IOTA 1997 TRIMESTER NO. 2 OBSERVING SCHEDULE Dates Observers N/S Stations Band Project ---------- ----------------- ------------ ---- ------------------------- Apr.1-May7 Lacasse ... ... Upgrade projects May 8-14 Millan-Gabet 15/15 NICMOS Binaries, system test May 15-22 Millan-Gabet/Traub many NICMOS Binaries, diameters May 23-31 Traub/Porro/Lacasse 35/15 CCD GPB, binaries June 1-21 Papaliolios/Coldwell 35/15 CCD Piezo test, Miras, Cepheids June 22- Dyck/Thompson/ many IR Miras July 5 vanBelle/Sudol July 6-19 Lacasse ... ... Upgrades July 20-31 Coude du Foresto/ any ... Install French NICMOS, Perrin/Roig system upgrades ************************************************************************ 4 April 97 Observers: Three new equipment systems will be tested this trimester. (1) The SAO/UMass NICMOS-3 detector will have a follow-up test run in May, after its successful engineering run in March. This is still a developmental system, and should not be considered a facility instrument until after this trimester. (2) The fast piezo scanner will be tested in June, and will possibly be ready for facility use immediately thereafter. Initially, the piezo scanner will be installed on the visible table. (3) The French NICMOS-3 system will be installed in July. The infrared table was upgraded in March with full-sized optics, including a new JHK beamcombiner plate and compensator, and a 6 inch diameter, 24 inch focal length parabola to focus the beam onto the SAO/UMass NICMOS, or with some extra work onto any other infrared detector. The visible table is unchanged, except for the anticipated addition of the fast piezo scanner in June. Allocated time starts at the beginning of the first date indicated, and stops at the end of the night on the last date, i.e., sunrise the next day. For dorm reservations call Ginnee Larson at the base camp, 520-670-5701. Each observer group is responsible for its own baseline changes and equipment readiness. Contact Marc Lacasse at lacasse@cfa.harvard.edu, or telephone 520-670-5750 (Tucson office), or 520-670-6757 (IOTA site) for any special requests or general information. Please remember that Marc's prime responsibility is the development of IOTA as a facility, and that assisting observers comes second. For the same reasons, anything that each observer can do to improve the next observer's experience (equipment notes, operating tips, computer programs, etc.) is always much appreciated. As always, comments are welcome (traub@cfa.harvard.edu). Wes Traub and Nat Carleton