DRAFT MINUTES FOR SOHO 26 SEPTEMBER 2008 SPWG MEETING


    1. Boundary conditions

a) Orbit, attitude and manoeuvres


- SOHO is right side up (0 degrees).

- manoeuvres

  To the degree possible, manoeuvres take place during the last days of
  34-m keyholes.  Currently proposed or set manoeuvre dates are:

  Nov 18 (TBC)  station-keeping, momentum management, roll



b) Communications with the spacecraft


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

  Keyhole dates for the next 6 months (All available keyhole information is
  at or via http://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/soc/keyholes.html):

* Nov 05-22     26m Keyhole
* Nov 09-18     34m Keyhole

* Jan 25-Feb 21 26m Keyhole
* Feb 1-14      34m Keyhole

- DSN D45 and D65 (34-m) antennae are now uplink capable and have been 
  successfully used.

- End-of-pass handling during MDI continuous contact periods

  To avoid problems with transmitter masks at the end of passes during MDI
  continuous, DSN has requested we bring the carrier down 30 min before the
  end of pass.  As a result, the last 30 min of all MDI continuous contacts
  will be TM only.  For ranging passes, the spacecraft will be transitioned
  to record ~1 h before the end of the pass.  The station will drop the
  carrier and re-sweep into receiver 2.  The spacecraft will then be
  transitioned back to VC2 and VC3.



c) KNOWN submode (SM) dependent activities/submode changes:


* TOO           JOP153/MMOP003 Future Major Flare Watch (SM5 if SUMER
                observes target, SM6 otherwise)
* Sep 20-Oct 4  SUMER Mini-Campaign, (SM5 from Sep 18-Oct 6)
* Oct 16,28     EIT Shutterless #33 (SM6)
* Jan 15,22     EIT Shutterless #34 (SM6)

  SUMER campaign dates may overlap with keyholes. Such overlaps shall be
  scheduled only if periods of no SUMER data between passes are acceptable.

  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.

--> #EIT, #SUMER: changes, comments?


d) Instrument maintenance activities

  EIT bake-out periods will be during keyholes. 

--> #EIT: changes, comments?



e) Others

  TRACE' next eclipse season began on 13 Sep 2008.

  Daytime passes have been automated but attended since 16 Jun. Unattended
  daytime automation is scheduled to begin begin 1 October. Since weekend
  daytime passes will be automated and unattended, NRT will be interrupted
  in the same way as the nighttime passes are for resets of software
  anomalies. NRT schedule for all automated passes can be found at
  http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/soc/nighttime_nrt.txt.

--> #TRACE: changes, comments?


    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
* 2003/05/13--  Default CDS Co-observations with TRACE (#6950)
* 2005/09/20--  JOP153/MMOP003 Future Major Flare Watch (#8008)
* 2007/03/20--  Default CDS/Hinode-EIS co-observations (#7200)

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

  EIT supports all with half/full-res 195 A CME watch in submode 5/6. It is
  clear that STEREO-EUVI provides adequate "context" information for RHESSI
  flare observations. Routine EIT submode and resolution switches are
  probably no longer needed.

--> #CDS, #EIT: changes, comments?


* Sep 20-Oct 4  SUMER Mini-Campaign, SUMER/Hinode-EIS

  Submode change 6->5 13:30 UT on Thu Sep 18. SUMER power-up and
  configurations take place on Fri Sep 19 and observations may begin
  already on Sat Sep 20 (TBC).

  SUMER door-closing and power-down are proposed to take place on Oct 6,
  followed by submode change 5->6 also on Oct 6 (TBC).

  Planned observations (status as of September 16) are listed below separately.

* Sep 20-Oct 4  Polar Coronal Hole Observation (#7284), SUMER/Hinode-EIS/Hinode-SOT
                  POC: Harra, Alan Gabriel, Werner Curdt

* Sep 20-Oct 4  Slope of the Lyman Continuum (#7285), SUMER/MDI, POC: Werner Curdt

* Sep 20-Oct 4  Magnetic Field in a PCH/HOP81 (#7286), SUMER/Hinode, 
                  POC: Shimojo, Werner Curdt

* Sep 20-Oct 4  Quiescent and Eruptive Prominences (#7287), SUMER/UVCS/Hinode-EIS
                  POC: Susanna Parenti, Jean-Claude Vial

* Sep 20-Oct 4  Prominences (modified HOP73) (#7288), SUMER/Hinode-EIS/Hinode-SOT/
                  Hinode-XRT/STEREO/TRACE/SST/DOT,
                  POC: Tom Berger, Susanna Parenti (TBC)

