Changes

== User Manual Current status and issues ==

=== Notes for Things to be aware of at the reader ===present time (updated April 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 manual is intended == Where to supplement find 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. you need ==

For detailed information about This wiki is intended to supplement the existing TCS and instrument softwareuser's guides, please refer to filling the manuals listed below, which are available in void of information about the warm room, the hostel librarytelescope and facility, and are linked to on providing recipes for observing with the 1telescope-instrument-TCS combination.0-metre section of the following web page:

http://www.saao.ac.za/observing/operating-For detailed information about the instruments, please refer to the manualslisted below:

* "1.0-m Telescope Control Software[https: A User's Guide" by Stephen Potter & Hannah Worters//topswiki.saao.ac.za/index.php/SHOC SHOC wiki]

* "SAAO CCD Camera Control Program, version 1[https://shoc.2" by Jsaao. Wac. Menziesza/Documents/ShocnHelpful.pdf "SHOC User Guide (SHOCnHelpful)", by Rocco Coppejans] – contains useful instrument info, but new software described on SHOC wiki

* "[https://shoc.saao.ac.za/SHOCsnr.html SHOC User Guide", by Rocco Coppejansexposure time and prebin calculator]

* SHOC wiki [https://topswikishoc.saao.ac.za/indexPipeline/README.php/txt SHOCdata reduction pipeline]

Much of the manual assumes that the user has never before set foot in the dome, and has no local human to guide them* [https://cloudcape. This is particularly true for Chapter~\ref{chap-tour}saao. {\bf If you are familiar with the telescope, you may wish to skip Chapter~\ref{chap-tour}, but please read Chapters~\ref{chap-limits} and~\ref{chap-faults} as some things have changed(!)}ac. Observing recipes are given in Chapters~\ref{chap-start} to~\ref{chap-end}za/index.php/s/9QgG2QpI3GSnoO8"SAAO CCD Camera Control Program, which may prove useful as checklists for experienced observers and novice users alikeversion 1.2" by J. W.Menzies]

Please send commentsMuch of this page assumes that the user has never before set foot in the dome, and has no local human to guide them. [[40" /requests1.0m#Telescope pointing limits|Telescope pointing limits]], [[40" /omissions to hannah@saao1.ac0m#Troubleshooting| troubleshooting information]] and [[40" / 1.0m#Start-up recipes|start-up]] and [[40" / 1.za0m#Shutdown procedures|shutdown]] recipes should prove useful for experienced observers and novice users alike.

=== A guided tour of '''To receive calls''', the 1-m dome ===phone in the warm room can be reached by the following numbers:

The purpose of this section is Extension number: 9108 (to introduce you to the facilities and equipment you will need during your run. The tour begins at the front door of the 1-m dome. To aid orientation, the domes of MeerLICHT, the new 1 metre, and the 40 inch are aligned East-West, perpendicular to the main road that passes SALT at the Northern end of the plateau and leads to the ``Robotic Row'' of telescopes in phone from within the South.observatory)

* The '''main power switchTo make calls''' for if you have a problem that isn't addressed in this wiki or the telescope [https://faultreports.saao.ac.za/index.php?board=4.0 fault forum] (remember to dial the ** where given): 1.9m/74-inch observer: 9107 (often a good place to start, given that the TCS and lighting circuits SHOC interfaces are common to both telescopes) Standby electronics technician: **103 Standby mechanical technician: **104 Standby IT technician: **113 Extension number: 9108 (to phone from within the observatory)To phone the dome from outside: 023 100 0222 (+27 23 100 0222 from outside South Africa) == A guided tour of the dome == The purpose of this section is just inside to introduce you to the facilities and equipment you will need during your run. The tour begins at the second front door on of the right1-m dome. Switch this on when you enterTo aid orientation, the domes of MeerLICHT, Lesedi, and the 40 inch are aligned East-West, perpendicular to the main road that passes SALT at the Northern end of the plateau and leads to the "Robotic Row" of telescopes in the South. A red light will illuminate above code (which you can obtain from the standby technicians/your support astronomer/other observers) is required to open the door. === Main telescope power switch === Just inside the entrance on the right-hand wall is the main telescope power key switch. It should always be set to PLC for the telescope to be used. If it is not, [[#Contact numbers|call a technician]]. === Light switches === * '''Foyer and stairwell light switches''' can be found on the same right-hand wall, just around the corner to the right, at the foot of the stairs. There is a second switch for the stairwell/foyer lights at the top of the stairs.* '''Light switches on the left at the top of the stairs.''' One is for the stairwell lights; the other for the observing floor incandescents.* The '''switch for observing floor fluorescent lights''' is located inside the small door facing the stairs, next to the controls for the air conditioning.* The '''switch for upper dome fluorescent lights''' is on the grey Observing Floor Control Panel on the wall by the North pier.

