DATE: Sun, 9 May 2010 17:53:12 +1000 SUBJECT: Keck remote observing station at Swinburne Dear ASA members, Swinburne is pleased to offer its new Keck remote observing station as a free service to other Keck observers in Australia. The remote observing station is the same set-up as used at Keck HQ in Waimea (Hawaii) for visiting observers. Combined with a video-conference link to Waimea, observing from Swinburne allows the same observing experience available at Waimea. [Even visiting observers do not observe from Keck itself on Muana Kea; instead they observe from a lower-altitude remote observing station at Waimea, connecting to the Telescope Operator via video-conferencing.] The remote observing facility is also the same as those found at the US mainland Keck observing sites (e.g. at the University of California and Caltech campuses). Currently only "eavesdropping" mode is allowed for remote observers at Swinburne. This means that at least one member of the observing team (with suitable observing experience) must be present in Waimea, while the rest of the team may be at Swinburne (and/or another remote observing station). This mode offers all the functionality available at Waimea, including control of the instrument (simultaneously with the team member at Waimea). We soon hope to offer fully remote observing, where no-one travels to Waimea, to highly experienced Keck observers. Any Keck observers in Australia are welcome to use Swinburne's remote observing station. Please contact our Keck Technical Secretary (currently Glenn Kacprzak ) in the first instance as early as possible, but at least 1 month before your Keck run. Since most Australian observers probably obtain Keck time through the Australian Gemini Office, AusGO have kindly agreed to remind proposers of Keck time of this opportunity throughout their proposal process. We look forward to welcoming other Keck observers from Australia to Swinburne. Best regards, Michael Murphy. -- Michael T. Murphy, QEII Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer, Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology, Mail H39, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia. http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/~mmurphy Phone: +61 (0)3 9214 5818 Mobile: +61 (0)405 214 461 Fax: +61 (0)3 9214 8797 CRICOS Provider No.: 00111D