Observing process cont.
Once field configuration has been tested the output configuration (.sds file) is input to the robot configure software
Configuration typically takes an hour for a full 150 fibre field
If possible first 2 fields will have been prepared earlier in the afternoon with the first ready to go before the end of astronomical twilight
Availability of two field plates enables one to be configured whilst the other is being observed
20-30 minutes are needed to mount each fibred 6dF field plate in the telescope, take dome flat-fields and arc frames and for acquiring the field on the sky.
Acquire both 600V (1 hr) and 316R (0.5hr) observations for each field
5 fields per night have been achieved during the winter lunations and 3 are possible in the summer lunations