COVER INFORMATION Station: VLBA_MK (Code Mk ) Experiment: Image 3C120 at 90cm - calibrator test Exp. Code: bw067j Schedule Version: 1.00 Processed by SCHED version: Release of 18 Sept. 2003 PI: Craig Walker Address: National Radio Astronomy Observatory P. O. Box O Socorro, New Mexico, 87801 U.S.A. Phone: 505 835 7247 EMAIL: cwalker@nrao.edu Fax: 505 835 7027 Phone during observation: 505 835 7247 Observing mode: 6cm 128-4-2 Notes: COVER LETTER: This project needs about 100 hours times 45 baselines to meet the sensitivity requirements. This time can be accumulated in many separated sessions. One session should be a full track with all antennas to set the calibration and ensure full uv coverage. I have submitted a schedule as bw067c for that session. The other sessions can involve as little as 2 hours and as few as 6 antennas. The observing frequency is 327 MHz. Tropospheric weather is not an issue - any conditions are ok. The ionosphere and the solar corona are potential problems. An outcome of the test observations (bw067a and bw067b) was that we should not observe near the sun. So please don't schedule this in the months of April through July. As per discussions with Dave Medcalf, I have set up this schedule to use a SCHED optimization mode that allows any subset of a full track to be designated by only changing the start time and the overall duration. So, with only modifications to those parameters, this schedule can be used repeatedly to build up the required baseline hours. See the "Initial Scan Information" section in the key file. The schedule uses 1.3 tape passes per hour. Here is the official dynamic scheduling sheet: ================================================================ Preferred Dynamic Contraints. Alter [defaults] as desired. ================================================================ Equipment constraints: Stations. Below each station code, the "o" indicates an [optional] station that is to be used if it is available. Change "o" to "r" if the station is required or change "o" to "n" if the station is not to be used. SC HN NL FD LA PT KP OV BR MK o o o o o o o o o r Minimum number of stations [6]: May we swap PT for a single VLA antenna? [yes] Consult http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/~gtaylor/y1gotcha.html to decide. If you adopt the default, then both PT and VLA1 must be in the stations list in the keyin file. Bands and polarizations. Below each band code, insert "R" if the righthand polarization is to be used, "L" if the lefthand polarization is to be used, "d" if dual polarizations are to be used, or "o" if the band is in your setups but scheduling should not be constrained by its availability. 90cm 50cm 20cm 13cm 6cm 4cm 2cm 1cm 7mm 3mm d Weather constraints: [appropriate for bands marked "L", "R", or "d" above and for at least the minimum number of stations] Date constraints: Preferred date(s), usually a series start [none]: Excluded dates plus reason [none]: April through July (too close to Sun). Preferred interval between segments in days [none]: Special conditions (e.g., a series with different spacings in time) [See the comments at the top.]: Schedule for VLBA_MK (Code Mk ) Page 2 Image 3C120 at 90cm - calibrator test UP: D => Below limits; H => Below horizon mask. blank => Up. Early: Seconds between end of slew and start. Dwell: On source seconds. Tapes: Drive, Index, Start footage / Direction, Head Group, End footage. TPStart: Tape motion start time. Frequencies are LO sum (band edge). Automatic tape allocation specified. Tape positions are just estimates. