In preparation for your run, you must submit an Observing Run Preparation Form (ORP) to make sure that all your requirements for your observing run (including room accommodations) are understood. The form should be completed and emailed to kpno at noao.edu at least six weeks prior to your observing run. Failure to submit your ORP on time may result in forfeiture of requested filters, delays in starting up, or loss of lodging accommodations! Once the ORP form has been received and processed you will be given a visitor authorization for your trip to Kitt Peak.
Other things to do in preparation for your run:
KPNO Instrument Support will provide support for the Mosaic imager. All other user support will be provided by the Site Manager. This includes all S2KB instrument configurations, performed prior to an observing run, as well as instrument "start-up" assistance (tutorial on instrument operation) on the first night of a run, if required.
Note: Observers who are inexperienced in ground-based optical observing MUST be accompanied by an experienced observer for their first run. Observers who have never used the 0.9m MUST plan on observing with the previous observer the night before their run begins or be accompanied by an experienced user on their first night.
Check-in and check-out Time for Observers
Observers should plan to be on the mountain by 1pm of the first day of their run if they require an instrument start. Arriving at the site any earlier may interfere with observers from the prior run. Observers must be finished using the facilities by noon of the day following the last night of their run. This is to assure that the facilities are available for the observers coming in.
Problems During the Night
The first level of response to problems which arise during the night is the Site Manager. The problem will be assessed and any actions or work-arounds will be determined. If the Site Manager is unavailable Astronomical Consultants & Equipment, Inc. (ACE) is available for response to technical difficulties with the telescope and equipment. ACE will make all reasonable efforts to provide this service until 2200hr each night. In cases where observing can continue at a reduced level of efficiency and without danger to the equipment, the decision to continue or to carry out the repair will be made by the observer. After hours numbers are posted on the white board in the control room.
Safety
When you are on the mountain, the Site Manager will give you a safety
tour of the telescope facility pointing out emergency exits, locations
of fire extinguishers and light switches, and precautions for your own
personal protection. At the same time, emergency procedures, safety guidelines,
and use of the phone system and radios will be reviewed. Any safety concerns
that you may have during your visit should be reported to the Site Manager.
Safety procedures
Safety Acknowledgment Form - Observer Copy
Safety Acknowledgment Form - File Copy
The Filter Shutter Assembly (FSA) is the guider and instrument interface for S2KB. It contains two filter wheels that can hold up to 7 four-inch filters each, two pick-off guide cameras on fixed stages, and a linear shutter.
S2KB
S2KB is a 2k x 2k CCD imager. S2KB characteristics and technical specifications can be found here.
MOSAIC
The NOAO Mosaic is an 8k x 8k pixel wide field imager providing a 59armin field of view on the 0.9m. It is an array of eight 2048 x 4096 pixel CCDs that are read out through four Arcon controllers with a readout time of approximately 2.6 minutes per image. Each image is 135Mbytes, producing 10 Gbytes of data in a typical night. Allow plenty of time to tape your data!
Mosaic has it's own guide cameras and filter track. The Mosaic filter track holds 14 5.75 inch filters. Four-inch filter adaptors are available, but illuminate only approximately 6k x 6k pixels (56% of the total sky area). See the Mosaic filter list for a complete list of available Mosaic filters.
The Mosaic manual and additional information on Mosaic can be found on Kitt Peak's Mosaic web site.
Filters
The Harris UBVRI filter set will be permanently mounted in the S2KB FSA. Additional four-inch filters are available for loan from the WIYN 3.5m filter set and KPNO filter set. Requests for use of these additional filters must be specified in advance in the Observing Run Preparation Form.
Using 0.9m house, KPNO Dorms and Meal Service
Non-NOAO visiting astronomers will be able to use the WIYN 0.9m house or the KPNO dorms and meal service. Accommodations are setup after your Observing Run Preparation Form has been received. Details about the rates can be found in the KPNO User Handbook. Unless you are exempted by policy, charges for dorm rooms or meals are due and payable before your departure. Charges for stays at the 0.9m house will be billed to your home institution. All charges can be paid by check, cash, MasterCard, or Visa at the Mountain Receptionist or the Cashier downtown in Accounting.
A map of Kitt Peak with telescopes, dorms, and the 0.9m house can be found here.
Serve-yourself breakfast is available at the dining hall 24 hours a day. Lunch is served 11h30 - 13h00, and dinner 16h30 - 17h45 daily. Night lunch is available on a "take-it-yourself" basis. For a prepared night lunch, available in the refrigerator with your name, please fill out an order form at the kitchen snack bar or use the Web form (http://www.noao.edu/kpno/forms/nlunch/) no later than 13h00.
Printing and Copying
A PostScript laser printer is available at the 0.9m site. If you anticipate the need for any copying, please see the Mountain Receptionist to obtain an account number for using the copier located in the Administration building.
Telephones
The telephones located on the 0.9m site have outside lines available. Long distance calls can be made from these phones. If you make long-distance calls, it is preferred that you use a telephone credit card or reverse the charges. However, charges can be billed back to the respective institutions or added to your bill if necessary. Please let the Mountain Receptionist know the date you placed the call and the number called for billing purposes.
Transportation
There is no vehicle available for use by visiting astronomers. All transportation on the mountain as well as to/from the mountain is your responsibility. Using a rental car as transportation on the mountain top is allowed. However, you must inform the Mountain Receptionist upon your arrival that you intend to do so.
Recreation
There are paperback books and magazines and a large-screen TV with VHS and DVD players in the lounge next to the Dining Room. A pool table is in the Recreation hall near the Maintenance area. A ping pong table is located on the U floor of the 4meter building.
Laundry
Machines are located in the Recreation Hall (Quonset Hut) near the Maintenance area. The machines are coin operated. If change is needed please see the receptionist in the Administration building.
Soft Drink Machines
Vending machines are located in the Recreation Hall, at the 4m Visitor's Entrance, and in the shed in front of the Visitors' Center.
Site Manager Hillary Mathis Office Ph: (520)318-8460 or (520)318-8637 email: hmathis at noao.edu Astronomical Consultants & Equipment, Inc. Peter Mack Ph: (520)219-8722 email: mack at astronomical.com Project Scientist Andy Layden email: layden at baade.bgsu.edu
