Observing modes at NOT

Instrumentation

For our suite of instruments and instrument-related observing techniques please look here.

Observing modes

At the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) we offer different observing modes, ranging from low-priority Queue-scheduling to high-priority Target of Opportunity observations, and from Visitor to Service-observing modes.

• Rapid response mode (RRM) :
  we are developing RRM and aim to do the first end-to-end tests at the the end of semester P70. This mode is set up to allow immediate and automatic access to the telescope, based on triggers that may need no human intervention, to have the telescope and instrumentation ready for observations of transient astrophysical phenomena as rapid and early as possible .

  RRM observations may be triggered on any night assigned to Nordic use of the telescope: Spanish time and International (ITP) time are excluded from Nordic use. Triggers can be sent at any time during a night.

  As this mode is new at NOT, scientific requirements and activation limitations are still to be defined.

• Target of Opportunity (ToO), hard ToO :
  hard ToOs serve to observe transient phenomena that cannot be predicted to occur, and hence cannot be planned in advance.

  Hard ToO observations may be triggered on any night assigned to Nordic use of the telescope: Spanish time and International (ITP) time are excluded from Nordic use.

  Hard ToO observations will be executed if weather and visibility allow us, overriding the observing schedule that was made for that particular night. Triggers can be sent at any time during a night.

  Some programs may be protected from ToO overrides by our Observing Programmes Committee.

• Target of Opportunity (ToO), soft ToO :
  with Soft ToOs one can observe and follow-up transient phenomena after the discovery phase.

  Soft ToO observations may be triggered on any Nordic Service or Technical night. Triggers should be sent well before the start of a night.

  Soft ToO observations will be executed if weather and visibility, and observing schedule allow us, and will be part of the planned observing schedule that is made for a particular night.

• Monitoring mode:
  Monitoring mode is assigned to those service-mode programs that cannot be scheduled in full-night blocks or partial-night blocks in advance, and that do not need urgency. For instance, long-term monitoring of a single known object, or a set of known objects, requiring little time per observation per night.

  Monitoring observations can be planned on a monthly (or so) basis, such that optimal observation timings can be adjusted based on incoming results.

• Service mode:
  Service mode is scheduled as part of the main semester-based telescope schedule, just as Visitor mode, but is executed by NOT staff and NOT students.

  Service mode is typically scheduled in blocks of full nights, or repeating runs of a large fraction of a night.

• Visitor mode:
  Visitor mode is scheduled as part of the main semester-based telescope schedule, and the visiting astronomer is instructed how to use the telescope and instrumentation on the afternoon and evening of the first night only.

  Runs are typically scheduled in blocks of full nights.

• Payback mode:
  Payback can be claimed by those programs that are overriden by ToO and RRM observations. These observations are done by NOT staff and students, in Queue mode.

• Fast-track mode:
  while observing time using the above observing modes can be obtained through our regular semester-based application rounds, we offer a fast-track proposal method to apply for at maximum 4 hours of observing time, and such proposals can be submitted at any time.

  The 'fast-track' applies to the application method; the observations will be done in Queue mode.

  Fast-track programs are not semester bound, and observations may be spread out over a period that is longer than a single semester.

• Filler mode:
  Filler mode is assigned to those regular semester-based proposals that are awarded observing time, but were given low priority by our OPC. Observations that do not require strict observing timings will be executed in Queue mode.

Applying for observing time

For the first 6 observing modes (RRM through Visitor modes) one can apply for time during our regular semester-based application rounds. See our home-page link   Applying for Observing Time .

For our Fast-track program see our home-page link   Fast-Track Service Programme .

Both the semester-based proposals and fast-track proposals are scientifically assessed and ranked by the Observing Programmes Committee.