Slit Masks
The slit mask consists of a metal blank which has been machined
according to a "map" of an area of the sky containing objects
of interest to the astronomer. The list of objects, their mapping
(or not) to apertures on the mask, and the actual
geometry of the mask, are all very important to the observing
process. A large library of slit masks will soon accumulate,
and it will be essential to distinguish each one uniquely and
to retrieve its design and purpose, or to recreate it if for
some reason it is lost or damaged. The special pre-cut stock
for fabricating slit masks must be inventoried as well, even
before it is made into functional masks.
Operation of the Instrument
Logging of various environmental and operating conditions throughout
each night is essential when seeking reasons for various interesting
instrument and telescope behaviours. A consistent and complete log
of such information for engineering purposes is particularly important
during the first year or so of operation, but should really be
maintained indefinitely for cross-reference to trouble logs and
to phenomena and artifacts in observed data.
Acquired Data
A historical record of data acquired at the telescope, together with
all meta-data which could affect the quality or interpretation of
the acquired images, can be of enormous value to the original observer
and to later researchers. The meta-data should be public immediately
and always, but the acquired data (and slit mask definitions for that
matter) may be considered confidential for some period of months or
years determined by the initial conditions of the construction grant.
This Web page offers my ongoing attempts to model the various data sources, uses, and archiving methods which are possible/desirable for this instrument.
de@ucolick.org