Remote Observing at Yale

Scheduling your session

Contact Keck observatory at least 4 weeks prior to your run to request the use of the Yale Remote Observing Facility (YROF), following standard procedures for mainland observing. Keck staff will then contact the Yale RO coordinator and the Keck support astronomer to obtain approval.
If YROF allocation criteria are met, you will be booked from 6pm EST (12n/1pm HI time) until 1pm EST (7am/8am) the next day for each night of your observing run. You will receive an automatically generated E-mail informing you whether you have been approved for remote observing.
The support staff at Yale will test the VNC and video systems for you before your run, but first-time users are encouraged to set up an orientation with the Yale RO coordinator during business hours (9am-5pm ET) of the first day of your use of the YROF.

Please click the following links for information about lodging and transportation. You are responsible for making arrangements and for any expenses incurred during your stay.

Please plan to arrive in New Haven during business hours (9am-5pm ET) so that you can obtain an envelope with a proxy card to access the building, the passcode to enter the YROF and passwords for the equipment from the Yale RO coordinator in J.W. Gibbs Lab room 160. This card must be returned to the drop box located in the YROF (to the left of the door) at the end of your observing run.

Sign on to both the YROF remote workstation and the Polycom system. Manuals for both of these are online and are also in a binder in the YROF.
There is limited local support available in the case of failures of computer equipment or connections. Such support shall not guarantee the proper operation of the YROF.
You are responsible for transferring data from Hawaii to your local computer.

There is a kitchen with a refrigerator and a coffee machine in room 458. For other food options, click here.
The bathrooms are on either side of the elevator/stair lobby on each floor except the second floor.
For wireless access, sign on to YaleGuest.
There are sofas and chairs for lounging in each of the elevator/stair lobbies.

Please clean up and leave the room as clean (or cleaner!) as it was when you came.
Log out of all computer programs and end any videoconference or speakerphone calls.
Return your keycard to the drop box that is located on the inside left of the YROF door.
Please make sure to lock the door from the outside with the latch that you used to unlock the door. It does not lock automatically so this is very important!