Help with Constraints

The observing condition constraints are defined and used similarly to the resources (e.g. instrument configurations) .

The default observing condition constraints apply to all observations in your program unless explicitly overridden. Selecting the Default Constraints item in the program (left hand) information panel displays the table of constraint sets. Selecting the constraint set itself (in the program information panel) displays and allows modification of the desired observing conditions. (See the example screen shots below).

If this is a new proposal only "Global Default" is shown in the list of constraint sets in the right-hand panel (see an example view). Expand the constraints tree in the left-hand panel and select the constraint set i.e. "global default". The right-hand panel then shows the four observing categories that define the poorest conditions under which an observation should be executed (see an example view). You can choose appropriate conditions for the program using the radio buttons. The translation between %-ile bins and physical parameters is given in the Gemini observing condition web pages (on the external site).

Starting in 2007B all observing constraints must be given for both classical and queue-mode proposals.

New constraint sets can be defined from the main constraints page using the create button. Choose the appropriate set of conditions and give the set a name for convenient future reference. As only one global constraint set can be active, creating a new set will deselect the global defaults set. To select the desired constraint set, click in the checkbox under the "selected?" column (see an example view).

Global constraints can be overridden for individual observations and specific constraint sets applied (see an example view). With the observation selected (in the program information panel), click on the Override Default Constraints button to add a constraints folder to that observation. Selecting the constraints folder in the program information panel) opens the constraints table. Selecting an item in the constraint table adds it to that observation.

Removing a constraint from the current observation does not delete it. It is still available in the constraints table for use by other observations. A constraint set may be removed permanently from the table via the delete button.