Subject: APO 3.5m users committee minutes, Nov 2012
From: Suzanne Hawley
Submitted: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:02:17 -0800 (PST)
Message number: 1297
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APO 3.5-m Users Committee Phonecon, 11/05/12
Attending: Suzanne Hawley, John Bally, Scott Anderson, Jon Holtzman, Rene
Walterbos, Michael Strauss, Mary Beth Kaiser, Bill Ketzeback, and Bruce
Gillespie.
Absent: Mark Klaene, Al Harper, Remy Indebetouw
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User feedback and comments from institutional representatives:
o Chicago (Al Harper) - No report.
o Washington (Scott Anderson) - Scott had nothing new to report.
o New Mexico State (Jon Holtzman) - Jon had nothing new to report.
o Princeton (Michael Strauss) - Michael had nothing new to report.
o Colorado (John Bally) - John noted that they had a very good run last night.
o Virginia (Remy Indebetouw) - No report.
o Johns Hopkins (Mary Beth Kaiser) - Mary Beth had nothing new to report.
**********************************
Discussion of telescope/instruments report:
Bill noted that we've enjoyed great observing weather recently. The
telescope has been solid, and the instruments have been generally OK.
The replacement window for SPIcam is on order, and the noise from the ion
pump appears to be a grounding issue that is being worked. Flats taken
with the echelle occasionally show differing levels, which is due to a
malfunctioning flip mirror, which is proving challenging to diagnose and
fix. Mary Beth asked when this is likely to be resolved. Bill said that
several tries to fix it were so far unsuccessful, but some new parts are
on order and he's hopeful -- otherwise we may be compelled to re-engineer
the electronics and software for the flip mirror. This problem has been
with us for quite some time, and has been gradually getting worse.
Mark Klaene's detailed report for the reporting period follows:
*************************
3.5-m Telescope and Instruments Highlights
09/29/12 through 10/30/12
0) Overview
Productive period with some excellent seeing at times and minimal lost time.
1) Telescope
The telescope performance has been nominal this period.
2) Instruments --
DIS has been operating nominally. Both red and blue cameras have been
functioning normally with good vacuum and temperature.
Agile had no issues this period.
SPIcam's vacuum leak was traced to a chip in the front window. A
replacement window with AR coatings is on-order. We expect its delivery
in the next 2 weeks. Until then, the instrument is off-line. An
electrical noise issue was traced to the new ion pump. An electrical
insulating disc (identical to what is installed in the DIS cameras) needs
to be installed. The UW machine shop has been unable to machine these
discs successfully and we are now looking at outside sources. We are
attempting to have a disc in time so that when the new window is installed
the disc can be installed at the same time.
The new TripleSpec cart is now in routine operation.
Echelle is operational. We have confirmed that the flip mirror is a
source of variations in flats. A number of fixes (both software and
hardware) are in work and are being tested. The problem is compounded by
minimal documentation and the very old C+ software used for the motor
control computer.
NIC-FPS is operating in shared-risk observing mode due to occasional image
corruption issues. A report of a glow in part of the image in K band
appears to have been caused by a loose wiring harness in the FOV that has
been corrected.
**********************************
SPIcam status:
This was discussed above.
**********************************
Echelle throughput:
Jon said that there is nothing new to report, other than that new data has
been taken in recent weeks that needs to be reduced. There followed a
discussion that noted how user traffic on the echelle has increased over
the past two years. Jon asked if there might be any recent echelle users
that can shed light on the instrumental throughput, before and after the
grating replacement.
**********************************
Upcoming BoG meeting:
Suzanne thanked the committee members for providing science highlight
charts for the annual report. Rene discussed the agenda for the upcoming
Board meeting, which will be the usual with the addition of discussion on
new partners. We're intact through 2014 with existing partners, after
which we'll need to replace Princeton and Chicago. Rene added that we are
in discussion with a handful of interested candidate institutions.
Suzanne mentioned that there is a potential selling point for new
institutions in the proposed fiber connection between the 3.5-m telescope
and the APOGEE H-band spectrograph -- an ATI funding proposal is in the
works for next year. John Bally and Scott Anderson both said that there
is enthusiasm at their institutions for this new capability. We need the
other committee members to poll their users, also. Bruce brought up a
recent meeting held at Sunspot where Mark Klaene learned of the likelihood
that NSO will leave Sunspot by 2017. This would have major impact on our
water supply and local aluminizing capabilities.
It was decided to send the link to the annual reports to the Users
Committee members, so that they are prepared to answer questions brought
to them before the Board meeting by their institutional ARC
representatives. Rene said that if there are other Board-related comments
or questions to contact him.
**********************************
Need references for Nov 2010-present:
Rene is updating the 3.5-m telescope publications list for the past two
years. Committee members are reminded to tell users to get their
publications on the list; contact Rene with updates.
**********************************
Other business:
There was no other business.
**********************************
ACTION ITEMS:
[open from previous meeting]:
===> ACTION: Send new ARC partner suggestions to Suzanne and Rene (before next meeting).
Status: Open, committee members need to keep sending suggestions. We need the names of institutions (of any size) and a named contact.
===> ACTION: Science slides for BOG meeting should be sent to Suzanne ASAP.
Status: Completed, closed.
===> ACTION: Users committee members should discuss APOGEE fiber feed to 3.5m proposal with their users and forward feedback, and ideally name(s) of interested users who would be willing to participate in an ATI proposal to Suzanne, Mark and Fred Hearty.
Status: Open.
**********************************
Next meeting: The next Users Committee phonecon will be on Monday, 3
December at 8:30 AM Pacific Time. The agenda and other materials will be
sent to the committee members during the preceding week.
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