Changes

Ultimately the autoguider control will be integrated into the TCSAs of February 2021, but for now it has there is a web browser interface to the standalone autoguider GUI run on 1ms1 via the , so users no longer need to VNC to Lesedi-NUC. Connect to the NUC via remote desktop, e.g. for Linux use the Remmina client, set the server to lesedi-nuc.suth.saao.ac.za and enter the username and password from the Lesedi User Resources Google document.

Once connected to LesediTo start the web server: ssh -NUC, if Y observer@1ms1.suth.saao.ac.za cd ~/src/lesedi-guider-web pe (Sets up the autoguider GUI isnright python environment) gunicorn 't already running app:create_app(or is not responding), open a terminal, login to 1ms1 ' -b 0.0.0.0:5001 -k eventlet (username & password in starts the google docwebserver) and check for any autoguider jobs already running:

ssh -Y observer@1ms1Open a web browser and enter: 10.suth2.saao2.ac.za ps aux | grep readPLC31:5001

If there are outstanding jobs, the result The interface will be something look likethis:<screenshot>

root 1310 99There will be a green "online" indicator at the top left if all is well; if it's red the web server may not be running (see instructions above).8 0The autoguider camera image is displayed on the top right, with the finderchart image below.1 39384 13016 ? R Jun21 5284:08 python readPLCandLesediV1.py root 14103 0.0 0.1 39384 13040 pts/11 S+ 14:41 0:00 python readPLCandLesediV1.py root 20411 99.9 0.1 39384 13092 ? R Jun23 1187:37 python readPLCandLesediV1.py observer 25808 0.0 0.0 14224 1032 pts/12 S+ 17:49 0:00 grep --color=auto readPLC

These processes remain "hanging" if To acquire a guide star, do the xyslides software was not exited properly from the EXIT button. You need to kill them using their IDs given above, e.g. in this casefollowing:

sudo kill In the "X-9 1310 14103 20411Y Slides Control" section in the bottom left:# Check that "Error = 0". If "Error = 1" click "RESET".# Click "INITIALISE" to initialise the XY slides. Confirmation of a successful initialisation is indicated with "Initialised = 1".# Enter the RA and Dec of your target on the two lines below "Fetch DSS image". Use space delimiters, not colons, then press the "Fetch DSS image" button.# A catalogue image of your field will load in the bottom right. Click on a fairly bright star in the top half of the image to use as a guide star. The closer to the top of the image the better, to avoid vignetting the SHOC field (central) with the Lodestar camera pickoff arm.# Click "GOTO GS" to the left of the finderchart. You will see the XY slide coordinates updating and the status "Moving = 1".# In the upper-left "Exposure Control" section, enter an exposure time in milliseconds (e.g. 2000) and click "Start Continuous". Binning defaults to 2x2, indicated by the tiny "Binning = 2" text above the pull-down menu.# The Lodestar image will continuously update. Your guide star should be visible - click on it, then click "Search guide star" in the "Guiding Control" section, and watch for the message box below it to be popoulated with numbers and a time stamp, e.g. "xs = -0.123456 ys = 1.234567 23:19".# Click "Guide". If successful, the guide button will turn green, and the star will continuously be pulled back towards the red cross that appears on the image.

Then in the same terminal, check that the Lodestar cameras are connected:  observer@sa1:~$ lsusb Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub Bus 001 Device 079: ID 1278:0507 Starlight Xpress Lodestar autoguider Bus 001 Device 081: ID 1278:0507 Starlight Xpress Lodestar autoguider If you do not see the Starlight Xpress listed then the cameras are not detected on the USB ports and the icron devices probably need power cycling.   Once any rogue processes are killed and the cameras are connected, start the autoguider GUI:  cd /home/observer/xyslide_lodestar_GUI_V6 sudo ./main_prog -depth 24 To run the finder chart software, open a new terminal (or a new window in the same terminal with CTRL-SHIFT-T) and login again to 1ms1:  ssh -Y observer@1ms1.suth.saao.ac.za cd /home/observer/GS_FC python genfinderLesediFeb2020.py This brings up a finder chart and a coordinates box. To start guiding: # On the main autoguider GUI, if using SHOC select Slide 0; or Slide 1 for Sibonise.# If the status of any of the error codes (Err, XLL, XUL, YLL or YUL) is 1, click RESET, then INITIALISE. "FAKE" should always be a green "Fake is OFF" button while guiding - this is a test function for engineering purposes. # To start continuous exposures with the autoguider Lodestar camera, enter a number (~2 seconds) in the box on the right, and click CONTINUOUS. Binning should be set to 2x2. To get a workable look-up table, on the left-hand side of the main autoguider GUI, move the uppermost vertical slider ~1/6 of the way from the bottom. Leave the other two sliders in their default positions (lower vertical slider halfway up; lower horizontal slider all the way to the left; upper horizontal slider all the way to the right).# Enter the target coordinates (using spaces as delimiters, e.g. 12 34 56 -76 54 32) in the separate GS_FC window and click "Set".# Check that a finder chart loads showing your field. Guide stars are to be selected from outside the green box in the finder chart image. When North is Up in the SHOC/Sibonise image, click on a star in the upper half of the image to use as a guide star.<!--, with X<20000 and Y<15000. As Y approaches 10000 it begins to vignette the SHOC field, so try to choose a guide star at low Y.--># On the XY Slide Control section of the main GUI, click "Goto GS". This will send the XY slides to the position you clicked on the finder chart. <!--If it doesn't, read the coordinates of the guide star off the image and enter them manually; when the position is reached click "Pick guide star" and click on your chosen star in the guide camera image.--># Click the "Pick G_Star" button in the "Guiding" panel, which will turn dark blue to indicate that it's ready to receive your guide star selection. # Choose a star in the Lodestar image and click on it. The "Pick G_Star" button will turn green if it recognises the star. If the button turns grey, your selection has been unsuccessful and you will need to click the "Pick G_Star" button again and then try clicking on a different star.# Click the red GUIDE button - it should turn green to indicate that it has started guiding.  '''If guiding fails''' at any point during a track (e.g. due to cloud), the button will turn red. Try increasing the exposure time (change the value and click "CONTINUOUSStart Continuous") and click GUIDE "Guide" if the star is sill near the boxred cross. If the star has drifted, you can either offset the telescope to bring it back to its original position and then click GUIDE"Guide", or if it is not important to you to keep the target in the original position on the science image, you can repeat the guide star selection procedure to resume guiding in the new position.

# Click "STOP CONT.Stop Continuous" to stop exposing.# Click "InitializeINITIALISE" to return the XY-slides to the home position.# '''If you close In the autoguider GUI (not necessary under normal circumstances)terminal running the web server, be sure press CTRL-c to press the EXIT button'''; do not kill the GUI with the X in the corner or you will leave problematic hanging jobsprocess.