1. 1 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 Demystifying the Queue at Gemini Observatory AAO Epping - 29 June 2009 Henry Lee Gemini South, Chile

2. 2 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 How the queue works Maximizing science Phase 2 pitfalls... my emphasis will be on Gemini South...

3. 3 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 Queue-scheduling Three-band structure for (I)TAC-approved programs Within each band, programs are of equal merit Observations in the queue selected by ★ scientific ranking; the “band” ★ observing conditions at present ★ target position & visibility : low in sky? early? late? ★ overall use of instrument and/or instrument settings ★ program status : started & subsequent completion ★ (partner balance done at ITAC) For conditions, do all B1 before B2, then B2 before B3 B3 is designed to overfill queue & provide flexibility

4. 4 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 Queue-scheduling Matching priority & observing conditionsobserving conditions ✴ Cloud cover, CC ✴ Image quality, IQ ✴ Sky brightness, SB - optical ✴ Water vapour, WV - NIR, MIR Advantages : ★ able to fit observations with their required conditions to actual conditions ★ can set aside time before hand for SToO ★ quick-response (< 5 minutes) to RToO; e.g., GRBs “instrument switch” is simply moving the science-fold

5. 5 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 BandRequirement B1 (~30%) > 90% completion; some progs have 2-semester “rollover” B2 (~30%) 75% completion; 85% of started progs w. 75% data obtained B3 (~40%) 80% of started progs w. 75% of minimum data-hours obtained B4 “poor-weather” filler CC70+ IQ=Any SB=Any WV=Any

6. 6 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 Queue coordination Daytime “analog” to nighttime queue-observer Interactions with ✤ queue-observers ✤ instrument-teams ✤ day-crews ✤ data-analysts (DA) ✤ contact-scientists (CS) ✤ program PIs (PI)

7. 7 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 Queue coordination Nightly observing plans for multiple condition-variants Changes mask- and instrument-configurations as necessary Ensures calibrations are completed for program Communicates with CS, IT, PIs about possible issues Ensures data-quality checks with help from DAs “Core” queue-coordinators : long-term scheduling

8. 8 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 Daily queue management

9. 9 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 (Observing) Conditions B1-2 : no need to relax observing conditions B3 : as queue-overfill, we do not carry out all observations ✦ provide flexibility for non-ideal conditions ✦ minimum-time < requested-time ? ✦ targets’ list and visibility ? ✦ relax observing conditions & maintain science goals ? ✦ “best” flexibility at CC70+ IQ85+ (optical)

10. 10 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 (Observing) Conditions

11. 11 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 (Observing) Conditions

12. 12 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 (Observing) Conditions

13. 13 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 “Under pressure...” GN2006B-2008B

14. GS2006B-2008B 14 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 “Under pressure...” GS 2006B-2008B

15. 2009A 15 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 “Under pressure...” 2009A

16. 16 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 Phase 2 pitfalls Targets at “semester” boundaries Guide stars too faint for conditions ✴ recommend UCAC2 catalog for GMOS OIWFSGMOS OIWFS Usable finder charts : ✴ careful to show target, identifiers in crowded-fields ✴ chart-size appropriate to instrument field-of-view If special acquisition or other, please tell us ✴ we are not experts in every field... ✴ nor can we read minds... Don’t forget appropriate/necessary calibrations... Can use templates from standard OT libraries

17. 17 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 2009B

18. 18 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 Phase 2 pitfalls

19. 19 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 Phase 2 pitfalls

20. 20 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 Date2009B semester 10 Junesuccessful program PIs notified 12 June 2009B schedule published on web 2009B OT software released 13 July Deadline for PIs to submit Phase 2; applies to both queue & classical 27 July Reviews of all Phase 2 completed; checking from NGOs to CS @ Gemini 1 August Semester 2009B begins; 09B programs may be observed earlier to fill queue 17 August 2009B queue fully loaded; activate all 09B programs

21. 21 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 “Help me, help you...” (Jerry Maguire) Submit Phase 2s before deadline (July 13) Target visibility, guide-stars, finder charts... If MOS, define and submit preimaging ASAP ✴ early preimaging : earlier mask-preparation ✴ submission deadlines : 1st, 15th of every month ✴ MOS program activated and executed sooner For most observations, standard OT libraries available Band 3 : relax observing conditions? possible targets outside of “high-pressure RAs”? Band 3 “Help us help you...”

22. 22 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009

23. 23 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 “Show me the money...” (Jerry Maguire)“Show me the photons...” Queue is flexible, but keeps to scientific band Get your Phase 2s submitted early! Queries to Gemini HelpDesk If B3, relax observing conditions ? Good luck & may the skies be with you, always... Current queue & schedule

24. 24 AAO AusGO : 29 June 2009 Thanks; I’m happy to take further questions...