The WIYN User Handbook

The purpose of this handbook is to answer many of the questions that you might have about your visit to the WIYN Observatory. This handbook is intended as a supplement to the KPNO User Handbook. Please refer to the KPNO User Handbook for details regarding planning your trip to Kitt Peak, directions to the NOAO Tucson office and to Kitt Peak, the mountain environment, and using the NOAO Tucson facilities. If you have suggestions for improvements to the WIYN User Handbook, please contact Heidi Schweiker via email at heidis@noao.edu

Telescope Scheduling

The WIYN member institutions receive shares of observing time based on their respective contributions. The allocation of observing time is currently apportioned as follows:

  • 40% NOAO
  • 26% University of Wisconsin
  • 17% Indiana University
  • 17% Yale University

Observing time is generally allocated in blocks, which allow each institution to receive a fair distribution of time through all moon phases. Currently, the distribution has approximately the following sequence: (the number of nights allocated are shown in parentheses)

NOAO(6)-Wisconsin(4)-Indiana(5)-NOAO(6)-Wisconsin(4)-Yale(5)

On average, two to three nights of Test and Engineering (T&E) time are currently allocated each month, often centered around full moon. The T&E time is allocated based on observing needs of the WIYN engineers and scientists. This time is used for maintenance, upgrades, improvements and instrument evaluation.

The WIYN Observing Program

If you are an observer interested in applying for WIYN Telescope time through NOAO you must submit the standard KPNO Observing Proposal forms. Complete information is available on the NOAO Observing Program Home Page.

The Universities use their time primarily for "classical" observing, but remote observing is also used.

There are a few key requirements for new visiting observers as well as new remote observers. New visiting observers, that do not have PhD status, MUST be accompanied by an experienced on-site observer. The experienced observer may be on any status level. New remote observers MUST have previously observed on-site at WIYN and have used their remote observing instrument on site, no matter what their status level.

If you are a University or NOAO observer and you have been granted time by your institution or NOAO, you must submit an Observing Run Preparation (ORP) form prior to your observing run to make sure that we understand all of the equipment needs for your observing run. The form should be completed at least six weeks prior to your observing run. The completed form will be distributed to the appropriate support personnel. Once the ORP form has been received and processed, you will be given a visitor authorization for your trip to Kitt Peak. Minimum instrument configuration information that needs to be specified on the ORP includes:

  • For Hydra and SparsePak: which cable is needed (Hydra only), which camera, grating, order blocking filter, central wavelength, and order.

  • For MiniMo and OPTIC: list of desired filters. There are eight filter slots available in the filter wheel. One filter change per run is allowed.

WIYN Documentation

Links to additional instrument documentation, last updated in 2004, can be found on the Kitt Peak home page under Telescope and Instrument Documentation at http://www.noao.edu/kpno/docs.html

Operating at WIYN

  • Telescope Operation Support

    The dome will be opened 30 minutes before sunset by KPNO Observing Support, and a telescope operator will be available from sunset until sunrise every night on which the telescope is scheduled during both NOAO and University time. Special arrangements can be made for operators to arrive early or stay late to accommodate special observing or calibration needs. In these special cases, KPNO Observing Support can provide daytime assistance for telescope operations, however advance notice is required. If daytime support is anticipated this must be noted on the Observing Run Preparation form.

  • Instrument Support

    KPNO Instrument Support will perform all facility instrument configurations for observers prior to their observing run. Instrument "start-up" assistance (tutorial on instrument operation) will also be provided for observers on the first night of their run, if required, by KPNO Instrument Support. Our Observing Support Policies are as follows:

    • ORPs must be submitted at least six weeks prior to the start of the observing run. Failure to submit an ORP, prior to two weeks in advance, may result in no observing support being scheduled other than the OA, before two weeks an observing support personnel will be assigned based on availability.
    • Only one ORP per observing team/run should be submitted
    • For university runs, only one major instrument change is allowed for and only one additional minor change or re-configuration. A minor change or re-configuration is defined as a filter change, central wavelength change, or fiber foot change (Hydra).
    • Changes to ORP's made after the 15th of the prior month are considered late.
    • Changes submitted up to the two weeks prior to the observing run will be supported by the KPNO Instrument Support group, based solely on staff availability. If there is no staff available, then the change will no be suupported.
    • Changes requested after the two weeks prior to the observing run may not be supported by the KPNO Instrument Support group.
    • Changes to scheduled support or requests for new or additional support are to be submitted to kpno@noao.edu.

