The dark energy survey and operations: Years 1 to 3

H. T. Diehl; E. Neilsen; R. Gruendl; B. Yanny; T. M.C. Abbott; J. Aleksic; S. Allam; J. Annis; E. Balbinot; M. Baumer; L. Beaufore; K. Bechtol; G. Bernstein; S. Birrer; C. Bonnett; D. Brout; C. Bruderer; E. J. Buckley-Geer; D. Capozzi; A. Carnero Rosell; F. J. Castander; R. Cawthon; C. Chang; L. Clerkin; R. Covarrubias; C. Cuhna; C. D'Andrea; L. Da Costa; R. Das; C. Davis; J. Dietrich; A. Drlica-Wagner; A. Elliott; T. F. Eifler; J. Etherington; B. L. Flaugher; J. Frieman; A. Fausti Neto; M. G. Fernández; C. Furlanetto; D. Gangkofner; D. W. Gerdes; D. A. Goldstein; K. Grabowski; R. R. Gupta; S. Hamilton; H. Head; J. Helsby; D. Hollowood; K. Honscheid; D. James; M. Johnson; M. W.G. Johnson; S. Jouvel; T. Kacprzac; S. Kent; R. Kessler; A. Kim; E. Krause; C. I. Krawiec; A. Kremin; R. Kron; S. Kuhlmann; N. Kuropatkin; O. Lahav; J. Lasker; T. S. Li; E. Luque; N. MacCrann; M. March; J. Marshall; N. P. Mondrik; E. P. Morganson; D. Mudd; A. Nadolski; P. Nugent; P. Melchior; F. Menanteau; D. Q. Nagasawa; B. Nord; R. Ogando; L. Old; A. Palmese; D. Petravick; A. A. Plazas; A. Pujol; A. B.A. Queiroz; K. Reil; A. K. Romer; R. Rosenfeld; A. Roodman; P. Rooney; M. Sako; A. I. Salvador; C. Sánchez; E. Sánchez Álvaro; B. X. Santiago; A. Schooneveld; M. Schubnell; E. Sheldon; A. Smith; R. C. Smith; M. Soares-Santos; F. Sobreira; M. Soumagnac; H. Spinka; S. S. Tie; D. Tucker; V. Vikram; K. Vivas; A. R. Walker; W. Wester; M. Wiesner; H. Wilcox; P. Williams; A. Zenteno; Y. Zhang; Z. Zhang

doi:10.1117/12.2233157

The dark energy survey and operations: Years 1 to 3

H. T. Diehl, E. Neilsen, R. Gruendl, B. Yanny, T. M.C. Abbott, J. Aleksic, S. Allam, J. Annis, E. Balbinot, M. Baumer, L. Beaufore, K. Bechtol, G. Bernstein, S. Birrer, C. Bonnett, D. Brout, C. Bruderer, E. J. Buckley-Geer, D. Capozzi, A. Carnero RosellF. J. Castander, R. Cawthon, C. Chang, L. Clerkin, R. Covarrubias, C. Cuhna, C. D'Andrea, L. Da Costa, R. Das, C. Davis, J. Dietrich, A. Drlica-Wagner, A. Elliott, T. F. Eifler, J. Etherington, B. L. Flaugher, J. Frieman, A. Fausti Neto, M. G. Fernández, C. Furlanetto, D. Gangkofner, D. W. Gerdes, D. A. Goldstein, K. Grabowski, R. R. Gupta, S. Hamilton, H. Head, J. Helsby, D. Hollowood, K. Honscheid, D. James, M. Johnson, M. W.G. Johnson, S. Jouvel, T. Kacprzac, S. Kent, R. Kessler, A. Kim, E. Krause, C. I. Krawiec, A. Kremin, R. Kron, S. Kuhlmann, N. Kuropatkin, O. Lahav, J. Lasker, T. S. Li, E. Luque, N. MacCrann, M. March, J. Marshall, N. P. Mondrik, E. P. Morganson, D. Mudd, A. Nadolski, P. Nugent, P. Melchior, F. Menanteau, D. Q. Nagasawa, B. Nord, R. Ogando, L. Old, A. Palmese, D. Petravick, A. A. Plazas, A. Pujol, A. B.A. Queiroz, K. Reil, A. K. Romer, R. Rosenfeld, A. Roodman, P. Rooney, M. Sako, A. I. Salvador, C. Sánchez, E. Sánchez Álvaro, B. X. Santiago, A. Schooneveld, M. Schubnell, E. Sheldon, A. Smith, R. C. Smith, M. Soares-Santos, F. Sobreira, M. Soumagnac, H. Spinka, S. S. Tie, D. Tucker, V. Vikram, K. Vivas, A. R. Walker, W. Wester, M. Wiesner, H. Wilcox, P. Williams, A. Zenteno, Y. Zhang, Z. Zhang

