Completing the Observations Page

On this page, you define the observations that will be performed and select resources (e.g. instruments), observing constraints (e.g. image quality, sky brightness), targets (e.g. from the target list) and guide stars. You can also query the Gemini Science Archive (GSA) for potential duplicate observations already made.

Selecting an item on the left configures the right-hand area for editing. The help button is context sensitive i.e. different information will be presented depending on what is shown in the right-hand panel.

Select program information in the left-hand panel to choose observing mode (queue or classical). Queue mode programs that cannot give predefined targets (GRBs, SNe, follow-up of on-going surveys, etc) are considered target of opportunity (ToO) programs and need to specify the ToO mode that is being requested. Standard ToOs have response times of greater than 24 hours and do not interrupt other observations. Rapid Response ToOs have response times of less then 24 hours and can interrupt ongoing observations.  The minimum response time is 15-20 minutes, depending on the observing mode. Approved programs that are granted Rapid Response ToO status may also trigger Standard ToOs. The total time for all observations is calculated as the sum of the values entered for each observation. This is to be used as a guideline only and is not necessarily the time requested. (The time requested is entered explicitly on the "Submit" tab). A minimum requested time may also be specified on the Submit tab. 

Target of Opportunity proposals must include instrument resources, conditions constraints, and one observation with the total requested time. The observation does not need to include target or guide star information. All other proposals must include instrument resources, conditions constraints, and target and guide star information.

Resources, observing conditions and targets are defined in 'catalogs' (or tables). Each observation needs a target. Global (default) resources and observing constraints can be defined for the entire program or overridden and defined separately for one or more observations.

The Gemini Science Archive can be queried to see if potentially duplicate observations have already been made. The GSA query button checks each defined observation looking for archived datasets with the same RA,dec (tolerance 30 arcsec) and instrument (but not necessarily the same instrument configuration). There is a timeout of 15 sec if connection to GSA cannot be made. Only the first 10 results found are returned.

Note that mixed-mode programs are not permitted at this time and therefore separate proposals must be made for queue and classical observing. 

Proposals may include multiple instruments.

See additional help on:

Resources - defining the default instrument configuration and overriding it for selected observations) 

Constraints - defining the default observing condition constraint set and overriding it for selected observations)

Adding observations - from the target list using "Add obs..." or "New obs" buttons)

Catalog Assistant - for selecting Wavefront Sensor (WFS) stars (e.g. for fast guiding or Adaptive Optics)