  • Check-in and check-out Time for Observers

    Observers should plan to be on the mountain by 1pm of the first day of their run if they require an instrument start. Arriving at the site any earlier may interfere with observers from the prior run. Observers must be finished using the facilities at WIYN by noon of the day following the last night of their run. This is to assure that the facilities are available for the observers coming in.

  • Tours at WIYN

    Because WIYN is a high-tech telescope, it is one of the main attractions on Kitt Peak for observers at other KPNO facilities. The policy for visits to WIYN by other astronomers is that they are required to arrange visits with the WIYN observers prior to showing up. Although we don't want to discourage visitors to WIYN, the WIYN observers should not feel any obligation to allow disruptions to their work by unscheduled visits. Public tours of WIYN are not currently supported.

  • Telescope Operators

    Telescope operators will be responsible for safety of personnel and equipment. Operators will have sole responsibility to determine when it is safe to open the dome and to operate the equipment. Standards for opening and closing the facility (wind, humidity, dust, threatening clouds, etc.) will be set by NOAO and will conform to those of other NOAO facilities on Kitt Peak. Operators will be responsible for basic telescope operation: target acquisition, finding and acquiring guide stars, tracking, maintaining the active optics, etc. to assist the observer(s) with their program. Operators will, if requested, advise observers on general telescope, instrument, software, and data acquisition and reduction practices. In certain circumstances, the operator will work directly with the observer in data acquisition and reduction.

  • Problems During the Night

    The first level of response to problems, which arise during the night, is an assessment by the telescope operator. He or she will determine the extent of the problem, fix it if possible, and/or advise the observer of possible work-arounds. If the problem cannot be overcome by the operator and if it affects observing efficiency, the operator will call for assistance from the observing technicians, Site Engineer, Telescope Scientist, Mountain Engineering or Tucson Engineering, as appropriate. In cases where observing can continue at a reduced level of efficiency and without danger to the equipment, the decision to continue or to carry out the repair will be made by the observer.

  • Safety

    When you are on the mountain, an Observing Support staff member will give you a safety tour of the telescope facility pointing out emergency exits, locations of fire extinguishers and light switches, and precautions for your own personal protection. At the same time, emergency procedures, safety guidelines, and use of the phone system and radios will be reviewed. Any safety concerns that you may have during your visit should be reported to the telescope operator and submitted to the WIYN Observing Support Coordinator. Further information is contained in the KPNO Emergency Procedures manual and in the WIYN Safety Policy, both of which are located in the observing room of the telescope or available upon request to the Kitt Peak Support Office (kpno@noao.edu).

Instrumentation at WIYN

The WIYN Telescope is configured for four instrument ports. The primary instrument ports are at the Nasmyth foci with the Hydra multi-object spectrograph permanently mounted on one port and the Instrument Adapter on the other. A modified cassegrain port (classical Cassegrain with re-imaging optics) is also available for instrumentation (see the CassIAS User's Manual for more information) but currently does not support instrumentation. The folded cassegrain port has not been developed.

  • Instrument Adapter Subsystem

    The Instrument Adapter Subsystem (IAS) is the general Scientific Instrument (SI) interface and guider for the WIYN telescope. It consists of a main housing, which resides on one of the Nasmyth Instrument Rotators (the WIYN NIR), plus several power supplies, CPU's, an image processor and other support electronics distributed on the WIYN telescope and in the observatory building. The box contains 20 remotely controllable mechanisms that perform the following functions:

    • A dark slide to block light and dust from entering the box.
    • A four-element field corrector and atmospheric dispersion compensator (ADC) mounted as a pair of doublets on two rotating stages.
    • A slide to remove the ADC from the telescope beam.
    • Two pick-off guide cameras on X-Y stages. One is fitted as a focus sensor.
    • Color and ND filter wheels for each guide camera.
    • An integrating CCD camera used for wavefront sensing and acquisition.
    • Spectral calibration lamps for instrument calibration.
    • A color filter wheel for the spectral calibrations lamps.
    • A fold mirror on a slide to direct lamp light to the SI. The back side of this mirror is used to direct the telescope beam to the integrating camera.

    Details about instrument mounting, cable routing, and electronics installation can be obtained by contacting the WIYN Site Engineer. A document describing these details is planned for future development.

  • Hydra/MOS

    Hydra is a multi-object spectrometer that utilizes fiber optics placed in the focal plane to simultaneously transmit the light from numerous objects to a bench mounted spectrograph that records the spectrum of each object onto a CCD detector.

