SOHO SPWG Minutes



SPWG FINAL MINUTES
Friday 29 March 2005

1. Boundary conditions


- NOTE that due to the current plans for NASA to terminate the TRACE
  mission by October 1, 2005, operations may be ramped down from about
  July 1. If you would like to contribute with a letter of support,
  highlighting how your science goals will be impacted by the loss of
  the TRACE mission, write to Dick Fisher with copy to Joe Gurman and
  Karel Schrijver.

  See also Alan Title's SolarNews article about the future of TRACE
  at http://spd.aas.org/SolarNews/current

- SOHO is now right side up until the next manoeuvre, which
  will occur during the June keyhole.

- Scheduling windows for keyhole periods through 2005 are listed on the
  SOHO calendar. For estimated keyhole dates through 2008 see
  http://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/soc/keyholes.txt

  NOTE: We may move the High Gain Antenna by a fraction of a degree after
  the March keyhole, to avoid the "mini-keyholes" with degraded data that
  currently occur between each regular keyhole. Although other workarounds
  might be possible (degradation does not usually occur on every single
  pass, not all the time, and going to medium rate should help), they
  would not work for MDI continuous contacts. The effect is to expand the
  regular keyholes by 1-2 days. This has already been taken into account
  in the estimated keyhole dates after the current one.

- Except for Major Flare Watches, TRACE will be doing full disk mosaics
   if/when EIT is not able to do synoptic sets due to keyhole operations.

- MDI continuous contacts are listed in Section 2 a) below and on the
  SOHO calendar.

  NOTE that the back-to-back-to-back summer keyhole, 60-day
  continuous, and fall keyhole make it unlikely that MDI can support
  anything between early June and late September. The exception would
  be studies during the 60-day continuous requesting 1 minute cadence
  magnetograms/Dopplergrams.

- KNOWN submode dependent activities & submode changes:

* TOO           JOP153/MMOP003 Future Major Flare Watch (SM5 if SUMER 
                  observes target, SM6 otherwise), TBC
* TOO           JOP175 Extended Filaments at the Limb (see sect. 2a), SM6

* Apr 1-May 3   SUMER Campaign, SM5
* May 3         Submode change to Submode 6, 19 UT, TBC
* May 4,11      EIT Shutterless #19, SM6 (see times in Section 2a), TBC
* May 12-14     IPS Measurements, LASCO/MERLIN/EISCAT/UVCS/TRACE, SM6
* May 16        Submode change to Submode 5, 12 UT
* May 16-June 5 MEDOC Campaign, SM5
* Jun 4-25      26m Keyhole (Jun 09-20 34m Keyhole), SM5 or SM6(end)
* Aug 24, 31    EIT Shutterless #20, SM6, date TBC for Aug 31
* Aug 28-Sep 30 26m Keyhole (Sep 6-22 34m Keyhole), SM5 or SM6(end)
* Oct 19,26     EIT Shutterless #21, SM6, TBC
* Nov 1-Dec 15  SUMER Campaign, SM5, TBC
* Dec 2-22      26m Keyhole (Dec 06-17 34m Keyhole), SM5 or SM6(end)
* 06/05/01-06/06/15 SUMER Campaign
* 06/11/01-06/12/15 SUMER Campaign

  NOTE: Some DSN schedule changes in early May could cause some
  changes to the above between May 3 and May 11.

- EIT Bakeout/Other

* Mar 11-Mar 31 EIT bakeout
 
- Commanding outlook: Note that during the keyhole (Mar 2-Apr 1) we'd
  like everyone to schedule all NRT with the SOCs, since there will be
  more FOT activities needed than during normal operations. For the
  following weeks, see the AOB section.

