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NATIONAL OPTICAL ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORY

Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory ♦ Kitt Peak National Observatory ♦ NOAO Gemini Science Center

Submitted to the National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement No. AST-0132798

August 1, 2003

Also published on the NOAO Web site: http://www.noao.edu

NOAO is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation

Quarterly Report (3) FY 2003

April 1 – June 30, 2003

The Gemini Near-Infrared Spectrograph (GNIRS) mounted on the NOAO flexure test facility. GNIRS has undergone extensive and successful testing in recent months. Photo courtesy: T. Armandroff.

Table of Contents

National Optical Astronomy Observatory Quarterly Report (3) FY 2003

April 1 – June 30, 2003*

Submitted to the National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement No. AST-0132798

August 1, 2003

TABLE OF CONTENTS Science Publications Using NOAO Telescopes ...........................................................................1

Public Affairs and Educational Outreach (PAEO) Media and Public Information................................................................................................... 1 Public Outreach......................................................................................................................... 2 Educational Outreach ................................................................................................................ 3

Site Safety Reports Tucson and Kitt Peak Site Safety Report .................................................................................. 6 NOAO South and AURA Observatory Site Safety Report ....................................................... 8

* Scientific and programmatic highlights of the preceding quarter, including telescope

subscription statistics and updates on operational activities, are published separately in the quarterly NOAO Newsletter. Observing programs for semesters 2003-A and 2003-B and science publications listings for all of FY 2003 will be published in the NOAO Annual Report to be issued November 1, 2003.

NOAO Quarterly Report Page 1 3rd Quarter FY 2003

SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS USING NOAO TELESCOPES

In the six months ending March 31, 2003, approximately 145 science papers were published in which at least one NOAO telescope is cited as the source of observational data. Eighty-one papers were published using data from CTIO, 60 from KPNO telescopes (including WIYN), and 4 from the Gemini telescopes. Note: As with previous quarterly reports, there is a one-quarter “lag” in publications reporting due to the time needed to research and report publications figures. PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH

Media and Public Information

A joint NOAO-STScI release of a colorful image of the Helix Nebula (with NOAO data from the WIYN 0.9-meter telescope filling in the outward 50% of the image) was circulated around the world by the Associated Press, Reuters, and United Press International. Issued May 10 in recognition of National Astronomy Day, the Helix image was the centerpiece of local “unveiling” ceremonies at several local science centers and planetaria across the country. It also was featured on numerous newspaper and astronomy Web sites (and some print editions), and spent a week as one of the dozen “Most Popular” images on Yahoo.com. The latest results from the FLAMINGOS instrument on Kitt Peak were featured in one of the major press briefings at the May 2003 AAS meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. Results presented by Elizabeth Lada and Richard Elston on dusty disks around young stars were highlighted in a joint NOAO-University of Florida press release, with Web page hosting and on-site coordination by PAEO. News coverage included the New York Times, the Associated Press (leading to numerous stories as far as Australia), CNN-TV Headline News, and many space news Web sites. A May 20 Atlanta-Journal Constitution story on future large telescopes included extensive information about the GSMT, including quotes from NOAO’s Steve Strom. An April 24 press release on the formation of the LSST Corporation was covered by the Arizona Daily Star and turned into an NOAO Newsletter article. The Daily Star and Space.com also reported on a joint University of Arizona-NOAO news release June 26 on their selection as a new NASA astrobiology research center, including a quote from team member Mark Giampapa of the National Solar Observatory. New Gemini Observatory Public Information Officer Jennifer Akingkubedaggs visited NOAO in June for two days of joint planning meetings and orientation at Kitt Peak. A new logo for NOAO was approved by the Committee of Directors in May and put into widespread service in June. The new display of books and a banner for the NOAO Spanish Language Astronomy Materials Center was created in the new PAEO lobby office.