* '''Kitchen:''' located beyond the staircase on the right. It has recently been refurbished and has a sink with running water, a microwave, coffee maker, kettle, toaster, snackwich and an array of cutlery and cheerful crockery. There are jars of teas, coffees, hot chocolate, sugar and creamer. If these jars become empty, return them to the hostel kitchen in your night lunch bag for refilling. The kitchenware is cleaned daily by the hostel staff, except at weekends.

=== Upstairs light switches The warm room ===

The warm room was moved downstairs in 2018 - it is the room last room on the left when you enter the dome. Here you have the following resources at your disposal: ==== Computing facilities ====In the warm room, you will find: * '''Light switches on the left For STE3 or STE4''', a monitor at the top right-hand end of the stairsdesk labelled '''imag40''', running the CCD Camera Control software. * A thin client with monitor labelled ''' One 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 for possible to download your data to a laptop on the stairwell/foyer lights; network from this PC (use '''scp''' or '''sftp ccd40@ltsp.suth''' - the other for monitor is labelled with the observing floor incandescentspassword). * The A PC running the '''switch for observing floor fluorescent lightsTelescope Control Software (TCS)''' for acquisition and guiding. Associated with this is located inside a second monitor which displays the small door facing target and telescope coordinates, etc. * Several network cables and power sockets for use with laptops. * A black & white printer. Print command: '''lpr -Ppr40in ''filename''''' There are no DVD writers, USB ports or DAT drives in the stairsdome for copying data, next to this should be done using scp. ===== Log books, etc. ===== In the controls warm room, in labelled boxfiles, you will find the following resources to help with your observations: * '''Users' guides''' for the air conditioningTCS, STE3/STE4, SHOC and the retired UCT CCD, which contains useful information about the online reductions programme for STE3/4.* The A triplicate '''switch for upper dome fluorescent lightsCCD Camera log book''' is 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 grey 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 Floor Control Panel Record''', on which to log the wall by duration of observations, time lost, etc. each night. ===== General warm room resources ===== # A '''stereo''' compatible with iPods and iPhones, and plays CDs, MP3s from DVDs and USB devices, and has a radio.# Assorted desk '''lamps'''.# A portable '''heater''' under the North pierdesk.  Please do '''not''' plug lamps or heaters into the UPS sockets!

* '''Blue console on the East side of the North pier.''' You will use this console to slew the telescope to your targets. The telescope power switch and dome rotation controls are also on this console.* '''Grey box by the blue console.''' If the telescope reaches its safe operating limits, the red light on this box will flash, an alarm will sound and the telescope drives and dome rotation will be disabled. There is an override key attached to the box, used to allow the telescope to be moved out of the [[#Telescope pointing limits -- see Section~\ref{sec-|limits}]].* '''Emergency stop button on the grey box.''' There is a large red button to press if the drive motors fail to stop. If you have reason to press this, [[#Contact numbers|call a technician ]] to investigate.

* '''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 telescopemanually.* '''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.* '''Yellow hand paddle on the wall facing the stairs. '''As of October 2011, '''the yellow paddle is no longer in use.''The Observing Floor Control Panel should be used to open/close the dome and raise/lower the windblind.* '''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 (see Section~\ref{sec-domeflats}).

* '''SHOC''' does not require liquid nitrogen; it is peltier-cooled. It has no Merlin crate. The control PC ("shocnawe" or "shocndisbelief" ) is mounted in a crate below the primary mirror cell.

The blue metallic box below the acquisition/guider box contains the filter wheel(s), labelled on the East and West sides. Each wheel has 8 filter positions; position 1 is the reference and position 8 is always empty, so that with two wheels installed, one wheel should always have position 8 in the beam (unless one wheel contains neutral density filters). '''Filters must not be removed from the filter wheels.'''

