Staff Astronomer Group Vision/Ethos/...

Observing systems experts at Keck

• Translate from astronomer needs to engineering tasks

• Know their instruments

  • How to observe

  • Computers and accounts

  • Mechanisms

  • Software

  • Data

  • Data reduction

• Observing systems: instrument + telescope + dome + shutters

Support Nights

• The assigned SA is the point person for that night

  • Before: Communicate with observers

  • Day of: Coordinate with summit staff (support techs, summit lead, etc), HQ staff (SWoc, etc), and observers

  • Night of: Coordinate with OA, get observers started, troubleshoot issues

  • After: Follow up with issues. If there is a ticket, the SA is responsible for the response.