Each Observer and Observer Group can be given certain privileges that provide access to the observatory's capabilities which are greater than available to the default observer.
An observer's privileges are result from the sum of their own privileges and that of the observer group in which they are assigned. The combined privilege value is the sum of all the individual privilege values given below, which each have a unique binary bit set.
Privilege Name |
Value |
Description |
No Authorization |
0 |
The observer has no privileges. This has the same effect as the observer not being in the “observers” database at all. It can be used when an observer has completed observations, but are no longer allowed to use the observatory for new requests. |
Pending |
1024 |
The observer has access to communicate with and use the observatory with "Basic" privileges - see below, however observations can be queued but will not run. It is the default setting when a new observer requests authorization. |
Basic |
1 |
The observer has access to communicate with and use the observatory with basic privileges. In particular, up to 3 observations can be submitted to the Observation Request queue at a time and a maximum exposure time of 5 minutes. |
Larger Queue Limit |
2 |
The observer can have up to 15 pending requests in the Observation Request queue (instead of the basic limit of 3). |
Longer Exposures |
4 |
Exposure times, per filter, can be up to 15 minutes in a given filter (instead of the basic limit of 5 minutes). |
Add Objects to Database |
64 |
The observer can use the #addobject command to add new objects to the observatory’s object database. |
Repeated Observations |
32 |
The observer can use the ‘repeat=yes’ option of the #request command. This allows a successfully-completed observation request to be automatically re-requested to the Observation Request queue. |
Special Observations |
128 |
The observer can use the ‘special=’ option of the #request command to make observation requests in more than one filter and/or have finer control over the individual exposures that combine to make an observation. |
Observation Priority |
8 |
The observer can use the “priority=” option of the #request command to alter the priority of the request higher or lower than the default. |
Time Series Observations |
256 |
The observer can use the “special=” option of the #request command to make time-series observations of an object (eg. for variable stars, exo-planets, etc.). |
Live In Person |
512 |
The observer can use advanced commands to manage the observatory’s operations or operate the telescope during live operations. It is restricted to observatory staff who need it. |
Live Observing |
2048 |
The observer can request a live observation session. |
Live Interrupt | 4096 | The observer can interrupt a queued observation and enter live observing mode (not available yet). |
Spectroscopy | 8192 | The observer can use the spectrograph during a live observation session. |
Super User |
16 |
Observers with this privilege are granted all other privileges above. It is restricted to the observatory’s director and other staff who need it. |