You will have been allocated the appropriate wheel(s) for your run based on Throughout 2023, the filters specified in your observing proposal. A '''filter wheel rota''' can be found pinned to the notice board on the South pier. It details the filter in each position of each wheel and the name of the wheel(s) you have been allocated. If the incorrect wheel is in the telescope, please contact a technician. Please direct any other filter1-related enquiries to hannah@saao.ac.za.m wheels will be as follows:

{| class="wikitable" border== The Warm Room ==="1"|-! Wheel! 1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7! 8|-| Geneva A1| U| B| V| R| I| BG38| Empty| Empty|-| Geneva B1| u'| g'| r'| i'| z'| Hα (20nm)| [O III] 501nm| Empty|}

=== The old warm room is situated on the East side of the observing floor. The light switch is a dial just inside the door on the right as you enter. Here you have the following resources at your disposal:===

==== Computing facilities ====In the The old warm room, is situated on the East side of the observing floor. The light switch is a dial just inside the main door on the right as you will find:enter. The switch for the observing floor fluorescent lights is just inside the hobbit door to this room at the top of the stairs.

* A PC running The dome must be closed when any of the following weather limits is reached:* '''Telescope Control Software (TCS)Humidity''' for acquisition and guiding: T_external - T_dew ≤ 1. Associated with this are a second monitor on a shelf (which displays the target and telescope coordinates, etc.) and 5* '''hand paddleWind speed''': 60 km/h* '''Heavy cloud''' for fine adjustment of the telescope coordinates while acquiring an object.

The following should be used for regular monitoring of external conditions while observing:* A black & white printer. Print commandDIMM seeing data and all the weather stations on the plateau are summarised on [http: //suthweather.saao.ac.za this page]* For assessing sky conditions, SALT and LCO operate '''lpr -Ppr30in ''filename''all sky cameras''', also available on the website above.

* A '''duty technician''' phone number list, on the wall[[File:limits.png|1200px|frameless]]* Laminated facility '''start1.0-up and shutdown recipes'''.* Assorted notices providing information on '''m telescope observing limits, weather resources''', etc.

===== Log books, almanacs, etc. ===Start-up recipe ==

In Follow this procedure to prepare the warm room, in labelled boxfiles on a shelf above the TCS monitor, you will find the following resources to help with your observationstelescope and dome for observing:

* 1. '''Users' guides''' for Check the TCS, STE3weather conditions [https:/STE4, SHOC and the retired UCT CCD, which contains useful information about the online reductions programme for STE3/4suthweather.saao.* A triplicate ac.za/ here]'''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 '''Sutherland Almanac''', including bright stars, sunsetwindspeed <60km/rise h and twilight times, phases of the moon, etcT-T_dew > 1.* A catalogue of photometric '''standard stars'''.* An A4 sheet entitled '''Sutherland 5 (see [[#Observing Record'''limits|observing limits]]), on which to log the duration of observations, time lost, etc. each nightcontinue with step 2.

# A '''telephone''' and a list of internal extensions and emergency numbers (please request a phone code on arrival if you wish to call outside SAAO)3. The following numbers apply:* Extension number: '''9108''' (to phone from within Switch off the observatory)* To phone the dome from outside: '''023 100 0222''' (+27 23 100 0222 from outside South Africa)[[# A new '''stereo''' compatible with iPods and iPhones, and plays CDs, MP3s from DVDs and USB devices, and has a radio.# An '''air-conditioning unit''', the controls for which are behind the instrument PC, on the wall inside the small door.# Assorted desk '''lamps'''.# A portable '''heaterLight switches|lights]]''' under everywhere except in the deskwarm room.

Please do 4. Check that '''notTelescope Power Control''' plug lamps or heaters into (on the UPS sockets!wall just inside the front door) is set to '''PLC'''. If not, [[#Contact numbers|call a technician]].

