NOAO Abstracts for SPIE Meeting in March
New database for nighttime programs at the National Optical
Astronomy Observatories
Authors:
C. A. Pilachowski and C. Brown
Abstract:
The National Optical Astronomy Observatories has developed a new database
system, ALPS, to track proposals for telescope time from original
receipt through the review process, scheduling, observing, and final
statistical reporting. The database is written in Microsoft Access,
and is integrated with observatory operations. Proposals arrive
in a LaTeX format and are parsed into files suitable for import
into Access using a Perl script running under Unix. The database
system provides tools to support all activities associated with
handling proposals, including support for the Telescope Allocation
Committee through reviewer assignments, grades imported via
the Web, and comments for the principal investigator. The telescope
schedules are prepared through a scheduling interface, and the final
schedule is posted automatically to the Web. Statistics on telescope
usage (hours of observing, time lost) are collected via the Web
and imported into the database as well.
The new database has been in operation since March, 1997, for proposals
submitted for observing time at the Kitt Peak National Observatory,
and has been installed at Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory
as well. The program is written to be easily adaptable for new
facilities which will be available through NOAO, including public
access to time at independent observatories and access to the
Gemini telescopes.
[NOAO at the SPIE Meeting in
March]
National Optical Astronomy Observatories, 950 North Cherry Avenue,
P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726 Phone: (520) 318-8000
Posted: 02Mar1998