SOAR Visiting Astronomers Guide

Rev 1.2: March 2008

Introduction
This brief guide describes logistical arrangements for Visiting Astronomers scheduled to observe at the SOAR Telescope.  Any questions, and booking requests should be addressed to your Visit Coordinator:

• NOAO & Chilean visitors:  Ximena  Herreros  (xherreros@ctio.noao.edu),

Tel +56-51-205215, Fax +56-51-205212

• All others:  Marcela Urquieta (murquieta@ctio.noao.edu), Tel +56-51-205323, Fax +56-51-205368

The SOAR Telescope is located on Cerro Pachón at an altitude of 2738m,  some 400m from the Gemini South telescope, and 12km, as the Condor flies, from Cerro Tololo.  The map below shows the locations of SOAR, Gemini-South, and the dining and dormitory facilities on Cerro Pachón.
 

Transportation To/From Cerro Pachón

The scheduled Monday to Friday carry-all now also provides connecting service to/from Cerro Pachón,  however, this must be requested in advance through your visit coordinator.

Passengers traveling from La Serena to Pachón should board the Tololo bound carry-all at reception; it will take them to the fork in the road known as “El Quisco”, where another vehicle will be waiting to take them to the Pachón  dining room.  There is a sign up sheet for the carry all in reception. It would be a smart move to check your name appears on this as traveling to Pachón; it is  a long walk (~14km) from El Quisco,  and the Condors are ravenously hungry. 

Passengers traveling from Pachón to La Serena should board the special vehicle at the Pachón dinning room; this will transport them to “El Quisco” where they will be picked up by La Serena bound carry-all. There is a sign up sheet for the carry all in the entrance hall to the dinning room. Again it would be wise to check your outgoing reservations. 

The current schedule is, Monday to Friday, only

o        Departing from La Serena Reception at 12:00, arriving at Pachón  around 13:30

o        Departing from Pachón dinning room at 14:40 arriving in La Serena around 16:10

There is no scheduled service on Saturdays or Sundays, however visiting astronomers may request special transport on weekends  (or exceptionally on weekdays when the scheduled carry all does not connect to their flights) through their Visit Coordinator.  The journey time is approximately 90m.

Getting Around on Cerro Pachón

A rental car (Toyota Tercel automatic transmission) is available to be used by the scheduled observer(s) exclusively for travel between the telescope area and the dormitory, which are separated by approximately 3km.  It should under no circumstances be used to drive to Cerro Tololo or other locations beyond the turn-off to the dormitory.

The rental car can be picked up from the Pachón dinning facility at the start of your run.  The Chief Cook on duty (N. Jeraldo or S. Aguirre) will fill out the registration form and provide you with the keys, along with a flashlight and Parka.  The vehicle should be returned to the same location at the end of your run, where the duty Cook will verify that the car and other items have been returned in good condition.

Users are asked to drive with appropriate care, especially after dark:  The road is steep with several sharp bends, and only part is paved;  stray goats, horses/mules, and cows, not to mention other astronomers, are a common hazard.   It is especially noted that, after snowfall, or when wet, the road, including the paved section, becomes very slippery, and the rental vehicle must not be used under such conditions.  Under these circumstances visitors should arrange to ride to/from the telescope with the telescope operators.

Please use low lights when driving at night on the section of road between SOAR and the end of the pavement closest to the dormitory in order to avoid interfering with observations.

Dining on Cerro Pachón

Your Visit Coordinator will issue you with a swipe card for purchasing meals at the Pachón Dinning Facility. Pass the card through the machine in the entrance hall, then hand the paper printed by the machine to the cook; you will only be billed for the meals you actually eat.  Current Meal times are:  

 Should you require vegetarian meals or a special diet, please notify your Visit Coordinator beforehand so that the Kitchen can make the appropriate arrangements.

Accommodation on Cerro Pachón

SOAR night staff and visiting astronomers sleep in a motel on Cerro Pachón (referred to as the 20 Units Dorm for historical reasons).

The motel actually has 12 rooms, but pairs of rooms share a bathroom. As far as space allows only one half of each pair will be used, however, you should be aware of the possibility that the other room may be in use at times of peak demand. Bedrooms and bathrooms are cleaned on a daily basis; every fourth day a thorough cleaning is carried out and bed and bath linen is changed.

There is also a small common room equipped with a TV set and equipment for making tea and coffee, and a Laundry room.  When using these facilities please recall that others, on a different work schedule may be sleeping. 

There is no internet connection nor telephone at the motel. However, there is a radio for emergency use;  tune to channel #1 which is routinely monitored by the Paramedic on duty monitored by staff on duty on Pachón, Tololo and at Gate Control.

Emergency Services

Pachón Paramedics:

• Mauricio Contreras mcontreras@gemini.edu, Tel 205722

• Nelson Cortes ncortes@gemini.edu, Tel 205722

Charges & Payment Procedure

Prior to the start of your observing run, you will be given a Credit Card Authorization  Form.  This should be completed and sent by Fax or delivered personally to your Visit Coordinator:

• NOAO & Chilean visitors:  Ximena  Herreros  (xherreros@ctio.noao.edu), Tel +56-51-205215, Fax +56-51-205212)

• All others:  Marcela Urquieta (murquieta@ctio.noao.edu), Tel +56-51-205323, Fax +56-51-205368)

The completion and return of this Credit Card Authorization form grants AURA Accounting (AOSS) the right to charge the card indicated by the visitor with the invoice for the services confirmed and subject to a subsequent e-mail confirmation from the visitor of the specific amount being approved to charge the credit card.

AOSS will generate and e-mail you an invoice for the services you consume while staying at Pachón in Chile, within 5 days of your departure.

The current rates for the various services are as follows:

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Key Telephone Numbers

SOAR/CTIO Staff

Useful Phone Numbers on Cerro Pachon

 CTIO & Gemini