COVER INFORMATION Station: VLBA_MK (Code Mk ) Experiment: Image 3C120 at 90cm - calibrator test Exp. Code: bw067q 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) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Wed 31 Dec 2003 Day 365 --- 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 03 22 28 J0423-0120 23 37 15 16.8 97.7 -4.8 -68.8 0 1 1 0 03 22 08 03 25 27 =0420-014 23 40 15 17.5 98.0 -4.7 -68.7 180 F 1 1330 03 25 47 3C120 23 40 35 17.6 90.6 -4.9 -70.9 9 1 1 1330 03 25 27 03 45 44 --- 00 00 35 22.3 92.3 -4.5 -70.8 1197 F 1 9442 03 47 40 3C147 00 02 31 18.1 42.5 -5.7 -80.5 76 1 1 9442 03 47 20 03 50 39 --- 00 05 31 18.6 42.6 -5.6 -81.0 180 F 1 10772 03 52 39 3C120 00 07 31 23.9 92.9 -4.4 -70.7 80 1 2 10772 03 52 19 04 12 36 --- 00 27 31 28.6 94.8 -4.1 -70.3 1197 R 1 16316 04 12 56 J0423-0120 00 27 51 28.5 102.9 -3.9 -66.5 9 1 2 16316 04 12 36 04 15 55 =0420-014 00 30 51 29.2 103.3 -3.9 -66.3 180 R 1 14984 04 16 16 3C120 00 31 11 29.5 95.1 -4.0 -70.3 9 1 2 14984 04 15 55 04 36 12 --- 00 51 11 34.2 97.1 -3.7 -69.7 1197 R 1 6871 04 36 33 J0423-0120 00 51 32 33.9 105.8 -3.5 -64.9 8 1 2 6871 04 36 12 04 39 32 =0420-014 00 54 32 34.6 106.2 -3.5 -64.7 180 R 1 5540 04 39 52 3C120 00 54 52 35.0 97.5 -3.6 -69.5 8 1 3 5540 04 39 32 04 59 49 --- 01 14 52 39.7 99.8 -3.3 -68.6 1197 F 1 2572 05 01 47 3C147 01 16 51 30.0 43.1 -4.4 -94.5 75 1 3 2572 05 01 27 05 04 47 --- 01 19 51 30.5 43.0 -4.4 -95.1 180 F 1 3902 05 06 46 3C120 01 21 51 41.3 100.6 -3.2 -68.3 75 1 3 3902 05 06 26 05 26 43 --- 01 41 51 45.9 103.2 -2.9 -66.9 1197 F 1 12014 05 27 04 J0423-0120 01 42 11 45.2 113.4 -2.7 -59.7 8 1 3 12014 05 26 43 05 30 03 =0420-014 01 45 11 45.8 114.0 -2.6 -59.3 180 F 1 13346 05 30 23 3C120 01 45 31 46.7 103.7 -2.8 -66.6 7 1 4 13346 05 30 03 05 50 20 --- 02 05 31 51.3 106.9 -2.5 -64.7 1197 R 1 13741 05 50 40 J0423-0120 02 05 52 50.2 118.1 -2.3 -56.1 7 1 4 13741 05 50 20 05 53 40 =0420-014 02 08 52 50.8 118.7 -2.2 -55.6 180 R 1 12409 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) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Wed 31 Dec 2003 Day 365 --- 05 54 00 3C120 02 09 12 52.1 107.5 -2.4 -64.3 7 1 4 12409 05 53 40 06 13 57 --- 02 29 12 56.5 111.4 -2.1 -61.6 1197 R 1 4296 06 15 52 3C147 02 31 07 41.7 39.9 -3.2 -110.6 61 1 4 4296 06 15 32 06 18 51 --- 02 34 07 42.2 39.6 -3.1 -111.4 180 R 1 2966 06 20 51 3C120 02 36 07 58.0 112.9 -2.0 -60.5 65 1 5 2966 06 20 31 06 40 48 --- 02 56 07 62.3 118.1 -1.6 -56.4 1197 F 1 5146 06 41 08 J0423-0120 02 56 28 60.0 132.2 -1.5 -44.2 5 1 5 5146 06 40 48 06 44 07 =0420-014 02 59 28 60.5 133.3 -1.4 -43.2 180 F 1 6478 06 44 28 3C120 02 59 48 63.0 119.3 -1.6 -55.5 5 1 5 6478 06 44 07 07 04 24 --- 03 19 48 