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ATNF Operations: Science and Engineering Support for Telescopes

This report provides an overview of the operations structure, themes, streams, and projects of ATNF Operations, including Science Operations and Engineering Operations. It covers activities related to telescope operations, scientific computing and archives, visitor services, and various engineering operations. The report also highlights recent developments, meetings, and collaborations within the ATNF Operations team.

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ATNF Operations: Science and Engineering Support for Telescopes

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  1. Operations Philip Edwards Head of Science Operations 28 October 2008

  2. ATNF Operations Structure Science Operations Telescope Operations National Facility Operations & Science Services Computer Infrastructure Scientific Computing & Archives Visitor services Engineering Operations Receivers, LO & Conversion Digital & Servo Electronics Cryogenics Mechanical, Drives, & Electrical

  3. ATNF Operations : Theme, Streams and Projects Structure Theme Leader: Dave McConnell (Assistant Director: Operations) Research Program Leader: Jessica Chapman Science Operations Stream Leader: Phil Edwards Engineering Operations Stream Leader: Brett Dawson Science Computing & Archives (SCA) Site Managers & Technical Coordinators Visitors Services (VS) Telescope Ops & Sci Services (TOSS) Computing Infrastructure (CI) Digital, Servo & Electronics (DSE) Receivers, LO & Conversion (RLOC) Mechanical, Drives, & Electrical (MDE) Cryogenics (CRYO) Project Leader S. Amy (M) B. Lennon (N) V. McIntyre* (M) G. Spratt (P, 0.8) ---------------------- Comp. support (M) Project Leader J. McFee (N) P. Mirtschin* (N) S. Munting* (N) K. Reeves* (P) M. Smith (P) --------------------- Engineering grad (N) RF Systems (P) Project Leader P. Edwards (N) K. Brooks (M, 0.5) J. Chapman (M) B. Hiscock* (N) B. Indermuehle (N) S. Mader* (P) C. Phillips (M) J. Reynolds (P) J. Sarkissian (P) A.Tzioumis (M) R. Wark (N) --------------------------- System Scientist (P) System Scientist (N) Project Leader M. Wieringa (N) D. Brodrick (N, 0.5) M. Calabretta (M) S. Hoyle* (P) A. Kosmynin (M) S. Mader* (P) M. Marquarding (M, 0.2) V. McIntyre* (M) E. Troup (N, 0.5) Project Leader P. Mirtschin* (N) M. Hill* (N) B. Hiscock* (N) S. Hoyle* (P) A. Hunt* (P) S. Munting* (N) B. Preisig* (P) T. Ruckley (P) -------------- Technician (N) Technician (P) Project Leader J. Wilson* (N) K. Reeves (P) B. Tough (N) Project Leader T. Wilson (N) J. Crocker (P) M. Hill* (N) A. Hunt* (P) T. Lees (P, 0.6) C. Leven (N, 0.1) B. Preisig* (P) T. Ruckley* (P) G. Sunderland (N, 0.7) B. Turner (P, 0.6) N. Webster (N) Casuals S. J. Dodd* (N) -------------------- Antennas position (N) Project Leader V. Drazenovic (M, 0.7) J. Cole (P) J. Hockings (P) J. Houldsworth (N, 0.6) S. Ingram (P) E. Kachwalla (M, 0.5) M. McFee (N) M. Rees (N) C. Wilson (N, 0.6) Casuals P. Alexander (N) D. Brennan (N) C. Cummins (Mopra) S.J. Dodd* (N) R. Kelly (N) P. Kelly (N) CPS support A. Evans (P) L. Williams (P) B. Wilson (P) Parkes B. Dawson (SM) B. Preisig (TC) Narrabri and Mopra B. Hiscock (SM &TC) Operations: Themes, Streams and Projects Structure CSIRO. ATUC report: ATNF Operations

  4. End of an era… CSIRO. ATUC report: ATNF Operations

  5. Science Operations • Telescope Operations and Science Services • TAC met; schedules for 2008OCTS out; ATS Project Submitted • Joint TOSS/SCA/CI discussions on (i) use of VNC for remote observing, (ii) Fault Reporting • Commissioning of new receivers at Parkes • Discussions of observing support, ATCA calibration • Appointment of ATCA and Parkes System Scientists • 8th ATNF Synthesis Imaging School • Need to raise awareness of NAPAs? • Science and Computing Archives • Meeting on Parkes computing & software • Joint Operations/ASKAP meetings held • Streamlining of Operations Trac/wiki • On-going software development CSIRO. ATUC report: ATNF Operations

  6. Science Operations • Computer Infrastructure • Welcoming new members! • Office changes at Marsfield • New Marsfield servers and storage • New servers at Parkes and Narrabri • Visitors Services • Meeting of all Visitors Services staff • Purchase of software for bookings management • Office changes at Marsfield • Increased lodge security at Narrabri • Need for additional Quarters support at Parkes CSIRO. ATUC report: ATNF Operations

