Subject: Re: New paths forward for the Photometric Telescope at Apache Point
From: Douglas L. Tucker
Submitted: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:57:41 -0600
Message number: 1090
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Greetings, all,
For those interested in the current capabilities of the PT...
All the raw PT data for the SDSS, organized by MJD, are available at
http://www-sdss.fnal.gov/sdssdp/ptraw/
(standard SDSS access applies)
All the processed PT data for SDSS, organized by MJD, are available a=
t
http://www-sdss.fnal.gov/~sdssdp/mtdata/dp/apo20/run/listed_by_mj=
d/
(again, standard SDSS access applies)
For the processed PT data, the corrected frames are generally *not*
kept on disk. That said, there are some corrected frames available
for mjd54498 and a few other nights; see, e.g.,
http://www-sdss.fnal.gov/~sdssdp/mtdata/dp/apo20/run/listed_by_mj=
d/mjd54498/wcs-test-mdR-00378666.fit
http://www-sdss.fnal.gov/~sdssdp/mtdata/dp/apo20/run/listed_by_mj=
d/mjd54498/wcs-test-mdR-00378667.fit
http://www-sdss.fnal.gov/~sdssdp/mtdata/dp/apo20/run/listed_by_mj=
d/mjd54498/wcs-test-mdR-00378668.fit
http://www-sdss.fnal.gov/~sdssdp/mtdata/dp/apo20/run/listed_by_mj=
d/mjd54498/wcs-test-mdR-00378669.fit
http://www-sdss.fnal.gov/~sdssdp/mtdata/dp/apo20/run/listed_by_mj=
d/mjd54498/wcs-test-mdR-00378670.fit
which are the u'g'r'i'z' corrected frames for the SDSS/SEGUE Secondar=
y Patch 225B1.
(Note: the WCS info in the FITS headers here does not take into cons=
ideration
the slight radial geometric distortion in the PT field-of-view, so ta=
ke the
coordinates in these image files as only accurate to a few arcsec, es=
p. towards
the edges of the images.)
Publicly accessibly (i.e., no SDSS access restrictions) catalog data =
for
all the SDSS Secondary Patches can be found here:
http://das.sdss.org/PT/
(see Davenport et al. 2007, AJ, 134, 2430;
Tucker et al. 2006, Astronomische Nachrichten, 327, 821; and
Hogg et al. 2001, 122, 2129)
Best regards,
Douglas
Bruce Gillespie wrote:
>=20
> New Science and Operations Proposals for the Photometric Telesco=
pe: a=20
> solicitation
>=20
>=20
>=20
> For nearly a decade, the 0.5-meter Photometric Telescope (PT) at Ap=
ache=20
> Point Observatory has been used to accurately monitor atmospheric=
=20
> extinction coefficients, which has been a mainstay for the=20
> high-precision photometric calibration of SDSS data. SDSS-II imagin=
g=20
> will soon be completed, after which time the project expects to hav=
e no=20
> further use of the PT. Since the upcoming SDSS-III surveys are lar=
gely=20
> spectroscopic, we anticipate that the current mode of PT operation =
will=20
> not be supported for future 2.5-meter telescope programs.
>=20
> The Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC) has decided to poll the=
=20
> 3.5-meter telescope and SDSS (present and future) communities to se=
lect=20
> a new path forward for the PT. The potential benefits to our=20
> communities from creating a new mission (or missions) for the teles=
cope=20
> and its instrumentation have led us to offer you this opportunity t=
o=20
> express your interests and intended involvement in its future. We =
would=20
> like to hear your ideas on:
>=20
> =B7 New, broad-based science programs for the PT;
>=20
> =B7 Modes of operation;
>=20
> =B7 Management structures;
>=20
> =B7 Operational funding possibilities; and
>=20
> =B7 The role you and/or your institution could play.
>=20
>=20
>=20
> Some ideas that have been suggested for consideration include:
>=20
> =B7 Nightly monitoring of the site=92s photometric conditions;
>=20
> =B7 Service observing for ARC PI-submitted science programs:
>=20
> =B7 Remote observing by ARC astronomers and students;
>=20
> =B7 APO site staff use of the telescope for professional devel=
opment;=20
> and
>=20
> =B7 Public outreach and educational programs.
>=20
>=20
> This list is not exhaustive, and two or more of these options could=
be=20
> combined. Each option carries certain assumptions and costs for=
=20
> upgrades, operational costs and manpower, and software, e.g., a ful=
l=20
> time service-mode observing program would need ~$50-100K per year f=
or=20
> operations (mostly manpower and maintenance), and any long-term pro=
gram=20
> would require a one-time upgrade of ~$20k for control electronics=
=20
> modernization.
>=20
> Additional information on the capabilities of the PT and its=20
> instrumentation is given in the attached document by Stephanie Sned=
den=20
> (SDSS-II Lead Observer).
>=20
> Please note that ARC does not have the funds to operate the PT unde=
r the=20
> present 3.5-meter telescope and proposed SDSS-III operations budget=
s. =20
> Proposals that suggest science programs with no discussion of=20
> operational modes and funding possibilities will be of limited=20
> usefulness. If no credible proposals are received, the PT may be=
=20
> mothballed in the near future.
>=20
> Send your suggestions directly to Suzanne Hawley (ARC 3.5-meter=
=20
> telescope Director, slh at astro.washington.edu) and Bruce Gillespi=
e=20
> (ARC Program Manager, gillespi at apo.nmsu.edu) by Monday, March 31=
, 2008.
>=20
> NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THE MAILERS FROM WHICH YOU RECEIVED TH=
IS=20
> MESSAGE!
>=20
>=20
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