Astronomer's proposal tool: the first two years of operation

Anthony J. Roman; Robert Douglas; Ronald Downes; Anthony Krueger; Karla Peterson

doi:10.1117/12.548947

16 September 2004 Astronomer's proposal tool: the first two years of operation

Anthony J. Roman, Robert Douglas, Ronald Downes, Anthony Krueger, Karla Peterson

Proceedings Volume 5493, Optimizing Scientific Return for Astronomy through Information Technologies; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.548947
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2004, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Abstract

The Astronomer's Proposal Tool (APT) is an integrated software package for the preparation of observing proposals and plans. It was developed by the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) to support Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observing, but it has also been designed so that other observatories can reuse it. The goal of APT is to provide a single user-friendly interface to much of the software that is needed by HST proposers and observers. APT was released in autumn 2002 and has since been used for two cycles of HST observing. This paper will illustrate some of the capabilities and functions of APT including a graphical editor, a display of how science exposures and overhead activities fit into HST orbits, and a timeline of when a observation's constraints can and cannot be met during an observing cycle. Experiences of the first two years of APT operation will also be discussed. Some of the user feedback will be described, and APT's impact on HST observing program implementation work at STScI will be explained. Based on all of this operational experience, several changes have been made to the APT software. These changes will be described.

Citation Download Citation

Anthony J. Roman, Robert Douglas, Ronald Downes, Anthony Krueger, and Karla Peterson "Astronomer's proposal tool: the first two years of operation", Proc. SPIE 5493, Optimizing Scientific Return for Astronomy through Information Technologies, (16 September 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.548947

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