Remote observing from sites other than the ATCA should be possible provided that appropriate computing facilities (a unix workstation or X-terminal) and computing/network support are available. Care whould be taken to ensure that your institution's security measures do not prevent Remote Observations from your site. For further advice, please contact the Head of Science Operations, Phil Edwards (Philip.Edwards[at]csiro.au) in addition to following the steps below.
Before the Observations
- Consult the document ATNF Remote Observing Conditions for information on remote observing requirements.
- If you wish to observe remotely, use the
Remote Observing Request Form
to submit a request. This should be done as soon as possible after
your observing dates are known.
The Head of Science Operations (Phil Edwards) will decide whether approval can given given for the observations to be done remotely and you will be notified by email. - A few days before the observations, you should contact the Duty Astronomer scheduled for the observing date and confirm that you will be observing remotely.
- If you plan to observe from the dedicated Ara (ATCA) or Norma (Mopra) workstation at Marsfield then you will need to know the password for the "remobs" account. This is available from the Marsfield computing staff.
- Observations are controlled using a virtual network connection
(VNC) so you will need to install a vnc viewer on your computer.
There are many options. If you already have a viewer installed this
will probably work: If you need to install something, one of the
following should work:
- For a Mac:
Chicken of the VNC is the most common application.
(There is a native VNC reader available in Finder in OS/X 10.5 and later: Finder => Go => Connect to Server => in the server address text boxvnc://machine name:port number) - For Linux:
TightVNC is a common application - it also exists for windows. Real VNC 4 is another good option.
- For a Mac:
- For many monitoring tasks, you need access to monica: to install monica, see the Monica page for information on setting this up.
If approval is given then:
Starting Up a Remote Observing Session
Since observing is done through VNC, you will be able to effect current observations as soon
as the connection is set up. Sometimes
(always if you use the 'noshare' switch) when you connect to
the vnc server it will kick other viewers off so, please, do not frivolously
connect to the vncserver - and be prepared to reconnect if your viewer dissapears
while you are observing
- For xbones:
ssh your_ident@nelle.atnf.csiro.au -L 5901:xbones.atnf.csiro.au:5901 - For caccc1:
ssh your_ident@nelle.atnf.csiro.au -L 5902:caccc1.atnf.csiro.au:5901
- If connecting from inside ATNF, start the VNC viewer on your computer and
- connect to caobs/vis display
xbones:1 - connect to the caccc1 display
caccc1:1
- connect to caobs/vis display
- If connecting from outside ATNF, start the VNC viewer on your computer and
- connect to caobs/vis display
localhost:1 - connect to the caccc1 display
localhost:2
- connect to caobs/vis display
Note: The VNC passwords are not 'standard' passwords. You may need to contact the Duty Astronomer or Narrabri staff to get the correct passwords
Observe as if you were in Narrabri
Ensure that you exchange telephone numbers with the DA.
Some useful phone numbers
| Emergency Services: (fire, police, ambulance) | 000 | Additional, 0 needed for an outside line |
| Narrabri | ||
| Switch: | 02 6790 4000 | |
| ATCA Control Room: | 02 6790 4033 and 02 6790 4032 | |
| Mopra Control Desk: | 02 6790 4088 | |
| Observer's Area: | 02 6790 4031 | - near PMON rack |
| 02 6790 4048 | - near Mopra corner | |
| 02 6790 4022 | - middle of observers area | |
| Lodge: | 02 6790 4027 | |
| Duty Astronomers Rooms | 02 6790 4008 and 02 6790 4009 | |
| Non-PABX Phone: | 02 6795 9274 | |
| Marsfield | ||
| Remote Observing Room | 02 9372 4548 and 02 9372 4533 | |
| Parkes | ||
| Parkes Control Room | 02 6861 1755 | |
| CSIRO National Call Centre | 1300 36 3400 | |
How to Finish Off
When you have finished your observations, ring the Duty Astronomer or next observer to let them know that you have finished.Don't forget to fill in the Observers' Questionnaire
If you've had any problems, please submit a Fault Report