* Sep 20-Oct 4  Polar Plumes (#7289), EIT/SUMER/Hinode-EIS/Hinode-SOT/STEREO-EUVI/TRACE,
                  POC: Klaus Wilhelm, Luca Teriaca, Gulio del Zanna

* Sep 20-Oct 4  Ly-alpha / Ly-beta Photon Ratio (#7290), SUMER/MDI,
                  POC: Werner Curdt

* Sep 20-Oct 4  Quiet Sun Network Evolution (#7291), MDI/SUMER/Hinode-EIS/Hinode-SOT,
                  POC: Davina Innes

  MDI high-rate observations requested in support of these observations
  (timing and details TBD, MDI intends to do high-rate observations during
  the Sep 24-28 continuous contact period).

--> #CDS, #EIT, #SUMER, #MDI, #UVCS, Hinode: changes, comments?


* Sep 26-29     MDI Continuous Contact

  Note "End-of-pass handling during MDI continuous contact periods" in
  section 1b.
 
  MDI may do high resolution observations for Helioseismology.  Observables
  will be high resolution magnetograms, dopplergrams and filtergrams at
  1-min cadence.  FOV is TBD.

--> #MDI: changes, comments?


* Oct 6-20      JOP 189 Physical mechanisms driving solar microflares 
                  and network dynamic fibrils, 
                  CDS/EIT/MDI/Hinode/TRACE (all TBC)
                  POC: Jan Rybak, Peter Gomory

  MDI will support JOP189 as much as DSN contacts allow.  MDI's preferred
  time for the supports is the 5-day continuous contact period on Oct
  16-20. MDI also prefers to support in only one mode (full-disk or
  high-rate).

--> #CDS, #EIT, #MDI, #TRACE, Hinode: changes, comments?


* Oct 16-19     MDI Continuous Contact

  Note "End-of-pass handling during MDI continuous contact periods" in
  section 1b.

  MDI may do high resolution observations for Helioseismology.  Observables
  will be high resolution magnetograms, dopplergrams and filtergrams at
  1-min cadence.  FOV is TBD.

  This 5-day continuous contact might be used for a JOP189 and/or high-rate
  helioseismology collaboration, details and observing sequence TBD.  Would
  like a status on DSN contacts for this continuous contact period as well
  as for the month of October since we have some requests for
  collaborations requiring high rate data.

--> #MDI: changes, comments?


* Oct 16, 28    EIT shutterless #33,
                  POC: Susanna Parenti

  DSN passes (and hence exact times) still TBC.

--> #EIT: changes, comments?


* Oct 26        Daylight Savings Time ends in European Union at 01 UT


* Nov 2         Daylight Savings Time ends in the USA,
                  change in GSFC at 06 UT


* Dec 10-14     MDI Continuous Contact

  Note "End-of-pass handling during MDI continuous contact periods" in
  section 1b.
 
  Standard full disk, 1-min cadence magnetograms and dopplergrams.

  May do high-resolution helioseismology, particularly if we do not have a
  5-day continuous contact in October and there is sufficient interest in
  MDI doing HR observations (or something really interesting in the MDI
  HRFOV).

  Since we are scheduled to have a 5 day CC in October, details for this CC
  period are TBD.  May do FD Helioseismology if requests for MDI HR have
  been met during the Sept and/or Oct 5 day CC periods.

--> #MDI: changes, comments?


* Jan 15, 22    EIT shutterless #34,
                  POC: Susanna Parenti

  DSN passes (and hence exact times) still TBC.

--> #EIT: changes, comments?


* Jan-Apr (TBD) JOP 214 Quiescent prominence structure and dynamics with 
                  Hinode and La Palma,
                  SUMER/Hinode-EIS/Hinode-SOT/Hinode-XRT/DOT/SST, TBC. 
                  POC: Tom Berger

--> #SUMER: changes, comments?


b) Intercalibration activities

  Last ICAL was: Sep 11

  ICALs are normally performed monthly. Below is a SOC proposal for ICAL
  weeks for the next six months.


* Oct 6-10      ICAL01 (#7113), CDS/EIT/Hinode-EIS/Hinode-SOT/STEREO

* Nov 3-7       ICAL01 (#7113), CDS/EIT/Hinode-EIS/Hinode-SOT/STEREO

* Dec 1-5       ICAL01 (#7113), CDS/EIT/Hinode-EIS/Hinode-SOT/STEREO

* Jan 5-9       ICAL01 (#7113), CDS/EIT/Hinode-EIS/Hinode-SOT/STEREO

* Jan 26-30     ICAL01 (#7113), CDS/EIT/Hinode-EIS/Hinode-SOT/STEREO
                  NOTE: 26-m keyhole begins on Jan 26 and 34-m keyhole
                  begins on Feb 1. ICAL might still be possible during this
                  period.

