The week included a mix of information sessions, providing the SST members an opportunity to make input on the Early Science preparation, and practical sessions using real data with ASKAPsoft on the Galaxy supercomputer at the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre in Perth.
Topics included:
Reports on the status of the telescope and current capabilities of the ASKAP software.
Processing requirements for early science observations.
Opportunities to provide input on observing strategy and data processing.
Key to the ASKAP Early Science Program is consideration of how to produce the most scientific impact from observations with ASKAP-12, a telescope comprised of twelve ASKAP antennas installed with the new Mk II PAF receivers. ASKAP-12 is currently being commissioned on site at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory.
Like the science produced from BETA before it, commissioning data produced with ASKAP-12 will focus on demonstrating ASKAP's unique capabilities while being used to prepare for the fit-out of the full telescope.