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

The Dark Energy Survey (DES) is an operating optical survey aimed at understanding the accelerating expansion of the universe using four complementary methods: weak gravitational lensing, galaxy cluster counts, baryon acoustic oscillations, and Type Ia supernovae. To perform the 5000 sq-degree wide field and 30 sq-degree supernova surveys, the DES Collaboration built the Dark Energy Camera (DECam), a 3 square-degree, 570-Megapixel CCD camera that was installed at the prime focus of the Blanco 4-meter telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO). DES has completed its third observing season out of a nominal five. This paper describes DES "Year 1" (Y1) to "Year 3" (Y3), the strategy, an outline of the survey operations procedures, the efficiency of operations and the causes of lost observing time. It provides details about the quality of the first three season's data, and describes how we are adjusting the survey strategy in the face of the El Ninõ Southern Oscillation.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Observatory Operations
Subtitle of host publication	Strategies, Processes, and Systems VI
Editors	Alison B. Peck, Robert L. Seaman, Chris R. Benn
Publisher	SPIE
ISBN (Electronic)	9781510601994
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2233157
State	Published - 2016
Event	Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems VI - Edinburgh, United Kingdom Duration: Jun 27 2016 → Jul 1 2016

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	9910
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)	1996-756X

Other

Other	Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems VI
Country	United Kingdom
City	Edinburgh
Period	6/27/16 → 7/1/16

Keywords

CTIO
Cosmology
Dark Energy Camera
Dark Energy Survey
Operations

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Condensed Matter Physics
Computer Science Applications
Applied Mathematics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Access to Document

10.1117/12.2233157

Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'The dark energy survey and operations: Years 1 to 3'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this

Diehl, H. T., Neilsen, E., Gruendl, R., Yanny, B., Abbott, T. M. C., Aleksic, J., Allam, S., Annis, J., Balbinot, E., Baumer, M., Beaufore, L., Bechtol, K., Bernstein, G., Birrer, S., Bonnett, C., Brout, D., Bruderer, C., Buckley-Geer, E. J., Capozzi, D., ... Zhang, Z. (2016). The dark energy survey and operations: Years 1 to 3. In A. B. Peck, R. L. Seaman, & C. R. Benn (Eds.), Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems VI [99101D] (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 9910). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2233157

The dark energy survey and operations : Years 1 to 3. / Diehl, H. T.; Neilsen, E.; Gruendl, R.; Yanny, B.; Abbott, T. M.C.; Aleksic, J.; Allam, S.; Annis, J.; Balbinot, E.; Baumer, M.; Beaufore, L.; Bechtol, K.; Bernstein, G.; Birrer, S.; Bonnett, C.; Brout, D.; Bruderer, C.; Buckley-Geer, E. J.; Capozzi, D.; Carnero Rosell, A.; Castander, F. J.; Cawthon, R.; Chang, C.; Clerkin, L.; Covarrubias, R.; Cuhna, C.; D'Andrea, C.; Da Costa, L.; Das, R.; Davis, C.; Dietrich, J.; Drlica-Wagner, A.; Elliott, A.; Eifler, T. F.; Etherington, J.; Flaugher, B. L.; Frieman, J.; Fausti Neto, A.; Fernández, M. G.; Furlanetto, C.; Gangkofner, D.; Gerdes, D. W.; Goldstein, D. A.; Grabowski, K.; Gupta, R. R.; Hamilton, S.; Head, H.; Helsby, J.; Hollowood, D.; Honscheid, K.; James, D.; Johnson, M.; Johnson, M. W.G.; Jouvel, S.; Kacprzac, T.; Kent, S.; Kessler, R.; Kim, A.; Krause, E.; Krawiec, C. I.; Kremin, A.; Kron, R.; Kuhlmann, S.; Kuropatkin, N.; Lahav, O.; Lasker, J.; Li, T. S.; Luque, E.; MacCrann, N.; March, M.; Marshall, J.; Mondrik, N. P.; Morganson, E. P.; Mudd, D.; Nadolski, A.; Nugent, P.; Melchior, P.; Menanteau, F.; Nagasawa, D. Q.; Nord, B.; Ogando, R.; Old, L.; Palmese, A.; Petravick, D.; Plazas, A. A.; Pujol, A.; Queiroz, A. B.A.; Reil, K.; Romer, A. K.; Rosenfeld, R.; Roodman, A.; Rooney, P.; Sako, M.; Salvador, A. I.; Sánchez, C.; Sánchez Álvaro, E.; Santiago, B. X.; Schooneveld, A.; Schubnell, M.; Sheldon, E.; Smith, A.; Smith, R. C.; Soares-Santos, M.; Sobreira, F.; Soumagnac, M.; Spinka, H.; Tie, S. S.; Tucker, D.; Vikram, V.; Vivas, K.; Walker, A. R.; Wester, W.; Wiesner, M.; Wilcox, H.; Williams, P.; Zenteno, A.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, Z.

Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems VI. ed. / Alison B. Peck; Robert L. Seaman; Chris R. Benn. SPIE, 2016. 99101D (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 9910).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Diehl, HT, Neilsen, E, Gruendl, R, Yanny, B, Abbott, TMC, Aleksic, J, Allam, S, Annis, J, Balbinot, E, Baumer, M, Beaufore, L, Bechtol, K, Bernstein, G, Birrer, S, Bonnett, C, Brout, D, Bruderer, C, Buckley-Geer, EJ, Capozzi, D, Carnero Rosell, A, Castander, FJ, Cawthon, R, Chang, C, Clerkin, L, Covarrubias, R, Cuhna, C, D'Andrea, C, Da Costa, L, Das, R, Davis, C, Dietrich, J, Drlica-Wagner, A, Elliott, A, Eifler, TF, Etherington, J, Flaugher, BL, Frieman, J, Fausti Neto, A, Fernández, MG, Furlanetto, C, Gangkofner, D, Gerdes, DW, Goldstein, DA, Grabowski, K, Gupta, RR, Hamilton, S, Head, H, Helsby, J, Hollowood, D, Honscheid, K, James, D, Johnson, M, Johnson, MWG, Jouvel, S, Kacprzac, T, Kent, S, Kessler, R, Kim, A, Krause, E, Krawiec, CI, Kremin, A, Kron, R, Kuhlmann, S, Kuropatkin, N, Lahav, O, Lasker, J, Li, TS, Luque, E, MacCrann, N, March, M, Marshall, J, Mondrik, NP, Morganson, EP, Mudd, D, Nadolski, A, Nugent, P, Melchior, P, Menanteau, F, Nagasawa, DQ, Nord, B, Ogando, R, Old, L, Palmese, A, Petravick, D, Plazas, AA, Pujol, A, Queiroz, ABA, Reil, K, Romer, AK, Rosenfeld, R, Roodman, A, Rooney, P, Sako, M, Salvador, AI, Sánchez, C, Sánchez Álvaro, E, Santiago, BX, Schooneveld, A, Schubnell, M, Sheldon, E, Smith, A, Smith, RC, Soares-Santos, M, Sobreira, F, Soumagnac, M, Spinka, H, Tie, SS, Tucker, D, Vikram, V, Vivas, K, Walker, AR, Wester, W, Wiesner, M, Wilcox, H, Williams, P, Zenteno, A, Zhang, Y & Zhang, Z 2016, The dark energy survey and operations: Years 1 to 3. in AB Peck, RL Seaman & CR Benn (eds), Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems VI., 99101D, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 9910, SPIE, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems VI, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 6/27/16. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2233157

