What's New at the Bok Telescope?

What'sat the Bok Telescope?

With the retirement of Dennis Means in April 2013, Steward Observatory will phase out the telescope operator's position at the Bok Telescope on Kitt Peak. Observers should plan to begin learning the the telescope control system (TCS) and guiding system during their next observing run at the 90". Those having observing experience with the 61" Kuiper Telescope should find this to be a straightforward transition, as the software is the same at both telescopes. All observers will be given support by Mountain Operations personnel, especially at the beginning of of their nights until they are sufficiently trained to safely operate the the telescope themselves. Therefore, as with the 61" telescope, users will now be responsible for being certified to use the telescope as well as the instrumentation installed for their science programs. An on-line manual is now available to graphically explain the operation procedures of the Bok Telescope. Certification of observers to operate the telescope are covered in the manual.

Users of the SO Kitt Peak Dorm: The Steward Observatory Kitt Peak dormitory is now wired for the Internet. Look for the plug-in socket on the east wall in the common room on both levels of the dorm.

ATTENTION ALL 90Prime USERS: You MUST specify the filters that you wish to use on the Observing Run Preparation Form that MUST be submitted before your run begins. Failure to do so will result in having to use the filters that the previous observer chose for their observing run. Remember, observers and telescope operators are NOT able to change filters in the 90Prime filter wheel. In the cases where an Observing Run Preparation Form was not supplied to you, or you've been awarded TBS time and there is not enough time to issue a form, the observer is required to contact the Operations group (send email to bwood@as.arizona.edu, jhoscheit@as.arizona.edu, and grosenbaum@as.arizona.edu) and directly relay your filter selection BEFORE the day of the start of the observing run.

Catalog capabilities. Observing catalogs should now be anonymously "ftp'd" to ftp://bokpc1.as.arizona.edu/. The only alternative method to transfer a catalog file to bokpc1 is via floppy disk. Ftp will only work if you are inside the SO Kitt Peak firewall (e.g., from computers located in the 90-inch telescope control room -- you can transfer catalogs to bokpc1 from your laptop once you've connected your machine to the network in the control room). The telescope control system (TCS) has the capability of reading MMT-style object catalogs. Description of the MMT catalog format can be found here. Remember that your catalog needs to be named with a .cat extension so that it can be read by TCS. TCS also can automatically creates a catalog of objects acquired during each night for easy reacquisition at a future date or time.

ATTENTION ALL USERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA FACILITIES AT THE SUMMIT OF KITT PEAK: In the past there have been several problems with room assignments at the Steward Observatory dormitory. Because of these incidents, the dormitory reservation policy will be strictly enforced. Please review the current dormitory policies. Rooms 1 and 2 are set aside for observers using the Bok Telescope. Room 5 is set aside for Spacewatch observers. Any use of rooms 3, 4, 6, or 7 MUST be reserved in advance. To reserve a room, contact Carmen Otero (oteroc@email.arizona.edu) via email with your complete request as soon as possible since assignments for rooms 3, 6, and 7 are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Current dorm room assignments can be viewed at http://daffy.as.arizona.edu/~kmerrill/dorms/dorm.htm.

Keys. Observers needing keys to the facility need to see Carmen Otero in Room 358 (621-7659; oteroc@email.arizona.edu). If Erica is not available, keys can be checked out by observers from Room N205 (within the Director's suite; 621-1829) Please make sure that you promptly return borrowed keys after the end of your run.

DHCP at the 90". Observers can connect their computers to the Network via DHCP. If needed, non-DHCP ("static") connections are still available.

A PC-TCS network interface has been developed by Dave Harvey and Gary Schmidt for communication between instrumentation and the telescope computer. This should greatly simplify the request for telescope position and status, as well as for issuing guide commands, offsets, and raster sequences.

PI Instrumentation Policy: To allow time for the instrument technicians to return to Tucson before the end of the workday, a PI instrument and observer must arrive on the mountain sufficiently early in the day that the instrument can be mounted, checked-out, and the telescope balanced by 3:30pm.

Important Reminders:

1) At the start of their observing run, observers should RESET the bokobs account on bok. In addition, it is a good idea to change the PASSWORD of the bokobs account. Make sure that you accurately record the new password in the space provided on the control room white board.

2) Observers need to make sure that they are completely done using bok by 1:00 P.M. following the final night of their observing run. bokobs may be reset at any time past 1:00 P.M. following your final night of observing and may be reset earlier unless observatory staff and/or the incoming observers are not notified otherwise.

3) Potential new observers must make sure to become certified with the telescope, appropriate instrument(s), and follow the procedures for reserving dorm rooms and meals. These and other policies are spelled out in the Guidelines For Observing at the UAO Telescopes and the Operations Manual, which all observers must study.