The current LDT Target of Opportunity (ToO) policy document is available here: ToO-Policy-2015-10-20.pdf. Users should be familiar with the current version of the policy.
Current Approved ToO Programs
See the bottom section of the most current Science Schedule for approved programs.
Procedure for triggering a ToO
To trigger a ToO, the team calls the LDT control room (Main Line: 928-268-2914; Backup: 928-354-2674).
Note that designated Time Critical Observations (TCO; highlighted in red on observing schedule) have the right to reject the ToO and are expected to reject the ToO unless the ToO will not interfere with their TCO science. During a TCO observation the final decision to accept/reject a ToO lies with the TCO observers.
Note that ToO's may be submitted during engineering time, however the principal observer or engineer for that engineering time has the right to reject the ToO if the ToO would create undue interference with the engineering activities.
Telescope Operator Responsibility
Confirm that the ToO team has an approved ToO program with time remaining and that this is the first ToO of the night. (See the bottom of the current science schedule for currently approved programs. Current policy is no more than one ToO trigger per night.)
Record in the night logs:
- Time when the ToO was triggered;
- Time when the interrupted observer finished their last exposure before handing over control;
- Time when the interrupted observer started their first exposure after the ToO;
- Any additional time used for calibrations.
In cases where the DeVeny collimator has not already been focused that night, the TO may be requested to focus the DeVeny collimator. Observer can focus collimator remotely.
The TO will not be asked to change: the LMI filter complement, DeVeny grating, DeVeny filter, DeVeny grating tilt, nor DeVeny slit width. (Note that on nights that the DeVeny is not scheduled for use it is the intention to leave the DeVeny grating, filter, grating tilt, & slit width in a standard configuration.). – Note: Since DeVeny now has motorized stages, this discussion should be limited to the grating, and filter? It's quick to change the filter – do we allow that?
Coordinate with the ToO observer to ensure that the necessary calibrations are acquired, either during the initial ToO time, at the end of the night, or, in rare cases, at the start of the next night. The TO is not expected to work longer than their scheduled shift.
Interrupted Observer Responsibility
If the ToO is a "rapid" ToO, the observers must hand over control of the telescope within 10 minutes.
If the ToO is a "slow" ToO, the observers must hand over control of the telescope within 30 minutes.
The interrupted observers should be ready to take back control of the telescope when the ToO team finishes.
If the observer(s) are on-site, for safety they must make sure that at least one person stays with the Telescope Operator at the LDT.
ToO Team Responsibility
The ToO observers must perform their own observations, typically remotely.
The ToO observers must keep the TO and interrupted observers apprised of their plans regarding when they expect to hand back control of the telescope. A ToO may not take more than two hours without pre-approval from the Director or their designate.
The ToO team should coordinate with the TO & the interrupted observers to ensure they get any needed calibrations. The Telescope Operator cannot be expected to work longer than their scheduled shift. Possible scenarios for acquiring calibrations include:
- if the filter selection overlaps, the scheduled observer may already be taking the needed calibration frames & share them
- ToO observer takes dome flats before handing back over
- ToO observer hands back over to the scheduled observer ASAP & re-connects during twilight to get necessary calibration frames & that time is accounted for as part of the ToO
- in unusual cases LMI dome flats might need to be taken the following afternoon at the start of the next observing night
The ToO observers must hand back control of the telescope/instrument after no more than 2 hours.
Within one day of the observations the ToO team should send an email to the LDT Scheduler (tac at lowell dot edu) with a brief report on the observations including start/end times.
LDT Scheduler Responsibility
Update the remaining available time for the ToO program at the bottom of this page and on the Observing Schedule web page.
Adjust the observing time account balances accordingly for each involved partner.