Diehl, H. T. ; Neilsen, E. ; Gruendl, R. ; Yanny, B. ; Abbott, T. M.C. ; Aleksic, J. ; Allam, S. ; Annis, J. ; Balbinot, E. ; Baumer, M. ; Beaufore, L. ; Bechtol, K. ; Bernstein, G. ; Birrer, S. ; Bonnett, C. ; Brout, D. ; Bruderer, C. ; Buckley-Geer, E. J. ; Capozzi, D. ; Carnero Rosell, A. ; Castander, F. J. ; Cawthon, R. ; Chang, C. ; Clerkin, L. ; Covarrubias, R. ; Cuhna, C. ; D'Andrea, C. ; Da Costa, L. ; Das, R. ; Davis, C. ; Dietrich, J. ; Drlica-Wagner, A. ; Elliott, A. ; Eifler, T. F. ; Etherington, J. ; Flaugher, B. L. ; Frieman, J. ; Fausti Neto, A. ; Fernández, M. G. ; Furlanetto, C. ; Gangkofner, D. ; Gerdes, D. W. ; Goldstein, D. A. ; Grabowski, K. ; Gupta, R. R. ; Hamilton, S. ; Head, H. ; Helsby, J. ; Hollowood, D. ; Honscheid, K. ; James, D. ; Johnson, M. ; Johnson, M. W.G. ; Jouvel, S. ; Kacprzac, T. ; Kent, S. ; Kessler, R. ; Kim, A. ; Krause, E. ; Krawiec, C. I. ; Kremin, A. ; Kron, R. ; Kuhlmann, S. ; Kuropatkin, N. ; Lahav, O. ; Lasker, J. ; Li, T. S. ; Luque, E. ; MacCrann, N. ; March, M. ; Marshall, J. ; Mondrik, N. P. ; Morganson, E. P. ; Mudd, D. ; Nadolski, A. ; Nugent, P. ; Melchior, P. ; Menanteau, F. ; Nagasawa, D. Q. ; Nord, B. ; Ogando, R. ; Old, L. ; Palmese, A. ; Petravick, D. ; Plazas, A. A. ; Pujol, A. ; Queiroz, A. B.A. ; Reil, K. ; Romer, A. K. ; Rosenfeld, R. ; Roodman, A. ; Rooney, P. ; Sako, M. ; Salvador, A. I. ; Sánchez, C. ; Sánchez Álvaro, E. ; Santiago, B. X. ; Schooneveld, A. ; Schubnell, M. ; Sheldon, E. ; Smith, A. ; Smith, R. C. ; Soares-Santos, M. ; Sobreira, F. ; Soumagnac, M. ; Spinka, H. ; Tie, S. S. ; Tucker, D. ; Vikram, V. ; Vivas, K. ; Walker, A. R. ; Wester, W. ; Wiesner, M. ; Wilcox, H. ; Williams, P. ; Zenteno, A. ; Zhang, Y. ; Zhang, Z. / The dark energy survey and operations : Years 1 to 3. Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems VI. editor / Alison B. Peck ; Robert L. Seaman ; Chris R. Benn. SPIE, 2016. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering).

@inproceedings{ea082c49ccfb40e39a9e1fd088396568,

title = "The dark energy survey and operations: Years 1 to 3",

abstract = "The Dark Energy Survey (DES) is an operating optical survey aimed at understanding the accelerating expansion of the universe using four complementary methods: weak gravitational lensing, galaxy cluster counts, baryon acoustic oscillations, and Type Ia supernovae. To perform the 5000 sq-degree wide field and 30 sq-degree supernova surveys, the DES Collaboration built the Dark Energy Camera (DECam), a 3 square-degree, 570-Megapixel CCD camera that was installed at the prime focus of the Blanco 4-meter telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO). DES has completed its third observing season out of a nominal five. This paper describes DES {"}Year 1{"} (Y1) to {"}Year 3{"} (Y3), the strategy, an outline of the survey operations procedures, the efficiency of operations and the causes of lost observing time. It provides details about the quality of the first three season's data, and describes how we are adjusting the survey strategy in the face of the El Nin{\~o} Southern Oscillation.",

keywords = "CTIO, Cosmology, Dark Energy Camera, Dark Energy Survey, Operations",