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Start UT Source Start / Stop Early Tapes TPStart Stop UT LST EL AZ HA UP ParA Dwell (see above) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Mon 8 Dec 2003 Day 342 --- Next scan frequencies: 324.49 324.49 332.49 332.49 Next BBC frequencies: 824.49 824.49 832.49 832.49 Next scan bandwidths: 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 04 47 19 3C147 23 31 39 13.2 41.4 -6.2 -74.9 0 1 1 0 04 46 59 04 50 19 --- 23 34 39 13.7 41.5 -6.1 -75.4 180 F 1 1330 04 52 18 3C120 23 36 39 16.7 90.2 -4.9 -70.9 81 1 1 1330 04 51 58 05 12 15 --- 23 56 39 21.4 92.0 -4.6 -70.8 1197 F 1 9442 05 12 35 J0423-0120 23 57 00 21.4 99.7 -4.4 -68.1 9 1 1 9442 05 12 15 05 15 35 =0420-014 24 00 00 22.1 100.0 -4.4 -68.0 180 F 1 10774 05 15 55 3C120 00 00 20 22.2 92.3 -4.6 -70.8 9 1 2 10774 05 15 35 05 35 52 --- 00 20 20 26.9 94.1 -4.2 -70.5 1197 R 1 16313 05 36 12 J0423-0120 00 20 40 26.9 102.1 -4.0 -66.9 9 1 2 16313 05 35 52 05 39 12 =0420-014 00 23 40 27.6 102.5 -4.0 -66.8 180 R 1 14981 05 39 32 3C120 00 24 01 27.8 94.4 -4.2 -70.4 9 1 2 14981 05 39 12 05 59 29 --- 00 44 01 32.5 96.4 -3.8 -69.9 1197 R 1 6868 06 01 16 3C147 00 45 49 25.0 43.2 -5.0 -88.5 66 1 2 6868 06 00 56 06 04 16 --- 00 48 49 25.5 43.2 -4.9 -89.1 180 R 1 5538 06 06 15 3C120 00 50 49 34.1 97.1 -3.7 -69.7 78 1 3 5538 06 05 55 06 26 12 --- 01 10 49 38.7 99.3 -3.4 -68.8 1197 F 1 2573 06 26 33 J0423-0120 01 11 09 38.4 108.4 -3.2 -63.2 8 1 3 2573 06 26 12 06 29 32 =0420-014 01 14 09 39.0 108.9 -3.2 -62.9 180 F 1 3905 06 29 52 3C120 01 14 29 39.6 99.7 -3.3 -68.7 8 1 3 3905 06 29 32 06 49 49 --- 01 34 29 44.2 102.2 -3.0 -67.5 1197 F 1 12018 06 50 09 J0423-0120 01 34 50 43.6 112.1 -2.8 -60.7 8 1 3 12018 06 49 49 06 53 09 =0420-014 01 37 50 44.2 112.6 -2.8 -60.3 180 F 1 13350 06 53 29 3C120 01 38 10 45.0 102.7 -2.9 -67.2 8 1 4 13350 06 53 09 07 13 26 --- 01 58 10 49.6 105.7 -2.6 -65.5 1197 R 1 13737 07 15 31 3C147 02 00 15 36.9 41.8 -3.7 -103.5 76 1 4 13737 07 15 11 07 18 30 --- 02 03 15 37.4 41.6 -3.7 -104.2 180 R 1 12407 Schedule for VLBA_MK (Code Mk ) Page 3 Image 3C120 at 90cm - calibrator test UP: D => Below limits; H => Below horizon mask. blank => Up. Early: Seconds between end of slew and start. Dwell: On source seconds. Tapes: Drive, Index, Start footage / Direction, Head Group, End footage. TPStart: Tape motion start time. Frequencies are LO sum (band edge). Automatic tape allocation specified. Tape positions are just estimates. