Getting Started

This section gives a schematic outline of the basic procedure for preparing an observing schedule. In practice, there is usually some iteration of the various stages. Numerous variations on this theme are possible.

1) Specifying global values

Start with the "Starting Conditions" panel selected from the Options menu. This panel allows entry of user information and the date, time etc. of the start of the Observations.

2) Initial Default Scan

If most of the observations have many parameters in common, e.g. the same frequency setup, you should enter these values in the template/default scan using the scan editor invoked either by the Edit menu "Edit new source initial values" item or a button on the starting conditions panel (step 1). This scan will be used for the initial values of new scans created.

3) Read lists from text files (Optional)

If many sources are to be observed it is best to list them in a text file and read this file into the Source list; this keeps you from having to retype the positions etc. This is done using the Import Source list item of the Import Text files submenu of the Files menu.

4) Create User Defaults (Optional)

If you are using a number of frequency setups that are different from the NRAO Defaults setups you can create your own using the User Default list. The List cut/paste features can be used to copy NRAO default scans to modify or entirely new scans may be created using the New entry button. Once scans are in the User default list they may be modified using the Scan editor. If you have only one frequency setup it may be easier to enter it in the initial default Scan.

5) Create Observe list

This is the list of scans to be processed by the telescope and is the bulk of the work in preparing a schedule. Scans can be added to the observe list by either cut/paste from another list (generally the calibrator and source lists or the Observe list itself), or using the New entry button.

If the New entry button is used and the scan is written to the Observe List, giving the name of an item in the Source or Calibrator lists will cause that Source or Calibrator to be used to obtain the initial values of the new scan. If the name does not match an entry in the Source or Calibrator list, the new scan will be a copy of the initial/default scan. If a single scan is selected in the target list, the new scan is inserted after this scan.

Calibrators near to a selected scan can be displayed in the Calibrator list using the Database menu "Find nearby calibrator" item. Detailed information about the calibrator can be obtained by double clicking on the Calibrator list entry. "Copy" can be used to convert the Calibrator to a scan at the end of the Paste list. Such a calibrator scan will not have frequency information which needs to be added either in the initial default scan before conversion of the Calibrator entry or directly in the scan using the scan editor. This can be done either by directly specifying the Frequency information or specifying an NRAO and/or User default.

Once a scan is in the Observe list it may be further modified using the Scan editor (double click on the list entry). It is particularly useful to specify NRAO and/or User defaults for the frequency settings.

The criterion for ending a scan can be given as either Duration, Dwell times or Stop times which need to be specified for each scan, either explicitly or implicitly using User defaults or in the initial default scan. If the same change needs to be made to many scans, the Global edit or Block edit items in the Edit menu are useful.

6) "Schedule" the Observe list

This is invoked using the "Compute Observing schedule" item of the Schedule Menu. This computes move times and checks frequencies, telescope limits etc.

7) Check schedule with Reports

A variety of reports can be generated using items in the Reports Menu. These reports will be written to disk files and may be used to determine if there is sufficient move time etc. Also any other errors and/or shadowing will be reported.

8) Write Observe file

When you're happy (or at least satisfied) with the schedule, write it to a disk file using the "Write Observe File" in the File menu.

9) Save Environment (Optional)

Use the "Save working environment" item in File menu. Give the file browser a name for the root part of the file name for it to store its contents. This can be done at any time and is a good idea to do occasionally.

10) Exit JObserve

Use Exit from Observe item on File Menu.