The dome must be closed when any of the following weather limits is reached:* '''Humidity''': T_external - T_dew ≤ 16.5* Check that '''Wind speedSMD''': 60 km/h. Dome must be parked is '''facing into the windoff'''.* '''Heavy cloud'''

The following should be used for regular monitoring of external conditions while observing:* DIMM seeing data and all the weather stations on the plateau are summarised on this page [[http://suthweather.saao.ac.za/]]* For assessing sky conditions, SALT and LCOGT operate '''bf all sky camerasOn the TCS:''', also available on the website above.

The operational limits of the telescope are depicted in Figure~\ref{fig-limits}7. Please keep an eye on the instrument whenslewing the telescope to ensure that it doesn't strike ''Request TCS control''' by clicking the piergrey "FLOOR" button. It will turn blue and say "TCS".

If the telescope reaches the limits, the drive motors will cut out, dome rotation will be disabled, an alarm will sound and a red light will flash on the grey box on the East side of the North pier. To recover, turn the override key on the grey box, switch the drives to FAST mode and slew the telescope away from the limits8. Switch '''Be very sure that you know which way to slew, as the telescope can be moved in any direction when the override key is turned.Telescope Power on''' If in doubt, call a technician(red "Telescope Power is Off" button turns green).

<gallery>limits9.jpg|1'''Open the dome shutters''' by clicking the "DOME" pulldown menu and selecting "Shutter OPEN". The dome indicator on the top right will turn green.0-m telescope observing limits</gallery>

Follow this procedure to prepare the 12. Turn '''telescope and dome for observing:tracking on''' by clicking the red "Tracking is OFF" button. It will turn green. 13. '''Initialise autoguider XY-slides''' by clicking the "Initialise" button on the bottom right. 14. If necessary, '''position the windblind''' using the appropriate button on the "DOME" pulldown menu.

# '''Check the weather conditions}. If they are within the limits specified in Section~\ref{sec-weather}, continue with step 2[[File:TCSpanel.jpg|700px|frameless]]# Enter dome and {\bf hook both doors open} to allow good air circulation.# '''Switch on the main power switch''', just inside the door on the right.# '''Switch off the lights in the foyer''' using the switches to the right of the stairs. # '''Switch off any other downstairs lights''' (kitchen, toilet, etc.).# '''Switch off the observing floor incandescent lights''' (switch at top of stairs) '''and fluorescent lights''' (switch inside '''small''' door to warm room).# On the blue console on the North pier, '''switch on the telescope power and enable Auto Dome'''. # '''Request control''' at the grey Observing Floor Control Panel by the North pier. (A hardware key to enable floor control is available from standby technician)# '''Open the dome shutters''' by pressing the appropriate red button on the Observing Floor Control Panel. Hold the button in until the shutters stop moving and the beep sounds.# If necessary, '''lower the windblind''' using the appropriate button on the Observing Floor Control Panel.# '''Open the mirror covers''' by pushing the appropriate button below the mirror cell.# '''Switch on the coordinate repeater monitors''' beside the North pier and in the control room above the TCS.status panel

The guide mirror must be {\bf '''out of the beam} ''' for:

The guide mirror can be moved in and out of the beam by clicking the large button above the "XY Slides Control" box on the TCS screen. If the button is red and says "GUIDE MIRROR IS IN BEAM", clicking it will move the mirror, turning the button green and changing the message to "GUIDE MIRROR IS OUT OF BEAM". The converse is also true.

If the TCS PC is alive and responding but the programme is not running, it can be started by double-clicking on the TCS icon on the desktop and entering the password in the pop-up box (consult local technical staff for the password). You should then follow steps 1 and 2 in Section~\ref{sec-tcsnormalstart}. 

Please [[#Contact numbers|call the duty electronics technician using ]]. === If the phone number displayed in TCS-web interface is not responding === If the warm roomTCS-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 browser, click here [http://remoteops1desk.suth.saao.ac.za:5001/ TCS-Web]. [[File:WebUser-Control.jpeg|600px|frameless]]

# 1. Follow the start-up procedure described in Sections 1 and 2 of the "[https://cloudcape.saao.ac.za/index.php/s/9QgG2QpI3GSnoO8|SAAO~CCD Camera Control Program, version 1.2", by J. W. Menzies, available in the warm room and on this page: [[http://www].saao.ac.za/observing/operating-manuals/]]

# 2. Initialise the filter wheels, move to the desired filter and adjust the prebin or window setting, if required.# 3. Take a bias frame (run a single line module with Repeats=1, Image Type=Bias and Save=Yes) and '''check that it saves to:

(Note: The data is initially written to the local disk on imag40 (/data/ccd/image/xyxannnxxxx.fits). An rsync job runs on asuthastro suthastro every 15 seconds which moves the data onto the SAN. This is accessible from the thin client, logged in as ccd40 in /data/40in/imag40/YYYY/MMDD. === SHOC === Follow the instructions on the [https://topswiki.saao.ac.za/index.php/SHOC SHOC wiki].

