Proposals

• Short Guide This guide provides essential information on the GBT for the preparation of observing proposals. (pdf)

• PST Information on how to use the proposal submission tool (PST). (pdf)

• The GBT Performance A Guide for Planning Observations.

Observing

• Astrid Astronomers Integrated Desktop (Astrid). Combines several tools in one application. The tools listed below can be run independently or within astrid. (Currently, the GBT Status Display is not included in astrid.)
  • Observing Tool A suite of applications used to build scheduling blocks and execute your observations on the telescope.

  • Configuration Tool Software that will allow you to setup or configure the telescope for your specific observing. For a summary of parameters see the configuration keywords.

  • Balancing Tool Software to balance the power levels at various points in the GBT signal path.

  • GBT Status Display A console based GBT status display.

  • GFM GBT FITS monitor (GFM) provides scan-based display and analysis of GBT data. It will reduce standard pointing and focus data.

• CLEO Control Library for Operators and Engineers (CLEO) was not designed for astronomical observers. Nevertheless there are several tools available in CLEO that are very useful. To help schedule your observations see the scheduler.

• Remote Observing: Guidelines for remote observing (includes instructions for using VNC).

• Observing Strategy:
  • Point and Focus A general strategy and information about pointing and focusing (including catalogs).
  • Active Surface Information about the active surface (including scripts to update the surface using OOF holography models).
  • Weather High frequency weather forecasts.

• Information about specific devices or types of observing:
  • GBT Spectrometer Information about the GBT Spectrometer.
  • Spigot Card Pulsar observing with the spigot card.
  • BCPM Pulsar observing with the BCPM.
  • GBPP Pulsar observing with the GBPP.
  • Radar Planetary radar observing with the GBT.
  • VLBI Information about VLBI observing on the GBT. For a VLBI checklist go here.

• Some useful tools:
  • Exposure Calculator
  • Mapping Planner
  • Spectral Advisor

Data Analysis

• SDFITS Export GBT data into an SDFITS file. (Details)
• GBTIDL NRAO GBT IDL data reduction project.

• TMBIDL IDL data reduction software by Tom Bania.

• CLASS How to use CLASS with GBT data.

• DISH How to use Aips++ with GBT data. For information about continuum single-dish imaging go here.

• Do It Yourself Do it yourself data reduction by Rich Fisher.

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.