The VLT dealing with the Atmosphere, a Night Operation point of view

2011/01/12 by Julio Navarrete, Navarrete, Julio · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing #FOS: Physical sciences #Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM)

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1101.2341

openalex publication_date 2011/01/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

The Science Operation Department is composed of Astronomers, Telescope Instruments Operators (TIO) and Data Handling Administrators (DHAs). Their main goal is to produce top-quality astronomical data by operating a suite of 9 telescopes, 14 Instruments and related systems, supporting the execution of Visitor Mode Observations or executing Service Mode Observations. Astronomers and TIOs have to deal with atmospheric parameters like seeing, coherence time, isoplanatic angle, precipitable water vapor, etc. in order to take in real time the best decisions on the best program to be executed according to the current conditions. We describe the tools available in the control room, provided by the environmental monitoring and forecast system.

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