Observing at WMKO

Welcome

Welcome

Dear Observer,

Congratulations on having been awarded Keck time for your project. All of us at the Observatory will do our best to make your observing as scientifically productive as possible. We urge you to consult the W. M. Keck Observatory web site, Science and Observing section; for general information needed to prepare for your upcoming visit. We also list some important links below. Please contact us if you cannot find the information you are looking for. Best wishes for a productive observing run.

Randy Campbell
Observing Support Manager

• Important Deadlines
• Logistics of observing from Waimea, including travel, lodging, and other information.

Fully functional remote observing rooms at Headquarters allow observing from Waimea. Communication between these rooms and the telescope control rooms on the summit is maintained by high quality video teleconferencing equipment. This mode of observing is generally recognized as the most effective. All observing is now done remotely, not only because of increased mental acuity at 2,700 feet, but also because a wider range of support is available to observers in Waimea. Observing from the summit is no longer supported.

• Visiting Scientist Quarters gives more information for those wishing accommodations at the VSQ at the Observatory Headquarters in Waimea.
• The lodging reservation form.
• The Instruments homepage is your index to all of the instrument information.
• The DEIMOS/LRIS slitmask observer page gives instructions for designing and submitting your slitmasks.
• DEIMOS/LRIS Configuration Forms for those using either of these instruments are due four weeks prior to the run.
• The mainland observing policy gives information and procedures if you do not wish to travel to Hawaii for your observing run.
• The Split Night Policy gives guidance on how to make a split night most productive. To find the time of handover between observing groups, hover your mouse over the date on the telescope schedule. This will show the midpoint of the night or the handover time if the night is split other than equal halves. On configurable instruments such as LRIS and DEIMOS, teams from both halves of the night will have to share the complement of filter, masks, etc.
• The post-observing comment form is the best way to to send us feedback, comments, and suggestions about all aspects of your observing run and the support we provide.
• Computing Access
• Instructions to Authors Publishing Papers Containing Keck Data
• Sharing Results - Press Releases, etc.
• Observatory Visit - It is possible to arrange a daytime visit to Maunakea for observers working from Waimea. Visitors must supply their own four-wheel drive vehicle to transport themselves to the Observatory. Send your request through the VSQ Lodging Reservation form.

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This page last updated 29-Jan-2019, gm
Telescope-scheduling@keck.hawaii.edu