2. Priorities for the coming month & more


a) Joint observing plans and campaigns

Continuing campaigns:

* 2002/02/25--  JOP136 Default RHESSI Collaborations (#6850), POC:Stein Haugan
* 2002/04/25--  JOP159 CMEs in Lyman-alpha (#6870), SWAN/LASCO/EIT/UVCS,
                  POC: Chris St Cyr, Eric Quemerais
* 2003/05/13--  Default CDS Co-observations with TRACE (#6950)
* 2003/07/01--  Network-Internetwork Oscillations (#7033), EIT/TRACE,
                  POC: Scott McIntosh
* '04/02-'05/05 Quiescent AR Loop Diagnostics (#7019), CDS/TRACE/EIT/SUMER,
                  POC: Helen Mason (h.e.mason@damtp.cam.ac.uk),
                  Local POC: CDS Planner
* 2004/02/19--  JOP175 Extended Filaments at the Limb, EIT/TRACE/LASCO/UVCS,
                  POC: Chris St Cyr (Chris.StCyr@nasa.gov)
* 2005/01/24--  JOP153/MMOP003 Future Major Flare Watch (#8002)

  Campaign #6850 is for "individual instrument studies" selecting an AR
  target [partially] influenced by the Max Millennium target selection
  to maximise chances of serendipitous co-observations.

  EIT supports all with half/full-res 195 Å CME watch in submode 5/6,
  except JOP175 getting half/full-res 304 Å CME watch in submode 5/6,
  and Network-Internetwork Oscillations which is TBD by Scott McIntosh.
  As long as the S/C is in submode 6, all EIT CME watch will be in full
  res.

  Campaign 7033 has been dormant during the TRACE eclipse season.

  The Quiescent AR Loop Diagnostics (#7019) will be run with CDS and
  TRACE during April 25-30, likely continuing until May 6 as long as
  it does not conflict with TRACE's commitment to a Sac Peak run.

 * Mar 2-Apr 1   26m Keyhole (Mar 10-24 34m Keyhole)

 * Mar 11-31     EIT Bakeout

 * Mar 25-Apr 5  Faraday Rotation Measurements (#7114), UVCS/VLA/LASCO,
		   POC: Mari Paz Miralles

 * Mar 31-Apr 4  MDI Continuous Contact

   Reserved for Helioseismology, Line Profile Study probable for a portion
   of the period.

   SOC note: The 26m keyhole is not officially over until April 1, so
   the start may be delayed a little.

* Apr 1-May 3   SUMER Campaign (submode 5)

  See section 2c for details.

* Apr 8         Eclipse support, EIT/GBO, POC: Jay Pasachoff, TBD

* Apr 27-May 2  MDI Continuous Contact

* May 1-15      Moat Flows and Magnetic Features Around Sunspots, 
                  MDI/TRACE/Sac Peak, 
                  POC: Mandy Hagenaar (hagenaar@lmsal.com), TBC

  MDI will support with high resolution mag/doppler/filtergrams.  We
  have requested extra DSN coverage for this time between 14-22UT
  daily.

  TRACE has been contacted, awaiting more details.

* May 3         Submode change to Submode 6, 19 UT, TBC

* May 4,11      EIT Shutterless #19, 16:00-18:40 UT, EIT/TRACE/CDS

  MDI can support, as long as it does not conflict with Hagenaar's
  Sac Peak study above.

  CDS will participate as usual. A note on pointing: CDS prefer to
  point to an active region during shutterless and request that a
  field of view be selected that includes an active region, if
  possible.

* May 12-14     IPS Measurements, LASCO/MERLIN/EISCAT/UVCS/CDS(TBC)/TRACE(TBC),
                  POC: Andy Breen (azb@aber.ac.uk), Local POC: Kevin Schenk

  During the IPS study, EIT will have regular synoptics along with
  half resolution 195 CME watch, given that submode 6 is available.
  They will be in half resolution through the following MEDOC
  campaign.

  TRACE had not recieved an official request for this. It will likely
  conflict with Hagenaar's Sac Peak study above, which has precedence
  and will likely require continuous observing of the target most of
  the time.

  CDS has not received any details about this request - input needed.

* May 16        Submode change to Submode 5, 12 UT

* May 16-June 5 MEDOC Campaign

  See http://www.medoc-ias.u-psud.fr/operations/cmp15/index.html
  and the calendar link therein for details.

  Address questions and problems to Karine.Bocchialini@ias.u-psud.fr and
  the POCs, with copies to soc@soc.nascom.nasa.gov.

