Changes
/* Current known issues */
== Current status and issues ==
Things to be aware of at the present time (updated 20/11/2020April 2022):
# The wind blind is currently out of commission, pending repairs to a cable.
# Information regarding the filters installed in the instrument can be found [[#Filters|below]].
This wiki is intended to supplement the existing TCS and instrument user's guides, filling the void of information about the telescope and facility, and providing recipes for observing with the telescope-instrument-TCS combination.
For detailed information about the TCS and instrument softwareinstruments, please refer to the manuals listed below, which are available in the warm room, the hostel library, and are linked to on the 1.0-metre section of the following web page:
* [https://shoc.saao.ac.za/SHOCsnr.html SHOC exposure time and prebin calculator]
* [https://shoc.saao.ac.za/Pipeline/README.txt SHOC data reduction pipeline]
* [https://cloudcape.saao.ac.za/index.php/s/9QgG2QpI3GSnoO8"SAAO CCD Camera Control Program, version 1.2" by J. W. Menzies]
Much of this page assumes that the user has never before set foot in the dome, and has no local human to guide them. [[40" / 1.0m#Telescope pointing limits|Telescope pointing limits]], [[40" / 1.0m#Troubleshooting| troubleshooting information]] and [[40" / 1.0m#Start-up recipes|start-up]] and [[40" / 1.0m#Shutdown procedures|shutdown]] recipes should prove useful for experienced observers and novice users alike.
* '''For STE3 or STE4''', a monitor at the right-hand end of the desk labelled '''imag40''', running the CCD Camera Control software.
* A thin client with monitor labelled '''ltsp''' that saves the data from the instrument PC and can be used to run a web browser, ds9, etc. '''For SHOC''', it can be used to run the instrument control software via a web browser. It is possible to download your data to a laptop on the network from this PC (use '''scp''' or '''sftp ccd40@ltsp.suth''' - the monitor is labelled with the password).
* A PC running the '''Telescope Control Software (TCS)''' for acquisition and guiding. Associated with this is a second monitor which displays the target and telescope coordinates, etc.
There are no DVD writers, USB ports or DAT drives in the dome for copying data, this should be done using scp.
In the warm room, in labelled boxfiles, you will find the following resources to help with your observations:
* '''Users' guides''' for the TCS, STE3/STE4, SHOC and the retired UCT CCD, which contains useful information about the online reductions programme for STE3/4.
* A triplicate '''CCD Camera log book''' in which to record details of each image if you are using STE3/STE4. If you finish a log book, there are more on top of the metal cupboard on the observing floor. Please take the next book in numerical order. There is no such log for use with SHOC; you are advised to keep your own records, e.g. in a spreadsheet.
* A catalogue of photometric '''standard stars'''.
* An A4 sheet entitled '''Sutherland Observing Record''', on which to log the duration of observations, time lost, etc. each night.
* '''XY-slide reset button on the grey box.''' On the top of the grey box with the emergency stop button is a small blue button to press if the TCS XY-slides fail to respond.
* '''PC monitor to the right of the North pier.''' This screen displays pointing information, including your target coordinates and current telescope coordinates, for use when slewing the telescope manually.
* '''Observing Floor Control Panel.''' On the North wall by the North pier there is a grey box labelled "Dome Shutter and Windblind Control", which has red buttons for opening/closing the dome shutter and raising/lowering the windblind. One must first switchon the telescope power (blue console) and press the top button labelled "Request Local Control" to activate the panel. The redindicator will illuminate when the panel is active. To open/close the dome, push and hold the appropriate button until the shutters stop moving and you hear a beep. To raise/lower the windblind, push and hold the appropriate button until the blind reaches the desired height. '''Do not raise the windblind while pointing into the wind; first rotate the dome by 180°, raise the blind then rotate back. '''There is also a switch for the upper dome lights.
* '''Dome flat lamp switch.''' On the North wall, just above and left of the monitor, is a dimmer switch that controls the incandescent lamp used for taking dome flats.
* A red '''balance weight''' on a rope, which can be hung from an appropriate place below the primary mirror cell if the telescope jumps while tracking (usually when tracking around the zenith).
10. '''Open the mirror covers''' by clicking the "DOME" pulldown menu and selecting "Mirror OPEN". The mirror indicator on the top right will turn green.
11. Switch '''dome to AUTO''' by clicking the red "MAN" button (top right of display). It will turn green. At times, it is necessary to either rotate the dome or point the telescope to Zenith so that the dome is able to locate its poisition and avoid the possibility of the dome not correctly following the telescope .
12. Turn '''telescope tracking on''' by clicking the red "Tracking is OFF" button. It will turn green.
If the TCS-web is not responding to any inputs, then make sure that the WebUser has Control button is clicked and shows green.
To access the TCS from the web broweserbrowser, click here [http://remoteops1desk.suth.saao.ac.za:5001/ TCS-Web].
[[File:WebUser-Control.jpeg|600px|frameless]]
=== STE3/STE4 ===
1. Follow the start-up procedure described in Sections 1 and 2 of the [https://wwwcloudcape.saao.ac.za/wp-contentindex.php/uploadss/sites/5/SAAOCCDmanual.pdf9QgG2QpI3GSnoO8|SAAO CCD Camera Control Program, version 1.2", by J. W. Menzies].
'''Important:''' Ensure that the following are correct in the blue "Details of Run" startup panel:
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.
'''The Dome Shutter obscuring the telescope'''
At times, the dome does not find its position, and therefore does not follow the telescope correctly. To avoid this, it is always a good idea to point the telescope to Zenith, or rotate the dome so that it can establish its position by passing through some of the cardinal points.
==Webcam==
