Thank you for your interest in observing with the Green Bank Telescope (GBT). Information on all aspects of proposing and observing with the GBT can be found below.
Table of Contents
Vital Information
Proposing to Use the GBT
Observing with the GBT
Data Analysis
Observer Training and Education
Scientific Visitor Information
Scientific and Technical Publications
Radio Frequency Interference Mitigation
Getting Help
Vital Information
- Past Proposal calls
- Current GBT schedule
- GBT Receiver Parameters – table of receivers and frequency ranges
- Observer alerts: Important information for GBT observers
- Observer’s Helpdesk: Portal for requesting help with any aspect of using the GBT.
Proposing to Use the GBT
- GBT Proposer’s Guide: Detailed information about the planning, writing, and submitting a GBT proposal, as well as in-depth information on instruments and capabilities.
- Proposal review and time allocation process
- Proposal Submission Tool: Port for submitting all proposals for the GBT and other AUI observatories (CAS log-in required).
- The Performance of the GBT: A Guide for Planning Observations: A quick overview of the performance of the GBT.
- GBT sensitivity calculator: A tool for calculating sensitivity and observing time for all GBT proposers, including pulsar proposers (CAS log-in required).
- GBT mapping calculator: A tool for planning and making maps with the GBT.
- Past proposal calls and reports
- Good calibration practices: Best practices for calibrating GBT spectral line data.
- VLBI on the GBT: Special information for very long baseline interferometry using the GBT.
Observing With the GBT
- GBT Observer’s Guide: Detailed information and instructions on observing tools, procedures, and best practices, as well as front-end and back-end instruments and GBT scheduling.
- GBT Training Videos: Instructional videos on preparing for observations with the GBT.
- Instruments and observing modes: Information about the GBT’s instrument suite and capabilities.
- Observing policies
- GBT Dynamic Scheduling System: Portal for managing aspects of all active and past proposals, including project members, remote observing qualification, and observer and project black-out dates (DSS log-in required).
- Weather forecasts: Detailed forecasts of atmospheric opacity, wind speed, and system temperature. These forecasts are used by the DSS to efficiently schedule all GBT projects, and are of particular interest to high-frequency observers.
- Current weather: Conditions at GBT Weather Station #2.
- Receiver schedule: Planned availability of GBT front-end receivers (DSS log-in required).
- Remote observing instructions
- Observer comments: Portal for submitting comments about active and completed projects (CAS log-in required).
- Telescope operations logs (DSS log-in required)
Data Analysis
- GBTIDL: IDL suite for analysis of spectral line data.
- GBT Pipeline: Python-based routine for processing large spectral line and continuum data sets and making maps.
- CASA: Common Astronomical Software Applications (NRAO-supported tool)
- PRESTO: A third-party suite of pulsar data analysis tools.
- PSRCHIVE: Another third-party suite of pulsar data analysis tools that is particularly useful for GUPPI and VEGAS data in the PSRFITS format.
- DSPSR: Yet another third-party tool for analyzing pulsar data that is particularly useful for processing baseband voltage data.
- Data Archive: Submit a helpdesk ticket to access archival data. The Archive Access Tool (AAT) provided by NRAO is currently not working for GBT data. The AAT can be used to search for the availability of data, but cannot be used for data retrieval currently.
- Public GBO data reduction computers: Public linux machines for data processing.
Observer Training and Education
Demonstration videos
Narrated videos introducing the GBT’s control software and observing tools
Workshops
- Remote observer training workshops: Two-day workshops intended for experienced radio astronomers that need GBT-specific training and remote observer qualification.
- Single-dish radio telescope training workshop: A week-long workshop covering the basics of single-dish radio astronomy science, instrumentation, and observing. This workshop is intended for students, postdocs, and experienced astronomers who are getting started in single-dish radio astronomy or who would like a refresher.
- Workshop presentations: Lecture slides used in previous workshops.
- Essential Radio Astronomy: Online course material from Jim Condon’s and Scott Ransom’s graduate-level radio astronomy course at NRAO/UVA.
Scientific Visitor Information
- Green Bank Online Reservation System (GBORS log-in required)
- Denied Party Screening: Export-control screening required for all visitors and observers
- Observing Facilities and Policies
- Residence hall and housing
- Logistics: Contact and travel information, and cafeteria hours
- Driving directions
Scientific and Technical Publications
- Recent GBT publications
- Archived GBT publications
- GBT technical memos
- Acknowledging the use of GBT data
Radio Frequency Interference Mitigation
- RFI mitigation overview
- National Radio Quiet Zone
- West Virginia Radio Astronomy Zoning Act
- RFI scans: Current and historical data on RFI seen by the GBT.
- A table of known sources of RFI
Getting Help
- Scientific support staff
- Request a computing account
- Scientific staff helpdesk tool (internal staff tool)