author = "Diehl, {H. T.} and E. Neilsen and R. Gruendl and B. Yanny and Abbott, {T. M.C.} and J. Aleksic and S. Allam and J. Annis and E. Balbinot and M. Baumer and L. Beaufore and K. Bechtol and G. Bernstein and S. Birrer and C. Bonnett and D. Brout and C. Bruderer and Buckley-Geer, {E. J.} and D. Capozzi and {Carnero Rosell}, A. and Castander, {F. J.} and R. Cawthon and C. Chang and L. Clerkin and R. Covarrubias and C. Cuhna and C. D'Andrea and {Da Costa}, L. and R. Das and C. Davis and J. Dietrich and A. Drlica-Wagner and A. Elliott and Eifler, {T. F.} and J. Etherington and Flaugher, {B. L.} and J. Frieman and {Fausti Neto}, A. and Fern{\'a}ndez, {M. G.} and C. Furlanetto and D. Gangkofner and Gerdes, {D. W.} and Goldstein, {D. A.} and K. Grabowski and Gupta, {R. R.} and S. Hamilton and H. Head and J. Helsby and D. Hollowood and K. Honscheid and D. James and M. Johnson and Johnson, {M. W.G.} and S. Jouvel and T. Kacprzac and S. Kent and R. Kessler and A. Kim and E. Krause and Krawiec, {C. I.} and A. Kremin and R. Kron and S. Kuhlmann and N. Kuropatkin and O. Lahav and J. Lasker and Li, {T. S.} and E. Luque and N. MacCrann and M. March and J. Marshall and Mondrik, {N. P.} and Morganson, {E. P.} and D. Mudd and A. Nadolski and P. Nugent and P. Melchior and F. Menanteau and Nagasawa, {D. Q.} and B. Nord and R. Ogando and L. Old and A. Palmese and D. Petravick and Plazas, {A. A.} and A. Pujol and Queiroz, {A. B.A.} and K. Reil and Romer, {A. K.} and R. Rosenfeld and A. Roodman and P. Rooney and M. Sako and Salvador, {A. I.} and C. S{\'a}nchez and {S{\'a}nchez {\'A}lvaro}, E. and Santiago, {B. X.} and A. Schooneveld and M. Schubnell and E. Sheldon and A. Smith and Smith, {R. C.} and M. Soares-Santos and F. Sobreira and M. Soumagnac and H. Spinka and Tie, {S. S.} and D. Tucker and V. Vikram and K. Vivas and Walker, {A. R.} and W. Wester and M. Wiesner and H. Wilcox and P. Williams and A. Zenteno and Y. Zhang and Z. Zhang",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 SPIE. Copyright: Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.; Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems VI ; Conference date: 27-06-2016 Through 01-07-2016",

year = "2016",

doi = "10.1117/12.2233157",

language = "English (US)",

series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

publisher = "SPIE",

editor = "Peck, {Alison B.} and Seaman, {Robert L.} and Benn, {Chris R.}",

booktitle = "Observatory Operations",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - The dark energy survey and operations

T2 - Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems VI

AU - Diehl, H. T.

AU - Neilsen, E.

AU - Gruendl, R.

AU - Yanny, B.

AU - Abbott, T. M.C.

AU - Aleksic, J.

AU - Allam, S.

AU - Annis, J.

AU - Balbinot, E.

AU - Baumer, M.

AU - Beaufore, L.

AU - Bechtol, K.

AU - Bernstein, G.

AU - Birrer, S.

AU - Bonnett, C.

AU - Brout, D.

AU - Bruderer, C.

AU - Buckley-Geer, E. J.

AU - Capozzi, D.

AU - Carnero Rosell, A.

AU - Castander, F. J.

AU - Cawthon, R.

AU - Chang, C.

AU - Clerkin, L.

AU - Covarrubias, R.

AU - Cuhna, C.

AU - D'Andrea, C.

AU - Da Costa, L.

AU - Das, R.

AU - Davis, C.

AU - Dietrich, J.

AU - Drlica-Wagner, A.

AU - Elliott, A.

AU - Eifler, T. F.

AU - Etherington, J.

AU - Flaugher, B. L.

AU - Frieman, J.

AU - Fausti Neto, A.

AU - Fernández, M. G.

AU - Furlanetto, C.

AU - Gangkofner, D.

AU - Gerdes, D. W.

AU - Goldstein, D. A.

AU - Grabowski, K.

AU - Gupta, R. R.

AU - Hamilton, S.

AU - Head, H.

AU - Helsby, J.

