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Science Operations

This article discusses recent highlights and updates in the science operations of the ATCA (Australia Telescope Compact Array), including rapid response observations, legacy projects, duty astronomers, and updates on other telescopes like Parkes and Mopra.

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Science Operations

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  1. Science Operations Phil Edwards 14 November 2016 Astronomy and space science

  2. Outline • ATCA • A Rorschach test • Parkes • Mopra • Tidbinbilla • ASKAP • LBA • 2017APR • Feedback Now with added science highlights! Science Operations| Phil Edwards

  3. ATCA • ATCA forum convened last week to discuss rapid response observations • The portal includes information on which observations can be over-ridden by which NAPA • Rapid response science re-opens the debate about whether rapid response projects should be allowed to over-ride any project – so long as that observation can be rescheduled. • Implications for ATCA scheduling Science Operations| Phil Edwards

  4. Science Operations | Phil Edwards

  5. ATCA Legacy Projects • Legacy Projects are large, coherent science investigations, not reproducible by any combination of smaller projects, that generate data of general and lasting importance to the broad astronomy community. • Legacy Projects typically require more than 2000 hours over the lifetime of the project, with the expectation of over 300 hours to be allocated per semester. • It was initially stated that up to 25% of the observing time may be allocated to Legacy Projects. • An international Time Assignment Committee was tasked with reviewing all Legacy Projects, and with making recommendations for a balanced program of ATCA Legacy Projects. Science Operations | Phil Edwards

  6. ATCA Legacy Projects • The TAC recommended two projects be given the highest priority: • C3132, GAMA Legacy ATCA Southern Survey (GLASS): A Legacy 4cm Survey of the GAMA G23 Field, • C3157, Deep Imaging of the Circum-galactic Medium with ATCA • The TAC also recommended that two further projects be supported at a lower priority: • C3145, Dense Gas Across the Milky Way - The ‘Full-Strength’ MALT45 • C3152, A Comprehensive ATCA Census of High-Mass Cores.​ • C3132 (555 hr) and C3157 (453 hr) were allocated time in 2016OCT, with the intention to start scheduling C3145 and C3152 in 2017APR based on a favourable funding profile. Science Operations | Phil Edwards

  7. ATUC recommendations on Legacy Projects • ATNF should make every effort to ensure that Legacy Projects, once approved, are able to be completed … • ATUC is in principle open to the possibility of increasing the fraction of time devoted to Legacy projects … • …care should be taken to ensure that the diversity of science areas from approved proposals … remains well balanced across the full suite of Legacy and non-Legacy projects. Science Operations| Phil Edwards

  8. Duty Astronomers • DAs play an important role in training observers and as first point of contact, especially after hours • All Astro staff, postdocs, and co-supervised students* are expected to be DA • Being DA is a great way to learn! • … but there are fewer and fewer staff and postdocs who are experienced ATCA observers • The dynamic of being DA has changed with the SOC • As a result, ATCA support staff are having to spend more time training DAs, and responding to after-hours issues Science Operations| Phil Edwards

  9. Duty Astronomers • We are anticipating that ATCA Legacy Projects will be more self-supporting • We will trial Perth based DAs for “Legacy Project weeks” • We are open to suggestions: • Have first time DAs shadow an experienced DA? • Broaden the pool of candidate DAs? • Do away with DAs and require all teams to have a project expert? • Continue the current scheme, but with more training videos and checklists? • Is ATUC aware of any dis-satisfaction with the DA scheme? Science Operations| Phil Edwards

  10. http://www.atnf.csiro.au/ATNF-DailyImage/ Science highlight! | Phil Edwards

  11. http://www.atnf.csiro.au/ATNF-DailyImage/ Science Highlight! | Phil Edwards

  12. A Rorschach test Matthewson et al. 1985 ApJS Science Operations | Phil Edwards

  13. A Rorschach test Matthewson et al. 1985 ApJS Science Operations | Phil Edwards

  14. Parkes • Presentation from Jimi to follow • Breakthrough Listen is to be allocated 1533 hr per year. • Allocated 535 hr in 2016OCT, so will be allocated 998 hr in 2017APR • Parkes in 2016OCT dominated by P892 (830 hr) and P456 (630 hr) • Four of 28 proposals were not allocated any time, several others received significantly reduced allocations Science Operations | Phil Edwards

  15. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-08/australia-joins-search-for-aliens/8005572http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-08/australia-joins-search-for-aliens/8005572 Science Operations| Phil Edwards

  16. Successful Parkes PAF – ASKAP PAF fringes, Oct 2016 http://www.atnf.csiro.au/news/news.php?action=show_item&item_id=1571 Science Operations | Phil Edwards

