Before and during the support run

Before the Run

 You must contact observers at least 4 weeks before each run, and point them to the relevant web pages of information for observers. You should also:

  • review the instrument set-up proposed, and encourage the observers to do likewise. Any deficiencies in, or changes to, the set-up must be forwarded to Site, usually via the Site Operations Manager, Rob Brookfield as soon as possible, and not less than 1 week before the run.
  • encourage the observers to arrive at the telescope the night before their run starts if they are doing their observations from site
  • ensure that students will be accompanied by their supervisor, or a suitably-experienced colleague (postdoc-level or above). Suitably-experienced students may only observe on their own at the AAT with the prior written permission of the SSO Director.

Before the First Night

  • If supporting from site, support astronomers (and scheduled observers) usually arrive at the telescope on the night before the first night on which they are supporting. They will therefore usually meet at dinner on this night, and can verify the observer's plans, discuss instrument setup and possibly begin introduction to the instrument.
  • If for any reason you can't be present on the night before, then you must be present at the AAT by no later than 1pm of the first night of observing, and you must inform the observer of this and arrange a time and place to meet on the day of the first night's observing, so you can verify the observer's plans, discuss instrument setup and begin introduction to, and setup of, the instrument.
  • During the day before the first night of an observer's run the AAT day staff will endeavour to set up the instrument as requested. Support astronomers will come to the control room by 1-2pm to assist in, or take over, this process from the day staff, along with the scheduled observer.
  • You must give all observers present a safety briefing on the AAT.
  • You must explain to observers where to find the name of the scheduled Afternoon Technician, that (if you are not available for any reason) the Afternoon Technician should be the observer's first contact for assistance, and how to contact the Afternoon Technician.
  • You must start the observers on any calibrations or test exposures required to ensure the instrument will be ready to start observing as soon as possible after sunset.

During the run

  • Support astronomer roles vary widely with instruments, their commissioning status, etc. You should ensure you are familiar with the degree of involvement you are expected to have for your instrument in advance of the run.