P61-502: Active Asteroids and Other Unusual Solar System Objects

This is a ToO program for non-sidereal targets. Can now (since Sep 2019) be triggered via the OB generator.

Spectroscopy setup:

• Gr #3
• Slit_1.0''
• Blocking filter GG345 (#94) in FASU

Imaging setup:

• B (#74), V (#75) and R (#76) filters

Daytime calibrations:

Run alfosc.alfosc-calibs in the morning after observations. This provides biases for both modes with the window and/or binning used, as well as halogen flats and arc lamps for the spectroscopy mode used.

Remember to fill the tracking log of this program.

Observing instructions:

1. Go to directory: cd ~/obs/scripts/61-502/
   Do ls -lrt to see the scripts and run them as indicated in the trigger.
   
   
2. When the OB generator asks you to do the pointing and differential tracking in another sequencer window , you can get the target position and RA/DEC rates for the current UT in either of these ways:
   
   
   • Use tcs.asteph "NAME" which will look-up JPL Horizons to get position and RA/DEC rates at current UT. Information is output on the screen.
     
     
   • Alternatively, enter target coordinates from an ephemeris file directly on the TCS for the UT closest to the UT time of the observation.
   
   
   
3. Point to the target and start differential tracking/guiding in either of two ways:
   
   
   • Cut and paste the 4 sequencer commands output from tcs.asteph to point and setup for differential tracking and guiding.
     
     
   • Alternatively, preset the telescope manually to the target entered in the TCS catalogue. Check that the RA-rate and DEC-rate given in the ephemeris file are in the format needed by the TCS, i.e. dRA/dt without the cos(DEC) correction, otherwise you need to divide the RA-rate by cos(DEC). As soon as the telescope is guiding after pointing to the target, do the following:
     tcs.reposition-guide-probe RA-rate DEC-rate
     and when the telescope is guiding at the differential rates, you can press return in the sequencer window where the OB was started and the observations will start.
   
   In both cases the star box is placed at the optimal position, the differential tracking and guiding is started. The autoguider box will move at the differential tracking rates and guiding will stop when the box reaches the edge of the monitor (size is 70''). These targets have expected rates below 50''/hour, and the rates typically do not change over the time of the observations. Most likely the whole observation is possible without having to reposition the star box on the autoguider screen, but if you have to reposition, just repeat the above command:
   tcs.reposition-guide-probe RA-rate DEC-rate
   Note that the TCS will give a warning beep when there is 120 sec left before the star box reaches the edge, then again at 90 and 60. Make sure you reposition before the edge is reached.
   
   
4. In order to locate the target, which should be close to the centre of the CCD, you may need a finding chart, especially for spectroscopy. In a browser on the Florence computer to your right, open either of the links:
   • Lowell asteroid finder (http://asteroid.lowell/edu/astfinder)

   • Aladin Lite (http://aladin.u-strasbg.fr/AladinLite/)

   Note that for the Lowell astfinder you can enter the target name, set observatory to "950 la Palma", FOV to 390'' for ALFOSC, and you have the possibility to set the time steps of the trajectory, while for AladinLite you have to enter the pointing coordinates.

5. In addition to comments in the OB queue, remember to fill the ToO tracking log.

Objects:

P61 tracking P62 tracking P63 tracking

Program Tracking
Proposal	61-502
Semester	P64: 20211001 - 20220401
Principal Investigator	Jane Luu
Programme	Active Asteroids and Other Unusual Solar System Objects
Instrument	ALFOSC
Time Allocation	2 triggers
Total Nights	2x2.5h
Type	ToO+SoftToO
Notes	Override. Follow-up soft ToO during Nordic service or Technical nights
Total Time Spent	01:47 (hh:mm)

Proposal	Date	Time	Type	Targets	Files	Comments	Status
61-502	2021-12-01	00:00	SoftToO			All night lost to high humidity.	Failed
61-502	2021-12-06	00:00	ToO			Observations could not be carried out due to bad weather.	Failed
61-502	2021-12-13	00:00	SoftToO			The targets could not been observed due to high dust levels and southern wind direction that forced us to close the telescope from UT23:00-03:30.	Failed
61-502	2021-12-24	01:05	ToO	2020S3, 2010H2, 2005QN173, SA92_249	ALEl240062 - ALEl240065, ALEl240066 - ALEl240069, ALEl240070 - ALEl240072,ALEl240073 - ALEl240074	Targets observed with clear skies, variable/poor seeing.	Observed
61-502	2022-01-10	00:00	SoftToO	-	-	Telescope was closed due to high humidity.	Failed
61-502	2022-01-26	00:00	SoftToO			Observations not carried out due to bad weather.	Failed
61-502	2022-01-31	00:21	SoftToO	108p_ciffreo,PG0918+029	ALFa310159 - ALFa310162, ALFa310194 - ALFa310195	The ciffreo has been observed with seeing around 1.6arcsec at the first half of the night. The STD, due to the cloudy sky and the closed telescope, has been observed at the end of the night in low airmass.	Observed
61-502	2022-02-27	00:00	SoftToO	SA98_670, Ciffreo	ALFb270087 - ALFb270094, ALFb270095 - ALFb270106	The target has been observed with seeing around 1.5arcsec. According the schedule the Ciffreo had to be submitted as a monitoring program through the proposal ID 64-504 and not as a Soft ToO through the proposal ID 61-502. The obs time has been counted only to the proposal id 64-504.	Observed
61-502	2022-03-18	00:00	SoftToO	Ciffreo	ALFc180093 - ALFc180094	Nothing is seen due to very thick clouds.	Failed
61-502	2022-03-23	00:00	SoftToO			Could not observe due to high humidity and low temperatures - ice on telescope dome.	Failed
61-502	2022-03-31	00:21	SoftToO	108p_ciffreo, PG0918+029	ALFc310099 - ALFc310102, ALFc310103 - ALFc310104	Clear sky and variable seeing during the obs (1.2 - 2 arcsec).	Observed

Should any of the observations have been carried out using the OB system, you will find additional information HERE