2022OCT Observing Schedule Release Notes

Staged release: The Parkes schedule for 2022OCT will be released in stages due to uncertainties in spacecraft tracking commitments. On September 1st, the schedule for the first three months (October, November and December) was released. On September 5th, a revised version 1 was released, with minor alterations for some projects.

Receivers: At the start of the semester the telescope will be fitted with the Ultra Wideband Low (UWL) receiver and the 8 GHz ("MARS") receiver. The Cryogenic Cooled Phased Array Feed (CryoPAF) is expected to arrive at Parkes mid October for on-ground sky tests and installation in the focus cabin during the October 26th through to November 7th shutdown; it is expected there will be no observing during this time.

Backends: The MEDUSA GPU cluster based system is the default system for use with the UWL. DFB4 continues to be available, but it is noted observers are encouraged to move away from DFB4 use, as support for that backend is very limited.

Breakthrough Listen: The agreement between the Breakthrough Foundation and CSIRO to use the Parkes Telescope to Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) continues, identified as 'BL'. For the whole of the 2022OCT semester this will equates to approximately 250hrs.

FAST: The agreement with the collaboration associated with the Five hundred metre Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) continues, identified as 'PX500', and amounting to 144 hrs for the whole of this semester.

Spacecraft Tracking: New agreements with companies for space craft tracking may commence in the 2022OCT semester, identified in the schedule as 'ST'. Due to the nature of spacecraft launches the exact timing of the allocation may vary, efforts will be made to communicate any changes as early as possible.

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 and via email to Jimi Green (James.Green@csiro.au) with a summary of what you are requesting to observe. 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 ~1-2 weeks beforehand.

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 start at 2:00am (AEST) on Sunday, 3rd October 2022, when clocks will be put forward one hour. AEDT is 11 hours ahead of UTC . Daylight saving in New South Wales will end at 3:00am (AEDT) on the first Sunday in April 2022.

Public Holidays:

Version history: Version 1 of the schedule was released on September 1. Slightly revised versions were released September 5 and September 19, adding several slots for some projects, which where inadvertently omitted on the first release.


Updated: Stacy Mader (19-SEP-2022)