How to prepare observations with non-sidereal tracking (for comets and asteroides)

From December 2005, a new method for tracking comets and asteroides was open. At present, this method can be used with single beam receivers (not with BEARS). The OTF mode is not supported.

Recently we are testing extended functions of the non-sidereal tracking system. For details please contact us (S. Takano, June 15, 2007).

To use this method, please prepare a text file containing date and time, position of your object, distance between your object and geocenter, for example, as follows. Probably you obtain these data from JPL's HORIZONS.

#**************************************************************************
# Date__(UT)__HR:MN     R.A._(ICRF/J2000.0)_DEC           delta      deldot
#**************************************************************************
 2005-Dec-05 00:00     02 22 37.87 +15 07 46.1  0.576040792601  10.3132575
 2005-Dec-05 00:01     02 22 37.85 +15 07 46.1  0.576044929162  10.3134135
 2005-Dec-05 00:02     02 22 37.84 +15 07 46.1  0.576049065786  10.3135695
 2005-Dec-05 00:03     02 22 37.82 +15 07 46.1  0.576053202472  10.3137255
 2005-Dec-05 00:04     02 22 37.81 +15 07 46.2  0.576057339220  10.3138816
 2005-Dec-05 00:05     02 22 37.80 +15 07 46.2  0.576061476032  10.3140376
 2005-Dec-05 00:06     02 22 37.78 +15 07 46.2  0.576065612905  10.3141936
 2005-Dec-05 00:07     02 22 37.77 +15 07 46.3  0.576069749842  10.3143496
 2005-Dec-05 00:08     02 22 37.76 +15 07 46.3  0.576073886841  10.3145056
 2005-Dec-05 00:09     02 22 37.74 +15 07 46.3  0.576078023902  10.3146616
 2005-Dec-05 00:10     02 22 37.73 +15 07 46.3  0.576082161026  10.3148176

Comment line: Lines starting with # are regarded as comment.
Date and time: The format is as shown above (HORIZONS format). Date and Time are in UT (not JST). Minimum time interval is 1 second (Typical interval is 1 min).
Position: Please give geocentric right ascention and declination at J2000 without atmospheric refraction (airless). COSMOS will carry out linear interpolation of the given positions.
Distance: Please give distance between your object and geocenter in unit of AU (HORIZONS "Observer range" (delta)). In case of HORIZONS, "range-rate" (deldot) is also given together with "Observer range". Although "range-rate" is not used in COSMOS, you can also put "range-rate" as shown above in the example (it is ignored).
Where to save this source text file?: Please save under /home/(your ID)/(your project)/obstable/ with a file name xxxxxxx.txt. Length of the name (before extension) must be 7 letters in maximum. Then, please select this file from a source table in OBSTABLE.

Other notes

Scan offset supported is RA, DEC (J2000), LB, and AZEL.
Please do not modify the file and "save&send" to COSMOS during observations.

Questions and comments

Please contact S. Takano (0267-98-4377, stakano "at" nro.nao.ac.jp).

2006-12-18 nro45mrt @ NRO