Shane AO  

Procedure: LGS Files

• Task Schedule
• Introduction
• PRM Files
• Alignment Stars
• PAM Files
• Extra Shutdowns Due To Space Events
• Reprocessing Extra Shutdowns Due To Space Events

Task Schedule

LCH_Reports_Handbook_Change_8--USSF_2022-10-15.pdf
LCH normal hours are 08:00--17:00 PT Mo-Fr. (805) 605-4763 or (805) 606-7410. For emergency actions outside regular business hours the phone number is (805) 605-3514 to request on-call support. Hence, it is important to process PAM files promptly (by 16:00) so we can contact them during regular business hours

Introduction

Both PRM and PAM files use the following specific naming conventions (as of January 2016):

PAM_LaserOwner_A_B_T+000_##Mon####_For_JDAY###_TargetType.txt

Where:

• Fields A and B are should be unique to the program, laser, mission, etc.
• Date ##Mon#### is date run by Space Command deconfliction software, DECON.
• T-### is how many days from JDAY window requested by laser owner/operator.
• Date For_JDAY### is date of activity.

Example:

PRM_Lick_589nm_13kHz_13Nov2018_For_JDAY326_RADEC.txt

PAM_Lick_589nm_15W_T-001_25JAN2016_For_JDAY026_AZEL.txt

PAM files are made available (typically 24 hours in advance of LGS operations). Notification of the availability of new PAM files may, or may not, also be sent via electronic mail to mh-laser@ucolick.org.

Extra notifications at short notice due to space events (e.g. unannounced/modified launches) may be transmitted by telephone to the Control Room, via electronic mail to mh-laser@ucolick.org, via the http://www.space-track.org service, or all of these methods. PRM, PRM and Laser Shutdown Monitor (LSM) procedures all require appropriately formatted files.

PRM Files

• PRM files should be supplied to USAF Space Command at least 3 days in advance of the anticipated date of LGS propagation. This assumes that LCH is going to process PRM files only Mo--Fr 08:00--17:00. In practice, endeavour to provide them 4 days in advance (with rare exceptions), this should facilitate routine operations. PAM files for weekends should be processed before Friday 16:00, so if there is a problem (too many laser shutdowns, missing targets, mistakes on our side that were unrealized until too late, etc.), LCH can be contacted during their regular hours. . A few weeks before an AO run, contact the Principal Investigator/Observer(s) requesting submission of LGS target lists, e.g:

   
     Subject: UCO/Lick Observations: 20XX-XX-XX--20XX-XX-XX; Inst=Shane+ShaneAO+ShARCS; PI=; Prog=20XXN_SXXX [NNNN] 
      
     Dear Principal Investigator, 
      
     This communication is with respect to a forthcoming observing run using 
     UCO/Lick Observatory facilities on Mount Hamilton, as indicated in the 
     Telescope Schedule at the following URL: 
      
     http://www.ucolick.org/~mountain/sched/telA.html 
      
     OBSERVING RUN DETAILS: 
      
     Observer(s) .................... 
     Observing Date(s) .............. 20XX-XX-XX--20XX-XX-XX [N night(s)] 
     Instrument ..................... Shane+ShaneAO+ShARCS (LGS) 
     Principal Investigator .........  (UCXX) 
     Observing Program Identifier ... 20XXN_SXXX [NNNN] 
      
     It is necessary to provide target lists several days in advance of 
     LGS observations to enable processing of targets for submission to 
     USAF Space Command for authorization, creation of appropriate Predictive 
     Avoidance Authorization Message (shutdown) files and ingestion of 
     authorizations into the observatory's management system. 
      
