Observing from Loiano site

11/10/2018

News, information and tools for applicants and observers

Preparing and submitting proposals (INAF-OAS PIs only)

Time allocation

Observing time is allocated only for INAF-OAS staff.

The observing proposals should be submitted within the announced deadline.

Useful information and recommendations for visiting astronomers

Visiting astronomers can consult this regional map to locate Loiano and consult our main Loiano page to see the suggested routes, the bus service timetable and other information. The Loiano Guesthouse address is: Stazione Osservativa di Loiano, via Nazionale 11, 40050 Loiano.

The building is located about 1km south of Loiano, on Provincial Route n.65 (Strada Provinciale n.65, Futa).

Guesthouse accommodation is free of charge for observers, on a self-catering basis.
Please note: We no longer have a caretaker at the guesthouse. If you require accommodation, please send an email with your requirements (number of visitors and nights etc.) at least a week in advance to BOTH Silvia Galleti (see above) and Giovanna Stirpe (see below). In order to be met at the observatory and be given a key, please make arrangements in advance by calling 051-6544434 or emailing Silvia Galleti, once you know what time you expect to arrive. The observatory’s staff will do their best to meet you at the ETA, but please note that this may not always be possible, depending on scheduling and duties. On scheduled nights, barring unforeseen circumstances, a telescope operator will be at the 1.52cm building at sunset.

At the station’s altitude of 800m asl, the climate is tipical of a low mountain site, with fresh summers and cold winters, with the possibility of snow and ice on the roads. Observers should be equipped with suitable clothes. Rubber soled shoes are suggested inside the telescope building. Please read carefully the information on health and safety issues which is posted in the Observatory’s buildings.

Observations policy

Observations at the 152cm Telescope take place with the presence of a telescope operator. The astronomer takes the responsibility of managing the scientific observations. The telescope operator has the full responsibility of

  • correctly operating the telescope and the focal plane instrumentation,
  • verifying the existence of suitable weather conditions for observing.

The rules for observing, according to weather conditions, are as follows:

Condition Value Action
Wind speed (km/h) >40 Dome must be closed
Relative humidity (%) <70 Telescope can operate
>70 and <75 Operate with caution – check humidity frequently
>75 Mirror cover must be closed
>80 Dome must be closed

The weather monitoring system is visible for the observer in the Meteo web page.

Facilities

A local area network connects all the instrument computers, and a PC running Linux operates at the 152cm Telescope. Access to the internet is provided by a wifi router. Scientific software packages (IRAF, MIDAS) are available for quick looks and data reduction. The standard data export media are DVD-ROM, CD-ROM, or ftp download. Any other requirement should be presented in advance and agreed upon with Dr. G. Stirpe.

Instrument manuals

The user manual of BFOSC, the multipurpose instrument for spectroscopy and imaging, is available in English.

Please note: the old #6 and #8 grisms listed in the manual have been replaced with holographic grisms manufactured by the gOlem group at INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera. The new grisms have the following characteristics:

Grism # lines/mm R(λcen) λcen(nm) λ range (nm) (EEV) Δλ (nm/px) (EEV)
6 640 1252 440 330-560 0.18
8 910 2792 675 610-760 0.11

Efficiency curves of the new grisms: #6, #8

Use of observing time

Please acknowledge the use of the 1.52m Cassini Telescope run by INAF-OAS Astrophysics and Space Science Observatory Bologna at Loiano when publishing data obtained at the facility. We would greatly appreciate receiving an electronic copy of, or link to, any such publication (c/o G. Stirpe, see contact information below)

Contact information

Management: Giovanna Stirpe