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LAMOST pilot survey has begun

After analyzing the observed data, the scientific committee of LAMOST telescope decided to use slit with 2/3 fixed width for LAMOST survey (hereafter, 2/3slit). LAMOST technicians have measured the spectra resolution for different spectrograph and optical fibers under the condition of 1/2 slit , 2/3 slit and full open slit. Using 2/3 slit, we can not only improve the efficiency, but also can combine the scientific goals of two working group, which can also improve the usage efficiency of the telescope. In the summer of 2011, LAMOST technicians have updated the spectrograph slit. After carefully designing and installing, by the end of August, the installation and test of fixed slit on 16 spectrographs have been finished. The length of 2/3 slit is 144mm, width is 0.22 mm. The technicians have made checking and modification with many times to guarantee straightness of slit to be better than 5um. Many works have been done to guarantee that each fiber can point to the middle region of slit. (the figure is the 2/3 slit) After analyzing the observed data, the scientific committee of LAMOST telescope decided to use slit with 2/3 fixed width for LAMOST survey (hereafter, 2/3slit). LAMOST technicians have measured the spectra resolution for different spectrograph and optical fibers under the condition of 1/2 slit , 2/3 slit and full open slit. Using 2/3 slit, we can not only improve the efficiency, but also can combine the scientific goals of two working group, which can also improve the usage efficiency of the telescope. In the summer of 2011, LAMOST technicians have updated the spectrograph slit. After carefully designing and installing, by the end of August, the installation and test of fixed slit on 16 spectrographs have been finished. The length of 2/3 slit is 144mm, width is 0.22 mm. The technicians have made checking and modification with many times to guarantee straightness of slit to be better than 5um. Many works have been done to guarantee that each fiber can point to the middle region of slit. (the figure is the 2/3 slit) According to the requirement of LAMOST scientific committee, the data of LAMOST should be released after one month of observation. At 24th December 2011, the survey and data departments with help of information center of NAOC released the data observed at 24th October 2011. By the end of 2011, 230,000 spectra distributed in 117 sky area have been released. The distributed system are mounted on the internet cooperative work platform, which have been open for accessing (http://lamost.escience.cn/dct/page). People who are interesting in the spectra can apply to get permission for downloading and using the distributed data. Detailed registering, please refer to web page. After one month preparation, the survey and data department have checked all the spectra by eye, and compared it with 1D PIPELINE. Then the parameters, final_class, final_subclass, and final_z etc, have been released. figure1 is the Examples of observed sky area,figure 2 is the data retrieval result and spectrum. After analyzing the astrophysical front, the scientific committee of LAMOST telescope has determined the task of the first stage of spectra survey – the survey area and scientific object for the pilot survey. The reasonable observing plan have been designed with the help of scientists in the Center for Operation and Development of LAMOST Telescope. The software system of LAMOST have been tested and evaluated for many times. Especially, the meeting of international evaluation for LAMOST software was hold successfully in December 2010. The experts draw the consensus conclusion that software of LAMOST can fulfill the requirement of spectra survey based on the observing plan, observing control, data reduce. On hardware, the optical fiber positioning has made breakthrough progress that among 4000 fibers the accuracy of 90% fibers is better than 1 arc-second. After finely tuned, the stability of spectrograph has been improved. The overall efficiency of spectrographs have been improved aftercoating. According to the requirement of scientific survey, the new installed 2/3 slit is used to improve resolution. The optical efficiency is guaranteed after coating all the sub-mirrors of MA. The Center for Operation and Development of LAMOST Telescope have improved the organization, regulated the operation of telescope and rules. LAMOST get ready for massive survey. The pilot survey formally began at 23rd October, 2011.