  7. Engineering Operations • Receivers, LO & Conversion • Parkes MMB problems • New Parkes 13mm receiver • New Parkes 300-900MHz receiver • New OMTs for ATCA L/S • Consideration of streamlining the Parkes receiver fleet • Digital & Servo Electronics • Parkes Equipment Control & Monitor Project • Parkes Drive Control System Project • Installation of interim CABB system • Upgrade of ATCA seeing monitor CSIRO. ATUC report: ATNF Operations

  8. Engineering Operations • Cryo • Compressor upgrade plans • Cross-site familiarity & awareness • Mopra L/S overhaul • Mechanical, Drives & Electrical • Investigation and improvement of Mopra power • Parkes focus cabin translator • Possibilities for Mopra subreflector cycling • New staff member at Parkes CSIRO. ATUC report: ATNF Operations

  9. Site Managers & Technical Coordinators • Brett Hiscock (Narrabri Site Manager & Technical Coordinator) • Brett Dawson (Parkes Site Manager) • Brett Preisig (Parkes Technical Coordinator) • Site Manager • Chair OH&S committee • Security and other local issues • Represent local staff • Technical Coordinator • Liaise with EO and SO for maintenance periods • Maintain oversight of faults and breakdowns CSIRO. ATUC report: ATNF Operations

  10. Tour of the Facilities CSIRO. ATUC report: ATNF Operations

  11. First Science with the Parkes 13mm receiver First Observation • New detection of H2O Maser. • Observation carried out by Jose-Francisco Gomez and his P616 team. First science with the new 13mm receiver was the detection of a new post-asymptotic giant branch star, a very rare and short-lived class of object. Data provided courtesy of Jose-Francisco Gomez et al. Plot prepared by Stacey Mader. CSIRO. ATUC report: ATNF Operations

  12. Removing baseline ripple Observations of a strong Ammonia source, G316.819 showing strong (1,1) and (2,2) transitions. The plot shows two observations taken one after the other, the first (upper panel) with no special 'de-rippling' measures, the lower taken in a mode where the receiver is moved cyclically up and down to 'smear out' the ripple. In the observation for the lower plot the receiver was moved up and down in time with a sawtooth pattern, with amplitude 6.3mm peak-to-peak (lambda/2) and period 60 seconds. Integrations were 4 minutes (exact multiple of 60 seconds). Experiment carried out and data provided by John Reynolds. CSIRO. ATUC report: ATNF Operations

  13. ATCA • Installation of interim CABB system continuing • Shutdown March/April 2009 for full CABB installation • Upgraded seeing monitor installed • NASA tracking continuing, at lower level than nominal 10 hr/wk • ATCA calibration (esp. in mm bands) being addressed • Poor image rejection in parts of mm bands being understood • Synthesis School held 29 Sep to 03 Oct • New Systems Scientist, Jamie Stevens, to start in January • Who do I call? • Support can be requested at time of proposal • Support during the day from local staff • After hours support provided by DA CSIRO. ATUC report: ATNF Operations

  14. Synthesis Imaging School 2008 CSIRO. ATUC report: ATNF Operations

  15. Mopra • Power problems throughout the winter season • Mm observing ends Nov 4, recommences Jan 29 • Remote observing now run over VNC sessions • First 7mm observations undertaken • Testing of remote observing to Marsfield and further afield • Mopra Milky Way Survey meeting Nov 3 • Who do I call? • Support can be requested at time of proposal • Support with schedule preparation in Marsfield • Support during the day from local staff • First contact for after hours support is the DA CSIRO. ATUC report: ATNF Operations

  16. Tidbinbilla • Understanding between ATNF and ICTC for continued use of facilities at the CDSCC for radio astronomy • Service observations for single-dish radio astronomy to be announced in ATNF Call for Proposals • In last 6 months, 146 hrs of single-dish Tid time used for four proposals • Proposals reviewed by TAC • ATNF contact to liaise with CDSCC Radioastronomy Engineer • Use of CDSCC facilities for VLBI to continue CSIRO. ATUC report: ATNF Operations

  17. LBA • Operational issues • Swinburne contract for correlation completed • New contract with Curtin from Oct 1 • New contract provides enhanced support for scheduling and calibration. • eVLBI production observations have commenced • Hartebeesthoek polar shaft bearing failure: impact on LBA observations. • Addition of TIGO and O’Higgins in November session • In the future • Curtin computer cluster at ATCA will augment eVLBI to 1 Gbps from ATNF antennas. • more network data transfers for faster turn-around. Less pressure on disks • Auckland 12m telescope officially opened Oct 2008 CSIRO. ATUC report: ATNF Operations

  18. Operations summary • Continued discussion of Future ATNF Operations internally and within community • Formal change of management structure July 1st • Project plans submitted to ATNF Project Review Board • Synergies in Operations/ASKAP software requirements • Improving configuration management • Planning for SOC continuing • Increased ATNF-wide thinking CSIRO. ATUC report: ATNF Operations

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