67.0 126.4 -1.2 -49.5 1197 F 1 14591 07 04 45 J0423-0120 03 20 08 63.8 141.9 -1.1 -35.5 4 1 5 14591 07 04 24 07 07 44 =0420-014 03 23 08 64.2 143.3 -1.0 -34.2 180 F 1 15923 07 08 04 3C120 03 23 28 67.7 128.0 -1.2 -48.1 4 1 6 15923 07 07 44 07 28 01 --- 03 43 28 71.1 138.3 -0.8 -39.0 1197 R 1 11164 07 29 32 3C147 03 45 00 51.9 31.0 -2.0 -131.4 14 1 6 11164 07 29 12 07 32 32 --- 03 48 00 52.3 30.4 -1.9 -132.4 180 R 1 9834 07 39 39 3C120 03 55 08 72.8 145.9 -0.6 -32.0 344 1 6 9834 07 39 19 07 59 36 --- 04 15 08 74.9 162.3 -0.3 -16.7 1197 R 1 1722 07 59 56 J0423-0120 04 15 28 68.8 174.5 -0.1 -5.2 2 1 6 1722 07 59 36 08 02 55 =0420-014 04 18 28 68.8 176.5 -0.1 -3.3 180 R 1 391 08 03 15 3C120 04 18 49 75.1 165.7 -0.2 -13.5 2 1 7 391 08 02 55 08 23 12 --- 04 38 49 75.5 185.4 0.1 5.1 1197 F 1 8503 08 23 32 J0423-0120 04 39 09 68.5 190.8 0.3 10.1 0 1 7 8503 08 23 12 08 26 32 =0420-014 04 42 09 68.4 192.8 0.3 12.0 180 F 1 9834 08 26 52 3C120 04 42 29 75.4 189.0 0.2 8.5 0 1 8 9834 08 26 32 08 46 49 --- 05 02 29 73.9 207.1 0.5 25.5 1197 R 1 17254 08 48 45 3C147 05 04 25 59.0 372.1 -0.6 -162.2 0 1 8 17254 08 48 25 08 51 44 --- 05 07 25 59.1 371.2 -0.6 -163.6 180 R 1 15924 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) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Wed 31 Dec 2003 Day 365 --- 08 59 23 3C120 05 15 05 72.4 216.5 0.7 34.2 349 1 8 15924 08 59 03 09 19 19 --- 05 35 05 69.2 228.1 1.0 44.7 1197 R 1 7813 09 19 39 J0423-0120 05 35 25 62.5 221.9 1.2 38.9 0 1 8 7813 09 19 19 09 22 39 =0420-014 05 38 25 62.0 223.1 1.2 40.1 180 R 1 6484 09 22 58 3C120 05 38 45 68.5 229.9 1.1 46.3 1 1 9 6484 09 22 39 09 42 55 --- 05 58 45 64.7 238.0 1.4 53.3 1197 F 1 1625 09 43 15 J0423-0120 05 59 04 58.4 230.7 1.6 46.7 1 1 9 1625 09 42 55 09 46 14 =0420-014 06 02 04 57.9 231.7 1.6 47.6 180 F 1 2954 09 46 34 3C120 06 02 24 64.0 239.3 1.5 54.3 1 1 9 2954 09 46 14 10 06 30 --- 06 22 24 59.8 245.1 1.8 59.0 1197 F 1 11062 10 07 53 3C147 06 23 47 58.9 347.2 0.7 161.2 9 1 9 11062 10 07 33 10 10 53 --- 06 26 47 58.7 346.3 0.7 159.9 180 F 1 12392 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 28.413947 0420-014 -01 27 28.70002 *-01 20 33.06531 -01 19 58.55820 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 24.272088 0430+052 05 14 59.61664 * 05 21 15.61942 05 21 48.45329 * 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 55.680070 0538+498 49 49 42.83693 * 49 51 07.23356 49 51 21.23733 * 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 18.490083 1328+307 30 45 58.64021 * 30 30 32.95885 30 29 10.02909 * 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 138.8 3C120 144.8 3C147 151.1 3C286 91.3 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