     For details about target lists (which should include not only science 
     targets, but also PSF stars and 10th mag alignment stars near each 
     science target) and other issues related to AO (both NGS and LGS) 
     observing. please refer to the ShaneAO on-line manual at the following 
     URL: 
      
     http://mtham.ucolick.org/techdocs/instruments/ShaneAO/prep/ 
      
     Please provide LGS target list(s) for the forthcoming observations 
     on, or before, the following date: 
      
     Day XX Month 20XX 
      
     Please provide LGS target list(s) via electronic mail to the following 
     address: 
      
     sa@ucolick.org 
      
     Yours sincerely, 
     

• The observer should submit a target list in the following format:

   
     TargetName  RA  Dec  Epoch lgs=1 
     

  For example,

   
     PKS0736+01 07:36:42.51 01:44:00.24 1950 lgs=1 
     M10 16 57 06.0 -04 06 00 2000 lgs=1 
     

  Important:
  • The <TargetName> should have no spaces.
  • Any target that does not include the lgs=1 key shall not be cleared.
  • The equinox must be of the form 2000 or 1950 (as opposed to 2000.0 or 1950.0).
  • The R.A. and Dec may be space or colon separated.
  Note that only one of the guide star-science target pair needs to be cleared (typically in Keck lists only the science target is cleared and the tip-tilt T star(s) are not, Lick lists will often have everything cleared).
• It is necessary to modify the submitted target list:
  • Add header information.
  • Render the equinox into a convention compliant with USAF Space Command requirements (e.g. 2000, not 2000.0.
  • Truncate all lines following the lgs=1/lgs=1 descriptor.
  • The file should be (re-)named according to the following convention:

     
       LGStargetlist_YYYYMonDD.txt 
       

    where, YYYYMonDD is the anticipated PST date of LGS propagation, for example:

     
       LGStargetlist_2019Nov11.txt 
       

  These modifications can be achieved by invoking the following tool:

  user@shimmy.ucolick.org> /usr/local/lick/bin/targetListParse

  alt="Image"> Figure of targetListParse.tcl interface.

  The resulting file should be located at:

  user@shimmy.ucolick.org > /u/user/observers/lgs/targetLists/

  The header and content should be of the following form:

   
     Observer's name:        Name 
     Observer's email:       E-mail 
     Observer's phone:       XXX-XXX-XXXX 
     Program name:           20XXN_SXXX [XXXX] 
     Date for which list applies:  DD Month YEAR 
     Comments: 
     Target list: 
     

  For example,

   
     Observer's name:        Mickey Mouse 
     Observer's email:       mickey@disney.com 
     Observer's phone:       408-XXX-XXXX 
     Program name:           2018B_S001 [4444] 
     Date for which list applies:  11 November 2019 
     Comments: 
     Target list: 
     PKS0736+01 07:36:42.51  01:44:00.24 1950 lgs=1 
     M10        16 57 06.0  -04 06 00    2000 lgs=1 
     

• Render the information into files compliant with USAF Space Command PRM format:

  user@shimmy.ucolick.org > /usr/local/lick/bin/PRM /u/user/observers/lgs/targetLists/LGStargetlist_YYYYMonDD.txt

  For example:

  user@shimmy.ucolick.org > /usr/local/lick/bin/PRM /u/user/observers/lgs/targetLists/LGStargetlist_2018Nov19.txt

  This yields 3 new files at the following location:

  user@shimmy.ucolick.org > /u/user/observers/lgs/PRM/

  1. PRM_Lick_589nm_13kHz_DDMmmYYYY_For_JDayXXX_AZEL.txt where DDMmmYYYY is the date on which the files were produced, and JDayXXX is now the anticipated Julian Day of propagation.
  2. PRM_Lick_589nm_13kHz_DDMmmYYYY_For_JDayXXX_RADEC.txt where DDMmmYYYY is the date on which the files were produced, and JDayXXX is now the anticipated Julian Day of propagation.
  3. YYYYmmmDDUT.txt where YYYYmmmDD is the anticipated UT date of lasing, e.g. 2018Nov20UT.txt
• Upload the PRM files to the following (password protected) URL: http://www.space-track.org.
  1. Log-in as mh-laser@ucolick.org
  2. Select FILES... UPLOAD...
  3. Select destination directory: zLCH/LICK/PRM/
  4. Select PRM files to upload
  5. Notify mh-laser@ucolick.org (including PRM files as attachements) that PRM files have been uploaded, e.g.

      
        Subject: PRM files for JDays 324-326 uploaded 
         
        Dear All, 
         
        PRM files for JDays 324-326 (Nov 19-21 PDT) have been uploaded to space-track.org. 
        

