COVER INFORMATION Station: VLBA_MK (Code Mk ) Experiment: Image 3C120 at 90cm - calibrator test Exp. Code: bw067n 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) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Tue 16 Dec 2003 Day 350 --- 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 15 52 3C147 23 31 39 13.2 41.4 -6.2 -74.9 0 1 1 0 04 15 32 04 18 51 --- 23 34 39 13.7 41.5 -6.1 -75.4 180 F 1 1330 04 20 51 3C120 23 36 39 16.7 90.2 -4.9 -70.9 81 1 1 1330 04 20 31 04 40 48 --- 23 56 39 21.4 92.0 -4.6 -70.8 1197 F 1 9442 04 41 08 J0423-0120 23 57 00 21.4 99.7 -4.4 -68.1 9 1 1 9442 04 40 48 04 44 08 =0420-014 24 00 00 22.1 100.0 -4.4 -68.0 180 F 1 10774 04 44 28 3C120 00 00 20 22.2 92.3 -4.6 -70.8 9 1 2 10774 04 44 08 05 04 24 --- 00 20 20 26.9 94.1 -4.2 -70.5 1197 R 1 16313 05 04 45 J0423-0120 00 20 40 26.9 102.1 -4.0 -66.9 9 1 2 16313 05 04 24 05 07 44 =0420-014 00 23 40 27.6 102.5 -4.0 -66.8 180 R 1 14981 05 08 05 3C120 00 24 01 27.8 94.4 -4.2 -70.4 9 1 2 14981 05 07 44 05 28 01 --- 00 44 01 32.5 96.4 -3.8 -69.9 1197 R 1 6868 05 29 49 3C147 00 45 49 25.0 43.2 -5.0 -88.5 66 1 2 6868 05 29 29 05 32 49 --- 00 48 49 25.5 43.2 -4.9 -89.1 180 R 1 5538 05 34 48 3C120 00 50 49 34.1 97.1 -3.7 -69.7 78 1 3 5538 05 34 28 05 54 45 --- 01 10 49 38.7 99.3 -3.4 -68.8 1197 F 1 2573 05 55 05 J0423-0120 01 11 09 38.4 108.4 -3.2 -63.2 8 1 3 2573 05 54 45 05 58 05 =0420-014 01 14 09 39.0 108.9 -3.2 -62.9 180 F 1 3905 05 58 25 3C120 01 14 29 39.6 99.7 -3.3 -68.7 8 1 3 3905 05 58 05 06 18 22 --- 01 34 29 44.2 102.2 -3.0 -67.5 1197 F 1 12018 06 18 42 J0423-0120 01 34 50 43.6 112.1 -2.8 -60.7 8 1 3 12018 06 18 22 06 21 42 =0420-014 01 37 50 44.2 112.6 -2.8 -60.3 180 F 1 13350 06 22 02 3C120 01 38 10 45.0 102.7 -2.9 -67.2 8 1 4 13350 06 21 42 06 41 58 --- 01 58 10 49.6 105.7 -2.6 -65.5 1197 R 1 13737 06 44 03 3C147 02 00 15 36.9 41.8 -3.7 -103.5 76 1 4 13737 06 43 43 06 47 03 --- 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) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Tue 16 Dec 2003 Day 350 --- 06 49 11 3C120 02 05 24 51.2 106.8 -2.5 -64.8 79 1 4 12407 06 48 51 07 09 08 --- 02 25 24 55.7 110.6 -2.1 -62.2 1197 R 1 4295 07 09 28 J0423-0120 02 25 44 54.2 122.8 -2.0 -52.3 6 1 4 4295 07 09 08 07 12 27 =0420-014 02 28 44 54.8 123.6 -1.9 -51.6 180 R 1 2963 07 12 48 3C120 02 29 04 56.5 111.3 -2.1 -61.7 6 1 5 2963 07 12 27 07 32 44 --- 02 49 04 60.8 116.2 -1.7 -58.0 1197 F 1 5150 07 33 05 J0423-0120 02 49 25 58.7 129.8 -1.6 -46.3 5 1 5 5150 07 32 44 07 36 04 =0420-014 02 52 25 59.3 130.8 -1.5 -45.4 180 F 1 6482 07 36 24 3C120 02 52 45 61.6 117.2 -1.7 -57.2 5 1 5 6482 07 36 04 07 56 21 --- 03 12 45 65.6 123.7 -1.3 -51.9 1197 F 1 14595 07 58 25 3C147 03 14 49 48.0 35.5 -2.5 -122.1 59 1 5 14595 07 58 