Newsletter - 13 July 1995

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*         CANADA-FRANCE-HAWAII TELESCOPE email newsletter              *
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*  This is another update concerning the current status of instruments *
*  at CFHT.  Comments and suggestions about the newsletter may be      *
*  emailed to newsletter@cfht.hawaii.edu.                              *
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13 July 1995

Observing Proposals - 1996 I Semester

  Principal Investigators of observing time requests to use CFHT are
  reminded to refer to the CFHT World Wide Web versions of the
  instrument User's Manuals for the LATEST information on the
  configurations and capabilities of CFHT instruments.

  DRAFT versions of the MOS and SIS manuals are currently available at:

    http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/~david/manuals.html

  Likewise, a DRAFT version of the MOS and SIS Fabry-Perot mode
  manual can currently be found at:

    http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/~arsen/mosaicfp0.html

  The references to these manuals will be moved to the CFHT Home Page
  as soon as revised versions are available, possibly within the next
  week.

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Detectors update - July 1995

  A reminder to users of the LORAL3 CCD that prior to September, 1994,
  the proper timing of exposures was represented in the FITS headers
  by the INTTIMER keyword, not INTTIME.

  As of mid-June 1995 the control system for LORAL3 was improved so 
  that the bias level is now much more stable, the linearity has
  been improved to be better than 0.5%, and the readnoise is about
  6 electrons rms.

  ORBIT1 - The thinned 2048^2 device called ORBIT1 is being tested and
  characterized in Waimea but will not be ready for general use prior
  to early September 1995.  In addition to the work on the device itself,
  a new version of the controller electronics is being installed to
  provide better security for the chip as well as better readout
  speed and control of exposures.  Please refer to the Detectors
  information available through the CFHT World Wide Web Home Page
  for final results for this device.

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  The following text was included in the observing proposal forms
  sent to the NRC, INSU, and UH offices for distribution prior to the
  deadline for the 96I semester requests.


                  UPDATE INFORMATION FOR 96I


1.   Restrictions on Instrument and Upper End changes: Following 
     discussions with the Scientific Advisory Council and subsequent 
     endorsements by the Board of Directors, we will aim to have no 
     more than four upper end changes for the 96I semester; CFHT instruments 
     will be installed for no less than eight nights, with a minimum 
     of four nights per configuration of multi-configuration instruments.  
     For the time being, visitor instruments will still have to be 
     scheduled for a minimum of four nights.  No instrument changes 
     will be scheduled for weekends or holidays. 

     As a result of these rules, proposers should anticipate 
     not necessarily having their programs scheduled at the optimum 
     time of year or phase of the moon, and should, therefore, 
     provide as part of their proposals lists of targets that 
     could be observed during non-optimum months. 

2.   The coude f/8.2 spectrograph has been decommissioned, effective 
     at the end of the 95II semester and will not be offered 
     for 96I.  No low-resolution modes will be offered on GECKO, 
     the high resolution spectrograph, in the foreseeable future. 

3.   Service observing will be offered for imaging with FOCAM, 
     MOCAM, SIS and the Redeye cameras for runs of three (3) 
     nights or less.  Proposals should include detailed observational 
     information by filling out the "template" provided with 
     the proposal form. 

4.   OSIS availability: The visible-near infrared replacement 
     optics for the SIS spectrograph, referred to as OASIS, are 
     expected for delivery and installation in late 1995.  Proposals 
     may be submitted to use this spectrograph either with a 
     CCD for visible wavelengths or with or with a HgCdTe near 
     infrared array for imaging out to 2.5 microns, low-resolution 
     spectroscopy out to 1.8 microns.  Check the CFHT World Wide 
     Web Home Page in mid-summer or email to: 

              directors@cfht.hawaii.edu 

     to receive more details about the expected capabilities.  
     Actual availability will depend on the schedule and success 
     of the switchover. 

5.   Due to changing scientific priorities and potential operational 
     restrictions at CFHT, serious consideration is being given 
     to decommissioning the f/35 (infrared) focus, and hence, 
     the Fourier Transform Spectrometer as well, at the end of 
     the 96II semester.  Users of the FTS and visitor instruments 
     which also use the f/35 upper end should take this into 
     account when preparing observing proposals for 1996.

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