Observing with the AAT
Important changes on August 1st, 2018
Support astronomers for most observing progams will no longer be provided. Some paid time programs and most OPTICON programs will have a support asrtonomer.
Before observing at the AAT
The programmes awarded time by ATAC will be included in the AAT Schedule for the appropriate semester, and it is the responsibility of the named PI on the proposal to inform collaborators of the allocation. Information on travel to the site and accommodation in Siding Spring Observatory is given in the Travel and Accommodation pages. Please advise the AAT of your travel and contact details via the Visitor Form (Data Central account required). Details submitted using this form will go to AAT Admin.
Your designated support astronomer should normally contact you a month or so in advance of the run to confirm your travel plans are in place, and discuss any issues concerning your observing strategy. If you have not been contacted by your support astronomer 2-3 weeks before your run, then please get in touch with them directly. If doing the observations from SSO, you will be given a safety briefing.
During your observing at the AAT
In the absence of your support astronomer, your first point of call for any technical concerns should be the night assistant, or between 3pm and sunset, the afternoon shift technician. The easiest way to summon help is to press the "Technician Call" button on the rack to the right of the main switchboard if at SSO or the remote "Technician Call" button if observing remotely. To disable the buzzer locally, press the "Buzz Off" button.
After observing at the AAT
When you have finished observing you will want to copy your data to a laptop. If you wish to copy the raw data onto your laptop or elsewhere, use scp.
Australian-based students may now claim Travel and Accommodation support from the AAT. European observers may be eligible for travel and accommodation funding under the OPTICON Trans-National access program.
Finally we ask all observers to fill in the Observer's Report Form at the end of their observing run. This information provides important feedback to the AAO and is used to make improvements where necessary.