Quick Reference
- Design and submit slitmask for milling 5 weeks before your run.
- Submit your instrument configuration request
- Submit your VSQ Reservations
- Create starlists
- Create finding charts
- Contact SA if you will be using remote
observing
- Acquire DVD/CD cases
Pre-Run Checklist
- Design and submit slitmasks.
Slitmask must be submitted 5 weeks in advance of your run. Please see
our Slitmask
Incentive Protocol for the policies regarding late slitmask
submissions. For extensions to the deadline, please contact the
Observing Support Manager using the contact information at the bottom
of the
Preparing Observations page.
Two software options are currently available to the observer
designing slitmasks. Most slitmaks are designed using the Autoslit software package. Please see the
links that are found on the
Preparing Observations page to download software and manuals.
First-time slitmask designers are encouraged to review the
Slitmask Design Tips page.
- Submit instrument configuration forms.
Please see the
Instrument Configuration form to request an instrument setup for
your observing session.
- Submit your VSQ reservation form.
Please see the Lodging
Reservation Request form for your run. This should be completed
two weeks before your run. If you will be using a mainland osberving
site for remote observations, please read see the policies for remote
observing.
- Create a starlist. Please see the starlists documentation for the
format of the star lists.
Don't forget about the Nasmyth deck limits which prohibit
observing at certain airmasses. The Nasmyth deck limits are different
on Keck I and Keck II. Please review the Telescope
info web page to determine the limits.
A planning tool is available at: TBD that can tell you when
targets are available during the night.
- Prepare finding charts. We recommend
that you create finding charts for all of your intended target fields.
For longslit targets, finding charts should cover an area of the sky
slightly larger than the LRIS guider field-of-view, and for slitmask
targets the chart should show an area at least as large as the LRIS
imaging field-of-view. Please refer to the specifications on the FOV
for LRIS and the guiders.
In the charts, be sure to identify the stars to be used for
alignment and the star to be placed on the pickoff mirror (if
appropriate).
- Acquire DVD/CD cases.
Keck provides DVD/CD backups for your convinience. Please do not bring
DVD or CD media with you. DO BRING a case, jewel
boxes, or other means of transporting your DVDs and CDs back to your
home institution.
please see the Autobackup
documentation for more information on our DVD/CD data backup process.
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