last update 12 AUG 2022

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WHAT OBSERVERS WITH USER TIME NEED TO DO BEFORE GOING TO CHILE
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This document outlines the duties of proposers who have time on the
CTIO/SMARTS 0.9m.  This includes SMARTS, NOAO, and Chilean users who
travel to CTIO to take their own observations.  Observers should
carefully consider all relevant information at the SMARTS website at

             http://www.astro.gsu.edu/~thenry/SMARTS/

Someone from your team will need to travel to CTIO to make
observations at the 0.9m.

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1. TRAVEL INFORMATION
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At least TWO WEEKS before your run, fill out a travel form at

    http://www.ctio.noirlab.edu/noao/content/Travel-Information-Questionnaire

    In the "Proposal Number" please write your NOAO or CNTAC proposal
    number, or simply "SMARTS" if you have purchased time.

General travel information can be found at the fundamental site

    http://www.ctio.noirlab.edu/noao/content/visiting-astronomers-travel-guide

If you arrive on time in La Serena, once you claim your bags, you will
usually be met by a taxi driver (holding a sign that says "AURA" or
"CTIO") who will whisk you off to the AURA offices known as the
Recinto.  Your cab fare will be included in your invoice at the end of
your run.  If no taxi driver is evident, you may need to catch your
own taxi from the airport to the Recinto, and you'll need to pay in
pesos, so make sure you have some.  To return to the airport after
your run, you can request a taxi from the La Serena motel using the
online travel form, or just go directly to the airport from the
mountain --- ask the carryall driver to drop you off at the airport.

Pay your bill at the ROB (Round Office Building) on the mountain.
Credit cards are preferred (but note that some credit cards charge an
extra handling fee for foreign charges.)

For assistance with travel, contact

The Goddess, Ximena Herreros (xherreros@ctio.noao.edu)

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2. INSTRUMENT SETUP FORM
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At least TWO WEEKS before your run, fill out an instrument form at

     http://www.ctio.noirlab.edu/noao/eform/submit/vistor-support-questionaire

You should send this in at least TWO WEEKS before the first night of
your observing run.  This allows us to catch any problems, such as
whether or not your requested filters are scheduled for a user at
another telescope.

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3. LEARNING ABOUT THE 0.9M
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You should familiarize yourself with operations at the 0.9m.  On the
0.9m webpage (http://www.astro.gsu.edu/~thenry/SMARTS), click on
"0.9m Observing Manual (new YYYY.MMDD)".