Information Regarding IRTF
Computers and Remote Observing

Observers at the IRTF have the option of working remotely from Hale Pohaku, Hilo, Manoa, or from their own office. Remote observing is now supported for all IRTF facility instruments: SpeX, NSFCam, CShell, MIRSI, and the Apogee CCD camera. If you wish to observe from your home institution, you MUST comply with requirements for audio - visual conferencing (with the summit) and instrument operation provided on this page.

New users of IRTF facility instruments should plan to observe from the summit for their first run to work directly with their support astronomer and become familiar with the instrument operation. First-time users who have significant experience with similar instruments at other telescopes may request to waive this requirement of observing from the summit - such requests will be judged on an individual basis. Observers already familiar with the instrument and who want to observe remotely from their home institution are required to contact Miranda Hawarden-Ogata (hawarden@ifa.hawaii.edu) or their support astronomer to arrange a test of the audio - visual conferencing link and user interface at least one month prior to their observing run.

Observers who wish to work remotely should indicate this on their Application for Observing Time, and (if granted time) on their Observing Requirements Form. We try to accommodate observers who want to change their run to 'remote' after the observing schedule has been posted. However, we CANNOT GUARANTEE remote observing for requests made on short notice due to:

1. the scheduling of personnel to accompany the Telescope Operator on the summit (fulfilling the two-person safety requirement for working on Mauna Kea)
2. because of possible incompatibilities of hardware and software on the user's side.

People who observe remotely from Hilo or Manoa are responsible for their own food, lodging and transportation.

• Setting up a guest account.

• Using tcs1_status - Application to remotely display TCS information. tcs1_status.pdf

• Basic information on using Audio / Video Conferencing equipment with your remote observing.

• How to run cshell remotely.

• Instruction for remote observing with SpeX is located at: SpeX Start and Shutdown Procedures

  As of 07/2006, Remote observing with spex from the internet requires using VNC, the ssh method only works from IRTF subnets in Hilo, HP, and Manoa. The ssh instuctions are still available here:

  • Running SpeX remotely as a single user or the first of two users, using ssh.
  • Running SpeX as a second remote user, using ssh.
  • Running SpeX using a Mac, running Mac OSX.

• VNC (Virtual Network Computer) software notes.

• How to access service observation data.

• Remote observers are encouraged to use starcat2 to transmit object coordinants to the TCS.

• Transferring and backing up your data.