* May 25-Jun 9  Active Region/Sunspot Study, CDS/VTT/THEMIS(TBC), CET 
                  daytime hours, POC: Andrzej Fludra, Local POC: CDS Planner

  May 25 - June 9 is the exact period of THEMIS observations. CDS may
  begin a shorter sequence on May 21 to support VTT if needed.

* May 25-30     MDI Continuous Contact

  No specific plans yet.

* May 26-Jun 8  Ulysses Quadrature, UVCS/Ulysses/SUMER(TBC)

  SUMER support from June 3-5 (TBC).

* May 28-Jun 5  LASCO Extra pBs for 3D CME Study, dates TBC

  NOTE: Only synoptic sets from EIT while this study is running.

  NOTE: Dates may be adjusted to fit the May 25-30 continuous contact.

* Jun 4-25      26m Keyhole (Jun 09-20 34m Keyhole)

* Jun 25-Aug 28 MDI 60 Day Continuous Contact, TBC

  Default plan is to run full disk Doppler (probably also with full disk
  magnetograms).

* Jul 3-14      Fine Magnetic Structures/Coronal Heating, 
                  SST/VTT/DOT/CDS(TBC)/EIT(TBC)/MDI(TBC)/TRACE(TBC),
                  POC: Yukio.Katsukawa@nao.ac.jp

  MDI has not received any request for this, but would like to point
  out that during the 60-day continuous period, they can only support
  with the default for the 60-day continuous (i.e. 1 minute cadence
  magnetograms/Doppler images).

  EIT has not had any special reuest, and assumes that 195 Å CME watch
  is sufficient. Maybe a JOP description is in order?

* Jul 20        Sounding Rocket Launch, EUNIS/MOSES/CDS/EIT, 
                  POC: Jeff Brosius & Charles Kankelborg, TBC

  This study is during the continuous contact, so we will not be in
  record during the launch. The question of a backup station has been
  raised, but we need time windows to send in the request.

  CDS is awaiting details of the required support.

  EIT will support as asked, but haven' been asked --- do they want
  more than previous day' full-res, full-disk images for pointing?

* Aug 24, 31    EIT Shutterless #20, date TBC for Aug 31

* Aug 13-24     JOP157 Bright points in ARs, CDS/EIT/MDI/THEMIS/VTT,
                  POC: Etienne.Pariat@obspm.fr, TBC

  SOC NOTE: Dates changed after the meeting.

  EIT will support with 195 CME Watch unless in keyhole/bakeout.
  CDS is willing to support, but detailed arrangements and time 
  allocation can only be confirmed when dates are known.

  MDI will have less and less high rate telemetry for 1 minute cadence
  observations after August 28 due to the fall keyhole. After September 6,
  high rate will be minimal. MDI will try to support as long as
  high rate is available.

  CDS will support to the extent that the keyhole restrictions allow.

* Aug 29-Sep 29 26m Keyhole (Sep 7-21 34m Keyhole)

* Sep 1-10      Wave Propagation from Photosphere to Corona, MDI/SST/DOT/TRACE,
                  POC: Bart DePontieu (bdp@blackadder.lmsal.com)

* Sep 7-21      JOP178 Filament and its Environment, MDI/CDS/EIT/TRACE/GBOs, 
                  POC: Thierry Roudier, TBC

* Sep 22-28     Filament Observations, CDS/EIT/THEMIS, 
                  POC: Guillaume.Pouget@ias.u-psud.fr, TBC

b) Intercalibration activities

  Last Intercal 1: March 9

* Week 14/15    ICAL01 (#7113), CDS/EIT

  Note: will be in submode 5.

c) Individual instrument plans

MDI:

  See section 2a for MDI continuous contact periods.

  MDI may reduce the ALT cadence during Keyholes to be less than 15 ALT
  magnetograms per day if the lack of high rate telemetry is such that
  we will lose all or almost all of the 15 ALT Magnetograms each day.
  The ALT cadence will be decided on an individual Keyhole basis and
  even a daily basis during each Keyhole depending on the 70m antenna
  availability at the time.

