Summer 2020 update: Keck Observatory has enabled at-home observing. Software and instructions can be found here:
Planning and scheduling your remote observing:
- Read the Keck Remote Observing Policy
- Consult the UCI remote-observing calendar (along with the paper calendar maintained on the door of FRH 2149) to assess the availability of the remote-observing room. PIs should add their planned observing nights to the calendar as soon as possible after new observing schedules are posted.
- It is important to plan remote observing runs as far in advance as possible in order to avoid scheduling conflicts. Keck observing gets priority over Lick, but that doesn’t mean you can usurp a scheduled Lick observing team at the last minute.
- Contact Keck observatory at least 4 weeks prior to your run through the Keck Observer’s Login Page to request the use of the UCI remote-observing facility, following standard procedures for mainland observing. Keck staff will then contact the UCI remote-observing coordinator and the relevant Keck support astronomer to obtain approval.
- Fill out the UCI remote observing request form. This extra form will probably continue to be used until all COVID restrictions are eventually lifted.
- You will receive an automatically-generated e-mail informing you when you have been approved for remote observing.
- If you don’t have a key to the remote room, you’ll need to check one out.
- The day before your run, test the VNC and video systems. Contact Aaron Barth or Paul Robertson if there are any problems. First-time users of the remote observing room should contact Aaron or Paul to request an orientation to get the login information and instructions on using the observing equipment.
VNC and Zoom setups:
- See the General Instructions page for instructions on using the new Linux workstation and Mac Mini, and for end of night shutdown procedures.
- Make sure to read the instructions on the Keck remote observing github page, which explain how to make a VNC connection to Keck. These instructions apply to our new remote observing workstations.
- It’s the observer’s responsibility to get the relevant Zoom connection information and login information for the UCI machines and for the Keck observer account before their observing run.
After your run:
- If you checked out a temporary key to the observing room, return it after your run.
- Make sure to include the UCI remote room acknowledgement (listed on the Policies page) when you publish your results.