The narrow angle Astrometric observation PrEparation Software - APES

PAE Test Plan (V1.0)

Damien SÉGRANSAN

05-May-2008



Introduction


This document is a set of tests that should allow the user that most functionalities of the narrow angle Astrometric observation PrEparation Software (APES) have been developped and implemented.


A> Tests for developpers



A1> Installation


APES application : MacOS X Installation Procedure

To install APES, you will need to retrieve the distribution for your operating system (download section of this web page), unpack it, and start APES by double clicking on the APES.jar file. You may also need to retrieve a Java Runtime Environment, if you don't have one on your machine already.

Please follow these steps:

  • Move to the directory where you want to install APES.
  • Download the following distribution:

  • Unpack the distribution
    • tar xvf APES-v0.98.tar
    This creates a directory structure that starts with: 
    APES-v0.98.tar/
  • Launch the application
    • open APES.jar
    or 
    java -jar APES.jar
    or 
    double click on APES.jar
If the APES main panel appears, then you have successfully installed APES.

Running APES using Web Start

If you have trouble running the application you can launch APES using Web Start. Simply click on the web start link in the menu or follow this link APES Web Start, http://obswww.unige.ch/~weber/Apes-dist/apes.jnlp.


A2> Maintenance


Setting up the baseline avaibility for an ESO observing period

  • start eclipse
  • update Apes from the ESO repository (PackageExplorer->Apes->Team->Update)
  • open AvailableBaselines.cf (PackageExplorer->Apes->src->org.eso.paos.apes.bl.cf->AvaibleBaselines.cf)
  • do the modification and save the file
  • commit the modifications (PackageExplorer->Apes->Team->Commit)
  • quit eclipse
  • go to the home base directory of Apes
  • type the following commands: ant (you must have a "build successfull") ant sign-certificate ant sign-jws
  • Make the distribution (see next example)

    Making a distribution

  • go to the home base directory of Apes
  • from here go on the parent directory
  • tar the distribution directory (tar cvf Apes-dist.tar Apes-dist)
  • distribute the tar file (Apes-dist.tar)

    B> Tests for the Observer



    B0> Installation



    See the ``Tests for developpers'' section ``installation''.

    B1> Demonstration mode : observability, astrometric motion & accuracy


    - Apes Menu=>Demo=>Demonstration Mode
    in the new panel "Demonstration Mode" click on :
    • Target Star
      • Move the Ra-Dec sliders : You will see the target trajectory on the elevation plot moving with respect to the observing night (or local sideral time).
      • Move the Proper motion and the parallax sliders: You will see change in the Relative parallactic motion between the target and its reference
      • Move the Kband, Vband and Stellar radius sliders : You will see change in the performance estimator panel of the main GUI. Astrometric accuracy and/or integration time should change.
    • Reference Star and choose reference star 1 or 2.
      • Move the separation sliders : That will affect Astrometric accuracy and/or integration time in the performance estimator panel.
      • Move the Proper motion and the parallax sliders: You will see change in the Relative parallactic motion between the target and its reference
      • Move the Kband, Vband and Stellar radius sliders : You will see change in the performance estimator panel of the main GUI. Astrometric accuracy and/or integration time should change.
    • Orbital parameters
      • One planet
        • -Current number of planets in use : 1
        • -"Select Planet 1" tab
        • -Move the orbital element sliders. You'll see the changes in the shape of the barycentric orbit in the astrometric motion panel.
      • Two planets
        • -Current number of planets in use : 2
        • -"Select Planet 1" tab
        • -Move the orbital element sliders.
        • -"Select Planet 2" tab
        • -Move the orbital element sliders. You'll see the changes in the shape of the barycentric orbit in the astrometric motion panel.
      • Three planets
        • -Current number of planets in use : 3
        • -"Select Planet 1" tab
        • -Move the orbital element sliders.
        • -"Select Planet 2" tab
        • -Move the orbital element sliders.
        • -"Select Planet 3" tab
        • -Move the orbital element sliders. You'll see the changes in the shape of the barycentric orbit in the astrometric motion panel.
    • Date
      • Move the Date slider : You will see the night canvas moving.

    -Menu=>Setup=>Choose baseline
    Select "expert mode" and "enable all positions". Move the slider to select different baselines and place your mouse on the elevation plot of the target on APES main GUI. Have a look at the astrometric motion panels (both relative parallactic motion and orbital motion). You will see a representation of the projected baseline on the astrometric motion, which will allow the observer to select an optimal baseline orientation to contrain both the relative parallactic and orbital motion.


