ASPCS
 
Back to Volume
Paper: Optimisation of the Night Time at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope
Volume: 522, Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems XXVII
Page: 587
Authors: Devost, D.; Mahoney, B.; Moutou, C.; Manset, N.; Burdullis, T.
Abstract: At the 2013 ADASS meeting in Waikoloa, Hawaii, a new signal-to-noise approach to queue observing at CFHT was introduced. This mode proposed a new implementation inside our Queued Service Observnt (QSO) system. It was suggested that exposure times be adjusted for each frame depending on the weather conditions in order to reach a specific depth or Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR) at a certain magnitude. The goal was to capitalize on the exquisite seeing provided by Maunakea in order to use the least amount of time to reach the depth required by the science programs. This new mode of observing was since implemented and tested. In 2017A, the SNR mode became the default observing mode on two of our instruments; MegaCam and ESPaDOnS. I present here the specific implementations for each instrument and show the gains achieved using this new observing mode.
Back to Volume