TOOL FOR OBSERVING SCHEDULE

schedobs is newly implemented in Miriad for users to graphically schedule observations of sources. For given observing date, beginning of observing time and observing interval, schedobs simulates the tracks of the sources in terms of their elevations as functions of time. Here is the usage:

  Task:   schedobs
  axis     = time,el                  %time vs. elevation
  obsdate  = 2006mar15                %observing date
  UTstart  = 10,30,0                  %beginning time in UT
  obshours = 15                       %observing duration in hours
  sfile    = vlbisource.txt           %text file of the source list
  device   = /xs                      %graphical device
  nxy      = 1,1                      %1 plot per page
  options  = hst                      %convert to HST
  mirhome  = $MIR                     %the path of Miriad home

Here is a template of the input text file of the source list:

 3c279    12:56:11.166 -05:47:21.52
 callisto 
 sgrastar 17:45:40.040 -29:00:28.12
 1924-292 19:24:51.060 -29:14:30.12
 3c454.3  22:53:57.740  16:08:53.56

The source name must be given in 8 characters or less as required by the Miriad convention.

Figure: The tracks of the sources scheduled to be observed on 2006Mar15 is simulated with schedobs in Miriad.