Media and Public Information Summary of Tucson Web Server Hits

April–June 2003 (Hits in Thousands)

Image Gallery Web hits 37Education Web hits 38

NOAO Outreach Web hits 318

Non-PAEO Web hits 1,439

Total NOAO-Tucson Web hits 1,832


PAEO graphic arts staff designed and produced a colorful brochure for the “Communicating Astronomy to the Public” conference in Washington, D.C., in October 2003. PAEO Web designer Mark Newhouse was interviewed by the online magazine Digital Web in anticipation of his talk on Web standards at the WebVisions 2003 conference (see http://www.digital-web.com/interviews/interview_2003-06.shtml). NOAO images were featured eight times as the “Astronomy Picture of the Day,” and six times as Space.com’s picture of the day. The main NOAO home page image was changed five times. NOAO press releases:

• New Corporation Organized To Develop Ambitious Survey Telescope • Iridescent Glory of Nearby Planetary Nebula Showcased on Astronomy Day • Astronomers Find Extremely Large Planet-Forming Disks Around Seven Young Stars • UA and NOAO Join NASA-Funded Search for Life on Other Planets

Public Outreach

The Arizona Republic (Phoenix) featured an extensive article on Kitt Peak and the Nightly Observing Program in the Travel section of its Sunday, May 11 edition. The spring issue of Sky West magazine (a publication of America West Airlines) cited Kitt Peak and its public programs in a general article about Tucson. The NOAO Public Outreach group worked with WIYN and Yale University staff to host a highly successful alumni event at Kitt Peak. Public Outreach staff gave a presentation on Kitt Peak and its public programs to 200 participants at a local meeting of the Audubon Society. PAEO organized and hosted a meeting of the Southwestern Consortium of Observatories for Public Education (SCOPE) at Kitt Peak on April 10. Public Outreach staff attended Career Day at Picture Rocks Elementary School in Tucson on May 13. The presentation consisted of an overview of the technical and scientific positions typically available at an observatory. Students rotated classrooms over the course of two hours. The presentations were about 30 minutes each.

Summary of Science and Information Requests to NOAO PAEO

April – June 2003

Type/Origin of Request Number

Information requests and inquiries about astronomy and science (phone calls, e-mails, and walk-ins—requests for posters, bookmarks, brochures, and so on)

1,014

Requests and inquiries for use of NOAO images* 240

Total 1,254

* Does not include images downloaded from the NOAO Image Gallery


Fifty students in three second grade classes at Centennial Elementary in Tucson received a presentation on May 21 about seeing patterns in the sky, including hands-on activities and computer simulations involving pattern recognition, visualizing, imagining, and communicating.

Public Outreach staff supported the annual Summer Night Sky presentation offered courtesy of Tempe (AZ) Parks and Recreation on June 24, where 30 participants viewed a PowerPoint presentation of the summer constellations and then viewed some deep sky objects through a telescope. On April 21, 40 children ages 6 to 12 toured Kitt Peak in cooperation with the Tucson Parks and Recreation office. The group toured the Mayall 4-meter and the McMath-Pierce Solar telescopes. The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) toured Kitt Peak and attended the Nightly Observing Program on April 24. Fifty-three members participated in tours of the 4-meter telescope and McMath-Pierce solar telescope, as well as evening star gazing.

Approximately 40 guests each from tour groups with the Smithsonian Institution and Sky & Telescope magazine visited Kitt Peak separately in late April and early May, including telescope tours and the Nightly Observing Program. A professor of astronomy and six college students used Kitt Peak as a classroom for their “Astronomy Abroad” course on May 5. Professor Tyler Nordgren teaches at the University of Redlands in California. One student described the course as a “major life event.” On June 24, a professor from the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory did much the same thing, taking 32 students to Kitt Peak as part of a summer astronomy course. During the week of June 2, PAEO staff, in cooperation with the University of Arizona’s Arizona Youth University program, conducted a week-long astronomy camp. Twenty middle school students attended the camp and participated in hands-on activities from Project ASTRO and Family ASTRO. On Wednesday (June 5), parents were invited to attend a full Family ASTRO session. The camp involved two trips to Kitt Peak: a daytime tour of the telescopes on Tuesday and the Nightly Observing Program on Friday night, also open to the parents. Plans are being made to conduct another camp in June 2004. On June 27, two families attended the first “Fun with The Sun” program on Kitt Peak, in which they viewed a presentation about the Sun, toured the McMath-Pierce solar telescope, and used the 16-inch telescope, H-alpha filter, and Astrovid 7000 camera to make their own videos of the Sun.

