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| = Quick Guide for Dummies - The novice 30m user = | = Quick Guide for Dummies - The novice 30m observer = This guide is meant to help the novice observer at the 30m telescope getting started. |
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Well before your observations are scheduled to start, it is a good idea to prepare observing scripts, i.e. small !PaKo routines, to setup the receivers and spectrometers, to select your sources and lines, etc.. The Astronomer-of-Duty is there to help you doing this. When time has come to start real observing, take a seat and let the Astronomer-of-Duty and the Operator guide you through the first steps. It is really easy. You'll need to log into your project account onto ''mrt-lx1'' and start the observing software called !PaKo, run the receiver and backend setup scripts, select a source, and then e.g. start a pointing. This will send the commanded frequencies to the synthesizers, and is now on the operator to "tune" the receivers, to make them ready for observations to start. This may take 10 minutes or more. Once tuning is finished, you may want to check the pointing and focus of the telescope first, before going to your science source. See below. |
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''mrt-lx1'' is the name of the workstation to run the observations. This is the central machine, the observer is using for running !PaKo. The online data processing software Odp is running on ''mrt-lx3''. During observations it is continuously transferring IMBfits raw data from ''mrt-lx1'' to ''mrt-lx3''. The observer should use ''mrt-lx3'' (or ''mrt-lx2'') for offline data processing. |
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PCs with numbers larger than 4, are small PCs used as terminals. Not much software is installed on these PCs and the user may want to quickly change to one of the main workstations described above, e.g. via ''ssh -X mrt-lx3''. |
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The Odp creates calibrated spectra online during the observations, stored in the so-called '''30m files''', and readable by class. In most cases, the observer works offline only with these files. However, in case of problems with the data, e.g. calibration issues, the observer needs to know to some extent what Odp is doing. During observations, the backends take data and save them in '''streams''' in FITS format. These streams are merged with streams from other parts of the system, e.g. antenna mount drive, and also with messages, to be included in '''IMBFits raw data files'''. These are then combined by mira/odp to create calibrated spectra, usually on the antenna temperature scale TA*, and saved as 30m files. These in turn can then be read offline with class by the observer. Mira, class, greg are part of the GILDAS software package. Astronomical data therefore is created in several levels: level-1 are the streams, level-2 are the IMBfits files, level-3 are the 30m files. In case of calibration or other problems, it is possible to recalibrate data using MIRA, or even to recreate data from the streams. |
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| === How can I safe my data ? Use rsync, stupid ! === | |
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| * See [[https://mrt-lx1.iram.es/mainWiki/VisitorBackup|here]] | * On the observers project account, * 30m data are found here: ''~/observationData/mira''. One file is created per backend and per day, e.g. ''FTSOdp20120105.30m'' * IMBfits raw data are found here: ''~/observationData/imbfits''. Their file name gives date, scan-number, backend, e.g. ''iram30m-fts-20120107s167-imb.fits''. |
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=== How can I safe my data ? Use rsync, stupid ! === |
Contents
Quick Guide for Dummies - The novice 30m observer
This guide is meant to help the novice observer at the 30m telescope getting started.
Howto observe ?
Well before your observations are scheduled to start, it is a good idea to prepare observing scripts, i.e. small PaKo routines, to setup the receivers and spectrometers, to select your sources and lines, etc.. The Astronomer-of-Duty is there to help you doing this.
When time has come to start real observing, take a seat and let the Astronomer-of-Duty and the Operator guide you through the first steps. It is really easy. You'll need to log into your project account onto mrt-lx1 and start the observing software called PaKo, run the receiver and backend setup scripts, select a source, and then e.g. start a pointing. This will send the commanded frequencies to the synthesizers, and is now on the operator to "tune" the receivers, to make them ready for observations to start. This may take 10 minutes or more. Once tuning is finished, you may want to check the pointing and focus of the telescope first, before going to your science source. See below.
Getting started
A typical observing session: PaKo
Displays
Computer System
What are all the screens for ? Network topology or entering the unknown
mrt-lx1 is the name of the workstation to run the observations. This is the central machine, the observer is using for running PaKo. The online data processing software Odp is running on mrt-lx3. During observations it is continuously transferring IMBfits raw data from mrt-lx1 to mrt-lx3. The observer should use mrt-lx3 (or mrt-lx2) for offline data processing.
My machine is called mrt-lx18. Now what ? Software
PCs with numbers larger than 4, are small PCs used as terminals. Not much software is installed on these PCs and the user may want to quickly change to one of the main workstations described above, e.g. via ssh -X mrt-lx3.
Details like telescope and instruments
Data
Online data processing (Odp)
The Odp creates calibrated spectra online during the observations, stored in the so-called 30m files, and readable by class. In most cases, the observer works offline only with these files. However, in case of problems with the data, e.g. calibration issues, the observer needs to know to some extent what Odp is doing.
During observations, the backends take data and save them in streams in FITS format. These streams are merged with streams from other parts of the system, e.g. antenna mount drive, and also with messages, to be included in IMBFits raw data files. These are then combined by mira/odp to create calibrated spectra, usually on the antenna temperature scale TA*, and saved as 30m files. These in turn can then be read offline with class by the observer. Mira, class, greg are part of the GILDAS software package. Astronomical data therefore is created in several levels: level-1 are the streams, level-2 are the IMBfits files, level-3 are the 30m files. In case of calibration or other problems, it is possible to recalibrate data using MIRA, or even to recreate data from the streams.
Where are my data ?
- On the observers project account,
30m data are found here: ~/observationData/mira. One file is created per backend and per day, e.g. FTSOdp20120105.30m
IMBfits raw data are found here: ~/observationData/imbfits. Their file name gives date, scan-number, backend, e.g. iram30m-fts-20120107s167-imb.fits.
What happens to my data ? Backup, Storage
How can I safe my data ? Use rsync, stupid !
Next steps: user dp
Howto work with spectra: CLASS
Howto work with data cubes: GREG
Whom to complain to ? Help needed
Don't be afraid of "silly" questions, please!
This page is maintained by CK. Any comments are welcome.