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Start UT Source Start / Stop Early Tapes TPStart Stop UT LST EL AZ HA UP ParA Dwell (see above) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Mon 8 Dec 2003 Day 342 --- 07 20 38 3C120 02 05 24 51.2 106.8 -2.5 -64.8 79 1 4 12407 07 20 18 07 40 35 --- 02 25 24 55.7 110.6 -2.1 -62.2 1197 R 1 4295 07 40 55 J0423-0120 02 25 44 54.2 122.8 -2.0 -52.3 6 1 4 4295 07 40 35 07 43 55 =0420-014 02 28 44 54.8 123.6 -1.9 -51.6 180 R 1 2963 07 44 15 3C120 02 29 04 56.5 111.3 -2.1 -61.7 6 1 5 2963 07 43 55 08 04 12 --- 02 49 04 60.8 116.2 -1.7 -58.0 1197 F 1 5150 08 04 32 J0423-0120 02 49 25 58.7 129.8 -1.6 -46.3 5 1 5 5150 08 04 12 08 07 31 =0420-014 02 52 25 59.3 130.8 -1.5 -45.4 180 F 1 6482 08 07 52 3C120 02 52 45 61.6 117.2 -1.7 -57.2 5 1 5 6482 08 07 31 08 27 48 --- 03 12 45 65.6 123.7 -1.3 -51.9 1197 F 1 14595 08 29 52 3C147 03 14 49 48.0 35.5 -2.5 -122.1 59 1 5 14595 08 29 32 08 32 52 --- 03 17 49 48.4 35.1 -2.4 -123.0 180 F 1 15925 08 35 07 3C120 03 20 05 67.1 126.6 -1.2 -49.4 68 1 6 15925 08 34 47 08 55 04 --- 03 40 05 70.6 136.3 -0.9 -40.8 1197 R 1 11164 08 55 24 J0423-0120 03 40 25 66.4 152.2 -0.7 -26.0 4 1 6 11164 08 55 04 08 58 24 =0420-014 03 43 25 66.7 153.9 -0.7 -24.4 180 R 1 9831 08 58 44 3C120 03 43 46 71.2 138.5 -0.8 -38.8 4 1 6 9831 08 58 24 09 18 41 --- 04 03 46 73.9 152.5 -0.5 -25.9 1197 R 1 1718 09 19 01 J0423-0120 04 04 06 68.3 166.8 -0.3 -12.4 3 1 6 1718 09 18 41 09 22 01 =0420-014 04 07 06 68.5 168.8 -0.3 -10.6 180 R 1 386 09 22 21 3C120 04 07 26 74.2 155.5 -0.4 -23.1 3 1 7 386 09 22 01 09 42 18 --- 04 27 26 75.5 174.1 -0.1 -5.6 1197 F 1 8499 09 44 05 3C147 04 29 14 56.6 21.7 -1.2 -147.3 0 1 7 8499 09 43 45 09 47 05 --- 04 32 14 56.8 21.0 -1.2 -148.5 180 F 1 9829 09 54 48 3C120 04 39 58 75.5 186.5 0.1 6.2 347 1 8 9829 09 54 28 10 14 44 --- 04 59 58 74.2 205.0 0.4 23.5 1197 R 1 17260 10 15 05 J0423-0120 05 00 19 67.0 204.2 0.6 22.7 0 1 8 17260 10 14 44 10 18 04 =0420-014 05 03 19 66.7 205.9 0.7 24.3 180 R 1 15928 Schedule for VLBA_MK (Code Mk ) Page 4 Image 3C120 at 90cm - calibrator test UP: D => Below limits; H => Below horizon mask. blank => Up. Early: Seconds between end of slew and start. Dwell: On source seconds. Tapes: Drive, Index, Start footage / Direction, Head Group, End footage. TPStart: Tape motion start time. Frequencies are LO sum (band edge). Automatic tape allocation specified. Tape positions are just estimates. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Start UT Source Start / Stop Early Tapes TPStart Stop UT LST EL AZ HA UP ParA Dwell (see above) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Mon 8 Dec 2003 Day 342 --- 10 18 24 3C120 05 03 39 73.8 208.0 0.5 26.3 0 1 8 15928 10 18 04 10 38 21 --- 05 23 39 71.1 221.9 0.8 39.1 1197 R 1 7815 10 38 41 J0423-0120 05 23 59 64.2 216.8 1.0 34.3 0 1 8 7815 10 38 21 10 41 41 =0420-014 05 26 59 63.7 218.2 1.1 35.6 180 R 1 6486 10 42 00 3C120 05 27 19 70.5 224.0 0.9 41.1 0 1 9 6486 10 41 41 11 01 57 --- 05 47 19 66.9 233.7 1.2 49.6 1197 F 1 1624 11 03 26 3C147 05 48 48 59.9 358.1 0.1 177.2 0 1 9 1624 11 03 06 11 06 26 --- 05 51 48 59.9 357.1 0.1 175.8 180 F 1 2954 11 13 28 3C120 05 58 51 64.7 238.1 1.4 53.3 337 1 9 2954 11 13 08 11 33 24 --- 06 18 51 60.6 244.1 1.8 58.3 1197 F 1 11066 11 33 44 J0423-0120 06 19 11 54.6 236.6 1.9 51.8 2 1 9 11066 11 33 24 11 36 43 =0420-014 06 22 11 54.0 237.4 2.0 52.5 180 F 1 12393 11 37 03 3C120 06 22 30 59.8 245.1 1.8 59.0 2 1 10 12393 11 36 43 11 57 00 --- 06 42 30 55.5 249.6 2.2 62.4 1197 R 1 14699 11 58 23 3C147 06 43 54 57.6 341.6 1.0 152.5 16 1 10 14699 11 58 03 12 01 22 --- 06 46 54 57.4 340.8 1.1 151.3 180 R 1 13369 SETUP FILE INFORMATION: NOTE: If DOPPLER, FREQ, or