Science Operations Philip Edwards Head of Science Operations 26 May 2010

Telescope Operations & Science Services Computer Infrastructure Scientific Computing & Archives Visitor services Receivers, LO & Conversion Digital & Servo Electronics Cryogenics Mechanical, Drives, & Electrical Science Operations Engineering Operations National Facility Operations ATNF Operations Structure CSIRO. ATUC report May 2010: ATNF Science Operations

2009 Usage Statistics ATCA (52 weeks) ATCA (46 weeks) ParkesMopra* Successful astronomy 64%74%78%85% Maintenance30%19%12%7% Equipment failure 3%4%2% Weather1% 4%2% Idle2% 4% CSIRO. ATUC report May 2010: ATNF Science Operations * For mm season from 17-apr to 11-oct

CSIRO. ATUC report May 2010: ATNF Science Operations TAC met in February Eight TAC members supported by 16 TAC readers Generally working well, further refinements of the new system Instructions for large proposals revised No proposals for Tidbinbilla for 2010APRS Schedules released in early March Staged release of ATCA schedule to keep pace with CABB developments Difficulties in filling the DA roster for Narrabri TOSS, Engineering & ASKAP efforts toward VLBI with ASKAP and Warkworth antennas On-going user support for all facilities Observing support, documentation, calibration, … Telescope Operations and Science Services

Parkes Observer Feedback CSIRO. ATUC report May 2010: ATNF Science Operations

ATCA Observer Feedback CSIRO. ATUC report May 2010: ATNF Science Operations

Scientific Computing and Archives CABB zoom mode testing is still in full swing and Miriad is updated as needed to process the new data. CABB scheduler allows zoom modes to be selected. The surge in Miriad data processing has also increased the maintenance load on Mark Calabretta as users push Miriad to the limits. The last vestiges of VMS are being chased out of Parkes with Simon Hoyle writing a replacement ShowTel. Testing for the MoniCA monitor and control update across the sites has now reached Mopra, Parkes will be next, after which the server and all clients will be updated. Testing and commissioning of ATOA and OPAL with a new database on new hardware. Mirpy package wraps miriad commands into python functions, see ASAP v3.0 released this month

CSIRO. ATUC report May 2010: ATNF Science Operations A major security breach was discovered in December, which was addressed by changing passwords of a number of local accounts, and informing visiting observers if there was a possibility that their account at their home institution was also compromised A new data processing server, "serpens", was brought into service at Marsfield. This machine has two quad-core Intel Xeon processors and is running a 64-bit version of LINUX allowing the full 16GB of RAM to be used if required. A new high-performance server to host the ATOA and OPAL has been purchased, significantly improving performance for these applications with plenty of capacity for growth into the future. The group has been involved in discussions with IM&T regarding the deployment of IP Telephony at Marsfield and the proposed deployment at the observatories in the future. Remote observing machines ara and norma in Marsfield Computer Infrastructure

Visitor Services Group External shutters on two of the Marsfield Lodge rooms Marsfield Lodge is booked out from July to mid-August Parkes has purchased digital alarm clocks …and an additional microwave to assist with meal re-heating Parkes tower food supplies have been slightly reduced in recognition of nut allergies and to reduce waste. A wide variety of snacks are still available. Parkes hosted the Teachers Astronomy Workshop last week A new fridge and freezer have been purchased for Narrabri Narrabri ET visit in April, Open Day 17th July, Synthesis Imaging School in September Food handling course undertaken by VSG staff in April Visitor Questionnaire form now online under visitor webpage to submit feedback/suggestions on all three sites CSIRO. ATUC report May 2010: ATNF Science Operations

2010 OCTS Call for Proposals Requirements for Large Proposals (>400hr) revised ATCA Expect 1M and 64M and 4 zooms per IF from start of semester 4M, 16M modes, more zooms per IF, higher time resolution data possible during semester, guided (in part) by proposal pressure All 2010APRS proposers contacted, as staged release of current semester schedule will mean full semester not released by June 15 proposal deadline: proposals for 3mm need not resubmit L/S upgrade completed early 2011, only 5 receivers until then Parkes 2~4 week shutdown for major overhaul of MCP in early 2011 Upgraded H-OH performance LBA Possible availability of Warkworth (13/3,20cm) and ASKAP (20cm) antennas on best-efforts basis CSIRO. ATUC report May 2010: ATNF Science Operations

CABB zoom bands

CSIRO. ATUC report May 2010: ATNF Science Operations VNC sessions are used for Mopra, ATCA and LBA observing VNC pros include Allows for seamless handovers between local and remote observers Correlator gui accessible to remote observers Improved support for remote observers VNC cons include Occasional battles for control of the cursor Occasional occurrences of VNC windows freezing or hanging Some non-intuitive key sequences required on occasions More experience is being gained Documentation is being improved Alternatives are being examined Remote observing

Around the grounds Tidbinbilla 49 hours single-dish host country observing since November 2009 (excluding overheads). Note decreased availability in this period due to long DSS34 maintenance period, and Shinji’s absence Mopra Successful fast-mapping observations HOPS completed Paper on 12mm & 7mm characterisation submitted to PASA Parkes Successful runs (2hr/month) CPSR2 to be decommissioned at end of June Pulsar backend characterisation and comparison in progress ATCA NASA recertification LBA Increasingly productive CSIRO. ATUC report May 2010: ATNF Science Operations

WVRs Water Vapour Radiometer project funded by LIEF grant administered by UNSW, with contributions from UNSW Sydney James Cook Swinburne ATNF Construction by Astrowave met some delays but delivery of completed units expected by end of June

Skydips at Mopra CSIRO. ATUC report May 2010: ATNF Science Operations

Observing time (in hrs) by year and band cm cm cm cm cm total

Other issues arising Mopra standing wave issue: initial tests in sub-reflector cycling gave promising results, but subsequent tests have muddied the waters. ATCA in single dish mode: pilot observations by Andrew Walsh have yielded maser detections and provided a useful data to study use of autocorrelations. Mopra webcam: “all-sky camera with active cross to show where telescope is pointing” under consideration Single dish polarisation software: Ettore Carretti has written the software and is working on the documentation Accepted OPAL abstracts to ADS? Can be done, though abstracts of accepted proposals can already be viewed in OPAL CSIRO. ATUC report May 2010: ATNF Science Operations

Thank you CSIRO/ATNF Philip Edwards CSIRO ATNF Head of Science Operations Web: Contact Us Phone: or Web: