This manual describes the Observing Tool (OT), that is used to define observing proposals and to prepare observations at the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).
If you intend to request observing time on ALMA (Phase 1), or if you have obtained observing time and need to define the instrument details for the observing programme(Phase 2), you will need to use the OT. The purpose of this manual is to assist you in the Phase 1 proposal creation and in the Phase 2 programme definition and submission processes.
The OT is a Java based application integrating a set of user interfaces that are needed to prepare an ALMA observing project. An ALMA ProjectALMA Projectconsists of a valid ALMA Observing Proposal and an Observing Programme containing one or more Scheduling Blocks that are executed at the telescope. The OT and the Scheduling Blocks are important constituents of the ALMA Data Flow System. This manual will also describe these concepts.
This manual is not a technical manual. Hence, detailed technical information about the ALMA hardware systems will not be presented in this manual. However,the manual covers some technical aspects of, and references to, the ALMA hardware that enables users to set up more complicated observing programmes and non-standard configurations. Also, the manual provides guidelines for the installation of the OT.
Chapter
2
provides information about how to install, configure and run the Observing Tool. More installation and configuration details are provided in a separate Appendix
A
.
Chapter
3
describes the basics concepts of the Observing Tooland the main components of an observing proposal and observing programme. An overview of the Observing Tool is given in Chapter
4
. The ALMA Sensitivity Calculator and the Calibrator Selection Tool are discussed in Chapter
5
.
The creation of Phase 1 proposals is described in Chapter 6 . Chapters 7 and 8 provide comprehensive information about setting up a Phase 2 programme by defining Science Goals (Chapter 7 ) or by creating Scheduling Blocks (Chapter 8 ). For creating a Phase 1 proposal or a Phase 2 programme the OT provides so-called Visual Editors. The Visual SpatialEditor displays an area of the sky with field and pointing information. The Visual Spectral Editor supports frequency and correlator settings in a graphical represeantion. The VisualSpatial and Spectra Editors are documented in Chapters 9 and 10 , respectively.
In the Chapter 11 the validation of observing proposals and programmes is discussed, provides information on how to submit and retrieve a project to and from the ALMA Observatory, and how to store and load projects locally.
A number of Appendices cover special topics: Installation details and Configuration,Project Migration, Information for Expert users and Troubleshooting.