SPWG DRAFT MINUTES
Friday 23 June 2006
Last modified by T. Siili on 23 June 2006 at 1350 UTC


1. Boundary conditions


a) Orbit, attitude and manoeuvres

- SOHO is currently upside down

- manoeuvres

  Sep 5        stationkeeping and momentum management (timing TBC)

  Sep 11 or 12 roll (TBC)

  Dec 5        roll, stationkeeping and momentum management (timing TBC)


b) Communications with the spacecraft

- Graphical DSN schedule: http://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/soc/dsn/

* Aug 21-Sep 19 26 m Keyhole 

* Aug 28-Sep 13 34 m Keyhole

  Note: the keyhole plan for the June keyhole was and for both the
  September and December keyholes will be based on VGM-only or VGMFL5-only
  to reduce FOT manpower requirements needed for complex operations during
  the keyhole.  This will allow the FOT personnel to devote more time on
  the development of future more automated operations.  The tradeoff is
  some less science accomplished.

  Note: outlook for the Sep keyhole is bleak due to severe contention
  between several missions for DSN 70 m station resources.  The DSN
  personnel have been working on resolving the conflicts, but no schedule
  is available at this time, neither is it known exactly, how soon a
  resolution is to-be-expected.

* Nov 24-Dec 11 26 m keyhole

* Nov 27-Dec 8  34 m keyhole

  All available keyhole information is at
  http://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/soc/keyholes.html


c) KNOWN submode dependent activities/submode changes:

* TOO           JOP153/MMOP003 Future Major Flare Watch (SM5 if SUMER
                observes target, SM6 otherwise)
* TOO           JOP175 Extended Filaments at the Limb (see sect. 2a), SM6
* Jul 26,Aug 2  EIT Shutterless #24, SM6
* Aug 21-Sep 19 26 m Keyhole (Aug 28-Sep 13 34 m Keyhole), SM5/6
* Oct 18,25     EIT Shutterless #25, SM6, TBC
* Nov 1-Dec 15  SUMER Campaign, SM5, possibly just Nov 9-19
* Nov 8         Transit of Mercury, SM5/6
* Nov 24-Dec 11 26 m Keyhole (Nov 27-Dec 08 34 m Keyhole), SM5/6

- Some of the default SUMER campaign dates overlap with keyholes -
  which is not a problem in itself (submode 5 will often be needed for
  keyholes anyhow) as long as potential periods of no SUMER data
  between passes can be accepted.

- SUMER plans an engineering campaign November 9-19. No other observations
  are planned. Detector testing will be performed.

- EIT will probably be supporting JOP 159 only in the week or two before
  keyholes, at least as a test.

- According to EIT the Mercury transit observations can be carried out
  in either submode 5 or 6. FDF has been contacted to get the
  observational geometry and initial reply has been received (section
  2).

- 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.

--> #SUMER - changes, comments?


d) Instrument maintenance activities

- EIT Bakeout for the September keyhole, timing TBD

- EIT Bakeout for the December keyhole, timing TBD


e) Others

- TRACE eclipses

  TRACE is in its normal operations mode until the next 'eclipse
  season', which is estimated to start on 22 Sep 2006 (doy 265) and
  last through to 1 Mar 2007 (doy 60).


2. Priorities for the coming month and more


a) Joint observing plans and campaigns

Continuing campaigns:

* 2002/02/25--  JOP136 Default RHESSI Collaborations (#6850),
                POC: Tero Siili
* 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
* 2004/02/19--  JOP175 Extended Filaments at the Limb (#7135), 
                EIT/TRACE/LASCO/UVCS,
                POC: Chris St Cyr (Chris.StCyr@nasa.gov)
* 2005/09/20--  JOP153/MMOP003 Future Major Flare Watch (#8006)

  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  CME watch in submode 5/6,
  except JOP175 getting half/full-res 304  CME watch in submode 5/6, and
  Network-Internetwork Oscillations which is TBD by Scott McIntosh.  As
  long as the spacecraft is in submode 6, all EIT CME watch will be in full
  res.  Major Flare Watches will be in full-res even if it requires a
  submode change, unless the target is observed by SUMER.

  A final, long run of campaign #7033 (Network-Internetwork Oscillations)
  will take place before the Solar-B launch.  When Solar-B participation in
  a campaign becomes possible, a new and modified campaign will be set up.
  This study has been removed from the TRACE calendar but will be
  reinserted if an explicit request is made.

--> #SWAN, #SUMER - changes, comments?


* Jun 28-Jul 12 JOP171 (#7184) Solar Network Variability and Dynamics, 
                  CDS/EIT/MDI/TRACE/DOT, POC: Peter Gomory

  CDS has worked out the details with Peter already.

  EIT sees no problems supporting the request.

  MDI will likely support the request, tentatively taking 1-min cadence
  high-res magnetograms, dopplergrams and filtergrams.

