In June, we opened a new feature on our web site called the
"Subaru
Calendar". This page is designed to quickly provide information
to such questions as "Which instrument is going to be used
for a particular night's observations?" or "What work
is scheduled during the daytime?". Here, we give you some
of the details about the "Subaru Calendar".
Looking at the enlargement shown here, you'll notice that each
date in the Subaru Calendar is divided into (at least) two rows.
The upper-most row (displayed with a light blue background  )
is always used to show what work is scheduled during daytime hours.
Some examples of daytime tasks are attaching or exchanging ("Ex:")
observational
instruments and giving the primary mirror a CO2
cleaning.
The lower row on each date contains details about what kind of
observations are going to be made during the nighttime and which
instrument will be used. Sometimes, this row is split into two,
with "Be:" indicating what's happening before
midnight (from sunset to 0:00 local time) and "Af:"
showing what's happening after midnight (0:00 to sunrise). The
instrument to be used is shown in parentheses following the general
type of observations that are to be made.
The observing categories are as follows:
"Open Use"... This indicates that the telescope
will be used by an international astronomer who has submitted
a research proposal deemed suitable for the use of Subaru Telescope.
For more details about how Open Use time is awarded, please refer
to our October 2000 issue of Subaru This Month (*)
and the schedule
page.
"UH Obs"... This indicates observing time granted
to astronomers of the University of Hawaii (UH). In exchange for
allowing the international observatories to be built at the summit
and for providing support services on the summit of Mauna Kea,
the UH is given up to 15% of each observatory's available observing
time.
"Eng"... This is time for engineering work on
the observational instruments by the instrument group members
who have developed them. They maintain not only the instruments
but also the control computers and connections to the telescope.
"Inst Comm"... means observing time reserved
for the instrument groups to conduct scientific research during
the commissioning phase of their instruments.
"Eng (Telescope)"... is time for engineering
work on the telescope by Subaru staff. Sometimes it is necessary
to perform tests using real starlight to ensure the proper operation
and highest possible performance of the telescope.
"Subaru Obs"... indicates telescope time reserved
for use by Subaru Telescope staff members for conducting research.
The contents of the Subaru Calendar is not static and will likely
keep changing throughout the month as we revise the information
to accurately reflect what work has actually been carried out. Beginning
in August and running for about two months, we will be recoating
Subaru's 8.2m primary mirror and making some adjustments to the
telescope. The Subaru Calendar will be used to announce the progress
of this work.
From the busy schedule shown on the Subaru Calendar, you can see
that Subaru Telescope and its staff are kept busy both day and night!
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