Simulators and other Tools

These mostly Java programs are made available by the instrument PIs and the SALT team to aid astronomers in the planning of their proposals.

Installation

Unless noted otherwise, the applications require Java 10 or higher to be installed on your machine. You can check whether this is the case by executing the following command in a terminal.

java -version

Note that (as is usual for Java) the -version option has a single dash only. If Java is not installed, you can download a free version from Azul.

Download the application. This will be a jar file, and you can launch by running

java -jar /path/to/downloaded-app.jar

in a terminal – but just double-clicking the file might work as well.

What if the application does not launch?

If the application cannot be launched by double-clicking it, try to launch it from the terminal with the command given above. Please send any error output you get to salthelp@salt.ac.za.

Important notes for macOS users

macOS may warn you that the application cannot be opened as it is untrusted. The solution is to right-click on the file icon and choose Open from the menu. macOS asks you whether you really want to open the application, and you should confirm this. You should only have to do this once; double-clicking the file icon should work afterwards.

Another macOS gotcha is that files and directories might not shown in a file open or save dialog in the application. This is caused by the security settings, and you might have to give java or the JarLauncher app access to all files and folders in the privacy and security settings.

Visibility Calculator

Check nightly and seasonal visibility of targets.

• All operating systems

PIPT

The proposal and observation preparation tool.

• All operating systems

HRS Simulator

Calculate signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios and other info.

• All operating systems

RSS Simulator

Calculate signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios and other info.

• All operating systems

SALTICAM Simulator

Calculate signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios and other info.

• All operating systems

NIRWALS Simulator

The NIRWALS Simulator is an online tool, which you can access at https://simulator.salt.ac.za/.

PySlitMask

Prepare MOS masks using the new SALT mask preparation program.

The PySlitMask tool is part of the PySALT package. More instructions on the use of the PySlitMask tool can be found on the SALT science wiki.

RSMT

Prepare MOS masks using the original SALT mask preparation program.

Please see the RSMT page for additional installation instructions.

• Microsoft Windows (Java 10)

• Mac OS X (Java 10)

• All operating systems

Finder Chart Tool

We strongly recommend all users to make use of the Finder Chart Tool, a web interface to easily make clear finder charts.

Note that the tool is actually automatically available from within the PIPT, by merely pressing the “Generate Finding Chart” button at the Acquisition panel of a Block.

If you cannot easily see your target(s), please provide additional finder charts that adhere to the Finder Chart Guidelines.