    B2>Create your own science target catalog :


    First of all you should load a science target catalog into APES containing a list of target stars and reference stars. A full description of the catalog format is given catalog format web page, http://obswww.unige.ch/~segransa/apes/catalog_format.html or in the user manual.
    However, a demostration catalog can be downloaded from http://obswww.unige.ch/~segransa/apes/catalog_demo.rdb in order to start the APES tutorial.
    Creating the catalog is very important since several of the catalog fields will be passed the PAFs as well as in the OBs and, in the end and to the fitsheaders. Therefore, when scheduling real observations, make sure that all the catalog fields are correct. The format of the catalog is "tab separated columns" with a 2 line header. You should probably start from the demo catalog to create your own (Catalog menu->Open a demo Catalog). Starbase is an ASCII relational database for UNIX ( http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/~john/starbase/starbase.html ) that allows to manipulate this kind of catalog.



    B3> Phase I - Call for Proposals


    The demonstration mode of APES fullfills most of the requirements of the Phase I observations since all the target and reference star parameters can be adjusted as well as the sky condition and the instrument setup. However, full observing night/run cannot be prepared since, in demonstration mode, parameter files cannot be exported and reloaded into APES.
    The user who wants to save his work during phase I, should provide a science target catalog and may load a past measurements catalog
    . The different steps are described below :
    • -APES Menu=>Demo=>Open a template science target catalog
    • -APES Menu=>Demo=>load a template past measurements catalog
    • -APES Menu=>Run=>Wizard=> Phase I button
      • Select a range of date for Phase I and validate
    • -APES Menu=>Setup=>Select a baseline
    On the astrometric motion panel of your target, you will see a yellow shadow that cover the time range you have selected.
    Use the date slider at the bottom of the main panel and you will see the target moving with a given lst on the astrometric motion curves. You can now choose the date (or date range) at which you want your observations to be carried out by choosing the best orbital phases.
    You can also select a range of date that are acceptable to carry-out these observation with the Duration slider at the bottom of the main panel. A black thick line will be printed over the parallactic motion and the airmass trajectory panel will change shape in order to take into account the change of bight duration in your observing date range.

    You can then select the lst (or baseline orientation) at which you want to observe by doouble clicking on the science target airmass curve.

    You should now repeat the same set of operation with the eXtended ETC panel open. (Menu=>View=>eXtended ETC). You will see the all the details about the ETC. You should worry if the SNR /pix and per frame on the science target is lower than 3. That would mean that you cannot fringe-track on the target (Have to check wether it's 3 or 5 or 10).

    In the APES main panel, you can change the values of the seeing, the coherence time and isoplanetic angle and check that the Performance estimator results and the extended ETC values change according to the modifications. The number of reads per coherence time for the fringe tracking can also be modified and it can be done through the preference panel (Menu=>Apes=>preferences=>ETC=>Nreads per t0). You can now repeat the same set of operation and see how it affects the results of the ETC and of the final accuracy (integration time) in the main panel.


    B4> Phase II - Observing preparation : Visitor Mode


    -Menu=>Demo=>Open a demonstration catalog
    Select with your mouse a target and a reference into the Target Selection Tool.

    -Menu=>Run=>Wizard=> Select "One night run"
    Select a date and the baseline (for this period) and validate.(you can always modify these values with the Menu=>Setup=>Set a Date or Select a baseline)
    Continue in the same way as for phase 1 to select a optimal baseline configuration (lst), date and reference star.

    Once you are happy with your setup you can click onto the "Export to P2PP" button on the main panel. The Parameter File panel will then pop-up and you will be able to modify some of the fields (those which are in white) before creating the parameter file.
    Repeat this process with all your targets until your observing night has been created.

    You can also visualize how your PAF are organised within one night by displaying the Observation Scheduler Tool (Menu=>View=Observation Scheduler). Keep it on display when creating an observing night.


    B5> Phase II - Observing preparation : Service Mode


    -Menu=>Demo=>Open a demonstration catalog
    Select with your mouse a target and a reference into the Target Selection Tool.

    -Menu=>Run=>Wizard=> Select "Phase II"
    Select the range of date and the baseline for Phase II observations and validate.

    Continue in the same way as for phase 1 to select a optimal baseline configuration (lst), date and reference star.

    Once you are happy with your setup you can click onto the "Export to P2PP" button on the main panel. The PAF panel will then pop-up and you will be able to modify some of the fields (those which are in white) before creating the parameter file.
    Repeat this process with all your targets until your service observing run has been created.
    You can also visualize how your PAF are organised within one observing period (LST organized) by displaying the Observation Scheduler Tool (Menu=>View=Observation Scheduler). Keep it on display when creating an observing run.


    B6> Phase II - Observing preparation : Reload your observing night - observing run


    Simbad
    - open the Observation Scheduler Tool (-Menu=>View=>Observation Scheduler)
    On the Observation Scheduler Tool, click on the import button and select the directory where your PAF are stored.
    You now have a graphical representation of your observing run on the night schedule panel ie. PAFs as a function of sideral time. Clicking on given PAF allow to select it. The corresponding target will be displayed on APES main panel will all the corresponding information. If you are not happy with the position of an OB on the night schedule, you can move it using the main panel. All the parameters of the PAF will be updated according to the new lst.
    The Observation Scheduler Tool allows to remove PAFs from your observing run.



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