Educational Outreach

Teacher Leaders in Research Based Science Education (TLRBSE) The second TLRBSE distance learning course ended in early May. Eighteen teachers successfully completed the course. Teachers received training on astronomy content, leadership, and research techniques. The distance course was highly participatory, with extensive interaction among the students and with the faculty. The level of participation as evidenced by the number of postings to the course was significantly higher than last year (2,650 in 2003 vs. 1,600 in 2002). This year’s course saw a further

Kitt Peak Visitor Center Summary of Visitors

(3 months ending 6/30/03)

Group/Program Visitors

General public tours 1,806

Self-guided public tours 5,725

School groups K-12 443

Special tours 57

Nightly Obs. Program 2,647

Advanced Obs. Program 70

Total Visitors-est. 10,748


implementation of “mini-research” projects where teachers worked as part of research teams. The implementation of these mini-projects was successful, with teachers spending more time on problem-solving in their teams. The course evaluation from the teachers was very positive. The TLRBSE staff felt that this year’s course brought the TLRBSE teachers to an even higher level of preparedness for the summer research experience than did last year’s course. Final preparations for the summer workshop continued in May and June, working toward four teacher research groups using four different telescopes: Active Galactic Nuclei observations on the 2.1-meter telescope, Novae Search on the WIYN 0.9-meter, Sun-like Variable Stars on the Coudé Feed, and Solar Multi-wavelength/Magnetic Fields on the McMath-Pierce solar telescope. The last two projects are new or in initial development by TLRBSE staff, in collaboration with astronomers S. Howell and C. Keller. Observing runs May 8 and 9 at the McMath-Pierce by S. Pompea, C. Walker, and S. Croft, and June 8–10 at the Coudé Feed by S. Howell, C. Walker, and S. Croft were conducted to explore possible observing procedures, gather initial data, and give the staff experience on the instruments that the teachers would use during the workshop. One of the primary challenges this year is to provide housing on Kitt Peak for all of the TLRBSE teachers and staff. Project ASTRO-Tucson C. Walker and S. Pompea presented at the Project ASTRO Site Leaders meeting in New Jersey in May, reporting on the status of Project ASTRO-Tucson and Family ASTRO and emphasizing the success of the Spanish version of the Night Sky Adventure kit premiered in the predominantly Hispanic Sunnyside Unified School District in Tucson on March 25. Pompea also gave an invited talk on “Astronomy Education Software: The Good, Bad, and the Ugly.” The ASTROgram Newsletter, Issue 18, went out to its constituents in May and is available online at http://www.noao.edu/education/astrogram/news_04_03.pdf. Word on the success of the program has prompted several teachers to apply early for the fall 2003 workshop for which plans are being made. Family ASTRO Three additional Family ASTRO events took place in April, all within the Sunnyside Unified School District. On average, eight families attended each event. A number of Family ASTRO events are already scheduled for fall 2003. ASTRO-Chile On April 10, a strategic planning meeting took place between NOAO North and NOAO South to help establish a common goal for a dual-city study on light pollution (which could grow to national proportions), to review existing studies, activities, and Web sites, and to discuss ingredients desired in a joint Web site for the study of light pollution. On May 12, a third video conference took place between the bilingual science teachers from Tucson and their counterparts in La Serena. The presentations by the Chilean teachers were made on results from the limiting magnitude study on light pollution being undertaken by students in La Serena. This study will be used as a template for a similar study to be performed by the classes of the Tucson teachers early in the fall of 2003. Other NOAO Educational Outreach Activities S. Pompea and CATTS Fellow Erika Offerdahl led a workshop on the Invisible Universe GEMS guide by Dr. Pompea at the University of Arizona 13th annual Science and Math Education Conference. Dr. Pompea gave the keynote address at the conference, “Patterns in Nature.”


Dr. Pompea gave an invited talk on educational uses of technology at the Space Science Institute’s Eighth Annual Education Workshop for Scientists, Engineers, and EPO Managers, held May 4–7. A team from Steward Observatory (Tim Slater), Columbia University Biosphere 2 Center (Katy Garmany), and NOAO (Pompea) presented a three-day Chautauqua short course on “Learner Centered Astronomy” at the Biosphere 2 Center from May 18–20. Supported by coauthors D. Isbell, C. Walker, and S. Croft, S. Pompea spoke on “Serving Multiple Audiences: Approaches to Education and Outreach at NOAO” at the American Astronomical Society Meeting in Nashville on May 26. The book and CD-ROM Living with a Star: from Sunscreen to Space Weather were published by Lawrence Hall of Science in May. S. Pompea was coauthor of both.


TUCSON AND KITT PEAK SITE SAFETY REPORT

OSHA Recordable Occupational Injuries, Illnesses, and Other Incidents

• An insect bite to a Tucson employee was reported in June. OSHA recordability is pending a review of the physician’s diagnosis and treatment records.

