The AGES drift precursor scans 5 strips of sky, numbered 1 to 5 from north to south. These are divided into 'A' scans and the interleave 'B' scans, which are offset by half of the declination separation between the ALFA beams in order to Nyquist-sample the sky and to reduce corrugations in sensitivity. The scans have a central velocity of 8500 km s-1, giving a central frequency of 1381 MHz and thus a coverage at full sensitivity of approximately 1421 – 1341 MHz (-100 – 17700 km s-1).
Scan coordinates, as given in the ages_drit.cat file.
| Scan name | RA | Dec | Epoch | Vel | Vel frame | Vel type |
| Drift_N628_1a | 012900.0 | 161315.9 | j | 8500.00 | HELIO | VOPT |
| Drift_N628_2a | 012900.0 | 160034.2 | j | 8500.00 | HELIO | VOPT |
| Drift_N628_3a | 012900.0 | 154700.5 | j | 8500.00 | HELIO | VOPT |
| Drift_N628_4a | 012900.0 | 153324.3 | j | 8500.00 | HELIO | VOPT |
| Drift_N628_5a | 012900.0 | 152039.4 | j | 8500.00 | HELIO | VOPT |
| Drift_N628_1b | 012900.0 | 161221.7 | j | 8500.00 | HELIO | VOPT |
| Drift_N628_2b | 012900.0 | 155939.4 | j | 8500.00 | HELIO | VOPT |
| Drift_N628_3b | 012900.0 | 154558.0 | j | 8500.00 | HELIO | VOPT |
| Drift_N628_4b | 012900.0 | 153229.2 | j | 8500.00 | HELIO | VOPT |
| Drift_N628_5b | 012900.0 | 151945.1 | j | 8500.00 | HELIO | VOPT |
The basic table gives the parameters for the observation of each scan at its planned time. This can be used without modification in the long observing periods and gives a comfortable 5 minutes for drive time between scans. For the shorter observing periods, this table may need to be modified for some or all of the scans, for these modifications see the extended tables below.
Basic table
| Scan | HA | Az | ZA | Rotang | Sep | LST start |
| 2a | -00:25 | 289.75 | 6.39 | 84.0 | 1.84 | 01:04 |
| 3a | 00:00 | 359.38 | 2.50 | 19.3 | 2.08 | 01:29 |
| 4a | +00:25 | 66.01 | 6.57 | -41.7 | 1.85 | 01:54 |
| 5a | +00:50 | 77.70 | 12.32 | -53.0 | 1.82 | 02:19 |
| 1a | +01:15 | 85.92 | 18.03 | -60.2 | 1.80 | 02:44 |
| 2b | -00:25 | 289.88 | 6.39 | 83.8 | 1.84 | 01:04 |
| 3b | 00:00 | 359.38 | 2.51 | 19.3 | 2.08 | 01:29 |
| 4b | +00:25 | 65.89 | 6.58 | -41.6 | 1.85 | 01:54 |
| 5b | +00:50 | 77.63 | 12.33 | -52.9 | 1.82 | 02:19 |
| 1b | +01:15 | 85.87 | 18.03 | -60.2 | 1.80 | 02:44 |
The extended tables give a variety of observations times and corresponding parameters for scans 2 – 4. This allows the observer to choose different times from the standard -25; 0; +25; +50 mins HA pattern in order to fit in with the tight scheduling constraints on the short observation periods. It is recommended that scan 3 is done no more than 5 minutes from transit and that at least 3 minutes is allowed for drive time between scans.