    Hydra Positioner Characteristics:

    • Full one degree unvignetted field size.
    • Minimum fiber-to-fiber separation of ~40 arc seconds.
    • Positioning accuracy of 0.2 arc seconds.
    • Choice of Blue or Red optimized fiber cables.
    • 96 fibers available in each cable.
    • Blue cable has 3.1 arc second fibers with a spectral window of 350-700 nm.
    • Red cable has 2.0 arc second fibers with a spectral window of 450nm - 1.8um.

    Bench Spectrograph Characteristics:

    • Nine available gratings give a multitude of capabilities.
    • Two camera configurations are available.
    • The camera collimator angle is variable between 11 and 45 degrees.
    • The CCD detector is a thinned 2600 x 4000 Tektronics with 12 μm pixels.
    • Typical resolution element of 2.5 to 4 pixels when binned 2x2.
    • Spectral coverage of 17 to 529 nm.

    Detailed information about using the Hydra instrument and specific capabilities of the instrument can be found in the Hydra Users Manual.

  • SparsePak

    SparsePak is a sparsely packed fiber optics bundle with nearly-integral core that has a special fiber geometry designed to optimize performance for the specific scientific goal of studying the spatial distribution of the internal motions of gas and stars in nearby galaxies, but is also useful in general for the study of galactic and extra-galactic nebulae. SparsePak is mounted on the Indiana echelle spectrograph adapter head (WIFOE) which provides a pellical for viewing the fiber array. The fiber cable feeds the same Bench Spectrograph that is used with the Hydra multi-object spectrograph and can be used in any of the spectrograph configurations. SparsePak has the following characteristics:

    • Number of Fibers : 82 (includes 7 sky fibers)
    • Fiber-to-Fiber Spacing : 5.62 arcseconds
    • Field of View : 80 arcseconds x 80 arcseconds
    • Throughput: 89-98% of the light longwards of 500 nm

    Detailed information about SparsePak can be found in the SparsePak Manual

  • Mini-Mosaic (MiniMo)

    The WIYN Mini-Mosaic Imager consists of two SITe 4096x2048 chips separated by a tiny gap mounted in a dewar. The CCDs have excellent cosmetics, high quantum efficiency, and allow good sampling (0.14"/pixel) and a large field of view (9.6x9.6 arcmin). Each of the two CCDs is read out through 2 amplifiers, resulting in a modestly short readout time for the 4096x4096 equivalent array.

    Detailed information about MiniMo can be found in the Mini-Mosaic Imager Manual.

  • OPTIC

    The Orthogonal Parallel Transfer Imaging Camera consists of 2 Lincoln Lab CCID28 2K x 4K chips mounted side by side in a dewar, so the imager is roughly 4K x 4K altogether. OPTIC has the following characteristics:

    • Pixel size = 15 μm (0.14 arcsec)
    • Readout time (unbinned) = 25sec (8 sec binned 2x2)
    • CCD thickness = 45 μm
    • Read noise = 4eˉ
    • Gain = 1.4 eˉ/ADU
    • Full well = >80k eˉ
    • Non-linearity = <1% to ~30k ADU
    • Gap between CCDs = 104pixels or 14arcsec

    For detailed information about OPTIC see the OPTIC at WIYN Manual.

  • WHIRC

    WHIRC is a 2K x 2K near-infrared imager (~1 - 2.5 microns) used with the WIYN Tip-Tilt Module (WTTM). WHIRC + WTTM will provide a powerful combination of high spatial resolution in K, with expected typical images of ~0.25", and best ~0.15", high sensitivity, and a moderately wide FOV (3.3'x3.4'; area on sky/area per pixel = 4 x 106). It is a general purpose instrument for a wide range of science, offering the standard broadband filters (JHK), as well as a number of narrowband filters.WHIRC has the following characteristics:

    • Pixel size= .098 arcsec
    • Wavelength coverage= 900-2500 nm
    • Readout time= 4 seconds
    • Read noise= 12 ADU
    • Gain= 3.7 e/ADU
    • Linearity= linear to 34000 ADU
    • Field of view= 3.3 x 3.3 arcminutes

    For detailed information about WHIRC see the WHIRC Information Page.

    Four-inch filters are required to provide an unvignetted field for MiniMo and OPTIC. WHIRC has its own set of permenant filters. (Please see the WHIRC Information Page for a WHIRC filter list). WIYN has a set of 4" filters that includes UBVRI, a Gunn set, a comet set, and various other filters. Filter characteristics can be found in the WIYN filter Index. In addition to the WIYN filter selection, you can request the use of KPNO filters in advance of your observing run. The details about the KPNO filters can be found in the KPNO filter index. Please specify special filter requests in your Observing Run Preparation form and send to kpno@noao.edu.

