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From bgaensler@cfa.harvard.edu Sun Nov 11 13:27:13 2001
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 12:57:37 +1100 (EST)
From: Bryan Gaensler
To: Vincent McIntyre ,
Anne Green
Cc: Bryan Gaensler
Subject: Agenda item for ATUC meeting

Hi Vince & Anne,

I see that there is an ATUC meeting coming up in a couple of weeks, and
there is an issue I would like to be put on the agenda and discussed.
I won't be able to be there in person, but can phone in from Boston if
required.

The issue is one of remote observing from overseas sites. I realise
this is a thorny issue, but to my knowledge it has not been seriously
considered for 3-4 years, and I would like to see it re-visited.

Like a growing number of other overseas-based users, I find it
frustrating that I need to travel to Australia to do my observations. I
think the policy of overseas observers having to come to the telescope
is strongly biased towards surveys and extragalatic projectsm which
typically require several days in a row on a single configuration, and
for which it then makes sense (as it does for an Australian-based
observer) to come up to Narrabri to do the observations. However, for
Galactic astronomy and studies of single objects, one usually wants
several different configurations spread over four to eight months. So
to do these observations, I either need to stay in Australia for one or
more extended periods, or I have to rope in locals like yourselves to
my dirty work for me.

I believe this situation is detracting from the science that I and
other people in the same situation would like to do. Not only is it
expensive to fly to Australia multiple times in the same year, but for
those with teaching responsibilities it is all but impossible to
observe except during the summer break, during which the configurations
and/or frequencies needed might not even be available. I know other
people in my position experience similar difficulties with this (I can
get together some letters of support if you think it helpful) - this is
in contrast to most other observatories, which either offer a remote
observing option or do the observations for you.

Another issue to consider is the impact that 12/3mm observing will have
on the observing schedule. It would obviously be inefficient and
diappointing if f I fly to Australia to do my 20cm observations, only
to find that the conditions are optimal for millimetre astronomy and
that a 3mm observer has been given my observing slot!

I realise that one of the issues regarding overseas remote observing is
the speed of the network connection. I agree that this was a real issue
2-3 years ago, but think that internet links are now sufficiently fast
that this should no longer be a problem. Several times I have monitored
an observation from Boston, by running every aspect of remote observing
remotely except CAOBS. The connection has usually been fine (often no
worse than it is from U Sydney), and when there have been problems they
have usually been between Epping and Narrabri anyway.

Having said all this, I realise that this is a slippery slope, and that
if you open up observing to anyone anywhere in the world then nobody
will ever come to Narrabri - this is obviously a bad thing. However, I
think that if the existing guidelines for remote observing are extended
slightly, a workable system can emerge. I suggest the following:

* Overseas remote observing (ORO) is approved on an individual basis by
the OIC, and is never allowed for a given project for more than (say) a
total of 24 hours in any one week period, and never for more than (say)
16 continuous hours.

* ORO is offered only to experienced observers, who have acted as Duty
Astronomer within the last (say) 1-2 years.

* ORO is offered with no guarantees. If the link fails or there are
other problems, the DA and local staff are under no obligation to help
out. (Perhaps the observer should ensure that there is a "back-up"
remote observer based in Australia, who could help out if the internet
link fails.)

I suspect that such an arrangement would have little impact on the
operation of the ATCA or the number of visitors, and that it would
primarily be of benefit to a core of a dozen or so experienced
observers who are regular visitors to Narrabri in any case.

Finally, if the ATNF considers this as a possibility, I am happy to
volunteer to act as a guinea pig! We have frequent monitoring
observations of SN 1987A as part of project C015, and I could imagine
some sort of trial where I carry an observung run as ORO, but have
another member of the project monitor things from Epping or Narrabri in
case the experiment is unsuccessful.

Please let me know if you need any more information or letters of
support from other overseas observers for when this is raised at the
ATUC meeting.

best wishes,

Bryan

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Dr Bryan M Gaensler Phone: +1 617 496 7854
Harvard-Smithsonian CfA Fax : +1 617 495 7356
60 Garden Street MS-6 Email: bgaensler@cfa.harvard.edu
Cambridge MA 02138, USA WWW : http://hea-www.harvard.edu/~bmg
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