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P60 SED Machine Quick Start Guide

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Observations with SEDm on the 60inch are scheduled by an automated queue script. The queue reads in targets from a database and schedules the night to allow as many targets to be observed within their observing constraints. Observation requests are bracketed by #Start# and #End# keywords. Below is a list of available keywords that can be set. Note that some keywords are optional.

Required Info

NAME=Object_Name limit 26 Characters no spaces
RA=Sexadecimal or Degree
DEC= Sexadecimal or Degree
EQUINOX=Equinox of coordinates in decimal years

Filter/IFU Parameters (must include at least one)

RC_FILTERS = r Exptime #repeat, g Exptime #repeat, i Exptime #repeat, u Exptime #repeat
IFU = AB or A, Exposure time

Optional parameters

MOON_ILL=maximum allowed moon illumination percentage
MOON_SEP=minimum moon separation in degrees
AIRMASS=maximum airmass
REPEAT=Number of times to repeat the observations
PHOT_CADENCE=Cadence of the RC observations in (d)ays or (s)econds
SPEC_CADENCE=Cadence of the IFU observations in (d)ays or (s)econds
START_MJD=Timing constraint to mark when an observation can first start
END_MJD=Timing constraint to mark when observations can no longer be taken
HORIZON=Boolean if target is in the JPL HORIZON’s database

Miscellaneous Parameters

P60PRID=Project id, will be assigned to the requester
P60PRNM=Project name limited to 50 characters
P60PRPI=Project PI limited to 50 characters
EMAIL=single email address to be used for notifications of an observation

Suggested IFU Exposure Time Guide

MagSec
14 - 15300
15 - 16420
16 - 17600
17 - 18900
18 - 191800
19 - 202700
20 - 213600
21 - 225400

Example Target Requests

Rainbow cam only request

#Start#
NAME=Test_Object
RA=16:32:55.04 
DEC= 33:14:24.10
EQUINOX=2000
RC_FILTERS = r 60 1, g 60 3, i 60 1, u 120 3
MOON_ILL=70%
MOON_SEP=30
AIRMASS=2.5
REPEAT=3
PHOT_CADENCE=1d
P60PRID=2017A-T0001
P60PRNM=Test project name
P60PRPI=SEDm
#End#

Rainbow cam + IFU cam request

#Start#
NAME=Test_Object
RA=16:32:55.04 
DEC= 33:14:24.10
EQUINOX=2000
IFU= AB, 2400
RC_FILTERS = r 60 1, g 60 3, i 60 1, u 120 3
MOON_ILL=70%
MOON_SEP=30
AIRMASS=2.5
REPEAT=3
PHOT_CADENCE=1d
SPEC_CADENCE=3d
P60PRID=2017A-T0001
P60PRNM=Test project name
P60PRPI=SEDm
#End#

JPL Horizon target + IFU cam request

#Start#
NAME=JPL_Horizon_Name 
HORIZON=True
EQUINOX=2000
IFU= AB, 2400
MOON_ILL=40%
MOON_SEP=30
AIRMASS=1.5
REPEAT=1
SPEC_CADENCE=3d
P60PRID=2017A-T0001
P60PRNM=Test project name
P60PRPI=SEDm
#End#

Questions? We've answered many common observing and operations questions in our observer FAQ page.
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SEDM guide / v 1.0
Last updated: 26 August 2016 RSW/ACM