Directions for Roof Captain

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute the observing on the roof.
• Pick out the target objects and assign them to the Roof Volunteers.
• Be in contact with the Lecture Captain and Wildcard before and during the event to coordinate planning.
• Help to set up all three of the telescopes being used.
• Close down the roof at the end of the two hours.
• Answer attendee questions on astronomy, physics and science.
• Positively represent the University, the Department, and our profession.

Instructions

The Day Prior to the Lecture (or earlier)

• Plan what targets will be observed. Use the observational resources and Handy Facts pages for ideas. Is there a target that ties into the lecture topic? Keep in mind which telescope can see what part of the sky.
• Determine who is going to fill what roles on the roof. There are five roles:
  • Operate the 12" Dob on the Roof.
  • Operate the Little Dome telescope.
  • Operate the Big Dome telescope.
  • Assist the Big Dome telescope operator by guiding people around the Big Dome and answering questions.
  • Greet people who arrive on the roof, answer questions and direct them to the three telescopes. Use tally counter to count how many visitors we have on the roof.
• Look at the weather forecast. Make a backup plan in case the weather turns sour. If the weather is bad, you and possibly another volunteer should still give telescope tours.
• If it's winter, did it snow since the last time the roof was used? If so, you should check to see that the domes are rotated so that the snow melts off of them (at least one day ahead of time), and that the roof is shoveled and salted. This is a task that absolutely cannot be left to the last minute owing to the time needed to get snow and ice to melt.
• Contact your Roof Volunteers. Give them their assignments and remind them that they are expected to be at the observatory 30 minutes beforehand to setup the telescopes.
• Contact the Lecture Captain for the event night. Exchange phone numbers so that he/she can text message you 30 minutes after the lecture has begun with a weather update.
• Contact the Wildcard for the event night. What are they planning on doing? Observing in front of Pupin? If so, you should know what they'll be targeting and what telescope they're taking.
• Check to make sure the batteries in the Telrads are charged. If not, charge them.

Thirty Minutes before Lecture

• Get the roof key (and tally counter) and open the roof to the Roof Volunteers (but close it afterwards or you might get random people showing up).
• Sign in as "Roof Captain" for the night.
• Help your volunteers set up their telescopes.
• After the volunteers have set up their scopes, they are free to go watch the lecture if they want.
• You should remain on the roof to be ready for visitors and to report on changes in the weather.

Thirty Minutes after Lecture begins (NOT when the lecture ends)

• The volunteers should return to be ready for people coming to the roof for observing. Some visitors skip the lecture and will start showing up for viewing at the time 30 minutes after the lecture begins.
• Text message the Lecture Captain what the weather conditions are and if you're going to observe.
• Lately, we have had lecture or roof volunteers lead an initial group of visitors from the lecture hall up to the roof (often the families with children). This has the added benefit of discouraging everyone from mobbing the roof all at once. The volunteer should take the group up the elevators to the 13th floor, point out where the 3D wall is happening (if that's where the wildcard is set-up), and explain how to get to the observatory. This helps prevent the visitors from getting lost and encourages them to experience more than they might otherwise.
• Have enough trained people (at minimum three) ready for the arrival of the public before opening the doors. Avoid having the public on the roof trying to operate the telescopes themselves.

Two Hours after Lecture

• Thank the visitors for coming and announce that the event is over.
• You and your volunteers should shutdown the telescopes.
• You and your volunteers should make sure all Telrads are off, eyepieces put away, lens caps on, etc.
• You should make sure everyone is off of the roof before you lock it up. This includes the south-facing side.
• Sign out as Roof Captain for the night in the transit room. Note any problems you may have encountered.
• Meet up with the Lecture Captain to discuss how things went, how many people attended, etc, so that he/she can include details about the roof in his/her writeup.