  If necessary due to problems, transmit the PRM files via electronic mail to USAF Space Command at: JSpOCSSAOps@vandenberg.af.mil and UDG_614AOCDet1_SSAOPS@us.af.mil. Copy mh-laser@ucolick.org. For example:

   
     Dear SBM, 
      
     Attached are PRM files for Lick Observatory Laser activities for UT 20XX November 20-22 (JDays 224-226). 
      
     Please email clearances to mh-laser@ucolick.org. 
     

Alignment Stars

However, some LGS programs (especially Galactic plane or ecliptic plane surveys) may not have 9th/10th magnitude alignment stars within a conveniently small Zenth Distance, which may force LGS image sharpening at high ZD to be compromised/impractical. The lack of cleared alignment stars conveniently near zenith can challenge the NGS to LGS switch-over operation.

Therefore, in August/September 2019 it was recommended to include a fixed set of 9th/10th magnitude stars with Declinations circa +37 degrees, spaced every circa 2 hrs of sidereal time along a celestial great arc, to provide a collection of stars to enable alignment checks to be performed conveniently close to meridian, especially in marginal conditions.

Alignment stars near zenith are automatically added by the program:

targetListParse.tcl

These 9th/10th magnitude alignment stars should always be listed first in PRM and PAM files and cleared for every LGS run by default.

The actual starlist file that can be loaded into the coords GUI is located at:

user@shimmy:/u/user/observers/lgs/targetLists/10thMagStarList.txt

Or, locally from the following URL:

10thMagStarList--EGates_2019-09-XX.txt

These all appear as single stars on the finder charts. However, if any are discovered to be unsuitable, notify and the unsuitable star shall be replaced by a different star. It is anticipated that use of these alignment stars will eventually supercede the need for observers to provide alignment stars for each of their science targets.

PAM Files

• It is important to process PAM files promptly (by 16:00) so in the event of misunderstanding or uncertainty, Laser Clearing House can be contacted during regular business hours. LCH normal hours are 08:00--17:00 PT Mo-Fr. 805-605-4763 or 805-606-7410. For emergency actions outside regular business hours the phone number is 805-605-3514 to request on-call support
• USAF Space Command should provide PAM (Predictave Avoidance Authorization Message) files via electronic mail to mh-laser@ucolick.org. PAM files should also be placed in the appropriate (password protected) directory at the following URL:

  http://www.space-track.org

  Assign the PAM files descriptive names (e.g. 2018jday224azel.txt; 2018jday224radec.txt) and save/copy them to:

  user@shimmy.ucolick.org:/u/user/observers/lgs/lsm/

  Note: Both Julian date and UT date are listed in the PAM file in case of uncertainty regarding which date the files are for. References to JDAY should be understood to mean the day of year (DOY) that begins at 0000 UT.

  http://www.epochconverter.com/epoch/daynumbers.php

  There are 3 (updated March 2014) programs to process PAM files and create related files for the Laser Shutdown Monitor.

  1. Parse PAM files:

      
        user@shimmy.ucolick.org: /usr/local/lick/bin/lsmParse /u/user/observers/lgs/lsm/2018jdayXXXazel.txt 
        

      
        user@shimmy.ucolick.org: /usr/local/lick/bin/lsmParse /u/user/observers/lgs/lsm/2018jdayXXXradec.txt 
        

  2. Check UT date vs JDAY to ensure that every requested target was cleared (and lists targets cleared, but not requested):

      
        user@shimmy.ucolick.org: /usr/local/lick/bin/lsmCheck 2018MmmXXUT 
        

  3. Renames the .lsm file(s) according to the target names provided by the observer in their submitted LGS Target List file.

      
        user@shimmy.ucolick.org: /usr/local/lick/bin/lsm 2008Jan20UT 
        

Extra Shutdowns Due To Space Events

 
   UT05:18--UT05:29 
   UT06:55--UT07:03 
   

Post-2018-12-07 Procedure

 
   JDAY HHMM - HHMM 
   

 
   http://mtham.ucolick.org/techdocs/techref/ShaneAO/LGStargetLists.html 
   

1. Create a text file with a name such as the following: 2014jday227shutdowns.txt
2. The text in the file must adopt the following example format:

