WFI: (since 2016) the chips #2, #5, and #6 (bottom row, 1st & 2nd from left; top row: 2nd from left) are currently unusable, for their flux level varies randomly by a large factor and #6 may start reading out before the end of an exposure. Pointing pixel differs from what the ESO WFI manual says in order to avoid the dead chip.
Image quality: (since 2018) ongoing problem with the primary mirror. A bit of coma can be observed after power outages during one night or two because M1 doesn't lift properly into position.
Instructions for visiting astronomers
All observers
Support
There is no formal meeting with the support astronomer or previous visitor, but (s)he can be found in the control room in the afternoon or at night.
Operational support is from 2pm to 2am during a significant number of nights when an MPIA/MPE observer is present.
ESO provides day-time support for software and hardware.
Logistics
Visitors at the 2.2m should follow the rules for ESO visiting astronomers, in particular they must arrange their stay using the Travel Form.
The telescope is operated from the ESO control room. It is located in the wide building just below the main one.
The QSO monitoring programme will be observed every night it is possible for
about 1.5 hours in Summer and 2 hours in Winter. MPIA/MPE observers should follow the instructions below:
The GROND team at MPE has the right to interrupt non-time-critical MPIA observations for the immediate observation and follow-up of Targets of Opportunity (transients). They have the right to 15% of night time and 15% of twilight during a semester. The fraction of time they may use on shorter time scales is defined in the Procedure to implement GROND ToO interrupts during MPIA time.
Director's Discretionary Time programmes can also override the visitor's time.
The visitor shall observe up to 1.5 hours (Summer) and 2 hours (Winter) for the QSO monitoring
programme
If possible, the visitor is compensated later for GROND or DDT (not QSO) in the run in service mode.
Observing plan and service observations
The observing schedule should be followed. The placement of blocks is indicative and may be shuffled because of weather/technical downtime, interruptions by the GROND MPE team, or Director's Discretionary Time. The DDT and ToO blocks act as buffers to take into account these losses.
Visitors are expected to carry out service observations for other MPIA programs by order of priority: DDT, rank A, and rank B.
Opticon observers
Interruptions of the visitor's programme
GROND may interrupt to observer target of opportunity and time is compensated for in service mode later on.