AUSTRAL Weekend Observations

• Observing schedule and module usage overview
• Schedule changeover procedure

The table on the AUSTRAL 2014 schedule page describes experiment dates and times. The schedules run back-to-back and should be treated as one long 48h schedule. The observing roster (Hobart time) is

Sat 10.00 - 16.00 
Sat 16.00 - 24.00 
Sun 00.00 - 10.00 
Sun 10.00 - 16.00 (schedule changeover at 10.00)
Sun 16.00 - 24.00
Mon 00.00 - 10.00

We are using 16 TB modules at each AuScope station. They will hold two days of data each, so no module changes should be required.

The sections below describe how operations differ from normal. Note that it will be possible to monitor the Hart 15m antenna and possibly Warkworth as well.

Please carry out the regular two-hourly checks as normal during the observations.

• Description of checklist parameters for AuScope telescopes

Please make sure you have a Skype chat session running and all observatories (including Hart and Warkworth if they're observing) included.

It is possible to monitor (but not operate) the 15m telescope at Hartebeesthoek using eRemoteCtrl and you may need to respond to problems when local staff are unavailable. Please read these notes:

• Monitoring the Hart 15m telescope

Note you do not need to send any ready, start or stop messages for Hart. Nor do you need to process schedules or logs.

It may also be possible to monitor the Warkworth 12m antenna. Details to follow if this becomes possible.

In the last line of the first schedule is a command to start the next one so it should happen automatically. Once the new schedule has started:

• Send a start message to IVS.
• Send off the log files to IVS. Refer to the page Prepare the comments file and transfer the logs for details. Note that all modules for AUSTRAL experiments from Yarragadee and Katherine are shipped to Hobart, and all AUSTRAL data are eTransfer-ed to Curtin for correlation.