Observing Time calculator

Observing time calculator



OTF time estimator V10.0
Heterodyne receiver:
Side Band:
Tuning Freq: [GHz]
Line Freq [+2 & -6 GHz from tuning]: [GHz]
Resolution Δv: [km/s]
pwv : [mm H2O]
Source elevation: [deg]
Length axis in scanning direction: [arcsec]
Length in the orthogonal axis: [arcsec]
Dumptime (0.1 <= dt <= 4 [s]): [sec]
rms or sigma requested : ( 0 [K] ) [mK]
Other Tools
OTF SimulatorHelps you to design a map
Instrument setup toolCheck your tuning
ON/OFF OTC CalculatorEstimate on/off integration time
Note about OverheadsOverhead estimates
Back to instruments page
Time per sub map [sec]0
Calibrations per coverage0
Total map area covered [arcsec2] 0
Number of submaps 1
Tau (@ elev deg) 80818.013
Transmission (@ elev deg) 0
Trec [K] 72.5
Tsys [K] (source elev deg) INF
HPBW [arcsec] 27
Beam solid angle [arcsec2] 917.8
Rows per off position (reference pos.) 1
Scanning speed [arsec/ s] 9
Number of coverages 1
Sigma reached after 1 coverage [mK]INF
Sigma reached after 1 coverage(s) [mK]INF
On-source time [min,hr] 0 | 0
Off-source time [min,hr] 0 | 0
Overhead Sys, Cal, Pointing, Focus [min,hr] 24 | 0.4
Telescope time [min,hr] 24 | 0.4

When you are satisfied with your time estimate, please copy and paste this text in your proposal time justification:




We have used the OTF observing time calculator at APEX V10.0 to estimate the total time needed to achieve our goal. We plan to do an OTF of x arcsec and for the calculation we assume a dumptime of 1 seconds and a sampling corresponding to 1/3 of the beam. Using NFLASH230 tuned to 231.0 GHz in the , selecting a spectral resolution of 0.0793 km/s and assuming a typical source elevation of deg and a typical PWV of 2.0 mm, we could get down to a noise of 0 mK[Ta*] in 0.4 hours (including telescope and calibration overheads).


Recent changes

DateVersionInformation
2021-09-0910.0 After a large analysis with multiple OTF maps taken during 2021, a new number of dumps per pixel was determined, which improves the accuracy in the noise estimation. New focus and pointing overhead estimations were also added.
2021-02-239.3Trec for SEPIA345 updated according to the results obtained during the commissioning of the instrument in 2020
2020-10-199.2Added transmission value, the proposal text use the PWV value selected in the form (before use a default value per instrument), the input rms value is in mK (before was K)
2020-05-199.1Values to estimate the overhead have been updated. The time estimation have been split in ON, OFF and Overhead (System, calibration,pointing and focus). Message with the estimation result added at the end
2020-05-199.0Update Overhead parameters
2020-03-138.1.2NFLASH230/345 Trec file modified added a point in the limit of the band. Overhead NFLASH230 changed, use the same values than FLASH
2020-02-268.1.1NFLASH460 modified to 2 polarization, change in number of channels availables in NFLASH460, SEPIA180, SEPIA345
2020-02-148.1NFLASH230 and NFLASH460 sdded
2019-02-288.0.5FLASH345 and FLASH460 modified from SSB to DSB. Only use it in USB mode
2018-09-108.0.4No changes in computation. Updated FE names (SEPIA180, SEPIA660. Added table with tuning ranges per FE. Added warning messages when user inputs incorrect setups
2018-08-318.0.3Includes updates for 2SB SEPIA-B9 after installation and commissioning: Trx curves, sideband rejection and extended tuning range [583-724 GHz]
2018-07-028.0.2Included new SEPIA-B9 setup, new tunning range and change from DSB to 2SB
2018-03-218.0.1LASMA receiver added
2017-09-128.0New set of overhead parameters per instrument, measured from data obtained in 2016. SEPIA-B7 added, The specification values for SEPIA-B7 are provisional (based on the specifications) and will need to be updated after successful installation and commissioning