Observing Opportunities at SOAR in 2019B

Jay Elias, Sean Points, & Cesar Briceño (NOAO)

Several special opportunities are available with the SOAR telescope in the 2019B semester. Interested parties are invited to visit the links below for details beyond the summary provided here:

TripleSpec 4.1 Available. The TripleSpec infrared imaging spectrograph (formerly ARCOIRIS, now re-baptized as TripleSpec 4.1) is being commissioned in March 2019, with possible science verification in April and June. Time granted in 2019B will be shared-risk. Interested proposers may use the instrument performance information obtained at the Blanco telescope. Updates and further details will be available at the SOAR TripleSpec 4.1 web page. Questions should be directed to the TripleSpec instrument scientist, Sean Points (spoints@ctio.noao.edu).

Queue Scheduling Opportunity. SOAR is actively engaged in developing the Astronomical Event Observatory Network (AEON), a follow up system for synoptic surveys. As part of this effort, we hope to schedule a modest fraction of SOAR nights in queue mode in 2019B. Suitable proposals for this program must meet the following conditions:

• Programs must be feasible in SOAR’s current remote/classical mode.
• The required cadence of observations is 2-4 weeks (or less frequently), set by the range of scheduled queue nights.
• Proposers can use the Goodman spectrograph with the red camera and 400 l/mm grating and/or imaging mode.
• Proposers have prior experience with the telescope and instrument.

If you think your proposal may be suitable for participation, please contact the SOAR AEON Project Scientist, Cesar Briceño (cbriceno@ctio.noao.edu). All proposals are subject to approval through the standard time allocation process. This mode will be available only if we are confident that it is working reliably, which is why suitable proposals must also be feasible without queue scheduling.

SOAR may also participate in a second AEON-related activity in 2019B, the TOM Toolkit Workshop and Observing Program. A joint initiative with Las Cumbres Observatory, the Zwicky Transient Facility, the LSST Corporation, and Gemini Observatory, the program has the aim of building a community of expert LSST alert users. A final decision on whether SOAR observing time will be offered in the 2019B semester through this program will be made no later than June; otherwise we expect to begin participation in the 2020A semester.