== Observing recipes: sky flats & dome flats ==

If sky conditions are photometric during morning/evening twilight, you will be able to take sky flats. See Section~\ref{sec-domeflats} if you need dome flats. Sky flats can be obtained in the following way:# Follow the '''[[#Start-up recipe|facility start-up''' procedure in Section~\ref{sec-facstartup}]].# Follow the appropriate '''[[#Instrument start-up procedure|instrument setup''' procedure (Section~\ref{sec-inststartup})]].

# '''With STE3/STE4''', click "Expose", create a module, select "Flat" for the image type, and "Sky" from the pulldown menu beside it. Keep the count rates between 20000 and 50000. Remember to select "Yes" under "Save to Disk". Snapshots can be used to gauge integration times and can be saved to disk if appropriate. Section~\ref{sec-SAAOskyflats} gives Below is a [[#Sky flat recipe for STE3/4: Modules |recipe for taking sky flats]]. See Section~4 of [https://www.saao.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/SAAOCCDmanual.pdf "SAAO~CCD Camera Control Program, version 1.2", by J. W. Menzies, ] for more detailed instructions on setting up a module.

==== Sky flat recipe for the STE3/STE44: Modules ====

Since all exposures with the SAAO~CCD STE3/4 must be performed via a module (except for snapshots), it may seem challenging to set up and edit modules quickly enough to obtain sufficient sky flats during twilight. However, you can do this pretty quickly using the following example:

# '''Before twilight''', set up a module for your first filter and an exposure time of 1s (do not go below 1~s1s), with 1 repeat.# For evening twilight, perform [[#Start-up recipe|steps 1-4 11 of Section~\ref{secthe start-sky} up recipe]] to setup the telescope and facility prior to sunset.# Click the small grey "On" button below the SAAO CCD image display.

Follow the facility start-up procedure in Section~\ref{sec-facstartup}.# Using the Astronomical Almanac or Sutherland Almanac, select a bright star ($\sim 4^{\rm th}$~mag) near If you have trouble finding your science target (ideally within RA~30m -- and dec~10°).# Check that you have checked the target equinox and bright star selected are within coordinates have been entered correctly into the observing limits given in Section~\ref{secTCS -limits}- the problem may be the pointing. An offset can be determined for that part of the sky using the following procedure:

'''On #Follow the TCS''':facility [[#Start-up recipe|start-up procedure]].# Using the Astronomical Almanac or Sutherland Almanac, select a bright star (~4th mag) near your science target (ideally within RA~30m and dec~10°).# Check that the target and bright star selected are within the [[#Telescope pointing limits|observing limits]].

 '''At the blue console by the North pier:'''# Switch Click "TARGET" and type the central toggle switches to FAST.# Use the yellow RA \& Dec buttons to slew to of the bright starinto the appropriate boxes, watching both ends of then click "Auto" for automatic slewing. If nothing happens, check that you have completed the telescope as well as the coordinate display monitor. You should point to within 30s (RA) and 1[[#Start-up recipe|start-2 arcmin (dec) of your target coordinatesup procedure]].# Switch The auto slew can be cancelled by clicking the central toggle switches to SLOW to commence tracking"Manual" or "Stop Tel. + Dome" button.  '''Back at the TCS:'''

# Use the hand paddle arrow buttons in the lower left of the TCS display for fine adjustment of the telescope to the star's coordinates, while watching the image display for to centre the bright star to appear.# If the bright star is not apparentdoesn't appear, first check the equinox and coordinates are correct, then adjust "Exp Time" to ~10s and look for light from the star beaming in from one side of the image, revealing its position. Looking through the finderscope might help determine in which direction to move the telescope. If this fails, reduce the exposure time and scan the field systematically in RA & Dec.# Once the bright star appears, select the minimum exposure time, centre the star on the image and click "P" by the target Target button.

