For information on our scientific instruments, see our Instrument summary page. This page has links to manuals for each instrument, also accessible from the top Instruments menu.
For information on proposing for telescope time, see our proposing and scheduling page. If you are granted time, it is your responsibility to know when it is scheduled. All users should subscribe to the apo35-general mailing list, which is where quarterly observing schedules will be distributed. Please make sure to check the telescope schedule and verify when your observing runs are. You will receive a reminder email a few days in advance of all your scheduled time. We ask that users respond to these emails with their desired instrument setup, including filters and slits.
All new users must visit the site prior to or during their first scheduled observing time for a three day/night training session. This visit will help ensure efficient, productive and safe operation of the 3.5m telescope and instruments while providing you a more complete understanding of our capabilities and features; see ARC's training policy. Note that we will not approve student (non-PhDs) visits without an accompanying faculty member. In our training policy there is also our orientation checklist. Please feel free to ask us any questions about your observing plans or any of the content on our webpages.
When visiting the site, users should check out our onsite information page. There you will find information about traveling to the site, accomodations and a reservation form, driving directions, etc. Note that there are kitchen facilities at APO, and it is necessary for you buy food on your way (e.g. in Alamogordo), as there is no cafeteria. When bringing a group for training, please contact the site and place housing reservations at least one month in advance.
For both onsite and remote observing, the observing specialist has the final and only say on when it is safe to open the enclosure for observing. Please do not question their judgement. The observing specialist will be keeping an eye on the weather while observing, but in case users want to watch for themselves, our weather page is here.
Our telescope and instruments are all run via the Telescope Users Interface (TUI). Set the TUI page for information on download, installation, and use. Note that observers generally communicate with observing specialists through the TUI chat window; please monitor this regularly in case the observing specialist is providing important information!
Questions about observing procedures should be directed to the Lead Observing Specialist, Russet McMillan, email mcmillan at apo.nmsu.edu. Daytime use of the telescope/instruments for calibrations etc. must be coordinated through the Chief Telescope Engineer in advance.
Input and suggestions are always welcome! We encourage you to discuss items with your User Committee Representative. This group meets monthly with observatory management.
