Versions Compared

Old Version 350

changes.mady.by.user Timothy Ellsworth-Bowers

Saved on

compared with

New Version 351

changes.mady.by.user Timothy Ellsworth-Bowers

Saved on

Key

  • This line was added.
  • This line was removed.
  • Formatting was changed.
Comment: Removing Page

Image Modified The DCT name has changed to the Lowell Discovery Telescope (LDT).

This page gives a general overview for visitors and staff

As of 23 March 2021, these pages are no longer being maintained.  

Please refer to the new LDTOI pages for current documentation.

...

width50%

Updates (and Old Updates)

UPDATE: The DeVeny Spectrograph User Manual has been revised and updated.  The new version (v1.6 – 22 March 2021) includes updated operating instructions, a reorganized structure, and more ancillary data and information on the instrument.  It is available on the LDTOI Confluence page. (2021Mar22)

UPDATE: The LMI User Manual has been updated.  (2020Dec20)

UPDATE: The 2021A LDT schedule has been releasead. (2020Dec01)

UPDATE: The DeVeny spectrograph is back in operation. (2020Nov06)

UPDATE: NIHTS is back in operation. (2020Oct08)

UPDATE: The GG495 blocking filter has been replaced in the DeVeny spectrograph. (2020Oct02)

Expand
titleUPDATE: TCS has been updated, ephemeris tracking is again working. (2020Feb19)

The telescope control system (TCS) has been updated, and several issues fixed. One item of particular note to observers is that ephemeris based pointing and tracking is now functioning again. If you plan to use an ephemeris, please be in touch with staff ahead of your run to ensure that things work as expected. The ephemeris file format has changed slightly. For ephemerides extracted through the TCS, there shouldn't be an issue; if you generate your own ephemeris file, then you will need to make sure it conforms to the revised format. (2020Feb19)

Expand
titleUPDATE: NIHTS User Manual updated (2019Jan30)

An updated version of the NIHTS User Manual (v1.4 - 2019013) has been released and is available on the DCT confluence pages. Per the authors, NIHTS User Manual v1.4 adds a description of blind target acquisition using LMI.

Expand
titleUPDATE: LMI shutter delay. (2018Dec05)

We have looked into quantifying the delay between when a user requests an image with LMI, and when the shutter actually opens. Details can be found in the write up under the LMI link about the shutter delay. The bottom line is that:

  1. The exposure times are as recorded to within a few hundredths of a second, based on the star streaks.

  2. The shutter throw time in each direction is between roughly 0.1 and 0.2 seconds, meaning that there is also a temporal gradient across all the images.

  3. Formal uncertainty on the measured time offsets are an underestimate of the true variation. The shutter throw time alone means the mid-time varies across the frame systematically by at least 0.1second (added as the systematic uncertainty below).

  4. The shutter opens 2.05 +/- 0.06 (ran) +/- 0.1 (sys) seconds later than the UTCSTART in the image header.

  5. The shutter closes 0.19 +/- 0.06 (ran) +/- 0.1 (sys) seconds earlier than the UTCEND in the image header.

Exposure times should be computed as:

  1. Start time = UTCSTART + 2.05sec

  2. End time = UTCEND - 0.19sec

  3. Mid-time = UTCSTART + 2.05 + EXPTIME/2 or

  4. Mid-time = [(UTCSTART + 2.05) + (UTCEND-0.19)] / 2

Important Notes for all LDT Users and Visitor

LDTUsers Slack Channel for Discussion & Announcements

Proposing to Observe

Applying for Observing Time - 2021A LDT Call for Proposals

LDT Staff

 Observing Run Preparation

What to do before showing up for your run

First time using LDT, or a particular instrument?

Calendars:

LDT Remote Observing Notes 

Target List Submission

Ephemeris Data Submission/Generation

Automated Function and Pattern Data Submission

Object Data and Finder Chart Generators

During Your Run

Closure Conditions

LDT Staff

Target of Opportunity (ToO) Procedures

After Your Run

Evaluation/Feedback forms

Data Retrieval

LDT (formerly DCT) Acknowledgment Text

Column
width50%

The Telescope

For an overview of the telescope and site, see

Information about the seeing and image quality:

For an overview of the first generation Instruments, see

Instruments

LDT Instrumentation Current & Future

Expand
titleDeVeny

Operational.

Summary

Web Page:

Manual: DeVenyManualv1.6.pdf (22Mar2021)

Additional Information: DeVeny_Ops_Appendix.tar

Expand
titleDSSI

Operational - PI instrument

Summary

Web Page: the instrument page at Gemini-N is mostly applicable and very informative

Manual:

Additional Information: DSSI is available part time at LDT. For information, contact E. Horch or G. van Belle.

Expand
titleEXPRES

Commissioning now/limited science operations

Summary

Web Page: EXPRES web page

Manual:

Additional Information:

Expand
titleIGRINS

On DCT through 30 April 2019

Summary

Web Page:  IGRINS wiki has a lot of information about IGRINS

Manual:

Additional Information: IGRINS will be available part of the year in 2016, 2017 and 2018. For information, contact L. Prato or G. Mace.

Expand
titleLMI

Operational.

Summary

Web Page:

Manual: LMI User Manual

Additional Information: LMI Exposure time calculator, LMI Filter Information, LMI shutter delay

Expand
titleNIHTS

Operational, finishing commissioning.

Summary

Web Page:

Manual: NIHTS User Manual (v. 1.4 - 20190130)

Additional Information: Overview of NIHTS (2018 Proc. SPIE 10702, 107023E)

Expand
titleRIMAS

Coming soon.

Summary

Web Page:

Manual:

Additional Information:

LDT Software Information

Site Information

Weather Information

LDT Site Coordinates

Directions to the LDT Site

Where to stay when observing at LDT

General Facility Overview

LDT Staff

General Information

Schedules for other Lowell telescopes

LDT Scientific and Technical Publications

LDT (formerly DCT) Selected Technical Publications & References (full papers)

DCT Partner Contact Info