  TRACE will support this observation and a program has been defined.


* Jul 12-16     MDI Continuous Contact

  The default plan is high resolution magnetograms, dopplergrams and
  filtergrams, but it's subject to change based on solar activity and
  general requests for MDI observations.  We may continue with
  whatever we run for JOP171.


* Jul 17-28     JOP186 Atmospheric Seismology,
                  CDS/EIT/MDI/TRACE/DST/DOT/VTT, POC: Mike Marsh

  EIT will run CME watch in 171  to support.

  This coordination no longer conflicts with the requested coordination
  with SST July 27 - Aug 08.  MDI will support JOP186 with 1 minute
  cadence, HR Mags, Dopplergrams and Filtergrams if target is within the
  HRFOV, FD Mag/Doppler otherwise.

  TRACE has a defined program.

  CDS is negotiating study duration and other details.


* Jul 22        Stereo Launch, TBC


* Jul 26, Aug 2 EIT Shutterless #24, 18-20:40 UT


* Jul 27-Aug 08 La Palma observations, Small magnetic features and their
                  radiative counterparts, MDI/SST, POC: Vicente Domingo

  See above response for JOP186.  MDI will coordinate observations for both
  studies.  At MDI's request improved DSN coverage has also been requested
  for 07:30-20:00 UT each day. The outcome of the request is TBD.


* Aug 16-20     MDI Continuous Contact

  The default plan is high-resolution magnetograms and dopplergrams.


* Aug 25-Sep 3  JOP178/JOP157 Filament and its Environment, 
                  MDI/CDS/EIT/TRACE/THEMIS/GBOs,
                  POC: Brigitte Schmieder,TBC

  Overlaps with the September keyhole. MDI will try to support this
  for the first couple of days, but after that, no support is
  guaranteed.

  EIT will run CME watch in 304A August 25 - start of bakeout (TBD).

  TRACE will support.

  CDS support will be limited due to the keyhole.


* Sep 23        Solar B launch, TBC


* Sep 27-Oct 6  La Palma observations, Propagation of low frequency
                  waves & spicule formation, MDI/TRACE/SSO, 
                  POC: Bart DePontieu

  MDI has requested extra DSN coverage for 08-18 UTC. Default plan is
  high resolution magnetograms, dopplergrams and filtergrams (or some
  combination of the three).

  TRACE is supporting this request (TBC).


* Oct 11-15     MDI Continuous Contact

  No plans yet, default plan is full-disk magnetograms and
  dopplergrams.


* Oct 18,25     EIT Shutterless #25, TBC

  Shutterless #25 still TBC. DSN schedule for SOHO is still in works for
  this period.


* Oct 24        Dual sounding rocket launch for CELIAS/SEM, TIMED/SEE
                  and SDO/EVE cross-calibration, CELIAS/TRACE/TIMED/SDO,
                  POC: Andrew Jones, TBC

  Most up-to-date and detailed information on the launches (e.g.,
  instrument characteristics, launch windows) can be found at
  http://www-rcf.usc.edu/~arjones/rockets/OCT_06/SOHO-TIMED.html.

  This is an expanded repeat of 2005 Aug CELIAS/SEM calibration flight.
  Exact launch time is TBD, but most likely it will be 1720-2020 UTC. The
  exact timing is dependent on the TIMED orbit, and that will not be
  finally determined until about 8-10 weeks before launch.  Backup launch
  date is between 7-27 Feb 2007.

  Request is for going to record for approximately 10 min even if SOHO is
  in contact.  MDI is OK with this.

  TRACE would like to participate and has contacted the POC.

  CDS is considering support.

--> #CELIAS - changes, comments?


* Oct 25-Nov 2  Facular Irradiance Characteristics: Sunspot Penumbral 
                  Filament and/or Light-Bridge Dynamics, MDI/TRACE/SSO, 
                  POC: Tom Berger, TBC

  MDI has requested extra DSN coverage for 08-18 UTC. Default plan is
  high resolution magnetograms, dopplergrams and filtergrams (or some
  combination of the three).

  TRACE supports this request.


* Nov 1-Dec 15  SUMER Campaign

  Detector testing will be done Nov 9-19. No other observations are 
  planned at this time. See section 1c.

--> #SUMER - changes, comments?


* Nov 8         Mercury Transit

  SOHO visibility information received from FDF: "The Mercury transit
  in November will be seen by SOHO.  The angular radius of the Sun as
  seen from SOHO will be 0.27137 deg, the lowest SOHO/Sun/Mercury angle
  will be 0.1153 deg.  The transit midpoint will occur on
  20061108.223648.696 and the transit will be ~5 h, starting ~2.5 h
  before the midpoint and ending ~2.5 h after the midpoint.  FDF is
  currently refining the duration and will provide a final analysis
  within the next couple of weeks.  Please note that all the above
  information is from the aspect as seen from SOHO."