AU - Hollowood, D.

AU - Honscheid, K.

AU - James, D.

AU - Johnson, M.

AU - Johnson, M. W.G.

AU - Jouvel, S.

AU - Kacprzac, T.

AU - Kent, S.

AU - Kessler, R.

AU - Kim, A.

AU - Krause, E.

AU - Krawiec, C. I.

AU - Kremin, A.

AU - Kron, R.

AU - Kuhlmann, S.

AU - Kuropatkin, N.

AU - Lahav, O.

AU - Lasker, J.

AU - Li, T. S.

AU - Luque, E.

AU - MacCrann, N.

AU - March, M.

AU - Marshall, J.

AU - Mondrik, N. P.

AU - Morganson, E. P.

AU - Mudd, D.

AU - Nadolski, A.

AU - Nugent, P.

AU - Melchior, P.

AU - Menanteau, F.

AU - Nagasawa, D. Q.

AU - Nord, B.

AU - Ogando, R.

AU - Old, L.

AU - Palmese, A.

AU - Petravick, D.

AU - Plazas, A. A.

AU - Pujol, A.

AU - Queiroz, A. B.A.

AU - Reil, K.

AU - Romer, A. K.

AU - Rosenfeld, R.

AU - Roodman, A.

AU - Rooney, P.

AU - Sako, M.

AU - Salvador, A. I.

AU - Sánchez, C.

AU - Sánchez Álvaro, E.

AU - Santiago, B. X.

AU - Schooneveld, A.

AU - Schubnell, M.

AU - Sheldon, E.

AU - Smith, A.

AU - Smith, R. C.

AU - Soares-Santos, M.

AU - Sobreira, F.

AU - Soumagnac, M.

AU - Spinka, H.

AU - Tie, S. S.

AU - Tucker, D.

AU - Vikram, V.

AU - Vivas, K.

AU - Walker, A. R.

AU - Wester, W.

AU - Wiesner, M.

AU - Wilcox, H.

AU - Williams, P.

AU - Zenteno, A.

AU - Zhang, Y.

AU - Zhang, Z.

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - The Dark Energy Survey (DES) is an operating optical survey aimed at understanding the accelerating expansion of the universe using four complementary methods: weak gravitational lensing, galaxy cluster counts, baryon acoustic oscillations, and Type Ia supernovae. To perform the 5000 sq-degree wide field and 30 sq-degree supernova surveys, the DES Collaboration built the Dark Energy Camera (DECam), a 3 square-degree, 570-Megapixel CCD camera that was installed at the prime focus of the Blanco 4-meter telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO). DES has completed its third observing season out of a nominal five. This paper describes DES "Year 1" (Y1) to "Year 3" (Y3), the strategy, an outline of the survey operations procedures, the efficiency of operations and the causes of lost observing time. It provides details about the quality of the first three season's data, and describes how we are adjusting the survey strategy in the face of the El Ninõ Southern Oscillation.

AB - The Dark Energy Survey (DES) is an operating optical survey aimed at understanding the accelerating expansion of the universe using four complementary methods: weak gravitational lensing, galaxy cluster counts, baryon acoustic oscillations, and Type Ia supernovae. To perform the 5000 sq-degree wide field and 30 sq-degree supernova surveys, the DES Collaboration built the Dark Energy Camera (DECam), a 3 square-degree, 570-Megapixel CCD camera that was installed at the prime focus of the Blanco 4-meter telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO). DES has completed its third observing season out of a nominal five. This paper describes DES "Year 1" (Y1) to "Year 3" (Y3), the strategy, an outline of the survey operations procedures, the efficiency of operations and the causes of lost observing time. It provides details about the quality of the first three season's data, and describes how we are adjusting the survey strategy in the face of the El Ninõ Southern Oscillation.

KW - CTIO

KW - Cosmology

KW - Dark Energy Camera

KW - Dark Energy Survey

KW - Operations

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84992646970&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84992646970&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1117/12.2233157

DO - 10.1117/12.2233157

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:84992646970

T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

BT - Observatory Operations

A2 - Peck, Alison B.

A2 - Seaman, Robert L.

A2 - Benn, Chris R.

PB - SPIE

Y2 - 27 June 2016 through 1 July 2016

ER -