ANASAC minutes 2 June 2011
======================
Present: Rachel Osten,David Wilner, Darryl Emerson, John Carpenter,
Johnathan Williams, Carol Lonsdale, Al Wootten, John Hibbard, Alberto
Bolatto, Kelsey Johnson, Andrew Baker, Douglas Scott, Dick Crutcher,
Hsien Shang, others joined later
* Report on progress (Al Wootten)
Picture from May at the website. Now there are 14 at the site, 16 have
been throught the acceptance process. Note from Louis Ball about
opening of the archive. Last report from the board (April) on agenda
site. Antennas logged into the computer system show up in the birdseye
view - google earth tool. SV projects will have elongated beam for a
while, while new pads are constructed. Weather, last night snow, but
many submm nights. At the OSF the first 7m antennas is being tested
and has moved to the third of the four stages of AIV, into the OSF
interferometer. This is the third of the 4 ALMA antenna designs to
enter this stage. Tests on European antenna, finished pointing tests
(within spec), so far so good. Radio tests to start soon. Questions:
polarization study found issues. Is there a plan to address them? SV
project on HD disk is being looked at to further investigate the
problems. CSV team is in transition to operations. Recruiting new
people. One focus is their polarization expertise. On SV targets, what
is actually going to be done? Don't stop proposing because it is in
the SV list! Information about SV is in table, but it is not
complete. In any case, all that will be released before proposals are
due has been released. The intent is to observe everything before
start of early science. Overall, Al sees no hold ups for ES.
* Report on
NAASC preparations for ES (Carol Lonsdale)
Impressive effort that reached 1/4 of the NA community with the "ALMA
community days". The ANASAC congratulates the members of the
NAASC for
carrying this out successfully. We suggest that the names of the local
organizers should be also included in the report, since their effort
would otherwise be invisible (an updated report was submitted a few
days after this meeting with the requested information in
it. Thanks!). Since somewhat similar outreach efforts will soon take
place, we suggest that the
NAASC keep good record of what worked and
what didn't in this first experience since that information it is not
included in the report (we are assured they do). Discussion ensues
about the use of the web based OST simulator vs. simdata. The OST
interface is very simple and easy to use, if somewhat limited.
The
NAASC requests input about the format of the planned tutorials for
data processing. The ANASAC agrees that the best format is the "larger
workshop style", where a number of people come to C'ville. For time
scale the suggestion is Fall, after results are back. This would not
collide with the dates for the science workshop. Concerning phase 2,
the plan is that the
NAASC will assign a member of their staff as
"contact scientist" to each successful NA proposal. Cycle 1 proposal
will be due in April. Thus outreach should be planned for February and
March. Separate, but also extremely important, is the highlight of ES
results. Winter AAS meeting? The
NAASC applied for a special
session. There is some potential for awkwardness, since it isn't clear
that there will be "new science results" to announce on that time
scale. The Spring AAS meeting would be a good time. But the location
(this time Alaska) is very remote.
The archive went through several load tests and it is ready to accept
proposals. Anticipating ~1,200 proposals or thereabouts. The ES
results will be announced on Sept 1. There is a plan in discussion at
the ASAC for triaging of proposals.
* Update on ALMA development (Al Wootten)
Ready for NSF approval for the call for proposals, some wording
changes made. NRAO is talking about hosting an additional development
workshop focused on software. Crystal Brogan and Marc Lacy will
organize. No dates yet. ANASAC charges -> question about resiting band
1, to be discussed probably at the
F2F.
Now that the web pages moved to the JAO the ASAC agendas cannot be seen
by the ANASAC. Alberto Bolatto wrote a letter to Lewis Ball requesting
that to be changed, and there was very rapid action. They should be
available now.
There will be a doodle poll for ANASAC
F2F meeting. The ASAC dates
are Oct 5-6, thus it will likely take place in late September.
--
AlWootten - 2011-07-06