  17. Mopra • CSIRO entered an agreement with a UNSW to provide the Mopra telescope for observing for one year from mid-March 2016, on a full cost-recovery basis • This is likely to be extended for at least 6 months • Some Mopra time is being made available for participation in LBA observations • Can Mopra be used as a satellite down-link station? • Could constitute an Australian contribution to WFIRST • Would require some significant changes • “Molecular Line Emission Towards High-Mass Clumps: The MALT90 Catalogue,” Rathborne et al. 2016, PASA, 33, 30 Science Operations | Phil Edwards

  18. http://www.atnf.csiro.au/ATNF-DailyImage/ Science Operations | Phil Edwards

  19. Tidbinbilla • 48hr single dish, 83hr LBA obs in 2015OCT + 2016APR • DSS-36 opened, DSS-45 retired • 70m L-band upgrade deferred to February 2017 • Two papers with Tid single dish data this year Science Operations | Phil Edwards

  20. ASKAP Survey Science Projects • EMU • WALLABY • CRAFT • VAST • COAST • VLBI • DINGO • FLASH • …

  21. ASKAP Survey Science Projects • EMU • WALLABY • CRAFT • VAST • COAST • VLBI • DINGO • FLASH • … • Emu Plains • Willoughby • Wollstonecraft • Breakfast Point • Coasters Retreat • Hobartville (BI) • … • …

  22. ASKAP Survey Science Projects • EMU • WALLABY • CRAFT • VAST • COAST • VLBI • DINGO • FLASH • … • Emu Plains • Willoughby • Wollstonecraft • Breakfast Point • Coasters Retreat • Hobartville (BI) • Paddingoton • Gordon!

  23. http://www.atnf.csiro.au/ATNF-DailyImage/ Science Highlight | Phil Edwards

  24. LBA observing time (in hrs) by year & band

  25. Recent LBA publications • “e-VLBI observations of GRB 080409 afterglow with an Australasian radio telescope network,” Moin et al. 2016 RAA, 16 (11) 164 • “Planetary Radio Interferometry and Doppler Experiment … : A test case of the Mars Express Phobos fly-by,” Duev et al. 2016 A&A 593, A34 • “Real-time detection of an extreme scattering event: Constraints on Galactic plasma lenses,” Bannister et al. 2016 Science, 351, 354 • “Coincidence of a high-fluence blazar outburst with a PeV-energy neutrino event,” Kadler et al. 2016 Nature Physics, 12, 807 • “The TANAMI Multiwavelength Program: Dynamic SEDs of Southern Blazars,” Krauss et al. 2016 A&A, 591, A130 • “Radio and gamma-ray properties of extragalactic jets from the TANAMI sample,” Boeck et al. 2016 A&A 590, A40 • “The Gamma-Ray Emitting Radio-Loud Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxy PKS 2004-447: II. The Radio View,” Schulz et al. 2016 A&A 588, A146 • “H I emission and absorption in nearby, gas-rich galaxies II. … NGC 5156,” Reeves et al. 2016 MNRAS 457, 2613 Science Operations | Phil Edwards

  26. East Asia VLBI Workshop EAVN 2016| Phil Edwards

  27. TAC & Call for Proposals • Call for proposals for 2017APR to be released this week • Proposal deadline Thursday Dec 15th Science Operatioms | Phil Edwards

  28. Observer feedback Science Operations | Phil Edwards

  29. We acknowledge the Wajarri Yamatji people as the traditional owners of the Murchison Radio Observatory site. Thank you Phil EdwardsHead of Science Operations t +61 2 9372 4717 Ephilip.edwards@csiro.au wwww.atnf.csiro.au CSIRO Astronomy and space science

  30. Science Operations | Phil Edwards

  31. Recent LBA publications • “e-VLBI observations of GRB 080409 afterglow with an Australasian radio telescope network,” Moin et al. RAA, 16 (11) 164 • “Parallaxes of 6.7-GHz Methanol Masers towards the G305.2 High-Mass Star Formation Region,” Krishnan et al., arxiv.org/abs/1611.00930 • “Planetary Radio Interferometry and Doppler Experiment … : A test case of the Mars Express Phobos fly-by,” Duev et al. A&A 593, A34 • “Real-time detection of an extreme scattering event: Constraints on Galactic plasma lenses,” Bannister et al. 2016 Science, 351, 354 • “Coincidence of a high-fluence blazar outburst with a PeV-energy neutrino event,” Kadler et al. 2016 Nature Physics, 12, 807 • “The Gamma-Ray Emitting Radio-Loud Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxy PKS 2004-447: II. The Radio View,” Schulz et al. A&A 588, A146 • “H I emission and absorption in nearby, gas-rich galaxies II. … NGC 5156,” Reeves et al. 2016 MNRAS 457, 2613 EAVN 2016| Phil Edwards

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