  All requests for MDI support need to be made several months ahead of
  time and sent to mdi-ops@mdisas.nascom.nasa.gov. Even outside keyholes,
  MDI can only do 1-minute cadence observations when we have contact and
  there is no recorder dump in progress.

  MDI's REQUEST page is at
  http://mdisas.nascom.nasa.gov/coordination.txt NOTE: Listing of a
  study on that page means *only* that a request has been received, not
  that it will necessarily be supported.

  A description of MDI Observing Modes most used for JOPs and campaigns
  (FD vs. HR) can be found at http://mdisas.nascom.nasa.gov/Collaborate.
  Anyone requesting MDI observations is encouraged to read this page in
  order to have a better idea of what observing modes would be best suited
  for a particular study.  More detailed information about how MDI
  operates, observational constraints and telemetry information can be
  found at http://mdisas.nascom.nasa.gov/MDI_Collaboration_Details.

UVCS:

  For weekly plans, see the SOHO calendar and the UVCS planning page:
  http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/uvcs/observations/obst.html

  The following are listed because of NRT requirements or as candidates
  for collaboration (with e.g. CDS):

* Apr 6-15      UVCS Streamer Study
* Apr 16-26     UVCS Observations of the south polar coronal hole
* Apr 27-May 3  UVCS Observations of the north polar coronal hole

CDS:
  See their request diary for details:
    http://solar.bnsc.rl.ac.uk/scientificops/request.shtml

  CDS intends to participate in the UVCS streamer and coronal hole studies.
  Would like to get in touch with the UVCS EOF observers.

  CDS also wishes to participate in most of the SUMER studies, but needs
  advance information on targets and observing times.

LASCO/EIT:

* Mar 11-31     EIT Bakeout

SUMER:

  SUMER plans to resume operations from April 4 - May 3. Current plans
  are:

  Detector checkout
  Enrico Landi; active region diagnostic
  Nour-Eddine Raoufi & Davina Innes; UVCS - SUMER CME campaign 
    (details tbd.)
  TongJiang Wang; joint Solar-C/SUMER study on quiescent AR loops
  Uri Feldman & Enrico Landi; He abundance study

  The SUMER door will likely be opened on April 1, with science
  operations starting on April 4.

  Weekly planners:

     4 - 13 Apr    Curdt
    12 - 19 Apr    Schühle
    18 - 26 Apr    Landi
    25 Apr - May 2 McIntosh

  The MEDOC operations from May 16 - June 5 are still tbd. (will depend
  on the status of det A).

TRACE:

  NOTE that due to the current plans for NASA to terminate the TRACE
  mission by October 1, 2005, operations may be ramped down from about
  July 1. If you would like to contribute with a letter of support,
  highlighting how your science goals will be impacted by the loss
  of the TRACE mission, contact Joe Gurman or Karel Schrijver.

  See also Alan Title's SolarNews article about the future of TRACE
  at http://spd.aas.org/SolarNews/current

  NOTE that TRACE in general reserves the right to withdraw support from
  agreed, existing collaborations if a sufficiently "good active region"
  is called by the Max Millennium group.

3. AOB


* Next SPWG: Friday 29 April, right after weekly meeting in the EOF.

  CDS may not be able to reply to the SPWG draft note in the week
  April 25-28.  Will attempt to notify of changes the week before.

The rest are FYI items:

* If anyone has projects that require high-cadence MDI support, now is a
  good time to ask! If you need MDI data, make sure you request it
  specifically. There is no significant change in the shutter
  performance over the last 10 months; monitoring continues, but no
  immediate changes in operations are planned.

* DSN support should be requested at least 6 months in advance.  Keep
  this in mind for: ground-based collaborations that require MDI
  support, stellar/shutterless observations that require NRT, etc.

* Commanding outlook:

WK13 - Good commanding after the keyhole which ends on 4/1

WK14 - 4/4, 3 hr gap midday
       Good commanding the rest of the week

WK15 - Good commanding all week

WK16 - 4/22 - 2 1/2 hr gap in AM
       4/24 - 1 1/2 hr gap in PM
       Good commanding the rest of the week

WK17 - 4/30 - 1 hr gap in PM
       5/1  - 1 hr 15 min gap in AM
       Good commanding the rest of the week