Remote observing with the Nickel Telescope at Lick Observatory

Bryant Grigsby; Konstantinos Chloros; John Gates; William T. S. Deich; Elinor Gates; Robert Kibrick

doi:10.1117/12.789490

12 July 2008 Remote observing with the Nickel Telescope at Lick Observatory

Bryant Grigsby, Konstantinos Chloros, John Gates, William T. S. Deich, Elinor Gates, Robert Kibrick

Proceedings Volume 7016, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems II; 701627 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789490
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

We describe a project to enable remote observing on the Nickel 1-meter Telescope at Lick Observatory. The purpose was to increase the subscription rate and create more economical means for graduate- and undergraduate students to observe with this telescope. The Nickel Telescope resides in a 125 year old dome on Mount Hamilton. Remote observers may work from any of the University of California (UC) remote observing facilities that have been created to support remote work at both Keck Observatory and Lick Observatory. The project included hardware and software upgrades to enable computer control of all equipment that must be operated by the astronomer; a remote observing architecture that is closely modeled on UCO/Lick's work to implement remote observing between UC campuses and Keck Observatory; new policies to ensure safety of Observatory staff and equipment, while ensuring that the telescope subsystems would be suitably configured for remote use; and new software to enforce the safety-related policies. The results increased the subscription rate from a few nights per month to nearly full subscription, and has spurred the installation of remote observing sites at more UC campuses. Thanks to the increased automation and computer control, local observing has also benefitted and is more efficient. Remote observing is now being implemented for the Shane 3- meter telescope.

Citation Download Citation

Bryant Grigsby, Konstantinos Chloros, John Gates, William T. S. Deich, Elinor Gates, and Robert Kibrick "Remote observing with the Nickel Telescope at Lick Observatory", Proc. SPIE 7016, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems II, 701627 (12 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789490

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available