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PATT, UH and Japanese WFCAM Operations
Non-UKIDSS WFCAM Operations
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This page details the operational and data access policies of UKIRT in
non-UKIDSS modes.
Observing
Preparation and execution
All observations will be undertaken using the standard UKIRT
preparation and execution tools. Copies of the OT and survey definition
tool will be made available. Note that the allowed observing modes will
be restricted to those in the WFCAM library.
Calibrations
To ensure the integrity of archived data, all observers will be
required to do the standard nightly calibrations with WFCAM (standard
fields, spaced by one hour in the first instance, frequency to be
re-evaluated once a significant amount of data are available). This
policy applies to all WFCAM operations - UKIDSS, PATT, UH and Japanese
time included.
Flexing
PATT and UKIDSS observing will be flexibly scheduled. UKIDSS observers
will observe whatever survey comes to the top of the queue, while PATT
observers will adhere to the following sequence:
- Own project (if conditions requirements are met and allocated
time has not expired)
- Other PATT projects from the queue (again if conditions
requirements are met)
- UKIDSS MSBs (if neither 1 nor 2 are available and conditions
requirements are met)
- Own backup projects
Japanese and UH time will not be flexibly scheduled unless specifically
arranged in advance.
Access to PI data
General Policy
NOTE this policy has at least temporarily been superseded by the note
below ("March 2007 Note")
In general, WFCAM data are retrieved in reduced form from the WFCAM
Science Archive. We recognise that in some cases there may be a good
case for wishing to have quick access to raw data, and in those cases
we may - on a BEST-EFFORTS basis - be able to provide data on either
LTO (1 or 2) tape or USB-2 interfaced hard disks at JAC. Tapes or disks
must be supplied by the observer. If you believe you have a case for
doing this, you must contact your support scientist well in advance of
your run, if possible 2-3 weeks ahead. Note that WFCAM data sets are
very large and you should be ready to confirm that you have sufficient
computing resources at your home institution to reduce any data
supplied in this way.
In general, there will be a delay of 1-2 weeks after your data are
taken before they are shipped to you - do not expect be able to take
the data away at the end of your run. Finally, note that it is your
responsibility as PI to inform your observers of the above (if you are
not coming to the telescope personally). Last minute requests will not
normally be accommodated.
March 2007 Note
Until further notice, we will be unable to perform the "best efforts"
copying of WFCAM data to tape and/or disk. This is due to staffing
shortages and other priorities. Although the situation may change in
the future, we advise PIs wishing to take data copies away from the
island following their WFCAM run that they will need to allow
sufficient time after their run to copy data down to Hilo and onto a
USB disk that the PI supplies. Suitable workstations are available. We
would advise you to allow at least two days to complete this process
for a typical WFCAM run. Typical data transfer rates are 6 hours for a
full night of WFCAM data (typically 160 Gb). It is advisable, given a
laptop with sufficient disk space or a USB diskdrive, to scp data
directly from the WFCAM machines while at the summit. PIs should make
sure they meet their support scientist at the JAC before the run to
check the suitability of their laptop and/or USB disk for data transfer.
Note that the raw data format - Starlink NDF - will need conversion to
FITS at the PI's home institution. If you do not have a copy of the
Starlink
software an ISO image is available via the UKIRT web pages and this
software is supported for UKIRT users by the JAC.
Proprietary period
All non-UKIDSS WFCAM data will become publicly accessible via the
science archive one year after they are first ingested.
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