• A hit-and-run vehicle accident in the parking lot and vandalism to an illegally parked vehicle occurred in April. UA police were notified of the illegally parked vehicle. A number of employees reported broken glass in the main parking lot (no damage to tires). CFO coordinated cleanup.

• An employee reported that his vehicle license plate was stolen from the parking lot in May. A police report was completed.

• Kitt Peak personnel responded to a car fire at the Steward 90-inch on June 27. The crew arrived at the scene and found flames coming from the engine compartment of the car. The fire was extinguished with fire extinguishers and the fast attack truck. There was no other damage.

Safety and Health

• A safety review was conducted during a 2.1-m telescope top change and a Mayall 4-m telescope dome truck change. New fall protection equipment was received, which includes a temporary horizontal lifeline and two vertical lifelines. The new equipment will help with this procedure and other working-at-heights procedures.

• Additions to the NOAO and NSO contingency plan master copy were made, including a file containing employee photos and a few address changes. A master copy is located in the risk management specialist’s office. Revisions to management copies are planned for December.

• The risk management specialist participated in and provided advice regarding the lifting of the SOLIS instrument and transportation from the Tucson basement to the GONG farm.

• WIYN staff contracted Richard Kithil of the National Lightning Safety Institute to review lightning vulnerabilities on May 4 and 5. A report was submitted and suggested action items, which are being discussed by WIYN and Kitt Peak management.

• The Arizona Industrial Commission elevator inspectors visited the Tucson facility regarding the optics and instrument shop elevators. In May, the inspectors presented a letter stating, “After review of the inspection information pertaining to code, it is determined that these units be classified as material lifts only.” The letter was immediately posted on the elevators and users were notified of the change. The controls inside the cages were removed and “no riders” signs were posted. A second letter was received in June detailing additional requirements for the lifts. A request for quote to Hotchkiss Elevator has been submitted to perform modifications that would allow the lifts to carry people, with the necessary certifications from the Arizona Industrial Commission.

• The NOAO risk management specialist provided a safety and health review and inspection at NSO in Sunspot, New Mexico, June 1–4. Progress was noted in the report for their continuous improvement of the NSO safety program.

• In preparation for the summer shutdown, a physical review of the procedure for removing the Mayall 4-m declination drives and of the potential to realuminize the primary mirror was conducted. The review consisted of a step-by-step review of the draft procedure written by the staff who will be involved. As a result of the review, the procedure has been modified.


Education and Training

• Eighteen Tucson employees completed the American Red Cross First Aid and CPR class on May 12 and June 6. Twenty-six Tucson employees have current certification through this offering.

• D. Clemons and J. Jennings completed the Asbestos Contractor/Supervisor Refresher course to comply with OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.1001 and EPA 40 CFR 743.

Fire Protection and Prevention

Considerable effort has been spent on the Kitt Peak fire reduction strategy. Kitt Peak management met with Tohono O’dham Nation Fire Management Officer Guy Acuna and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Wildland/Urban Interface Specialist Curtis Heaton. Mr. Heaton has been a tremendous help by advising Kitt Peak with fire regulations and agencies. It was agreed that the short-term plan should provide defensible space around critical structures by trimming trees and removing undergrowth vegetation and nonnative species. A memo was sent to the tenants inviting them to participate. MDM, SARA, and the University of Arizona have played an active role. Thanks to Peter Steer, Tohono O’dham Nation Cultural Affairs manager, for the development of a Tohono O’dham Nation categorical exclusion checklist, complete with signatures from the district chair and environmental manger. To date, contract work is nearing completion. A final walk-through is scheduled for July 11 with complete landscaping. In addition to creating defensible spaces, the following current fire mitigation efforts at Kitt Peak include:

• Readying the 5,000-gallon tender with the firefighting foam machine is readied

• Retrofitting and readying a 500-gallon “buffalo” trailer with pump that would be used for portable foam fire fighting machines (CFO staff)

• Readying another 500-gallon trailer.

• Construction of “portable sprinklers” and hoses for use on endangered buildings (CFO staff)

In addition:

• Kitt Peak’s water supply is 700,000 gallons.

• Kitt Peak management met with the Tohono O’dham Nation Department of Public Safety (DPS) on June 16 to ensure that Kitt Peak is their priority location. Tohono O’dham Nation DPS officers have toured Kitt Peak’s facilities and firefighting capabilities and were provided updated emergency information, including maps, contact information, and GPS coordinates of structures.

