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| Paper: |
A Signal-to-noise Approach to Queue Observing with Ground-based Telescopes |
| Volume: |
485, Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems XXIII |
| Page: |
81 |
| Authors: |
Cuillandre, J.; Mahoney, B.; Withington, K. |
| Abstract: |
CFHT offers a new mode of Queued Service Observations (QSO) that optimizes
the open shutter time based on atmospheric conditions and current instrumental
performance. It is an incremental but important advance following a decade of
observing with MegaCam which has taught us that a fixed integration time
approach usually leads to a final depth that is either beyond or below the
original goal defined by the astronomer. In , the fixed integration
approach has led to non-uniform depths across large patches of sky with some
areas deeper than needed due to better than average seeing conditions and
others too shallow or incomplete due to bad weather, descoping or insufficient
time allocation. The SNR mode implements a dynamic exposure time derived in
real-time from the current atmospheric conditions including image quality,
sky background, atmospheric transmission, and from current instrumental
conditions including current photometric zero-points and absolute limits.
Our tests confirm that this approach makes the most effective use of the
sky time and delivers data at the depth requested. The SNR mode enables the
design of future large surveys based simply on the median conditions of
Mauna Kea. |
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