Receivers: At the start of the semester the telescope will be fitted with the 20cm multi-beam receiver (MB20) and the Ultra Wideband Low (UWL) receiver. The MB20 will be removed and decommissioned during the maintenance shutdown at the start of November. The 13mm receiver will be installed in its stead, and will remain on the telescope until a receiver change in February, when the 13mm will be swapped for the MARS receiver. The primary control system for the UWL for this semester will be the DisH Astronomy GUi, DHAGU, named from the Wiradjuri phrase for ''where to?''- the main question any telescope-related software asks the observer. It is a web based graphical user interface to a control system based on the ASKAP Telescope Operating System (previously called TOS GUI).
Backends: The MEDUSA GPU cluster based system is the default system for use with the UWL. The DFB4 continues to be available, as does BPSR/HIPSR,and CASPSR.
Breakthrough Listen: The agreement between the Breakthrough Foundation and CSIRO to use the Parkes Telescope to Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) continues. The Breakthrough Listen program will be allocated 25% of Parkes observing time for five years commencing in 2016OCT. For the 2020OCT semester this equates to 750hrs, plus approximately 100hrs of make up time from previous semesters.
FAST: The agreement with the collaboration associated with the Five hundred metre Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) continues, identified as PX500, and amounting to 138 hrs this semester.
Parkes Observing PORTAL: Parkes observers need to register for their upcoming observations, ideally at least two weeks in advance, using the PORTAL. Access to the PORTAL requires CSIRO unix or nexus account details: for users who do not have an account, account generation typically takes several working days.
Parkes Observing Support: Each Parkes project is required to designate a Project Expert from within the team who is the first point of contact for observing support for that team. Teams with no member suitable to be the Project Expert for that project should ensure that an observer is appropriately trained well in advance of observing (ordinarily we would recommend sending an observer to the Science Operations Centre (SOC) in Marsfield in advance of the scheduled observing to be trained by ATNF Science staff, but this is currently on hold with COVID-19 restrictions). The Project Expert is expected to be capable of basic fault diagnosis/triage, if training is not possible then projects should seek an experienced observer to join the project.
First-time observers will be required to undertake a telescope orientation session to introduce them to observing systems and monitoring tools. When first-time remote observers register their upcoming observing session(s) on the PORTAL they are sent links to on-line documentation and training material to help them prepare. It is a requirement that the on-line documentation is read before the training session. A list of the essential documents is given on the 'Help' and 'Links' tabs of the PORTAL.
Observers may choose to observe from the SOC at any time (subject to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions), and will be given a refresher or training session on request. Responsibility lies with the Principal Investigator (PI) to ensure the observers on their team are trained and competent observers. Observing from Parkes will be permitted for complex or non-standard observations, or in other circumstances where this is the more sensible option (again subject to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions).
If anything remains unclear, please email ATNF-Parkes-Remobs[at]csiro.au or further clarification.
Radio Frequency Interference (RFI): Where possible notifications of expected RFI will be posted on the PORTAL Alerts. Other listings of known RFI are given on the Parkes observers pages.
Green Time: Directors Discretionary Time or 'Green Time' (so named after the colour scheme of the graphical format of the schedule, and not the system scientist) should be requested through the Portal. Instructions for doing this can be found in the "Book" tab in the Portal. Requests for green time can be made at any time during the semester, but the final allocation will not be made until ~1 week beforehand. Please also email Jimi Green (James.Green@csiro.au) with a summary of what you are requesting to observe.
Marsfield On-site Accommodation: The Marsfield site has a Lodge which is able to provide on-site accommodation for observers and DAs (Subject to current COVID-19 restrictions). Please use the new webform to book at least two weeks in advance to ensure a room is available.
Daylight Saving: Daylight saving in New South Wales will begin at 2:00am (AEST) on Sunday, 4th October 2020, when clocks will be put forward one hour. AEDT is 11 hours ahead of UTC. Daylight saving in New South Wales will end again at 3:00am (AEDT) on the first Sunday in April 2021.
Public Holidays: Labour Day (NSW) Monday 5th October, Christmas Friday 25th December, Boxing Day (recognised) Monday 28th December, New Years Day Friday 1st January and Australia Day Tuesday 26th January. Labour Day (WA) is Monday 1st March.
Version history:
Version 1 of the schedule was released on 2020 September 1st.