Science Operations

1. Science Operations CSIRO ASTRONOMY & SPACE SCIENCE Phil Edwards 30 October 2012 Space for collaborator logos [delete instructions before use]

2. Outline • Visitor Services Group • Scientific Computing & Archives • Computing Infrastructure • Science Operations Centre • ATCA • Parkes • Mopra • Long Baseline Array • Tidbinbilla Sci Ops | Page 2

3. Visitor Services Group • Parkes Quarters changes • From 1st October 2012 the Parkes Quarters provides accommodation, breakfast and evening meals but will no longer provide lunches. • Lunches for observers, Parkes Observatory staff, and other visitors will be available from the Dish Café at reasonable rates and payable to the Dish Café. • A menu from the Dish Café is provided for visitors and information on delivery and opening times is clearly posted • The new Quarters daily rate of $77.30 per day will be for accommodation, breakfast and dinner only and effective from October 1st  • Active engagement with SOC work at Marsfield • Marsfield VSG group have moved into their new office Sci Ops | Page 3

4. Scientific Computing & Archives • Science Computing & Archives will be merged with the ASKAP computing group to form a new Software and Computing stream. Stream leader to be appointed in the near future. • Parkes: RAPT work to be described by Dave McConnell • ATCA: • Recent miriad changes outlined at http://atcaforum.atnf.csiro.au • New (user friendly) ATCA sensitivity calculator includes 4cm receivers • New multi-zoom 64MHz mode included in CABB scheduler • Loss of glish expertise and impact on GUIs • CABB data in CASA Sci Ops | Page 4

5. Computing Infrastructure • ASKAP Opening Oct 5th • MRO preparations • Geraldton CI member to be hired • Replace hydra, crux, kaputar, pictor • SOC set-up for ASKAP, Parkes… • …relocation of room 23 ATCA and Mopra stations to SOC • Video screen installations in SOC interaction area Sci Ops | Page 5

6. ATUC

7. ATCA • Multi-zoom 64 MHz CABB mode available from beginning of 2012OCT • Many recent improvements to CABB usability • WVRs installed – commissioning and integration continuing • ATCA update emailed to users last week • Version 2 of ATCA schedule released • Plea for observers to complete Observer Feedback form • RFI feedback form link added to ATCA webpages • Record number of NAPA proposals for 2012OCT • CASS Radio School successfully hosted by ATCA Sci Ops | Page 7

8. ATCA proposal demand 2013OCT Sci Ops | Page 8

9. Parkes • A total of six receiver change days scheduled in 2012OCT. • Start: 10/50 • 24-oct: H-OH and 13mm • 12-nov: H-OH and S/X • 16-nov: 10/50 • 11-feb: H-OH and S/X • 15-mar: GLLO and OldMeth (tbc) • 21-mar: 10/50 • Expect MB20, 10/50, and H-OH to be available in 2013APR, with the availability of other receivers driven by proposal pressure. Highly graded proposals requesting a receiver that is not installed in the focus cabin in 2013 APR don’t need to be resubmitted • HIPSR commissioning underway • AFB and MBCorr decommissioning during 2012OCT Sci Ops | Page 9

10. Mopra • Funding has been secured to operate the Mopra Telescope for three years, commencing in October 2012. Mopra operations will initially be supported by NAOJ and UNSW consortium • ATNF time in October used for unfinished large projects with high TAC grades: “green time” requests invited for other LST ranges • NAOJ and UNSW consortium provided with list of proprietary observations to avoid duplication of these projects • Call for proposals for 2013APR to include proposals for ATNF time, outside 11-22 LST, for experienced teams • Photogrammetry of Mopra dish last week • 7mm receiver operational again! Sci Ops | Page 10

11. arXiv:1205.6466 SciOps

12. Long Baseline Array • Back to normal number of LBA proposals in 2012OCT • Mopra 6cm/3cm (“C/X”) band receiver removed in May 2012 to enable ATCA 4cm upgrade to proceed with 6 antennas available at all times: expect C/X receiver back on Mopra for March LBA session. • Move from 3 x 1-week blocks per year to more frequent, shorter sessions (allowing closer spacing for multi-epoch monitoring) undergoing change. Driven to four main sessions a year (with possibility of 1.4/1.6GHz only sessions at other times). • RadioAstron observations at 4.8 or 22 GHz with Parkes constrained by receiver availability. Tracking station constraints mean co-observations with LBA are typically ~1 hr. • RadioAstron AO-1 deadline 01-feb-2013 Sci Ops | Page 12

13. Tidbinbilla • The 70-m will be unavailable for 7 months from the middle of November 2012 due to maintenance downtime • RadioAstron Early Science Program making use of 70-m availability • A new 4-channel K-band receiver and down-converter system has been installed on the 70m. This system supports two simultaneous beams per polarisation (four beams in total) between 21 GHz and 25 GHz. • Tidbinbilla 34m antennas able to be used at 2.3, 8.4, 32 GHz for VLBI observations Sci Ops | Page 13

14. Thank you • CASS/ATNF Phil EdwardsHead of Science Operations t +61 2 9372 4717 E philip.edwards@csiro.au w www.atnf.csiro.au • CSIRO ASTRONOMY & SPACE SCIENCE

15. Qualifying for ATCA remote observing • It is clear the current requirements are not sufficient, which has led to the suggestion of a points-based qualification system. An example might be that 100 points are needed to qualify, and: • Been DA in the last 6 months: +100 points • Been DA 6 – 12 months ago: +80 points • Observed from Narrabri in last 6 months: +30 points per observation • Observed from Narrabri in last 6 – 12 months: +20 points per observation • Observed remotely in last 6 months: +10 points per observation • Observed remotely in last 6 – 12 months: + 5 points per observation • Completed observer feedback form: +10 points • Submitted (non-trivial) Fault Report: +10 points • Contributed to ATCA forum: +10 points • Submitted rem obs request < 2 weeks in advance: - 10 points Sci Ops | Page 15