05 08 01 25 --- 03 17 49 48.4 35.1 -2.4 -123.0 180 F 1 15925 08 03 40 3C120 03 20 05 67.1 126.6 -1.2 -49.4 68 1 6 15925 08 03 20 08 23 37 --- 03 40 05 70.6 136.3 -0.9 -40.8 1197 R 1 11164 08 23 57 J0423-0120 03 40 25 66.4 152.2 -0.7 -26.0 4 1 6 11164 08 23 37 08 26 57 =0420-014 03 43 25 66.7 153.9 -0.7 -24.4 180 R 1 9831 08 27 17 3C120 03 43 46 71.2 138.5 -0.8 -38.8 4 1 6 9831 08 26 57 08 47 14 --- 04 03 46 73.9 152.5 -0.5 -25.9 1197 R 1 1718 08 47 34 J0423-0120 04 04 06 68.3 166.8 -0.3 -12.4 3 1 6 1718 08 47 14 08 50 33 =0420-014 04 07 06 68.5 168.8 -0.3 -10.6 180 R 1 386 08 50 54 3C120 04 07 26 74.2 155.5 -0.4 -23.1 3 1 7 386 08 50 33 09 10 50 --- 04 27 26 75.5 174.1 -0.1 -5.6 1197 F 1 8499 09 12 38 3C147 04 29 14 56.6 21.7 -1.2 -147.3 0 1 7 8499 09 12 18 09 15 37 --- 04 32 14 56.8 21.0 -1.2 -148.5 180 F 1 9829 09 23 20 3C120 04 39 58 75.5 186.5 0.1 6.2 347 1 8 9829 09 23 00 09 43 17 --- 04 59 58 74.2 205.0 0.4 23.5 1197 R 1 17260 09 43 38 J0423-0120 05 00 19 67.0 204.2 0.6 22.7 0 1 8 17260 09 43 17 09 46 37 =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) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Tue 16 Dec 2003 Day 350 --- 09 46 57 3C120 05 03 39 73.8 208.0 0.5 26.3 0 1 8 15928 09 46 37 10 06 54 --- 05 23 39 71.1 221.9 0.8 39.1 1197 R 1 7815 10 07 14 J0423-0120 05 23 59 64.2 216.8 1.0 34.3 0 1 8 7815 10 06 54 10 10 13 =0420-014 05 26 59 63.7 218.2 1.1 35.6 180 R 1 6486 10 10 33 3C120 05 27 19 70.5 224.0 0.9 41.1 0 1 9 6486 10 10 13 10 30 30 --- 05 47 19 66.9 233.7 1.2 49.6 1197 F 1 1624 10 31 59 3C147 05 48 48 59.9 358.1 0.1 177.2 0 1 9 1624 10 31 39 10 34 58 --- 05 51 48 59.9 357.1 0.1 175.8 180 F 1 2954 10 42 00 3C120 05 58 51 64.7 238.1 1.4 53.3 337 1 9 2954 10 41 40 11 01 57 --- 06 18 51 60.6 244.1 1.8 58.3 1197 F 1 11066 11 02 17 J0423-0120 06 19 11 54.6 236.6 1.9 51.8 2 1 9 11066 11 01 57 11 05 16 =0420-014 06 22 11 54.0 237.4 2.0 52.5 180 F 1 12393 11 05 36 3C120 06 22 30 59.8 245.1 1.8 59.0 2 1 10 12393 11 05 16 11 25 32 --- 06 42 30 55.5 249.6 2.2 62.4 1197 R 1 14699 11 26 55 3C147 06 43 54 57.6 341.6 1.0 152.5 16 1 10 14699 11 26 35 11 29 55 --- 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 28.382419 0420-014 -01 27 28.70002 *-01 20 33.06531 -01 19 56.87022 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 24.219961 0430+052 05 14 59.61664 * 05 21 15.61942 05 21 49.64022 * 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 55.464060 0538+498 49 49 42.83693 * 49 51 07.23356 49 51 18.61448 * 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 17.965710 1328+307 30 45 58.64021 * 30 30 32.95885 30 29 13.94197 * 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 150.1 3C120 157.0 3C147 153.4 3C286 79.1 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