fors instrument lunchtalk | eso garching | 09.11.2012 fors1+2: the first of the vlt work horses –...

FORS Instrument Lunchtalk | ESO Garching | 09.11.2012

FORS1+2: The First of the VLT work FORS1+2: The First of the VLT work horses – The User Perspectivehorses – The User Perspective

Mario van den Ancker – Mario van den Ancker – DMO/USDDMO/USD

Gero Rupprecht - INSGero Rupprecht - INS

Instrument Operations Team: Ivo Saviane (PSO), Henri Boffin (PSO), David Jones (Instrument Fellow), Alfredo Leiva (LPO), Pedro Baksai (LPO), Mario van den Ancker (USD), John Pritchard (USD), Monika Petr-Gotzens (USD), Wolfgang Hummel (QC), Gero Rupprecht (INS)


Phase 1 Proposal Preparation Is FORS2 the right instrument for your science?

VIMOS: More slits/mask (but limited grating options). X-Shooter: Higher throughput for single-object

spectroscopy.


Phase 1 Proposal Preparation Is FORS2 the right instrument for your science?

VIMOS: More slits/mask (but limited grating options). X-Shooter: Higher throughput for single-object

spectroscopy. Observing Mode: Visitor or Service Mode?

All FORS2 modes with the exception of HIT-S offered in both VM and SM.

Instrument configuration limited to standard setups in SM.

Blue (E2V) CCD only offered in VM! Maximum number of 10 MXU masks can be used within

one night.


Phase 1 Proposal Preparation Use the FORS2 Exposure Time Calculator

(www.eso.org/observing/etc) to estimate integration times.



(www.eso.org/observing/etc) to estimate integration times. Requested time should include overheads.



(www.eso.org/observing/etc) to estimate integration times. Requested time should include overheads. SM Observations: Are all necessary calibrations covered by

the calibration plan?




the calibration plan? Is pre-imaging required (if so, request this as a separate

observing run and flag this as a pre-imaging run in your proposal).




the calibration plan? Is pre-imaging required (if so, request this as a separate

observing run and flag this as a pre-imaging run in your proposal).

Observing constraints for SM observations (sky transparency, seeing, sky brightness) requested at Phase 1 are binding!


Phase 1 Proposal Preparation Select your targets wisely!


Phase 2 Observation Preparation All observations prepared using p2pp.


Phase 2 Observation Preparation All observations prepared using p2pp. Advanced scheduling options introduced with p2pp version

3.3 (used for FORS2 as of ESO period 90).


Phase 2 Observation Preparation Some observing modes (e.g. MOS, MXU) require use of

another tool, FIMS.


Phase 2 Observation Preparation Some observing modes (e.g. MOS, MXU) require use of

another tool, FIMS. Astrometrically accurate images (or FORS1/2 pre-images)

needed for mask preparation with FIMS. 32 bit Linux version (or 32 bit Linux running as a virtual

machine) needed to run FIMS.


Do’s and Don’ts at Phase 2 Do not deviate from your Phase 1 proposal (constraints,

targets, instrument setup). Do use the standard instrument set-ups. Do check the definition of offsets and rotator angles

(instrument-dependent!). Do not use offsets > 1’. Do include a few bright stars in any mask. Mind the gap!


Do’s and Don’ts at Phase 2 Do not deviate from your Phase 1 proposal (constraints,

targets, instrument setup). Do use the standard instrument set-ups. Do check the definition of offsets and rotator angles

(instrument-dependent!). Do not use offsets > 1’. Do include a few bright stars in any mask. Mind the gap! Check for vignetting (HR collimator only).


Science FORS is essentially used for all types of science.

A: CosmologyB: Galaxies and Galactic NucleiC: ISM, Star Formation and Planetary SystemsD: Stellar Evolution


Science FORS is essentially used for all types of science. FORS2 is currently the most popular instrument on the VLT. Publication rate: 886 papers so far with FORS1 (of which 14

in Nature), 909 (of which 17 in Nature) with FORS2. 9/20 most cited ESO papers resulting from FORS data. Five science highlights.


Science Highlights: 1/5 Derivation of the internal structure of a dark cloud on the

verge of collapse.

Alves et al. (2001, Nature 409, 159)


Science Highlights: 2/5 Discovery of a very energetic supernova associated with a

long-duration GRB at redshift z = 0.1685.

Hjorth et al. (2003, Nature 423, 847)


Science Highlights: 3/5 Discovery of clouds in the transmission spectrum of the

transiting super-Earth exoplanet GJ 1214b.

Bean et al. (2010, Nature 468, 669)


Science Highlights: 4/5 Measurement of the polarization signal from biosignatures

in the Earthshine (sunlight reflected from the earth to the dark side of the moon).

Sterzik et al. (2012, Nature 483, 64)

Red line: dataBlack line: modelGreen: Error estimate


Science Highlights: 5/5 Non-spherical ejecta in Planetary Nebulae are due to

binarity.

Boffin et al. (2012, Science 338, 773)

PN Fleming 1 in Halpha (red), [O III] (green) and [O II] (blue). Instrument: FORS2.


Conclusions FORS1 and FORS2 are amongst the most successful ESO

instruments ever. After 13 years still in high demand and productive. On the hardware side, no obvious signs of aging. Good for the next 13 years?

fors instrument lunchtalk | eso garching | 09.11.2012 fors1+2: the first of the vlt work horses –...

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