Changes
/* Making a pointing model using SHOC */
== Making a pointing model using SHOC ==
1. If operating remotely, close all SiTech software that might be running on lesedi-nuc, as it's too slow to do this exercise via VNC. Ssh -Y into 1ms1 from a machine in Cape Town. 2. Open all the usual SiTech software and ready the telescope for observing, then in /home/observer/bin open the programme that connects to SHOC and run astrometry:
sudo mono SiTechCamera.exe
sudo ./RunAstrometry
On Scope tab, click SkyView. In the window that opens, turn off most things in the Objects dropdown menu, but turn on calibration points and future calibration points.
On Scope tab, right-click on the large, central "PointXP...Calpoints" button, and select "Yes" in the blue pop-up window that asks "Do you want to clear all PXP calibration points?".
On Feature tab, click Run Script. Two windows open: Astrometry and Script.
Select the Plate Solve Stuff tab, and enter the number of calibration points you want to include in the model (100-150), the exposure time (depends on sky conditions, but typically ≤8s), SHOC binning (1) and the delay between the telescope settling and the image being taken (7s is reasonable - note that the dome needs to settle in this time) and make sure "Wait for rotator" is ticked to stop the image being taken while the rotator is getting into position.
Click "Make PointXP Run". The model will start gathering points with the telescope pointing South, so you can either rotate the dome to the South before running the script, or press "Play", then "Pause" while the dome catches up with the telescope. This is the only time during the script that you would need to pause on account of the dome. Note that the way to resume the script is to click "Unpause", not "Play".
* The SiTechCamera GUI displays each image. If points are failing to calibrate, check whether there are stars in the images.
== Troubleshooting ==