Extended table – 'A' scans:
| Scan | HA | Az | ZA | Rotang | Sep | LST start |
| 2a | -00:35 | 283.57 | 8.72 | -89.8 | 1.82 | 00:54 |
| -00:35 | 283.57 | 8.72 | -89.8 | 1.82 | 00:54 | |
| -00:34 | 284.03 | 8.49 | -90.3 | 1.82 | 00:55 | |
| -00:33 | 284.52 | 8.26 | 89.2 | 1.82 | 00:56 | |
| -00:32 | 285.02 | 8.03 | 88.7 | 1.82 | 00:57 | |
| -00:31 | 285.56 | 7.81 | 88.1 | 1.82 | 00:58 | |
| -00:30 | 286.29 | 7.51 | 87.4 | 1.83 | 00:59 | |
| -00:29 | 286.90 | 7.29 | 86.8 | 1.83 | 01:00 | |
| -00:28 | 287.55 | 7.05 | 86.2 | 1.83 | 01:01 | |
| -00:27 | 288.24 | 6.84 | 85.5 | 1.83 | 01:02 | |
| -00:26 | 288.97 | 6.61 | 84.7 | 1.83 | 01:03 | |
| -00:25 | 289.75 | 6.39 | 84.0 | 1.84 | 01:04 | |
| -00:24 | 290.58 | 6.17 | 83.1 | 1.84 | 01:05 | |
| -00:23 | 291.47 | 5.85 | 82.3 | 1.84 | 01:06 | |
| -00:22 | 292.43 | 5.73 | 81.3 | 1.84 | 01:07 | |
| -00:21 | 293.46 | 5.51 | 80.3 | 1.85 | 01:08 | |
| -00:20 | 294.57 | 5.29 | 79.1 | 1.85 | 01:09 | |
| -00:19 | 295.77 | 5.08 | 77.9 | 1.86 | 01:10 | |
| -00:18 | 297.07 | 4.87 | 76.5 | 1.86 | 01:11 | |
| 3a | -00:12 | 309.90 | 3.86 | 63.7 | 1.92 | 01:17 |
| -00:11 | 312.36 | 3.68 | 61.4 | 1.94 | 01:18 | |
| -00:10 | 315.06 | 3.51 | 58.8 | 1.95 | 01:19 | |
| -00:09 | 318.03 | 3.34 | 56.0 | 1.97 | 01:20 | |
| -00:08 | 321.28 | 3.19 | 53.1 | 1.99 | 01:21 | |
| -00:07 | 324.83 | 3.05 | 49.9 | 2.01 | 01:22 | |
| -00:06 | 328.69 | 2.92 | 46.4 | 2.02 | 01:23 | |
| -00:05 | 334.10 | 2.77 | 41.6 | 2.04 | 01:24 | |
| -00:04 | 338.58 | 2.68 | 37.6 | 2.06 | 01:25 | |
| -00:03 | 343.55 | 2.60 | 33.3 | 2.07 | 01:26 | |
| -00:02 | 348.67 | 2.54 | 28.8 | 2.08 | 01:27 | |
| -00:01 | 353.97 | 2.51 | 24.1 | 2.08 | 01:28 | |
| 00:00 | 359.38 | 2.50 | 19.3 | 2.08 | 01:28 | |
| +00:01 | 4.81 | 2.51 | 14.6 | 2.08 | 01:30 | |
| +00:02 | 10.17 | 2.54 | 8.8 | 2.08 | 01:31 | |
| +00:03 | 15.36 | 2.60 | 5.4 | 2.07 | 01:32 | |
| +00:04 | 20.32 | 2.67 | 1.1 | 2.05 | 01:33 | |
| +00:05 | 24.99 | 2.77 | -3.0 | 2.04 | 01:34 | |
| 4a | +00:12 | 45.64 | 3.91 | -21.7 | 1.95 | 01:41 |
| +00:13 | 48.04 | 4.09 | -23.9 | 1.94 | 01:42 | |
| +00:14 | 50.24 | 4.27 | -26.0 | 1.93 | 01:43 | |
| +00:15 | 52.26 | 4.45 | -28.0 | 1.90 | 01:44 | |
| +00:16 | 54.12 | 4.65 | -29.8 | 1.91 | 01:45 | |
| +00:17 | 55.84 | 4.84 | -31.5 | 1.90 | 01:46 | |
