Scheduling Tools for Astronomical Observations

A key challenge for the new generation of 8m class facilities will be ensuring that the best observing conditions are fully exploited to carry out unique science | science that can only be accomplished when these conditions obtain. Flexible scheduling is one approach to this problem: by scheduling a mix of observations from a pool of available observing programs, it is possible to select best matches to changing conditions. In many ways, this mode of observing is similar to that used for satellite observatories (except that hands-on intervention on the ground is much easier!) Among the issues to be dealt with in exible scheduling are those of appropriate approaches and tools. This paper discusses some of the options for portable scheduling tools and the use of scheduling technology in observatory operations. Such use is not limited to schedule generation, but can also fruitfully encompass feasibility and tradeo studies of di erent observing strategies, and simulations of operations under various conditions. To facilitate communication and interaction among observatories involved in advancing scheduling technology, it would be of wide bene t to adopt a common \scheduling data interchange format" for transferring scheduling information from one site/system to another, and that benchmark problem sets be de ned and published for testing and evaluating di erent approaches.