load target list from fileThis page is used to add, remove or modify targets in the target list. The target list serves as a shared resource for any observations added to the proposal (see the Gemini Observations page and help for more details).
Before selecting targets please check that they will be visible for a significant period of time in the semester for which you are proposing. The proposal checks in the Submit tab will give warnings if the coordinates of the targets are outside the optimal range for the given semester. Short visibilities can lower the proposal's chances of getting time or of being scheduled.
Targets can be added individually or from a file. Edit an individual target by selecting it in the table (if this is a new proposal a blank entry is selected by default) and enter its name and coordinates at the bottom of the page. The default coordinate system is (RA, dec) and the J2000 frame. For non-sidereal objects, the time at which the coordinates are valid must be entered to assist scheduling. The target RA formats are hr/min/sec or deg (decimal x.xx.. or deg/arcmin/arcsec) and units must be specified explicitly. The internal representation is always hr:min:sec and the target list (and proposal summary) will show them in this format. The declination formats are deg/arcmin/arcsec or deg (decimal x.xx). The internal representation is deg:armin:arcsec. Additional targets can be entered by clicking on the new button.
An ASCII file containing tab-separated columns with name, frame (system), RA, dec, and source brightness can be loaded using the following button:
load target list from file
Similarly, the target list can be saved to disk using the following button:
save target list to disk
The main reason for saving a target list to disk is to make the list available for loading at a later time. Another reason for saving a (small) target list to disk is to create an example that allows examination of the file format if you wish to make a target list file manually. Note that if the target list file contains B1950 coordinates then these will be precessed on-the-fly to J2000 (so that the wavefront sensor Catalog Assistant can be used). The RA and dec fields cannot be internally tab-separated.
Targets in the list may be cut, copied (to the clipboard) or pasted (from the clipboard) using the buttons (or shortcut keys ctrl-x, ctrl-c, ctrl-v respectively). The ordering of the list maybe modified by using the arrow buttons.
All targets have a type labelled science to distinguish them from wavefront sensor guide stars (see Gemini Observations page and its help for more details).
The number of occasions that a target is used (i.e. referenced) in the Gemini Observations page is indicated in the final column of the table.