  • University Instrumentation

    University instruments can be mounted on either the Naysmith port with the IAS or the Cass port of the telescope. Details for mounting instruments (i.e. bolt pattern, space limitations, etc.) can be obtained by contacting the WIYN Site Engineer (see contact information at the bottom of this document). A document describing these details is planned for future development. If you are planning to use a university instrument at WIYN, please include details in your Observing Run Preparation form. If it is a first-time installation for an instrument you must submit the Instrument Request form contained in the WIYN New Instrumentation Policy (WODC 00-04). If you require resources and service beyond what is provided for normal operations you must submit a proposal per the WIYN Resource Allocation Policy (WODC 00-03). Contact the Kitt Peak Support office (kpno@noao.edu) for copies of the policies.

    Universities will be responsible for installation and removal of their instruments at WIYN unless prior arrangements are made. Universities will be required to support their own instruments. Basic test equipment is available on-site or through Mountain Electronics. A limited stock of basic electronic components is also available on the mountain. On-site storage at WIYN is limited. Therefore, it is recommended that equipment not be left at the site after your observing run, unless it is used on a frequent basis. If you are planning to leave equipment at the site, please make prior arrangements to do so.

Accommodations on the Mountain

  • The WIYN House

    The WIYN house is a one story detached house located on Kitt Peak. The house is leased by WIYN from NOAO and is used exclusively for visiting WIYN University partners. Observers visiting WIYN in the NOAO classic observing mode must use KPNO dorms. The house has two-bedrooms with sleeping provisions for four people, a fully applianced kitchen, a living room area, and laundry facilities. Visitors using the WIYN house will be expected to clean-up after themselves. A map of Kitt Peak with the WIYN domes and houses as well as KPNO dorms can be found here.

  • Using KPNO Dorms and Meal Service

    University astronomers will have the option of using KPNO dorms and meal service. Details about the rates can be found in the KPNO User Handbook. Unless you are exempted by policy, charges for dorm rooms and/or meals are due and payable no later than 15:00 on the day of your departure. If you are departing the mountain on a weekend or holiday, all payments are due on Friday afternoon by 15:00. All charges can be paid by check, cash, MasterCard, or Visa at the mountain receptionist or the cashier downtown in Accounting. For current pricing contact the Kitt Peak Support Office (kpno@noao.edu).

  • Office Space

    The office adjacent to the control room at WIYN will be restricted to use by the current observers. The office contains a desk, a Windows workstation, a copier, a bookcase, and basic office supplies. The Kitt Peak Library and Reading Room will be available to WIYN observers at the same level provided to visiting observers at NOAO facilities.

  • Printing and Copying

    A PostScript laser printer is available at the WIYN site along with a low volume copier. If you anticipate the need for high volume copying, please see the mountain receptionist to obtain an account number for using the copier located in the Administration building.

  • Telephones

    The telephones located on the WIYN site have outside lines available. Long distance calls can be made from these phones. If you make long-distance calls, it is preferred that you use a calling card or reverse the charges. However, charges can be billed back to the respective institutions or added to your bill if necessary. Please let the mountain receptionist know the date you placed the call and the number called for billing purposes. Cell phone use is not allowed on the mountain!!

    The telephone at the WIYN house is for local-call use only. Long distance calls can only be made from this phone using a credit card or with Kitt Peak Operator assistance.

  • Music

    The control room at WIYN is equipped with a good quality stereo system. The system contains an AM/FM receiver and a 5 disk multi-CD player. The system also has the capability of plugging into an MP3 Player or laptop computer. Bring your favorite CD's, MP3 Player or laptop filled with music along with you, choose a local radio station, or just enjoy the peace of the quiet control room.

  • Transportation

    WIYN does not have a vehicle available to visiting university astronomers. However, WIYN observers will be allowed to use NOAO shuttle vehicles for commuting between NOAO Headquarters in Tucson to Kitt Peak as long as they have a current GSA license. Refer to the KPNO User Handbook for the shuttle schedule. Using a rental car as transportation on the mountain top is allowed, however, you must note so in your ORP. Contact the Kitt Peak Support Office (kpno@noao.edu) for further information.

