The JCMT OT primer

This document is a primer on how to use the JCMT Observing Tool (JCMT OT) to prepare and submit observations.

The software must already be downloaded and installed for these pages to be relevant (see our software installation page — make sure you have downloaded the latest version!). If you are using an EAO or summit machine, the software is already installed.

If you are viewing this document through the JCMT OT Help menu, there may be a more up-to-date version on our web site at http://www.eaobservatory.org/JCMT/observing-tool/.

If, after reading this guide you have any questions about preparing your observations, please consult with your "Friend of the Project" or email jcmtot@eaobservatory.org.

Contents

Because the OT is a graphical tool, the initial description of how to use it will undoubtedly appear long-winded. But if you use the text and screen shots to give yourself some practice you'll find that you'll actually be able to prepare your program in a modest number of steps.

• Introduction
  • What is the JCMT OT?
  • What is an MSB?
  • What happens to my project after I upload it?
  • What is the deadline for submissions?
• Creating your Program
  • Getting Started
  • Your Science Program
  • Saving your Progress
  • The Libraries
    • The ACSIS Library
    • The SCUBA-2 Library
  • Elements of a Science Program
    • Example of a Basic MSB: a HARP Stare
    • Example of a Basic MSB: a SCUBA-2 Daisy
    • Components, Iterators And All That
    • Common Components
      • Notes
      • Site Quality
  • Program Checklist
  • Program Validation
  • Submitting to our Database
• Preparing Heterodyne Observations
  • General Information
  • Getting Started
  • Worked Example: Beam-Switched Stare MSB
    • The “Het Setup” Component
    • The “DR Recipe” Component
    • The Target Information Component
      • Target Information
      • Reference Information
      • Moving objects
      • Allowing for Proper Motion
    • The Observation Component
    • The Chop Iterator
    • The Offset Iterator
    • The Stare Eye
    • The Repeat Iterator
  • Integration Time in General
  • Summary: Making your Heterodyne MSB
  • The Heterodyne MSB Library
    • Centering the Observations
    • Shared or Separate Offs
    • Single Position Stares
    • Grid Maps
    • Jiggle Maps
    • Rasters — Classical (scan) & Rasters — Basket Weave
  • Advanced Heterodyne Topics
    • The Frequency Editor
    • The Position Editor
    • Velocities: The Het Setup and Target Component
    • Calibrations
    • Rotator Angles
• Preparing SCUBA-2 Observations
  • General Information
  • Getting Started
  • Daisy MSBs
    • Example: Daisy
  • Pong MSBs
    • Example: 15 arc-min Pong
  • The “DR Recipe” Component
  • Integration Time — 40 Minute MSBs
  • Elevation Constraints
  • Frequency of Calibrations
  • POL-2 Observations
  • Questions
    • My version of the OT does not show the same options as the example?
    • Why is the length of my observation slightly longer than my integration time?
    • I want to make a map bigger than an degree, what's the best way?
    • I only want to go once round my pong map, am I allowed?
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • Why do I have to do this?
  • What length should my MSB be?
  • My MSBs only last half an hour so it is a waste to do a calibration for each one!
  • My project wont load when I enter my project number?
  • I have a lot of sources — how can I speed up creation of my MSBs?
  • How do I submit my project?
  • I want to do something that is not in the library
  • What does this warning mean? "Some of the observations in the MSB contained default settings for the target information"
  • I don't agree with the time estimates shown in the OT
• Advanced topics
  • A Note about Placement
  • Generating a Program from a Catalog File
  • Scheduling Constraints
  • OR and AND Folders
  • Survey Container
  • To those Behind a Firewall: Setting your Proxy Server
• Known Bugs