******************************************************** ** ** ** IIII NNN NN GGGGG ** ** II NNNN NN GG GG LA PALMA ** ** II NN NN NN GG ** ** II NN NN NN GG GGG INFORMATION ** ** II NN NNNN GG GG ** ** IIII NN NNN GGGGG BULLETIN ** ** ** ** ** ** DATE: 15 June 1995 ** ** NUMBER: 7 ** ** ** ******************************************************** >>>>> AUTOMATIC SAVING TO SPARC <<<<< Chris Benn Automatic saving (optional) of data from WHT instruments to the SPARCstation has been implemented. The data are saved as standard IRAF data files. The main route for archiving of data will continue to be on the VAX for the time being. >>>>> QUICK-LOOK DATA REDUCTION SOFTWARE <<<<< Chris Benn Brian Boyle and Jim Lewis of RGO have written a set of routines for quick-look reduction of spectroscopic data from ISIS, FOS2, UES and IDS. These routines run on the SPARCs under IRAF and are very easy to use (commands 'cl' and 'rgo' to load up package then e.g. 'ISIS run-number'). The routines optionally flat-field and clean cosmic rays, then optimally extract an arbitrary number of spectra and crudely wavelength calibrate (using data in the FITS headers). We strongly recommend that visiting observers try them out. >>>>> WHIRCAM UPDATE <<<<<< Chris Benn WHIRCAM (IR camera) and MARTINI-3 (adaptive optics system) were successfully used together for the first time in February. The different observing modes were tested, the instrument plate scale measured and the J,H,K,L sky background measured. Observations on Feb 16 yielded 0.16 arcsec seeing with tip-tilt and shift-and-add. A second commissioning run will take place in June. The IR derotator was commissioned in May. >>>>> AUTOFIB AND WYFFOS <<<<< Chris Benn The main commissioning run for the new wide-field fibre-fed spectrograph WYFFOS took place in April. Both AUTOFIB and WYFFOS performed well but several tests remain to be carried out. A dedicated CCD (TEK6) has been commissioned internal to the WYFFOS camera. >>>>> ISIS SERVICING <<<<< Rene' Rutten ISIS received a 5-year servicing in April/May; the camera mirrors and the red fold mirror have been recoated, and the spectrograph has been realigned. Lab tests and on-sky tests show excellent performance. Latest details on the spectrographs' characteristics may be found on the Quality Control board and are available upon request. >>>>> JOSE <<<<< Chris Benn The JOSE optical system for evaluating site seeing successfully completed the first stage of its commissioning at the GHRIL focus in May. Installation of the entire system on the GHRIL table takes less than 10 minutes. Making an observation (including movements of the Nasmyth flat, telescope slew and reacquisition of the overriden science target) takes about 25 minutes. >>>>> SPEEDING UP OUR CCDS <<<<< Rene' Rutten We recognize that overheads in taking CCD exposures on all three telescopes are large, resulting in reduced observing efficiency and hampering projects that require high time resolution. We are currently actively perusing this problem and have identified a number of areas where improvements can be made. For the INT and JKT the old Perken-Elmer computers are the main culprit, and we are currently working to bypass the PE computers completely by channeling the data directly into a SPARCstation. We hope to do the first experiments with this system this fall. For the WHT the situation is more complex, but we have identified a number of areas where major gains can be achieved. This summer we will implement a new version of the DMS (Data Memory System) software which should reduce dead time. Other areas where gains can be obtained are still being targeted. >>>>> SERVICE MANAGER <<<<< Rene' Rutten Phil Rudd has taken over as manager of the service program for all three telescopes of the ING. >>>>> WHO-IS-WHO FOR INSTRUMENT RESPONSIBILITIES ON SITE <<<<< Contact the following persons if you have queries about specific instruments (usernames given in brackets): WHT - Chris Benn (CRB) / Vik Dhillon (VSD) INT - Nic Walton (NAW) / Phil Rudd (PJR) JKT - Phil Rudd (PJR) / Rene' Rutten (RGMR) Imaging - Reynier Peletier (PELETIER) / Phil Rudd (PJR) WHT prime - Reynier Peletier (PELETIER) INT prime - Reynier Peletier (PELETIER) / Emilios Harlaftis (EHH) ISIS/FOS2 - Rene' Rutten (RGMR) / Vik Dhillon (VSD) AUTOFIB - Nic Walton (NAW) / Rene' Rutten (RGMR) UES - Nic Walton (NAW) TAURUS - Nic Walton (NAW) LDSS - Mike Breare (BREARE) / Rene' Rutten (RGMR) IDS/FOS1 - Don Pollacco (DLP) / Phil Rudd (PJR) RBS - Phil Rudd (PJR) PP - Vik Dhillon (VSD) / Phil Rudd (PJR) GHRIL - Vik Dhillon (VSD) >>>>> SERVICE NIGHTS COMING UP <<<<< The following service/discretionary nights are scheduled for the current semester 95A: WHT === July 6 - full night ISIS July 19 - half night ISIS July 27 - half night ISIS INT === June 25 - full night IDS July 2+3 - full night IDS July 19 - full night IDS July 27 - full night IDS July 31 - full night IDS JKT === June 25 - Cass imaging To apply for service time send you e-mail service application to SERVICE@ING.IAC.ES or SERVICE@AST-STAR.CAM.AC.UK >>>>> NEXT PATT APPLICATION DEADLINE <<<<< September 30, 1995 for Semester 96A between Feb. 1 and Jul. 31, 1996. NOTE: for Dutch applications, according to the latest information, the deadline will be September 15, 1995. March 31, 1996 for Semester 96B between Aug. 1 1996 and Feb. 1 1997. NOTE: for Dutch applications the deadline is March 15, 1996. Note also that applications are required to have instrumental setup specified using the Instrument Scheduling Form. >>>>> CONTACTING La Palma <<<<< La Palma can best be reached through INTERNET address: user@ING.IAC.ES In case of routing problems try: user@LPVE.ING.IAC.ES And through SPAN: 29146::user ============================================================================== This information bulletin was prepared at the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes. Distribution is by e-mail only. For free subscriptions send your Internet or JANET address to: >>>>>>>>>>>>> BULLETIN@ING.IAC.ES <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Or, for UK users, to: >>>>>>>>>>>>> DXC@MAIL.AST.CAM.AC.UK <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Suggestions regarding content are appreciated. ==============================================================================