Parkes observations for project P957 semester 2017OCTS_BPSR_02

Pulse times of arrival are the key to any pulsar timing experiment, but the inferences we make depend critically on removing the effects of the interstellar medium. High-precision pulsar timing is reaching the limits of our ISM models and residuals effects may limit future goals, like the detection of gravitational waves. NICER, the newly-installed X-ray observatory on the International Space Station, provides the first opportunity to perform high-precision timing with X-rays, free from ISM effects. Radio telescopes still offer much greater precision, but NICER will allow us to carefully analyze ISM effects on a few pulsars. NICER will make weekly observations of PSR J1824-2452A, and we propose a high-cadence Parkes campaign to obtain contemporaneous radio TOAs. Since we know the "answer" from X-rays, we'll be able to test our ISM models and apply the results to all pulsar timing efforts.