Remote observing

As mentioned in the previous report, we are working on an improvement for the user experience when observing in remote-mode. In particular, our aim is to remove the need of a separate observing system for the remote observers, which was implemented originally to overcome the problems presented by slow networks; the main benefit being to remove the duplicity of documentation, and relying on a single set of instructions and interface commands.

We tested VNC graphical desktop sharing for remote use with ALFOSC and NOTCAM and, though stressing the network - a problem that we will need to sort out -, it worked sufficiently well for general use. We have defined a permanent set up that simplifies the task of connecting at any time from a remote site and operate the approved instruments remotely. The new remote observing system access was successfully used during the FINCA remote school at the beginning of November, allowing them to use modes not available for remote observing before (like observing MOS targets), as they are part of the normal set-up, but no specialised remote version had been made or tested.

The new system was also used for a remote MOSCA observing run on Christmas night made from a kitchen in Norway.

A number of minor details are left to be determine, but we foresee no major problems with remotely observing with all the normally offered observing modes using VNC.