SOAR Visiting Astronomers Guide

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:
 

 

 
The SOAR Telescope is located on Cerro Pachon at an altitude of 2,738m, some 400m from the Gemini South telescope, and 12Km from Cerro Tololo.  The map below shows the locations of SOAR, Gemini-South, and the dining and dormitory facilities on Cerro Pachon.
 

 

 

 
GETTING AROUND ON CERRO PACHON
 
Arrival
 
Passengers arriving via the AURA Carryall will be dropped off at the Pachon Hotel.  Keys to the rooms are identified with the name of the user and hung on a rack in the Central Hall of each building.
 
Rental Car
 
A rental car (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 3 Km. 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 Pachon dining facility at the start of your run. The Chief Cook on duty will fill out the registration form and provide you with the keys, along with a flashlight. 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.  If the telescope operators cannot be reached, contact the SOAR console room (x500) to arrange a ride to/from the telescope. 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.
 
Accommodations
 
Visiting astronomers will be assigned a room either at the Hotel or the Motel (referred to as the 20 Units Dorm for historical reasons), depending on availability at the time of booking.
 
The Hotel has 10 rooms, 2 rooms are used by SOAR night staff and the other 8 are available for NOAO, SOAR, Gemini visitors, or staff. Each room has internet via cable with own bathroom and a telephone. It has a common room equipped with a TV set, Internet, coffee and tea making equipment. The Laundry room that serves both buildings is in the 20 Units building. When using these facilities please recall that others, on a different work schedule may be sleeping.

 
The  Motel  or  20  Units  Dorm  actually  has  12  rooms,  where  each  pair  shares  a bathroom. As far as space allows only one half of each pair will be used, however, you should be aware of the possibility of sharing the bathroom in times of peak demand.
 
Only the common room has a TV set and telephone, there is no internet connection at this place.
 
Bedrooms and bathrooms at the hotel and motel are cleaned on a daily basis; every fourth day a thorough cleaning is carried out and bed and bath linen is changed.

"Room emergencies" will be handled by the following persons:

Monday through Friday from noon to 23:00
A janitor is available; he can be reached over the radio.
 
Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 16:30:
Marco Nuñez (x440); Patricia Valencia (x280) and Oscar Núñez (x383)
 
Off Hours:
Oscar Núñez (9-09-76015816)

 
Dining on Cerro Pachon
 
Your Visit Coordinator will provide you with a swipe card for getting meals at the Pachon Dining Facility. Pass the card through the machine in the entrance hall, and then hand the printed slip to the cook; you will only be billed for the meals you actually partake.
 
Meal Schedule

Breakfast      08:00 to 08:30

Lunch           13:00 to 14:00

Dinner          17:00 to 18:30

Night Lunch  -To get your night lunch you must fill out an order form at lunchtime and hand it to kitchen staff before 2pm. Your pack with a thermos and sandwiches will be ready at dinner time. The night lunch forms are available in the dining-room.
 
Special Dietary concerns and precautions
 
Should you require vegetarian meals or a special diet at Cerro Pachon, please notify your Visit Coordinator in advance so that the Kitchen can make the appropriate arrangements. While in Chile it is recommended that you eat only peeled or cooked fruits and vegetables. Seafood should only be consumed cooked.