Observing details

The observing roster

Observing at Parkes is divided into two 6-month observing semesters. When the time allocation has been set, the schedule is produced and published at http://www.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/observing/schedules/. The PPTA project is identified by project code P456.

Mike Keith has code to parse these schedules to produce a list of pulsar-specific Parkes observing. His pulsar-specific schedule is available at http://pulsarastronomy.net/pkssched/.

For each observation we need at least two people. Please identify which observing sessions you can support and then click on "add new" on Mike's pulsar-specific schedule to add your name to the roster.

Preparing for the observations

After you have signed up on the observing roster then

• Book your accommodation in Sydney using http://www.atnf.csiro.au/observers/accomm/
• Familiarise yourself with the current remote observing documentation listed below.

Carrying out the observations

From 16th July 2013, Parkes observations will be carried out in full remote mode from the Science Operations Centre (SOC), Marsfield.

Current documentation:

• Current PPTA remote observing documentation
• John Sarkissian's Pulsar Remote Observing Guide
• Parkes Radio Telescope Users Guide

Old but still relevant documentation:

• Old PPTA Observing Manual

In order to monitor the PPTA observations use:

• Online monitor

Logging the observations

The PPTA dashboard allows anyone to view the log from the current or any previous observing session:

• PPTA dashboard

The observer should ensure that "Pulsar observation table" is selected to "Include low priority". During the observing session it is important that at least one observation (at 20cm and at 10/50cm) is made of each pulsar that is not low priority. If time is available then the low priority pulsars may also be observed.

The observer can add to the log using:

• PPTA log

The following procedure should be followed:

• Before the initial observation the first observer should click on "Start new session"
• The current observer should put their name in the "Current observer" box
• If anything interesting happens then the observer should describe the issue in "Add new line to the log" and then "submit new log entry". These entries could include "had to park the telescope for a receiver change", "the current data looks strange", "getting lots of RFI" or "changing observing ... going to sleep now"
• When a pulsar is chosen to be observed then click on the pulsar name in the "select pulsar name" box, ensure that the correct receiver is chosen, select "indicate that you are now observing this pulsar" and then click on "submit".
• The observer will then be prompted to record the status of the cal and bandpass in the log entry form
• If the observation completes successfully then select "Indicate successful completion of observation" and click on "submit". Check that the dashboard table updates to indicate that the pulsar has been observed.
• If the observation completes early because of hardware failure, you've decided to change because of low signal-to-noise or any other reason (i.e., you don't successfully complete the entire observation) then "Indicate unsuccessful observation", type in a reason and click on "submit".
• If you come across anything that significantly affects the PPTA (for instance, if the maser is moved, or the firmware on a backend gets upgraded) then please add it to the timeline: PPTA timeline.