Instructions for Visiting Astronomers

The offered instrument modes and configuration are exactly the same in service and visitor mode. In both cases it is necessary to:

have read the User Manual

have checked the instrument news

have defined and observing strategy and decided (or have at least a rough idea about) which templates to use

know how to use p2pp and prepare the observing block (OB)

have reasonably estimated the needed instrument "shutter time" (through the XSHOOTER ETC) and the telescope time (i.e. inclusive of overheads)

In addition, the visitor should prepare (preferably not at the last minute when already at the observatory) a back up program in case the main one is not feasible for some reasons (e.g. strong wind might forbid pointing of the telescope in a given direction).
Backup targets, as well as additional targets and change of targets should be requested following these instructions.

More general information about VM runs can be found here.

Instrument related questions before the VM run should be addressed to xshooter at eso.org. However, any VM run normally includes 2 additional days at the observatory, during which the observing program and strategy can be discussed in advance and finalized together with the support astronomers.