Mountain Resources

  • Computing Facilities

    There are a variety of workstations at WIYN available to visiting astronomers. These workstations are dedicated to the control of the facility instrumentation and reduction of data. These computers will be restricted to current observers. Following is a listing of the currently available on-site computers:

    • Ivory: ASL Linux PC used for telescope operation only.
    • Pearl: Sun Sparc 20 dedicated to Imager (MiniMo) control and data reduction. Exabyte and DAT drives available.
    • Vanilla: Sun Sparc 20 dedicated to MOS CCD control and data reduction. Exabyte and DAT drives available.
    • Oatmeal: ASL Linux PC used for Hydra positioner control only.
    • Sand: ASL Linux PC used for Imaging CCD control and data reduction. Cd and DVD writer available.
    • Mr. Bill: Dell Linux PC dedicated to Imager (OPTIC) control and data reduction. Cd and DVD writer available.
    • Almond: ASL Linux PC used for remote observing and general observer use. Cd and DVD writer available.
    • Snow: Dell PC (dual-boot Linux/Windows2000) for general observer use.
    • Dust: ASL Linux PC used for WHIRC data acquisition. DVD writer available.
    • Whirc-pan: ASL Linux PC used for WHIRC data acquisition.
    • Whocs: ASL Linux PC used for WHIRC.
    • Cork: ASL Linux PC used for the Bench Spectrograph detector interface with MONSOON. DVD writer available.
    • White: ASL Linux PC used for the Bench Spectrograph detector interface with T2KA.
    • Bench-pan: ASL Linux PC used for Bench acquisition.

    All computers listed, with the exception of Ivory, have accounts for use by visiting astronomers. Passwords are provided upon arrival at the site. Observers should be sure to have all data copied to tape or backed-up by noon of the day following their last night. After that time, the computers will be initialized (obsinit) for the next observers coming in and all data will be erased. Observers should not use on-site computing facilities remotely unless they are involved in a current program and have the permission of the on-site observers. There are no additional facilities on Kitt Peak where WIYN visitors will have access to computers. However, reasonable use of the data reduction facilities and the general use of the building facilities at NOAO headquarters (Tucson) will be provided on the same basis as NOAO visitors. For more information see the KPNO User Handbook.

  • Data Backup

    There are several resources for backing up your data. Dat and Exabyte drives as well as CD and DVD writers are available for backing up data. Media is available for purchase from the Mountain Receptionist. For current pricing contact the Kitt Peak Support Office (kpno@noao.edu).

  • Reference Materials

    Basic astronomical reference materials are located in the control room at WIYN. Additional reference materials are located in the Kitt Peak library and Reading Room. Information about availability of reference materials can be obtained by contacting the Kitt Peak Support Office (kpno@noao.edu).

Tucson Resources

Visitor space is available in the NOAO Headquarters for WIYN University visitors. In addition, data reduction facilities will be made available to WIYN visitors upon request. Details about visiting NOAO Headquarters and using the data reduction facilities can be found in the KPNO User Handbook.

Contacts Listing

WIYN Director
Pierre Martin
Ph: 520-318-8484
Email: pmartin@wiyn.org

WIYN Telescope Scientist
Steve Howell (NOAO)
Ph: (520) 318-8491
Email: showell@noao.edu

WIYN Site Engineer
Charles Corson
Ph: (520) 318-8570 or (520) 318-8760
Email: ccorson@noao.edu

Hydra Scientist
Di Harmer
Ph: (520) 318-8218
Email: dharmer@noao.edu

OPTIC Scientist
Steve Howell
Ph: (520) 318-8491
Email: showell@noao.edu

Instrument Support Personnel:
Di Harmer 520-318-8218 (dharmer@noao.edu)
Daryl Willmarth 520-318-8333 (willmart@noao.edu)
Bill Binkert 520-318-8607 (bbinkert@noao.edu)

WIYN Observing Support Coordinator
Heidi Schweiker
Ph: (520) 318-8140
Email: heidis@wiyn.org

Observing Technicians:
Doug Williams 520-318-8760 (dougw@noao.edu)
George Will 520-318-8760 (georgew@noao.edu)
Karen Butler 520-318-8760 (kbutler@noao.edu)
Dave Summers 520-318-8760 (summers@noao.edu)
Krissy Reetz 520-318-8760 (reetz@noao.edu)

WIYN Home

WIYN Observatory * 950 N. Cherry Ave * PO Box 26732 * Tucson, AZ 85726 * Phone:(520) 318-8135 * Fax:(520)318-8487

Last updated 9/25/2008
by Heidi Schweiker