README web version of /home/usg/OPS/MTS/readme_xml/readme_84050200

Principal Investigator Email Address

• kristof.smolders@ster.kuleuven.be

Estimated Total Execution Time (hours, including overheads)

• 4h21m54.0s

General Description

• The brightness of the target stars lies between 4.5 and 5.0 in L band.
   Using the ESO-ISAAC exposure time calculator we estimate required integration times
   for the observation are between 1 and 2 minutes to achieve the required signal-to-noise
   level (SN > 200). All stars will be observed three times together with a telluric
   standard, resulting in a total observing time of 4.37h. To study the variability
   of the PAH feature during the pulsation, we need three spectra at different phases.
   The timescales on which the variability occurs is known, but not accurate enough
   to pinpoint the times of maximum and minimum fux. Although we can calculate the
   ideal delay between two consecutive observations, as one third or one fifth of the
   total period, these delays are still flexible (+/- 10 days).
  
  CSS 173: period = 170 days ; ideal delay = 43 +/- 10 days ; 3 observations
  BZ CMa: period = 345 days ; ideal delay = 69 +/- 10 days ; 3 observations
  CSS 757: period = 130 days ; ideal delay = 57 +/- 10 days ; 3 observations

Waiver Requests

• No Waiver Request was submitted

Critical Observing Condition Constraints

• Clear weather conditions (IR spectroscopy)
  star needs to be at airmass less than 2

Time-Critical Aspects

• Here we repeat the ideal delay between succesive observations observations:
  
  CSS 173: period = 170 days ; ideal delay = 43 +/- 10 days 
  BZ CMa: period = 345 days ; ideal delay = 69 +/- 10 days 
  CSS 757: period = 130 days ; ideal delay = 57 +/- 10 days

Special Execution Requirements

• We added telluric calibrators to the list, taken from the available selection:
   http://www.eso.org/sci/facilities/paranal/instruments/isaac/tools/spectra/Bstars.html
  
  We chose (one possible kandidate for a telluric standard for each target star that
   should be observed right before starting the science target (we choose the Right
   Ascension 15 minutes earlier than the science target). We list each OB of a science
   target with it's corresponding kandidate telluric standard:
  
  CSS_173: HIP 026876
  BZ_CMa : HIP 032031
  CSS_757: HIP 055356
  
  More info can be found in the 'special calibration' section

Special Calibration Information

• We provided one calibration OB for each target with a telluric standard,
   chosen from the ISAAC list of B stars. Since the total amount of time allocated
   to our project was 5h and the standard calibration plan for LW low resolution spectroscopy
   includes an observation of a telluric standard for each science OB, we would like
   to request the use of following telluric standards:
  
  CSS 173: HIP 026876 with a position angle of 45 degrees
  BZ CMa : HIP 032031                          45
  CSS 757: HIP 055356                          90
  
  Another remark is that the position angle of the slit for the observer telluric
   standards should match the position angle of the science targets, even if the chosen
   telluric standars are different from the ones mentioned above. The angles are chosen
   to be as far as possible from any other source with much IR flux, which makes the
   background subtraction as easy as possible.
  
  CSS 173 with a position angle of 45 degrees
  BZ CMa                           45
  CSS 757                          90

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 ?

• 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 ?

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

• N/A

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

• N/A

If you are doing spectroscopy, did you draw the slit on the Finding Charts
 ?

• YES

Did you enter the magnitude of the brightest star in the field-of-view
 in the 'Instrument Comments' field of each OB ?

• N/A

If you use the MoveToPixel acquisition, have you given clear instructions
 on the FC and in the OB comment section as to how the field should be centered ?

• N/A