Prepare for Your Run

LBTO Supported Observing Form

Please complete the LBTO Supported Observing Request Form in advance of your run.

LBTO Supported Observing Request Form

This form will ensure that we have VPN accounts set up in advance of your run. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 members supported observing 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸. 𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀.

LBTO Tucson Observing Form

If you choose to use LBT HQ Remote mode please complete the: 

LBTO LBTO Remote Observing Room Reservation Form

as soon as possible. A lead observer should be designated for each night. this information should be passed along to the science support (ScienceOps@lbto.org) as soon as it is available.

LBTO On-Site Observing Form

If you choose to observe on-site at the observatory, please complete the

LBTO Mountain Visitor Reservation Form

It is very important that visitors to the LBT register for their visit to the LBT properly. Doing so ensures that they receive their safety training and a Simple In/Out account as well as bedroom assignments.  If traveling to the observatory, be sure to also review the MGIO Information for Observers, Staff and Contractors.

Prepare

Read the instrument manuals and the instrument and telescope webpages (as you are right now). Any questions, email us at SciOps@lbto.org, we are here to help!  For current instrument news check out the Recent News and read the webpages for the facility instruments: LBC, MODS, LUCI, PEPSI.

Script Generation

Scripts may be prepared using the new OT or the older tools. We highly encourage users to use the OT. Older tools such as modsTools, Scriptor, and the LBC GUI are no longer maintained.

The OT is available for download here. Please be sure also to download the most recent libraries for the OT. These libraries contain useful templates, notes, and examples.

PRO TIP: If scripts are generated using the OT, it can be very useful to send the program xml along with the scripts to be executed. This allows the observers to easily see the program and make edits (such as acquire new guide star) should the need arise. Details for exporting your xml are available here.

It is also good to prepare backup programs and scripts that account for all conditions.

PEPSI has not yet been integrated into the OT.  For PEPSI observations, please submit the PEPSI readme.  Details are available here.

Mask Preparation/Check

Mask preparation is described in detail for MODS here and LUCI here. We also encourage users to review the LMS tutorial(and this is equally applicable to MMS) provided at the 2017 User’s Meeting.

Masks can have many iterations along the way to perfection. To ensure the desired mask matching the generated scripts are loaded, we recommend confirming mask requests:

Masks for upcoming LUCI 1 & 2 cabinet exchanges

Future MODS 1 & 2 masks, separated by science block

LUCI mask exchanges are performed under strict scheduled conditions, so its best to confirm these well in advance. As long as the MODS masks have been generated (MODS Inventory list available here) and are available on the mountain, the observatory can often have the mask loaded within a reasonable time frame.

Users should also make sure to not rename the LMS and MMS files to something other than what MMS or LMS produces. Both LMS and MMS softwares allow unique names to be created (i.e. luci2.42.M81Targ1.lms). The “luci2.42.” is auto generated, but the “M81Targ1” is a unique name provided by the user. THERE IS NO NEED TO RENAME LMS or MMS FILES. i.e. Do not change luci2.42.M81Targ1.lms to Gromits_Mask.lms.

LUCI and MODS are now capable of doing binocular MOS observations. We offer:

1. “twinned” – same mask, same position angle, same pointing center for both instruments
2. “fraternal” – same field, same position angle, same pointing center, but different masks in each instrument.

We do not currently support two different masks with different pointing centers and different position angles. Unless you request otherwise, we will fabricate TWO copies of each mask submitted so that LUCI and MODS MOS observations can be done in Binocular mode.

If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact us.