Sample RXTE Observation Schedule

Below is a sample schedule for an RXTE observation. We've added notes to interpret what the different sections mean.

[1] 1998:264:14:43:00 149006583 OBSERVATION 30103-01-06-00 START
[2]      PI: PABLO  REIG
[3]  SOURCE: EXO_2030+375
[4]  TARGET: RA=308.062988 DEC=37.638000 ROLL_BIAS=-9.2 SLEW_RATE=6.0
[5]     EDS: GOODXENON1_2S
             GOODXENON2_2S
             Null
             Standard1b
             Standard2g
             Null
[6]   HEXTE: E_8US_256_DX1F (LLDA=DEF DWELLA=DEF ROCKA=DEF)
             E_8US_256_DX1F (LLDB=DEF DWELLB=DEF ROCKB=DEF)
[7]  EVENTS: start_slew    14:43:00 (149006583)
             end_slew      14:52:00 (149007123)
             out_saa       14:52:00 (149007123)
             in_occult     15:47:00 (149010423)
             in_saa        16:10:00 (149011803)
             out_occult    16:24:00 (149012643)
             out_saa       16:28:00 (149012883)
[8] GOODTIME: 14:52:00 (149007123) to 15:47:00 (149010423)
              16:28:00 (149012883) to 17:23:00 (149016183)
[9] TOTAL_GT: 6.6 ksec
[10] 1998:264:17:23:00 149016183 OBSERVATION 30103-01-06-00 END

[1] This line gives the start time of the observation. It is first given as year:day of year:hours:minutes:seconds. This time is given in Universal Time. The second large number is the RXTE Mission Elapsed Time, which is the number of seconds since Jan 1, 1994. This is followed by an observation ID number.

[2] "PI" stands for "Principal Investigator". This is the name of the astronomer who proposed this observation. The data resulting from this observation will be his/hers for one year, and then it will be made available for anyone to look at.

[3] This is the name of the source being observed.

[4] This line gives the location of the source in Right Asencsion (RA) and Declination (DEC). It also gives the roll angle of the satellite, and the speed with which the satellite will slew to the source (usually 6 degrees per minute).

[5] These lines give the data modes used by the PCA. These data modes determine how the data will be formated when given to the PI. "Standard1b" and "Standard2g" are used on all RXTE observations for the PCA, so that there would be a uniform set of data for all the observations. In addition, the PI may choose up to 4 other data modes. "Null" means that the astronomer did not choose a data mode for that particular slot.

[6] These lines give the data modes used by the HEXTE. The PI chooses these. What is not shown are two additional modes which are run on all HEXTE observations.

[7] These lines list the various events that may occur during the observation. The times are given in UT and in RXTE Mission Elapsed Time (given in parenthesis). The events which are listed are:

start_slew

indicates the time when the previous observation ended and XTE started to move to do this observation.

end_slew

indicates the time when RXTE was pointed to this object.

in_saa and out_saa

indicate the times when RXTE enters or leaves the South Atlantic Anomaly. This is a region in the Earth's magnetic field which allows high levels of electrons and cosmic rays. The PCA and HEXTE instruments are turned off when RXTE passes through this region. Hence, no data is obtained between these times.

in_occult and out_occult

indicate the times when the target passes behind the earth or emerges from behind the Earth. The PCA and HEXTE instruments continue to collect data, but the data is not from the source.

[8] These lines summarize the times when there is good data from the source. It uses the information from the EVENTS section to give the times when the source was visible to RXTE, and when the PCA and HEXTE detectors were turned on.

[9] This line adds up the total amount of time for which there will be good data. A ksec is 1000 seconds.

[10] Finally, this line notes when the observation ends, and the satellite starts its slew to the next target.

Live from RXTE! is a project out of the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC), Dr. Nicholas E. White (Director), within the Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics (LHEA) at NASA/GSFC.

Website Text Authors: Live from RXTE! Team
Responsible NASA Official: Dr. Andy Ptak
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