# The RA & Dec zeropoints will be displayed in the message box. Note them down with the HA \& Dec as you will need to re-enter them using "ZERO POINTS" → "Enter Zeros Directly" if the TCS software is restarted, or if you return to this part of the sky after using different zeropoints in a different position. You do not need different zeropoints for different equinoxes. There is no need to note the collimation coefficient as it is ignored by the pointing model.

=== Acquiring a target ===

# Follow the facility [[#Start-up recipe|start-up procedure in Section~\ref{sec-facstartup}]].# Check that the selected target is within the observing [[#Telescope pointing limits given in Section~\ref{sec-|observing limits}]].

 '''At the blue console by the North pier:'''# Switch Click "TARGET" and type the central toggle switches to FAST.# Use the yellow RA & Dec buttons to slew to of the targetinto the appropriate boxes, watching both ends of then click "Auto" to slew. (If you cannot see a "TARGET" button, click the telesope as well as "O" in the coordinate display monitor. You should point to within 30s (RA) and 1left-2 arcmin (dec) of your target coordinates.# Switch hand corner below the central toggle switches to SLOW to commence tracking"SET EQUINOX" box.  '''Back at the TCS:''')

# Use the hand paddle arrow buttons in the bottom left of the display for fine adjustment of the telescope to the target's coordinates while watching the image display for to centre the target field to appear. Comparison with an $8 \times 8$~8x8 arcmin finderchart is most helpful. # The position should be accurate if you have followed the [[#Determining pointing offsets using a bright star|this procedure in Section~\ref{sec-brightstar}]], so check your zeropoints. If not, adjust "Exp Time" to search for patterns in fainter stars to compare with your finderchart. If this fails, then reduce the exposure time and scan the field by systematically adjusting RA & Dec. # Once the target is identified, move the guide mirror out of beam and position it on the image display such that it falls target on the centre of the science CCD(STE3/4 or SHOC).

* Take a snapshot (STE3/4) or preview (SHOC) to check the positioning of the target on the detector and adjust using the handsetarrow buttons on the TCS.

* '''For a short run of short exposures''', you may set up a module (STE3/4 - see [https://www.saao.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/SAAOCCDmanual.pdf "SAAO~CCD Camera Control Program , version 1.2", by J.W. Menzies]) and begin to observe

* '''For a long run or for exposures ≥100s, you should locate a guide star and setup set up the autoguider before integrating on your target.

=== Finding a guide star & autoguiding ===

'''On the ltsp PCTCS:# Move the '''guide mirror out of beam'''.* Open a terminal # In "Exposures & Guiding" set "ExpTime" ~2s (adjust as necessary).# Ensure that the XY slides have been initialised (click "Initialise" under XY slides control).# Open the guide star software (the black screen icon of a star with a long tail).# Enter coordinates of the field and click "GET IMAGE". A window should appear displaying a DSS image.# Click on a bright star outside of the top menu panelgreen circle in the DSS image. NOTE: this chart is centred on the given coordinates. If you have adjusted the position of the target to be away from the centre of the acquisition frame, there will be the same offset in the selected guide star.# 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: this will center it (just moving the XY stages, and not affecting the science target).* Type '''cd /usr/local/saao/40inGuiders'''# To stop or restart guiding (e.g. after brief intervals of cloud), press GUIDE.* Type '''source runit'''# To change exposure times, select exposure time from the drop down menu under Expose.

'''In the DS9 interface that pops up:'''* From the "Analysis" pull-down menu, select "DSS Server".* In the "DSS Server" window, click on the "DSS Server" menu and select either "DSS@STSCI" or "DSS@ESO". SAO no longer connects.* Enter RA & Dec of target (using colons to separate coordinate units) in 20'x20' field of view and click "RETRIEVE". * Once the field image loads with the target in the centre, choose a relatively bright star outside the circle. Place the mouse cursor over the star and read off the {\bf XY slide} coordinates in the grey info area above the image. '''On the TCS:'''* With the '''guide mirror in beam''', click on "Move XY", then on the target star position in the acquisition image, then on "Zero XY". This centres the field on the target so that the XY slide coordinates will be compatible with those you read off DS9 for the guide star.* Move the '''guide mirror out of beam'''.* In "Exposures & Guiding" set "ExpTime" ~2s (adjust as necessary).* In "XY Slides Control", click "Go To" and enter X and Y slide coordinates of chosen guide star from DS9.* In "Pointers" click "XY+Win+G" then click the chosen guide star. This will centre the guide star on the image, window the chip and begin guiding.* To stop or restart guiding (e.g. after brief intervals of cloud), press "GUIDE".  === TCS operations at the end of an observation ===