BW were used, see the individual scans for the final BBC settings. Setup file: bw051.set Matches group v5090n in /home/filehost/cwalker/sched/catalogs/freq.dat Setup group: 1 Station: VLBA Total bit rate: 128 Format: VLBA1:4 Bits per sample: 2 Sample rate: 16.000 Number of channels: 4 Passes/head pos: 1 Speedup factor: 2.00 Tape speeds: Low density - 133.330 ips, High density - 80.00 ips Time per pass for 17600 ft, High density tapes is: 00:44:00 1st LO= -500.00 -500.00 -500.00 -500.00 Net SB= U U U U Pol. = RCP LCP RCP LCP BBC = 1 2 3 4 BBC SB= U U U U IF = B D B D VLBA FE= omit 90cm omit 90cm VLBA Synth= 15.4 15.4 15.4 The following frequency sets based on this setup were used. Frequency Set: 1 Setup file default. Used pcal sets: 1 LO sum= 324.49 324.49 332.49 332.49 BBC fr= 824.49 824.49 832.49 832.49 Bandwd= 8.000 8.000 8.000 8.000 The following pulse cal sets were used with this setup: Pulse cal detection set: 1 PCAL = OFF PCALXB1= S1 S2 S3 S4 OFF OFF OFF OFF PCALXB2= M1 M2 M3 M4 OFF OFF OFF OFF PCALFR1= 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 PCALFR2= 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Track assignments are: track1= 2, 18, 3, 19 barrel=roll_auto SOURCE LIST -- Image 3C120 at 90cm - calibrator test Catalog positions marked with *. Precession of date coordinates is based on stop time of first scan. Names used in schedule marked with *. Short names used in VLA and SNAP files marked with +. Observation date used in B1950/J2000 coordinate conversion (PRECDATE): 1979.900 No adjustments are made for rates (DRA, DDEC). Source Source position (RA/Dec) (B1950) (J2000) (Date) * J0423-0120 04 20 43.539850 * 04 23 15.800727 04 23 28.312279 0420-014 -01 27 28.70002 *-01 20 33.06531 -01 19 56.10126 J0423-01 /home/filehost/cwalker/sched/catalogs/sources.vlba ICRF - Ext.1 Source - 1998 IERS Annual Report J0433+0521 04 30 31.602066 * 04 33 11.095535 04 33 24.137657 0430+052 05 14 59.61664 * 05 21 15.61942 05 21 50.12577 * 3C120 /home/filehost/cwalker/sched/catalogs/sources.vlba J0433+05 ICRF - Ext.1 Source - 1998 IERS Annual Report J0542+4951 05 38 43.517539 * 05 42 36.137917 05 42 55.264056 0538+498 49 49 42.83693 * 49 51 07.23356 49 51 17.13387 * 3C147 /home/filehost/cwalker/sched/catalogs/sources.vlba J0542+49 ICRF - Ext.1 Source - 1998 IERS Annual Report J1331+3030 13 28 49.657691 * 13 31 08.287984 13 31 17.691925 1328+307 30 45 58.64021 * 30 30 32.95885 30 29 16.38868 * 3C286 /home/filehost/cwalker/sched/catalogs/sources.vlba J1331+30 VLBA Calib. Survey - ICRF Frame - reduced by GSFC group - Aug 2001 The solar corona can cause unstable phases for sources too close to the Sun. SCHED provides warnings at individual scans for distances less than 10 degrees. The distance from the Sun to each source in this schedule is: Source Sun distance (deg) J0423-0120 154.5 3C120 161.7 3C147 151.4 3C286 72.7 Barry Clark estimates from predictions by Ketan Desai of IPM scattering sizes that the Sun will cause amplitude reductions on the longest VLBA baselines at a solar distance of 60deg F^(-0.6) where F is in GHz. For common VLBI bands, this is: 327 MHz 117. deg 610 MHz 81. deg 1.6 GHz 45. deg 2.3 GHz 36. deg 5.0 GHz 23. deg 8.4 GHz 17. deg 15.0 GHz 12. deg 22.0 GHz 9. deg 43.0 GHz 6. deg