ESO's new generation of Exposure Time Calculators

TL;DR

ESO has developed a modern, Python and Angular-based Exposure Time Calculator (ETC) 2.0 for its telescopes, enhancing proposal preparation, observation planning, and instrument integration across multiple facilities.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new ETC 2.0 framework for ESO's telescopes, featuring a Python backend, Angular frontend, programmatic interface, and integration with instrument packages.

Findings

Implemented for all new Paranal and La Silla instruments

Supports future instrument integration and workflow optimization

Upgraded frontend with NgRx/Store technology

Abstract

Users of astronomical observatories rely on Exposure Time Calculators (ETC) to prepare their proposals and then their observations. The ETC is therefore a crucial element in an observatory's data workflow and in particular is key to optimise the use of telescope times. This is also true for the La Silla Paranal Observatory and ESO has therefore embarked in a project to modernise its ETC, based on a python back-end and an Angular-based front-end, while also providing a programmatic interface. This ETC 2.0 has now been implemented for all the new Paranal and La Silla instruments (CRIRES, ERIS, HARPS/NIRPS, and 4MOST) and work is ongoing to implement it for MOONS. All the current ESO La Silla and Paranal instruments will also be migrated progressively, and the first one has been FORS2. The new ETC2 is based on the Instrument Packages, which should allow in the future a smooth interaction with the Phase 1 and Phase 2 observation preparation tools. Moreover, the ETC 2.0 framework has recently been upgraded and makes now use of the NgRx/Store technology in the front-end.