Instructions for new FAST observers:

• Familiarize yourself with the F. L. Whipple Observatory site. In particular, visit the links to the Tillinghast 1.5m (60in) telescope and to the visiting astronomer guide. If you will be driving any SI vehicles while at FLWO, please review our vehicle policy and if you have not done so previously, submit a driver's statement. The guide includes more information and links to download these documents.
• Familiarize yourself with the FAST spectrograph.
• Arrange to arrive at Mt. Hopkins two days, or at minimum, one day before your observing run, for training with FAST and the 1.5m telescope.
• Start by contacting Sue Demski-Hamelin at OIR to organize your trip (or Alisha Jansky, Sue's backup when she is unavailable). She will need to know whether you are a Harvard student; if you are, your trip should be covered by Harvard. If you are not, your FAST observing will be covered through SAO/OIR, which means you need to be appointed an Invitational Traveler. If you are not yet in the SAO Peoplesoft database, you will be sent an Invitational Traveler Enrollment Package to be added to the database. Once you are in the database, you will have your ticket issued by the SAO Travel Office.
• You will need to fill out a travel authorization form accessible exclusively from CfA computers.
• You will also need to contact FLWO for a dorm room at least 1 week in advance of your run and for a taxi from Tucson to FLWO and back yourself at least 2 days before you travel (see the visiting astronomer guide for details). If you do not drive, please let us know as soon as possible before traveling, so we can arrange for your rides up and down the mountain.
• Check the schedule of the 1.5m ("Local telescope schedules," from the 1.5m telescope main web page) and contact the observer who is observing before you (usually Perry Berlind or Mike Calkins) and contact him or her by email before you come out, to coordinate your training.
• Contact Jessica Mink or Sean Moran at OIR well before you come out, to discuss proper data acquisition procedures with FAST.
• It is possible that, during your run, you may be asked to tend to the 1.2m. The RTS2-F robot runs the telescope, but occasionally it may need assistance. Normally, the impact on your own observing will be slight. Daytime staff will instruct you if necessary.