Instructions for PIs

Questions?

Email CIERA-REMOTE-OBSERVING@LISTSERV.IT.NORTHWESTERN.EDU with any questions or concerns related to the Remote Observing Room (ROR) at 1800 Sherman, Floor 8. People who will receive email sent to this list:

  • Charlie Kilpatrick (ROR Coordinator)
  • Kari Frank (CIERA Director of Operations)
  • Jason Pattie (User Support Specialist Senior, Computational Facility Manager)

Before Your Run

  1. A confidential document containing ROR contact information and passwords to the computer and the room pass codes is available to all CIERA observers via the ROR Coordinator. Please do not share this document with anyone who is not using the ROR.
  2. Identify who on your team needs access to the ROR and make sure they have the access information.

Parking Near the Remote Observing Room (ROR)

Small Lot Behind 1800 Sherman
    • Never use the small lot behind 1800 Sherman. This is an Optima Horizons condominium lot. While the 1800 Sherman lobby security desk is not staffed due to the pandemic, there is no permissible way to park in the 1800 Sherman lot as a “visitor”.
Northwestern Parking
    • Northwestern surface lots can be used without a pass from 4:00 PM – 8:00 AM weekdays, and all weekend.
    • If you are parking during pass-use hours, there are yellow “visitor” hang tags in the ROR for you to use. The closest surface lot is 232, accessed via University Place (PARKING MAP). Leave enough time to park your vehicle, go up to the ROR to get the pass, and return to your car to put the pass in place (there are instructions on the tag). Only take one pass at a time please, so we can maintain the supply.
    • Northwestern surface lots can be designated as “No Parking” to accommodate snow removal after two inches of snowfall. When enforced, parking is prohibited between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM.
    • Find complete information about Northwestern parking here.
City of Evanston Parking
    • There are parking passes in the ROR to the City of Evanston Maple St. garage. These passes will be difficult to replace if we run out, so please only use one if you really need to. There are two types: 12 hour and 24 hour.
    • Metered parking is not permissible 3:00 AM – 6:00 AM in downtown spots near 1800 Sherman.
    • Find complete information about City of Evanston parking here.

Safety and Nighttime Escort

  • Upon request, University Police personnel will escort community members to an on-campus destination by foot or bike. Do not hesitate to request an escort at night. Call 847-491-3456. This is the main NUPD non-emergency line. Add it to your contacts and use it whenever needed.

Notes on Multiple Observers in ROR: Training Scenario

The ROR furniture has been rearranged to accommodate training in the ROR, with two separate stations. While there are no limits on the number of individuals in the ROR, we find that 3-4 observers maximum is reasonable, given the additional possibility of pajama mode observing from a separate remote site. Training/observing is voluntary. If you don’t want to train/observe with another person, you are not obligated to do so. Contact the CIERA Telescope Access Committee (TAC) at CIERA-TAC@northwestern.edu or CIERA Director of Operations Kari Frank to discuss questions or concerns.

After Your Run

  1. While your experience in the ROR is fresh on your mind, please complete the ROR Check-out Survey. This will make a record of any issues you experienced and inform the people on the CIERA-REMOTE-OBSERVING mailing list.
  2. Include the following line in any paper/presentation acknowledgements:
    • [W. M. Keck Observatory and/or MMT Observatory and/or Zwicky Transient Facility and/or Magellan @ Las Campanas Observatory] access was supported by Northwestern University and the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA).
    • Include only the observatories that are relevant in your acknowledgement.
  3. Contact CIERA-Events@northwestern.edu as early as possible about any publicity (e.g. press releases) from the work.
  4. As you publish outcomes from a previous semester of observing (including targets of opportunity), please record your papers on the Published Outcomes from Observing form.

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