* Open the guide star software (the icon of a star with a long tail).
* Enter coordinates of the field and click "GET IMAGE". A window should appear with a 10x10 arcmin DSS map.
* Click on a bright star '''outside''' of the green circle in the DSS image. NOTE: this chart is centered on the coordinated. If you have adjusted the position of the target to be away from the center of the acquisition frame, there will be the same offset in whatever guide star is selected.
* Under "XY Slides Control," click "GoTo GS". The star should appear in the acquisition image. If not, try a different star.
* Under “Pointer" click "Guide Star" , then click on the chosen guide star in the acquisition camera FOV. This will put a blue box around the star and begin guiding.* NOTE: if the star is near a hot pixel, that could cause trouble with guiding. Click "Move XY" and click on the star to center it (this just moves the XY stages, and will not effect the science target).
* To stop or restart guiding (e.g. after brief intervals of cloud), press GUIDE.
* To change exposure times, press STOP, update the exposure time in the grey box, and press Expose.
= Current known issues (last updated Nov 2013)=
'''Telescope pointing problems/time server error'''
'''Telescope pointing problems/time server error'''
If you encounter telescope pointing problems, check the time and date displayed on the TCS, as the cause could be the time server. If the date/time is wrong, please call the electronics technician for assistance.