Script Preparation
Latest Version of the Observing Tool, OT 2022B 1.2.0
OT 2022B IS BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE WITH OT2020A. SCRIPTS GENERATED WITH OT 2020A LOAD SEAMLESSLY INTO OT 2022B. NOTE: OT 2020A V1.0.0 SUPERSEDES ALL PRIOR VERSIONS. OLDER VERSIONS HAVE BEEN DEPRECATED AND WILL NO LONGER GENERATE SCRIPTS
UPDATE (Nov 21, 2024): An update to the SIMBAD database caused target queries with Gaia G magnitudes to fail. OT 2022B V1.2.0 fixed the catalog parsing.
The LBTO Observing Tool (OT) is a GUI-driven software that allows users to create complex and detailed observing scripts. While based (with permission) on Gemini Observatory’s tool, when complete, the customized LBTO Observing Tool will support observations with all LBTO facility instruments (LUCI, MODS, LBC).
The philosophy of the OT is to hide the complexity of the observatory control systems and yet not restrict significantly the scientific capabilities and innovative observing techniques.
Investigators should use the Observing Tool to construct a Science Program containing observations that specify their target positions, guide stars, observing condition constraints, and define sequences of telescope motion and instrument configuration, science, and calibration exposures. During this process, the first point of contact for queries about the Observing Tool and observation definition should be LBTO staff and local Partner Coordinators.
Upon completion of the detailed definition, the PI should create and download scripts to their local computer using the tool and pass these scripts and the exported Science Program to their Partner Coordinators, Partner Service Observers, and/or LBTO staff (contact: sciops@lbto.org).
NOTE: The 2022B Observing Tool is the current public release. It will produce:
- LBC Monocular and Binocular scripts. Monocular scripts can be generated with a flag for Mixed Mode operations with another facility instrument.
- MODS scripts (which can be binocularized or executed in mixed mode with another facility instrument using the script engines at time of execution)
- LUCI Seeing Limited, Enhanced Seeing Mode, Diffraction Limited, and ARGOS Monocular scripts (which can be executed alone or in mixed mode operations with another facility instrument), identical twin with mirrors observations on SX and DX, Fraternal twin that allow for different instrument configurations but identical telescope configurations, Angular Differential imaging where the user can turn off the field rotator, Sub-Frame that allows users to acquire and set up subframed images.
- Calibration scripts for all instruments
