target ?

• N/A