The 0.9m currently offers 3 forms of queue observing. Those options are synoptic, photometric, and opportunity queue.

Synoptic Queue

The Synoptic Queue is designed for partners who would like to do monitoring programs. The programs don't require an entire night of telescope time, but rather a small amount of time every night, week or month. The program enables partner institutions time on the telescope without having to travel to Kitt Peak to make the observations.

As a synoptic queue observer you are alloted up to one hour for each night you request observations. Submission for the synoptic queue follows the same guidelines as classic observing submissions. Synoptic queue proposals are ranked by each institution in the same pool as the classic observing proposals.

Synoptic program PIs must submit a detailed outline for their observing program to each night's on-site observer. Targets and their coordinates are required. Pointing charts are helpful but not required. When creating an outline for each nights one must take into account exposure time, readout time (about 2.5 minutes per image) and slew time (about 3 minutes) if there are multiple targets. The more information the synoptic PI can provide the on-site observer the better chance they have of their program succeeding.

Synoptic data will only be taken in UBVRI filters. These filters are permenantly installed at the telescope. There is no way to know what other filters, if any, the on-site observers will request for their run. At the end of each night the on-site observer will email the synoptic PI to inform them of where their data is stored. It is then the responsibility of the synoptic PI to retreive the data and delete each night's directory.

Photometric Queue

The Photometric Queue is designed for partners who would like to do photometric monitoring programs. The programs don't require an entire night of telescope time, but rather a small amount of block time once or a few time a semester. The program enables partner institutions time on the telescope without having to travel to Kitt Peak to make the observations.

As a photometric queue observer you are alloted up to one hour for each night you request observations and a maximum of 3 nights in a row. Photometric queue observations will only be undertaken by a select group of stellar observers. Number of nights and time of year are subject to the classic observations schedule.

Submission for the photometric queue follows the same guidelines as classic observing submissions. Photometric queue proposals are ranked by each institution in the same pool as the classic observing proposals. Photometric program PIs must submit a detailed outline for their observing program to each night's on-site observer. Targets and their coordinates are required. Pointing charts are helpful but not required.

When creating an outline for each nights one must take into account exposure time, readout time (about 2.5 minutes per image) and slew time (about 3 minutes) if there are multiple targets. The more information the photometric PI can provide the on-site observer the better chance they have of their program succeeding. Photometric data will only be taken in UBVRI filters.

At the end of each night the on-site observer will email the photometric PI to inform them of where their data is stored. It is then the responsibility of the photometric PI to retreive the data and delete each nights directory.

Opportunity Queue

The Opportunity Queue (OQ) is a web-based communications service designed to connect Observers who find themselves with free time at the telescope with consortium members (PIs) who request certain observations.

Participation in the OQ is completely voluntary for the Observer, and is encouragedby academic rewards (e.g., simple thanks, acknowledgement in a paper, co-authorship, reciprocal observation, etc) from the PI for the time and effort expended. This is a"free market" system where PIs offering more attractive rewards are more likely to have high-quality data obtained promptly.

The OQ is intended to increase the scientific productivity of the telescope while fostering collaborations between consortium members. It is a shared-risk service that relies on the trust and good intentions of its users. Abuse may lead to dissatisfaction and limitation or discontinuation of the service.

Please check with the Site Manager if you have a program you would like to submit, or for any current programs available for observations.

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• Other Considerations

Last modified: 19-Jul-2022 17:56:01 MST