Page Under Construction
Support for first-time LDT observers offered by Lowell Observatory
(version 2019 April 05)
Lowell Observatory assists first-time LDT observers (or first-time users of a particular instrument on the LDT) as follows.
A Lowell Observatory staff member is available to accompany an observer on his/her first night for at least part of the evening to be available to answer questions, discuss how things work etc. New observers should contact the TOs scheduled for their night and copy <tac@lowell.edu> as long in advance as possible letting us know about your first night needs. If you do not hear back in a timely fashion, email Stephen Levine to inquire.
Because the Lowell instrument user interfaces are all based on LOUI, the LMI User Manual is a good place to start for its basic description of how LOUI/Lois operate, even if you are not planning to use LMI.
First-time observers for all instruments should read:
- the LMI User Manual, which is at http://www2.lowell.edu/users/massey/LMIdoc.pdf
- the DeVeny Guide (this is a document in progress, the latest version is linked to the confluence page referenced below)
Also, the observer will want to become familiar with the LDT Information Center, which is referenced in the Call for Proposals and the message announcing the schedule release, and can be found at:
https://jumar.lowell.edu/confluence/display/DCTIC/Observing+at+DCT
Facility information, and instrument guides are all linked from that web page. The telescope calendar is also linked there.
The Lowell staff member who will assist you can take questions before you come out, and will normally plan to meet you out at the LDT about an hour before sunset to leave time to go over procedures before the crunch for twilight flats. The Lowell staffer will usually stay until observing has reached a routine level.
At the LDT, Lowell provides a telescope operator (TO) to run the facility, including being attentive to safe operations. For each of the instruments, the intent is to have written documentation on their use. Manuals are available from this confluence site for LMI, DeVeny and NIHTS, along with pointers to documentation on EXPRES and IGRINS. All observers should read the relevant manuals for the instruments they plan to use. Observers are responsible for the oversight and implementation of their science observations.
The TOs are all trained on basic operations of the instruments, but levels of familiarity will vary among them. They also typically do the basic instrument modifications (filter swaps in LMI, grating changes for DeVeny). Lowell does not support material changes at night (i.e., TOs won't swap gratings or change out filters during the night) because of the potential to damage something. As always, it is not fair to ask the TOs for science judgments. I.e., they can tell you HOW one can set up to do flats, but not which is BEST for your science - that is a judgment the observer must make.
In addition to the TOs, LDT Scientist Stephen Levine, Operations Manager TBD, Engineering Manager Frank Cornelius, Instrument Manager TBD, and some of the engineers are on call to the TOs at night, at least until midnight normally, and anytime for serious problems. If there are telescope/facility problems they will usually call Frank, Mike or Stephen. If there are issues with the instruments, some members of the instrument group are often on-line at night and may provide assistance.