• Monthly Kitt Peak staff fire drills continue on the day shift.

• Kitt Peak management is working with the Tohono O’dham Nation fire department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to put into place a long-term strategy for hazard fuel reduction and a wild land urban interface that would allow BIA funding for fire mitigation (protection of the Tohono O’dham Nation, and more specifically, Kitt Peak).

• Kitt Peak’s fire warning signs continue to inform the public that we have an extreme fire danger and enforcement of no open flames on Kitt Peak.

• Fire alarms and fire extinguishers are inspected per NFPA code.


Environmental

• The Kitt Peak Annual Water Quality Report was completed and posted at Kitt Peak and Tucson. The format of the report follows the guidelines set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) as part of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Water test results of Kitt Peak water are within the requirements of USEPA.

Security

• Distribution of key cards to NOAO South, friends of NOAO, visitors, and contractors continues, but the volume of requests has been lower. Modifications to all affected door locksets have been completed. Interior lobby doors are locked with limited issues. By request, interior lobby doors are open for the NSO Brown Bag Colloquium and NOAO Flash meetings. TAC participants have been issued individual key cards.

• At the request of CAS staff, a spare radio is now located at the La Quinta building for after-hours communication with the security guards.

NOAO SOUTH AND AURA OBSERVATORY SITE SAFETY REPORT

Planned Inspections

During the last quarter, 14 inspections were carried out, four for CTIO, four for Gemini, three for SOAR, and three for AOSS. Planned inspection activities to various work locations have increased in order to reduce hazardous conditions. These activities include: • Improvements to evacuation route signals

• Installation of evacuation route plans in the SOAR telescope

• Arrangement of materials with high toxic concentrations (e.g., paint, solvents, etc.)

Personal Accident Investigation

CTIO reported two accidents this quarter. A mechanical technician suffered a cut to his thumb from the rim of a newly cut sheet of aluminum. He took 10 days of medical leave. A draftsman suffered a fall from his motorcycle in a collision with a car while on his way to work. The accident occurred outside the AURA campus. He has taken 56 days of medical leave so far. Gemini, SOAR, and AOSS reported no accidents this quarter.

Training /Talks

Training and talks were given on the handling of dangerous substances, ergonomic risks, and handling of sharp objects. The following table shows the topics discussed and the number of participants by program.


Nº Participants

Training Course/Talk CTIO AOSS SOAR GEMINI

Handling of dangerous substances

6 11 2 3

Self care / conduct 1 2 1 First aid 12 4 Emergency brigade 12 4 Ergonomic risks in offices 3 10 1 3

Emergency Preparation

Evacuation drills have been conducted at the new Gemini South building at La Serena, in which all employees have participated. A talk was given on how to use a fire hose. New 6-kilo ABC dry chemical dust fire extinguishers have been installed. Quarterly maintenance of the fire alarm system in Gemini, SOAR, and CTIO telescopes is planned. The NOAO contingency plan continues to circulate. PowerPoint presentations have been prepared.

Activities with Mutual de Seguridad Cámara Chilena de la Construcción

Staff from the Mutual de Seguridad Cámara Chilena de la Construcción (CChC) have been working on the coordination of training programs for the rest of this current year. The following courses are planned:

• Handling of dangerous materials

• Ergonomic risks

• High mountain defensive driving (August 2003)

• Paritario Committee forming course (24 July 2003)

Occupational Health

The results of the health examinations conducted by the Mutual de Seguridad CChC will be given personally by the Cerro Tololo paramedics and accompanied by a security talk. Three employees were sent to the Mutual de Seguridad clinic for a more comprehensive examination, especially those exposed to benzene in the past. The results of these examinations indicated minimal presence of contaminants of no biological interest. Cerro Tololo paramedics conducted blood pressure tests, weight control, lung capacity tests, and oxygen balance tests for employees.

Environmental

• A complete cleanup of the Cerro Pachón and CTIO roads and surroundings is being conducted.

• The La Serena campus is cleaned up regularly, and domestic garbage is collected three times a week. Industrial garbage is sent weekly to an authorized dump in Coquimbo.


• The dump on Cerro Tololo is in efficient use. In keeping with sanitary standards, garbage is covered periodically to avoid insect and rodent infestation. The road and surroundings on Cerro Tololo are also cleaned periodically.

• Collection of magnetic tapes is under way for proper recycling in Santiago. These magnetic tapes formerly used in CTIO telescopes have been out of use for five years and have been replaced by 8-mm tape.

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