    
      2014 Aug 15 (227) 0200 00  2014 Aug 15 (227) 0644 00 
      

   where the first item is the UT date (JDay) and the zulu (or UT) time of the beginning of the first open window for the laser in HHMM SS. The second item on the line, with the same format, is the time at which the laser must be shuttered for satellite avoidance.
   The first line should always start with the current UT/JDay of laser operations with propagation allowed starting at 0200. Operations cease no later than 1400, so the last line of the file should end with:

   YYYY MMM DD (JDy) 1400 00

3. Save file at: user@shimmy:observers/lgs/extraShutdowns/
4. As user on shimmy, execute the following command:

    
      user@shimmy.ucolick.org > /local/u/user/observers/lgs/bin/lsmParseExtras.tcl path/filename UTDate 
      

   This creates a file called extra.lsm in the following directory on shimmy:

    
      /data/lsm/YYYYMMDDUT/ 
      

5. As user on shimmy, execute the following script to incorporate the extra shutdowns into the individual target shutdown files:

    
      user@shimmy.ucolick.org > observers/lgs/bin/lsmIncludeExtras.tcl UTDate 
      

   This script will copy the original files to the following directory:

    
      /data/lsm/YYYYMmmDDUT/named/ 
      

   and create new .lsm files with the same name incorporating all shutdowns.

Example

• Determine the night's UT Date and JDay. The aotelcoc display will list the current UT Date and JDay. It may be necessary to add one if it is before 5 pm PDT (4 pm PST). In this example, tonight's UT date is 2014 Aug 15, JDay 227.
• Log in to shimmy.ucolick.org as user:

  ssh user@shimmy

• Change to the extraShutdowns directory:

  cd observers/lgs/extraShutdowns

• Create a file for the new shutdowns using your favorite text editor, e.g.

  emacs 2014jday227shutdowns.txt

• The first line of the file always starts with the UT Date of operations starting at 0200 and then ends with the start time of the first shutdown:

   
     2014 Aug 15 (227) 0200 00 2014 Aug 15 (227) 0644 00 
     

  Next line of the file will start the end time of the first shutdown, and ends with the start of the next shutdown. In this case, as there is only one shutdown, we use the final (end of night) shutdown, which always starts at 1400:

   
     2014 Aug 15 (227) 0646 00 2014 Aug 15 (227) 1400 00 
     

• Save file.
• Process the shutdown list to create the .lsm file. If in the extraShutdowns directory:

   
     user@shimmy.ucolick.org > ../bin/lsmParseExtras.tcl 2014jday227shutdowns.txt  2014Aug15UT 
     

  This creates a file called extra.lsm in the following directory on shimmy:

   
     /data/lsm/YYYYMMDDUT/ 
     

• Process to insert the extra shutdown information into pre-existing (from normal LGS file preparations) .lsm files for individual targets. If in the extraShutdowns directory:

   
     user@shimmy.ucolick.org > ../bin/lsmIncludeExtras.tcl 2014Aug15UT 
     

  This creates new .lsm files for each target in the directory:

   
     /data/lsm/2014Aug15UT/. 
     

  and copies the original/pre-existing files to the following directory:

   
     /data/lsm/YYYYMmmDDUT/named/ 
     

Pre-2018-12-07 Procedure

 
   JDAY HHMM - HHMM 
   

Example

Reprocessing Extra Shutdowns Due To Space Events

Post-2018-12-07 Procedure

 
   http://mtham.ucolick.org/techdocs/techref/ShaneAO/LGStargetLists.html 
   

• As user on shimmy, re-visit the file containing the extra shutdowns, e.g.

   
     ~/observers/lgs/extraShutdowns/2014jday227shutdowns.txt 
     

  Edit the shutdowns file appropriately to reflect the latest information from USAF Space Command in the correct time-sequential order.
• Delete the pre-existing file extra.lsm in the appropriately-dated subdirectory:

   
     ~/data/lsm/YYYYMmmDDUT/extra.lsm 
     

• If the script lsmIncludeExtras.tcl had been executed for this date, do the following:
  • Delete all the individual target .lsm files in the appropriately-dated subdirectory:

     
       ~/data/lsm/YYYYMmmDDUT 
       

  • Move the (original) .lsm files from:

     
       /data/lsm/YYYYMmmDDUT/named/ 
       

    to:

