Expected observing efficiency of the Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer (MSE)

TL;DR

This paper assesses the expected observing efficiency of the Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer (MSE), analyzing historical data to optimize nightly operations and meet science-driven efficiency goals of at least 80%.

Contribution

It develops an observing efficiency budget for MSE based on historical data and proposes optimization strategies to meet the science requirements.

Findings

Estimated MSE observing efficiency based on historical data.

Identified key factors affecting nightly observing efficiency.

Proposed strategies to optimize efficiency to meet 80% goal.

Abstract

The Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer (MSE) will obtain millions of spectra each year in the optical to near-infrared, at low (R ~ 3,000) to high (R ~ 40,000) spectral resolution by observing >4,000 spectra per pointing via a highly multiplexed fiber-fed system. Key science programs for MSE include black hole reverberation mapping, stellar population analysis of faint galaxies at high redshift, and sub-km/s velocity accuracy for stellar astrophysics. One key metric of the success of MSE will be its survey speed, i.e. how many spectra of good signal-to-noise ratio will MSE be able to obtain every night and every year. This is defined at the higher level by the observing efficiency of the observatory and should be at least 80%, as indicated in the Science Requirements. In this paper we present the observing efficiency budget developed for MSE based on historical data at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and other Maunakea Observatories. We describe the typical sequence of events at night to help us compute the observing efficiency and how we envision to optimize it to meet the science requirements.