* Mar 2-6       ICAL01 (#7113), CDS/EIT/Hinode-EIS/Hinode-SOT/STEREO

  Proposed compiled ICAL scheduling criteria, constraints and guidelines
  (see also campaign #7113):

  1) EIT/CDS are the primary participating instruments

  2) CDS: Hinode-EIS participation is extremely important and participation
     is to be attempted within the limitations of the constrained Hinode
     operations (see "FYI items" in section 3). Hinode-SOT has also
     expressed interest in participating. Due to Hinode planning cycle
     ICALs need to be planned more in advance than has been the norm.

  3) STEREO-EUVI observations are included when possible. ICALs are
     attempted to be scheduled not to coincide with STEREO manoeuvres or
     other interruptions in observations (see
     http://stereo-ssc.nascom.nasa.gov/plans.shtml).

  4) EIT: ICALs OK at all other times except the weeks of shutterless

  5) Dates, details and confirmation will be determined by the planners
     with support from the SOHO SOCs.

  CDS okay. If Hinode-EIS can suggest convenient date & time, CDS can usually
  accommodate.

--> #CDS, #EIT, #Hinode-EIS, #Hinode-SOT, #STEREO: 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.  MDI may also down-link select magnetograms in the 5 kbps
  telemetry if no 70 m passes are available at least every 2 days for Mag
  dump in the 160 kbps telemetry.

  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 is in Focus 5 for best focus for FD observing.  Since MDI has gotten
  several requests for high-rate observing in Sep-Oct 2008, MDI will switch
  to Focus 4, best focus for high-rate observing.  The current plan is to
  switch sometime during the week of Sep 8 and go back to Focus 5 before
  the start of the Nov 2008 keyhole (5 Nov).

--> #MDI: changes, comments?


UVCS:

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

--> #UVCS: changes, comments?


CDS:

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

--> #CDS: changes, comments?

EIT/LASCO:

  EIT: 195 A CME watch plus synoptics at 6-hour cadence, as usual. Full-res
  CME watch whenever we're in submode 6. Hope never to change until the
  Bogart mission.

--> #EIT, #LASCO: changes, comments?


SUMER:

  See section 2a for details.

--> #SUMER: changes, comments?


TRACE:

  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.

  For TRACE summer eclipse season see section 1e.

--> #TRACE: changes, comments?


    3. Any other business

* Tentative SPWG meeting times for next six months (only the next one will
  be decided in this meeting). Meetings take place as a baseline on Fridays
  after the daily and weekly meetings.

  Sep 26
  Oct 24
  Nov 21
  Dec 19
  Jan 23
  Feb 20
  Mar 27

-> #ALL: changes, comments?


The rest are FYI items:

* Hinode is currently experiencing technical difficulties that have
  resulted in a reduction in the rate at which scientific data can be
  transmitted to the ground from the on-board recorder. According to the
  Hinode Science Working Group "The problem will have a significant impact
  on how the Hinode mission is operated." For further details see
  http://spd.aas.org/SolarNews/archive/news.html#section1.

* In the future SOHO's DSN contacts will grow shorter as we lose 26-m
  antenna support and other, new missions get higher priority. The
  instrument teams are therefore requested to look at the NRT commanding
  that is done (especially for emergencies and recoveries) and see what can
  be converted into TSTOLs that the FOT can run (even without explicit
  instrument or SOC direction).

* MDI high-rate support requests: no change, see URL
  http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/operations/SPWG/spwg-20080118.html

* DSN support requests: preferably 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.

* Future Mercury and Venus transits: no change, see URL
  http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/operations/SPWG/spwg-20080118.html

* Hinode operational and planning information and guidelines: no change,
  see URL http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/operations/SPWG/spwg-20080118.html
  and http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/soc/JOPs/jop-submit.html

* STEREO operational and planning information: no change, see URL
  http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/operations/SPWG/spwg-20080118.html

* The SOHO JOP/ICAL database and the web pages are now the Solar JOP/ICAL
  database and web pages. This is due to anticipated increased
  contributions by and collaborations as well as intercalibrations with
  STEREO and Hinode.

* New JOP vs. modified existing JOP rules-of-thumb: no change, see URL
  http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/operations/SPWG/spwg-20080118.html

* SOHO calendar email notifications: no change, see URL
  http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/operations/SPWG/spwg-20080118.html