| +00:18 | 57.84 | 5.10 | -33.4 | 1.89 | 01:47 | |
| +00:19 | 59.28 | 5.30 | -34.8 | 1.88 | 01:48 | |
| +00:20 | 60.61 | 5.51 | -36.2 | 1.88 | 01:49 | |
| +00:21 | 61.85 | 5.71 | -37.5 | 1.87 | 01:50 | |
| +00:22 | 63.00 | 5.93 | -38.6 | 1.87 | 01:51 | |
| +00:23 | 64.07 | 6.14 | -39.8 | 1.86 | 01:52 | |
| +00:24 | 65.07 | 6.35 | -40.8 | 1.86 | 01:53 | |
| +00:25 | 66.01 | 6.57 | -41.7 | 1.85 | 01:54 | |
| +00:26 | 66.89 | 6.79 | -42.6 | 1.85 | 01:55 | |
| +00:27 | 67.71 | 7.01 | -43.5 | 1.85 | 01:56 | |
| +00:28 | 68.49 | 7.23 | -44.2 | 1.84 | 01:57 | |
| +00:29 | 69.23 | 7.45 | -45.0 | 1.84 | 01:58 | |
| +00:30 | 69.92 | 7.67 | -45.7 | 1.84 | 01:59 | |
| 5a | +00:36 | 71.98 | 9.04 | -47.5 | 1.83 | 02:05 |
| +00:37 | 72.50 | 9.27 | -48.0 | 1.83 | 02:06 | |
| +00:38 | 73.00 | 9.49 | -48.5 | 1.83 | 02:07 | |
| +00:39 | 73.48 | 9.72 | -49.0 | 1.83 | 02:08 | |
| +00:40 | 73.93 | 9.95 | -49.5 | 1.83 | 02:09 | |
| +00:41 | 74.49 | 10.24 | -50.0 | 1.83 | 02:10 | |
| +00:42 | 74.90 | 10:47 | -50.4 | 1.82 | 02:11 | |
| +00:43 | 75.30 | 10.70 | -50.8 | 1.82 | 02:12 | |
| +00:44 | 75.68 | 10.93 | -51.1 | 1.82 | 02:13 | |
| +00:45 | 76.05 | 11.17 | -51.5 | 1.82 | 02:14 | |
| +00:46 | 76.40 | 11.40 | -51.8 | 1.82 | 02:15 | |
| +00:47 | 76.74 | 11.63 | -52.1 | 1.82 | 02:16 | |
| +00:48 | 77.07 | 11.86 | -52.4 | 1.82 | 02:17 | |
| +00:49 | 77.39 | 12.09 | -52.7 | 1.82 | 02:18 | |
| +00:50 | 77.70 | 12.32 | -53.0 | 1.82 | 02:19 | |
| +00:51 | 77.99 | 12.56 | -53.2 | 1.82 | 02:20 | |
| +00:52 | 78.28 | 12.79 | -53.4 | 1.82 | 02:21 | |
| +00:53 | 78.56 | 13.02 | -53.6 | 1.82 | 02:22 | |
| +00:54 | 78.83 | 13.25 | -53.9 | 1.82 | 02:23 | |
| +00:55 | 79.09 | 13:49 | -54.1 | 1.81 | 02:24 |
Extended table – 'B' scans:
| Scan | HA | Az | ZA | Rotang | Sep | LST start |
| 2b | -00:30 | 286.40 | 7.52 | 87.3 | 1.83 | 00:59 |
| -00:30 | 286.40 | 7.52 | 87.3 | 1.83 | 00:59 | |
| -00:29 | 287.02 | 7.29 | 85.7 | 1.83 | 01:00 | |
| -00:28 | 287.57 | 7.07 | 85.0 | 1.83 | 01:01 | |
| -00:27 | 288.36 | 6.84 | 85.3 | 1.83 | 01:02 | |
| -00:26 | 289.09 | 6.62 | 84.5 | 1.83 | 01:03 | |
| -00:25 | 289.88 | 6.39 | 83.8 | 1.84 | 01:04 | |
| -00:24 | 290.71 | 6.17 | 83.0 | 1.84 | 01:05 | |
| -00:23 | 291.61 | 5.95 | 82.1 | 1.84 | 01:06 | |