  For summary information on the view from Earth, see
  http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/OH/image1/TM2006Nov08-Fig1.GIF.

  EIT will observe the transit.

  LASCO to observe Mercury through C3 and C2 fields.  TBC.

  MDI can observe the transit and requests SOHO not to be in record.
  Obtaining observations of the November 2006 Mercury transit is extremely
  important to MDI, specifically for solar radius measurements.  The only
  other Mercury transit MDI has observed is the 2003 transit and the next
  Mercury transit won't be until 2016 (there will be a Venus transit in
  2012, but that is also rather far into the future...).  It is imperative
  that MDI get high rate observing for the entire transit and for a few
  hours on either side.

  TRACE will be supporting with observation for Jay Pasachoff. The
  transit occurs, however, during TRACE's eclipse season (see section
  1e), hence support will depend on the exact timing and possible
  coincidence of the transit and a TRACE eclipse.

  CDS will consider transit observations.

  The SOCs have requested that SOHO is in contact during the transit, i.e.,
  that SOHO has a baseline and backup DSN stations available.  Any updates
  on the FDF-provided information will be relayed to the instrument teams
  as soon as it becomes available.


* Nov 8-12      MDI Continuous Contact

  Default plan is 1-min cadence, full disk magnetograms and dopplergrams.


* Dec 19-->2007 Exceptional Ulysses Quadrature (ends May 19, 2007)

UVCS will encourage the lead observers to take advantage of the
Ulysses-SOHO quadrature beginning this December when planning observation
programs.  UVCS will schedule extra observation time devoted to this
quadrature and said schedule will be made available to the SOHO SOCs.  A
pdf file from Steve Suess and Giannina Poletto discussing the Ulysses-SOHO
quadrature geometry is available from Michael Uzzo and it will also be made
available via the SOHO web site (TBC).


b) Intercalibration activities

  Last Intercal 1: 25 May 2006

  - Week 26 (28 Jun) ICAL01 (#7113), CDS/EIT
  - Week 29          ICAL01 (#7113), CDS/EIT, TBC

  Details and confirmation will be determined by the planners.

  Future ICALs are TBD. EIT: ICALs are OK except during the weeks of
  shutterless or of the Mercury transit.

--> #CDS - changes, comments?


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 70 m antenna
availability at the time.

All requests for MDI support need to be made several months ahead of
time and sent to mdi-ops(at)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.

MDI will switch to FOC4, better focus for high resolution observing,
Monday, June 26.  The switch is to better accommodate MDI HR observing
requests this summer/fall 2006.  MDI will stay with that focus setting at
least until November 2.


UVCS:

We have been using the LyA detector for some observations and will
keep planning so when appropriate.

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

See also the Exceptional Ulysses Quadrature (Dec 2006 ->) in section 2a.


CDS:

For details see http://solar.bnsc.rl.ac.uk/scientificops/request.shtml.


LASCO/EIT:

LASCO reduced exposure for Mercury pre and post the transit.  TBC.


SUMER:

See sections 1c and 2a.

--> #SUMER - changes, comments?


TRACE:

TRACE is in its normal operations mode until the next 'eclipse
season' (for estimated dates see section 1e).

NASA has announced that it plans to continue funding of TRACE
operations at close to the FY06 level through FY08, followed by a
significant ramping down of operations into FY09.

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. Any other business


* Next SPWG:

Wed 19 Jul at 14 UTC (10 AM LT).  This is the primary choice; exceptional
day-of-the-week is due to the ESA SOC being away for two weeks as of 20
Jul.  Alternatives are 21 or 28 Jul after the Daily/Weekly Meetings.

MDI: July 21 is preferable, but July 19 is Ok, too.


The rest are FYI items:

* If anyone has projects that require high rate (i.e. 1 minute
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.

* Solar-B launch is currently scheduled for 23 Sep 2006. Science
observations (including some MDI, TRACE and possibly STEREO
collaborations) are tentatively scheduled to begin approximately 45 d
thereafter. Spacecraft and launch site scheduling issues may push the
launch from Sep to Nov-Dec time frame.

* STEREO launch is currently scheduled for 22 Jul 2006. Coordinated
observations between Stereo and SOHO seem feasible approximately 120 d
after Stereo launch (TBC). Information will be provided as soon as it
becomes available. Simon Plunkett at NRL should be the contact for
STEREO JOPs; the other three instruments are pretty much on or off
only.

* Future Mercury and Venus transits: SOC is requesting the Flight Dynamics
Facility (FDF) to provide estimates and data for not only disk, but also
for coronal transits.  For this purpose FDF needs a criterion
(radial/angular distance from Solar disk centre) to define the coronal
transits.  Currently FDF has been instructed to use
SOHO/Sun/[Mercury,Venus] angle of < 35 arcmin (from centre of Solar disk)
as criterion.  Instrument teams are requested to provide the SOC with
information on whether a larger angle is applicable.