Monitoring an Observation
Make modifications in real time
After the observation has been submitted, the CM automatically runs through all filter lists on all telescopes in the hardware template, automatically scaling exposure or exposure-block durations from scope to scope, from filter to filter, and as a function of time, given each telescope/filter combination’s typical limiting magnitude and the assumed temporal and spectral indices, to achieve similar SNR per exposure or exposure block.
To monitor the exposures being scheduled, I developed a Campaign Monitor web-page specifically for use with the CM. A link to the Campaign Monitor page is accessed by clicking the link under the observation info pane on the observation page. The Campaign Monitor page displays a table similar to that of the hardware page. However, the table cells now display, along with the order, a progress bar that shows not only the exposure length, but the current progression of that exposure for each telescope/filter combination. Each table cell also allows the observer to modify the order of the filter sequence in real time, if desired.
Modifying the Observing Parameters
In addition to the telescope/filter table, there is a webform positioned above the table that displays all of the event-specific parameters as well as their corresponding values. As new information is learned about the target, such as its brightness at a certain time in a certain filter, or its temporal and spectral indices, these parameters can be modified and the CM will immediately update upcoming exposure lengths and display the changes in the table. In fact, I built a web application using TypeScript that models photometry data and determines the spectral and temporal indices based on the best fit model. See theTransient Plotter page for more details.
Discontinuing Telescopes or Filters
Finally, the observer can discontinue use of particular telescopes, particular filters, or combinations thereof (or add them back in) in real time. Otherwise, each telescope/filter combination automatically discontinues once the maximum acceptable exposure or exposure block duration is exceeded. This is the minimum between the user defined limit and the given telescope's tracking limit.
Ending the Campaign
The CM will schedule exposures indefinitely until one of three stopping conditions are met:
An observer expends all of their available observing credits,
the observer selected auto cancel-after date has been reached; or
the observer manually cancels the observation.
In almost all cases, the observer will manually end the observation once they have collected their data. The auto cancel-after date is intended as a fail-safe to prevent the observer from accidentally expending all of their observing credits.
Last updated