     
       /data/lsm/YYYYMmmDDUT/ 
       

• As user on shimmy, execute the following command:

   
     user@shimmy.ucolick.org > /local/u/user/observers/lgs/bin/lsmParseExtras.tcl path/filename UTDate 
     

  This creates a file called extra.lsm in the following directory on shimmy:

   
     /data/lsm/YYYYMMDDUT/ 
     

• Process to insert the extra shutdown information into pre-existing (from normal LGS file preparations) .lsm files for individual targets. If in the extraShutdowns directory:

   
     user@shimmy.ucolick.org > ../bin/lsmIncludeExtras.tcl YYYYMmmDDUT 
     

  For example,

   
     user@shimmy.ucolick.org > ../bin/lsmIncludeExtras.tcl 2014Aug15UT 
     

  This creates new .lsm files for each target in a date-stamped directory:

   
     /data/lsm/YYYYMmmDDUT/ 
     

  For example,

   
     /data/lsm/2014Aug15UT/ 
     

  and copies the original/pre-existing files to the following directory:

   
     /data/lsm/YYYYMmmDDUT/named/ 
     

• Only perform this step if lsmIncludeExtras.tcl was NOT executed:
  Load the new extra.lsm into the lsmExtra.tcl program.

Pre-2018-12-07 Procedure

Prepare 30 Day Monthly Lookout File

1. Download template or
2. Copy/re-name file to appropriate month (e.g. LCH_MTOS_Input_Form--Lick_Observatory--Mon20XX.xlsx).
3. Open and edit the copied/re-named file:
   • Edit MONTH and YEAR appropriately: MONTH 20XX
   • Edit/rename sheet appropriately: Mon XX
   • Enter LGS program name: Lick Observatory/Lick_589nm_13kHz
   • Highlight (e.g. in yellow) cells corresponding to dates of intended LGS operation. Note: US military use Zulu time (UTC). However, Lick Observatory telescope schedules use Pacific time (PST/PDT). Therefore, highlight all intended LGS operation dates, commencing with first date of intended LGS operation and then append one additional date at the end of each intended LGS run to accommodate any ambiguity between Pacific and Zulu times (e.g. for 2 LGS nights in March: March 12 and 13, highlight the 3 nights: March 12, 13 and 14 to accommodate any work load preceding the intended LGS run, and to ensure declaration encompassing the entire intended LGS run).
   • Annotate the highlighted region with Active 0200z to 1400z each day.
4. Save updated (XLSX format) file.
5. Preview and format content of relevant month/sheet.
6. Save/export as a single page, US letter format, landscape orientation PDF format file (e.g. example (XLSX format) file. example (XLSX format) file. example (XLSX format) file. Note: For some editing software (e.g. LibreOffice) it may be necessary to delete all except the current month/sheet before the export as PDF function produces the desired result.
7. Prepare an electronic mail message:
   • Subject of the following form:

     MTOS for Lick Observatory**

   • Attach the resulting PDF format file.
   • Message content of the following form:

      
        Dear Laser Clearing House, 
         
        Attached is the current version of the MTOS for Lick Observatory. 
        If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us. 
         
        Yours sincerely, 
         
        Staff Astronomer 
         
        Elinor Gates, Ph.D.   Office: 408-238-0652 / 408-238-9610 
        egates@ucolick.org    Cell:   408-202-1691 
         
        Paul Lynam, Ph.D      Office: 408-238-0652 / 408-238-9617 
        plynam@ucolick.org    Cell:   408-398-7526 
         
        Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton, CA 95140 
        

   • Circulate including the following address:

     mh-laser@ucolick.org

   • Send to the following address:

     LaserClearinghouse@us.af.mil

Change Log:

2022-10-15: Updated: New procedures for LCH.

2022-05-06: Updated typographical error corrected.

2019-11-11: Updated (equinox format i.e. 2000 vs 2000.0).

2019-11-05: Updated.

2018-12-07: Updated: New procedures for Extra Shutdowns.

2018-11-12: Updated.

2018-10-29: Updated: Added Reprocessing Extra Shutdowns.

2017-10-06: Updated: Updated reporting form format.

2017-06-09: Updated: shimmy replaced shred.

2017-04-12: Updated.

2015-12-01: First version.