Remote Observing from Home
The AAT is allowing remote observing from home to experienced astronomers based in Australia. Requests to observe remotely from places outside Australia need SSO Director approval.
If you have the sufficient observing experience, bandwidth (and computer screens) and you cannot make it to a remote observing station, please submit a request through via the Visitor Form and select "Remote observing from home."
The number of computer screens you have available is important. For instruments such as 2dF at least two recommended. Likewise, if you are using the NBN, check that there is no scheduled maintenance that might affect your connection on the night of your observing run. We also recommend that you book the remote observing station closest to you for unexpected disruptions to the NBN.
Astronomers are required to inform SSO of your observing plans at least three weeks before your next observing run using the Visitor Form (Data Central account required).
What to do when the internet link goes down
About a couple of times of year, the internet link to site,which is managed by AARNet, goes down. When this happens, the phones still work.
On these occations, it is still possible to transfer small amounts of data (e.g. FLD or SDS files) to site.
- Upload the data to publically accessible web site (e.g. Google Docs, Dropbox, etc)
- Send the link to the directory contianing the files as a text message to the emergency mobile. See your local instructions for the number.
Site staff will then help you prepare for the night and execute the observations over the phone.
Frequently asked quesitons and tips
Q. Can I observe remotely from more than one station at once
Yes. Up to five remote observing rooms can be connected to the AAT at the same time.
Q. Do I have to fill out the AAT's Observer Travel Notification Form if I plan to do remote observing
Yes. we need to know who is observing from where and when so that we can set up access
Q. Which instruments can one use remotely
All AAT instruments except Hector can be used remotely.
Q. When must I connect to site
You must connect at 3pm (4pm in summer)
Q. How can I contact site if I cannot reach the afternoon technician
You can call the AAT control room, the building public address system, the emergency mobile, number, or you can activate the afternoon shift tech call button. Details are available from the remote observing instructions guide at your remote observing station.
Q. The AAT Control Room is not on Zoom
Activate the afternoon shift tech call button. Either they have not logged on or the meeting number may have changed.
Q. Why is the VNC slow to respond
We are not sure why this happens. We suspect that it is casued by running the internet browser on aatlxy/aatlxx. Try exiting the internet browser to see if that improves the reaction time.
Q How can I see the night clock tool
Type night_clock in a terminal window. By default it will position itself on the far righthand monitor. You can positionit wherever you like and it will stay there until you exit it.
Q. For 2dF, where can I run "configure"
Configure should only be run on either AATLXH or AATLXE. You can ssh into either of these machines with your visitor details. Do not run configure on AATLXY.
Q. What do I do at the end of the night
When you have finished observing for the night
- Exit the VNC. On some VNC clients, this is done by hitting the F8 key and selecting exit. Under no circumstances, should you log out of aatlxx/aatlxy. The consequneces could be grave.
- Log out of the VPN.
- If you are running a second VPN, log out of that VPN as well.