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GENERAL OBSERVING RUN PREPARATIONS

The following guideline should be used in preparation of an observing run which uses Hydra. NOTE: Preparation for a Hydra run should ideally start several weeks prior to the telescope time.

• Obtain good astronomical coordinates for your target objects.

  Good astrometry means relative coordinates to better than 0.5 arc-seconds with all targets in the field derived from the same reference frame.

• While doing the astrometry, measure the positions of several non-program stars (10<V< 15) for use as field orientation stars.

  The more stars measured, the less impact FOPS assignment will have on the science target assignments.

  At least 2 stars are required (preferably toward the edges of the field). We suggest that more than 3 Field Orientation Probes are actually assigned in order to provide redundancy in the correction of astrometric errors and field rotation.

  These stars should also span a relatively small magnitude range (< 2 to 3 mags) so that each star can be seen on the TV at the same gain.

• Measure lots of sky positions if sky subtraction is important.

  Again, the more positions available to the assignment algorithm, the less impact the sky assignments will have on getting fibers to the target objects.

• Obtain copies of the manuals and available software (see below).
• Read the manuals!
• Run the assignment code on your fields.

  The assignment manual gives a description of how the assignments are made. Familiarization with this process prior to completion of the astrometry may allow better selection of sky and field orientation star positions.

• After running some fields through the assignment code, try out the Hydra simulator (only available on Sun window systems) to view those assignments.
• Iterate on your assignments and produce the final assignment files for the observing run.
• Run the spectrograph setup program to determine the configuration desired.
• Fill out and submit either the Observing Run Preparation Form or the WIYN queue forms depending on whether you will be on site as the observer or whether you will be participating in the NOAO queue program.
• Contact any of the staff contacts for answers to unresolved questions.
• First time users are strongly encouraged to seek advice.
• Provide us with useful criticism at the end of the run so that we can attempt to smooth out Hydra's operation.
• Hope for clear weather and have a productive run!