saltshaker: Observation Planning for SALT
Welcome to the documentation for saltshaker, a specialized Python package for planning astronomical observations with the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT).
Because SALT operates with a unique fixed-altitude design (permanently pointing 37 degrees from the zenith), planning observations requires calculating complex visibility tracks based on Earth’s rotation and a physical payload tracker. saltshaker handles these calculations for you, seamlessly integrating with the broader astroplan ecosystem.
Important
Essential Usage Information:
Independent Tool:
saltshakeris a community-developed tool and is not an official product of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) or SALT.Pre-Planning Only: This package is designed for target screening, survey strategy optimization, and preliminary feasibility checks.
Mandatory PIPT Validation: All final visibility windows and observing proposals must be validated and submitted using the official SALT Phase I Proposal Tool (PIPT).
What can saltshaker do?
Visibility Windows: Calculate exactly when (UTC) a specific star or galaxy will drift into SALT’s field of view.
Track Lengths: Determine how long SALT can track a target before it hits the edge of its operational limits.
Astroplan Integration: Use SALT’s unique tracking and lunar constraints alongside standard airmass and altitude constraints in
astroplan.Semester Planning: Automatically map out visibility statistics over the entire 6-month SALT observing semesters.
Getting Started
If you are new to SALT, we highly recommend reading the Theory of SALT Visibility to understand how the telescope moves and tracks targets.
Then, head over to the Installation and Getting Started guides!