Next: 7.8.3 Proposal Submission Up: 7.8 Completing the Program Previous: 7.8.1 Timing Constraints Contents Index
Next, click on the ``Calc. Obs. Time'' button in the AOT window to estimate the total duration of the AOR, which includes ramp durations and overhead times associated with array conditioning, telescope slew and settle, telescope movements within the AOR, and peak-up. Keep in mind that there is a 6-hour (21600-second) time limit for an individual IRS AOR. If the total duration exceeds the 6-hour limit, we would have to reduce the number of individual pointings, individual ramp durations, and/or number of cycles at each pointing. Alternatively, the observation could be split into two or more AORs.
Recall from the discussion in Chapter 6 of this Cookbook that the estimate of the total AOR duration can also be accomplished after the AOT entry window has been closed, by selecting ``Recompute All Estimates'' under the ``Tools'' pull-down menu. Spot will ask ``Recompute what?'' - select ``All AORs.'' Finally, click ``OK'' in the IRS Spectral Mapping AOT window to store the completed AOT in Spot's memory, then refer to the main Spot window. The observation will now be listed in the ``Astronomical Observation Requests (AORs)'' table (see Figure 7.13). Notice that the ``T'' box is checked, indicating that this AOR has timing constraints.
Before continuing on to the proposal submission stage, it is a good idea to save the target list and AOR to a local computer disk. This can be done by selecting ``Save AOR(s) and Target(s)'' under the ``File'' pull-down menu, or by clicking on the save icon (the floppy disk), second from the left on the taskbar. Target lists and AORs must be saved separately - be sure to select the correct save format in the Save AOR(s) and Target(s) window.
