2024/07/03 by H. M. J. Boffin, Boffin, Henri M. J., J. Vinther +11
Physics and Astronomy · #Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #FOS: Physical sciences #History and Developments in Astronomy #Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2407.02972
openalex publication_date 2024/07/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Users of astronomical observatories rely on Exposure Time Calculators (ETC) to prepare their proposals and then their observations. The ETC is therefore a crucial element in an observatory's data workflow and in particular is key to optimise the use of telescope times. This is also true for the La Silla Paranal Observatory and ESO has therefore embarked in a project to modernise its ETC, based on a python back-end and an Angular-based front-end, while also providing a programmatic interface. This ETC 2.0 has now been implemented for all the new Paranal and La Silla instruments (CRIRES, ERIS, HARPS/NIRPS, and 4MOST) and work is ongoing to implement it for MOONS. All the current ESO La Silla and Paranal instruments will also be migrated progressively, and the first one has been FORS2. The new ETC2 is based on the Instrument Packages, which should allow in the future a smooth interaction with the Phase 1 and Phase 2 observation preparation tools. Moreover, the ETC 2.0 framework has recently been upgraded and makes now use of the NgRx/Store technology in the front-end.