Spitzer Observation Planning Workshop

This workshop has been cancelled due to a low number of registrations. Our sincere apologies for any inconvenience. The material that was to have been presented is very similar to that for the other workshops; presentations from the Washington, DC and AAS (San Diego) workshops are (or will be) posted.

Overview:

The Spitzer Science Center and the Herschel Science Centre (HSC) offer a free one-day, tutorial-style Spitzer Observation Planning Workshop at ESTEC. This workshop is intended for observers who wish to learn more about planning and specifying their observations for Spitzer.

Spitzer is a space-borne, cryogenically-cooled infrared observatory, carrying three primary science instruments with imaging/photometry capabilities from 3-180 microns, spectroscopy over 5-40 microns, and spectrophotometry from 50-100 microns. Spitzer launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on 25 August 2003. Following an initial in-orbit checkout and science validation period, Spitzer began normal operations in early December 2003. The first General Observing Cycle is underway, and the second General Observer Call for Proposals will be issued soon, and the deadline for proposal submission is currently 12 February 2005.

The lecture component of the workshop will consist of an overview of the spacecraft, telescope and instrumentation, and an introduction to planning tools available for observers, including Spot (the Spitzer software for preparing observations and submitting proposals). We hope to have an interactive session, using workstations provided in the workshop room, which will provide an introduction to planning tools available for observers, including Spot. Specific examples of how to plan an observation, from selected target through to specification of instrument commanding, will be provided. Finally, we intend for participants to be given time to apply what they have learned in a hands-on session, with instructors available for questions and assistance. Workshop content will be tailored to the needs of the registered participants.

For a list of previous and scheduled Spitzer Observation Planning workshops, see the SSC Workshops Page.