| -00:22 | 292.57 | 5.73 | 81.1 | 1.84 | 01:07 | |
| -00:21 | 293.60 | 5.51 | 80.1 | 1.85 | 01:08 | |
| -00:20 | 294.72 | 5.30 | 79.0 | 1.85 | 01:09 | |
| -00:19 | 295.92 | 5.08 | 77.7 | 1.86 | 01:10 | |
| -00:18 | 297.23 | 4.87 | 76.4 | 1.86 | 01:11 | |
| 3b | -00:05 | 334.35 | 2.79 | 41.5 | 2.04 | 01:24 |
| -00:04 | 338.81 | 2.69 | 37.5 | 2.06 | 01:25 | |
| -00:03 | 343.66 | 2.62 | 33.2 | 2.07 | 01:26 | |
| -00:02 | 348.74 | 2.56 | 28.7 | 2.08 | 01:27 | |
| -00:01 | 354.01 | 2.53 | 24.0 | 2.08 | 01:28 | |
| 00:00 | 359.38 | 2.51 | 19.3 | 2.08 | 01:29 | |
| +00:01 | 4.78 | 2.53 | 14.6 | 2.08 | 01:30 | |
| +00:02 | 10.10 | 2.56 | 10.0 | 2.08 | 01:31 | |
| +00:03 | 15.26 | 2.61 | 5.5 | 2.07 | 01:32 | |
| +00:04 | 20.19 | 2.69 | 1.2 | 2.05 | 01:33 | |
| +00:05 | 24.83 | 2.78 | -2.9 | 2.04 | 01:34 | |
| 4b | +00:18 | 57.70 | 5.11 | -33.3 | 1.89 | 01:47 |
| +00:19 | 59.14 | 5.31 | -34.7 | 1.88 | 01:48 | |
| +00:20 | 60.47 | 5.51 | -36.0 | 1.88 | 01:49 | |
| +00:21 | 61.71 | 5.72 | -37.3 | 1.87 | 01:50 | |
| +00:22 | 62.87 | 5.93 | -38.5 | 1.87 | 01:51 | |
| +00:23 | 63.94 | 6.15 | -39.6 | 1.86 | 01:52 | |
| +00:24 | 64.95 | 6.36 | -40.6 | 1.86 | 01:53 | |
| +00:25 | 65.89 | 6.58 | -41.6 | 1.85 | 01:54 | |
| +00:26 | 66.77 | 6.79 | -42.5 | 1.85 | 01:55 | |
| +00:27 | 67.60 | 7.01 | -43.3 | 1.85 | 01:56 | |
| +00:28 | 68.38 | 7.23 | -44.1 | 1.85 | 01:57 | |
| +00:29 | 69.12 | 7.46 | -44.9 | 1.84 | 01:58 | |
| +00:30 | 69.81 | 7.68 | -45.6 | 1.84 | 01:59 | |
| 5b | +00:41 | 74.41 | 10.25 | -49.9 | 1.83 | 02:10 |
| +00:42 | 74.82 | 10.48 | -50.3 | 1.82 | 02:11 | |
| +00:43 | 75.22 | 10.71 | -50.7 | 1.82 | 02:12 | |
| +00:44 | 75.61 | 10.94 | -51.0 | 1.82 | 02:13 | |
| +00:45 | 75.98 | 11.17 | -51.4 | 1.82 | 02:14 | |
| +00:46 | 76.33 | 11.40 | -51.7 | 1.82 | 02:15 | |
| +00:47 | 76.67 | 11.63 | -52.0 | 1.82 | 02:16 | |
| +00:48 | 77.00 | 11.86 | -52.3 | 1.82 | 02:17 | |
| +00:49 | 77.32 | 12.10 | -52.6 | 1.82 | 02:18 | |
| +00:50 | 77.63 | 12.33 | -52.9 | 1.82 | 02:19 | |
| +00:51 | 77.92 | 12.56 | -53.1 | 1.82 | 02:20 | |
| +00:52 | 78.21 | 12.79 | -53.4 | 1.82 | 02:21 | |
| +00:53 | 78.49 | 13.03 | -53.6 | 1.82 | 02:22 | |
| +00:54 | 78.77 | 13.26 | -53.8 | 1.82 | 02:23 | |
| +00:55 | 79.03 | 13.49 | -54.0 | 1.82 | 02:24 |