=== End of night shutdown Closing in bad weather ===If any of the weather limits is reached during the night, '''perform these steps first, in this order''':

The usual # '''Close mirror covers''' ("DOME" pulldown menu, "Mirror CLOSE"). Check that mirror indicator turns red & shows "CLOSED"# '''Close dome shutters''' ("DOME" pulldown menu, "Dome CLOSE"). Check that dome indicator turns red & shows "CLOSED"# Continue with the [[#Normal shutdown procedure at the end of the night is given |remaining steps below. This list is printed on a laminated sign displayed in the warm room for quick reference]].

# Stop instrument & autoguider exposures (TCS PC).# Initialise XY-slides (TCS PC).# Park telescope at HA= -1h, Dec = 0° in FAST mode (blue console).# Switch Dome to MANUAL (blue console).# Close mirror covers (telescope).# Close dome shutters (Observing floor control panel - listen for beep).# Lower wind blind (if appropriate - Observing floor control panel).# Switch OFF telescope power (blue console).# Switch OFF facility power at exit.= Normal shutdown ===

=== Closing in bad weather ==='''On TCS PC:'''If any 1. '''Stop autoguider exposures''' ("STOP" on bottom left of the weather limits display) 2. '''Initialise XY-slides''' ("INITIALISE" on bottom left) 3. '''Turn off tracking''' ("Tracking is reached during the nightOFF" button turns red, green "SLOW" indicators turn red to "FAST") 4. '''perform these steps firstPark telescope''' (you may need to slew the click "TARGET" then "PARK"). Ensure telescope to areaches HA= -1h, Dec = 0°suitable position in order to access the 5. '''Close mirror covers''' ("DOME" pulldown menu, "Mirror CLOSE"). Check that mirror indicator turns red & shows "CLOSED" 6. '''Close dome shutters''' ("DOME" pulldown menu, "Dome CLOSE"). Check that dome indicator turns red & shows "CLOSED" 7. '''Park dome''' ("DOME" pulldown menu, "Dome PARK") 8. '''Switch dome to manual''' ("AUTO" button on top right turns red and shows "MAN") 9. Lower wind blind (if appropriate, from "DOME" pulldown menu) 10. Switch '''Telescope Power OFF''' using red power button  If observing in Sutherland (if working remotely this will be done by on-site technicians), '''on wall-mounted mimic panel:''' 11. Turn '''Lockout ON''' (turn switch clockwise) 12. Check that '''SMD''' is '''off''' '''On instrument PC:''' 13. Stop exposures

# Close mirror covers.# Close dome shutters (listen for beep).# Continue with the remaining steps in Section~\ref{sec-end}14.SHOC: turn off camera

If using STE3 or STE4, please fill in the triplicate CCD Camera log book for each image obtained, pressing hard enough for your words to register on all three sheets. If you are using SHOC, there is no such logso you should note all the relevant information in e.g. a spreadsheet for your records.

* CCD temp: This refers to the ``"Cu Block'' " temperature reported in the ``"Temperature'' " section of the instrument status panel of the STE3/4 CCD Camera Control software.

* Run number: This is a 3-digit number that will apply to your data for the duration of your observing run (unlike the UCT~CCD convention). It will be prefixed to your image files, which will be named annnxxxx.fits, where nnn is the run number, xxxx is the file number. To determine your run number, check the previous run number in the log book and add 1.

* Guide star X Y: these are the XY-slide coordinates of the guide star used for each observation. Read them from the TCS ``"XY Slides Control'' " window while guiding, as they are not necessarily identical to the values you read from DS9.

* Remarks: Any applicable notes, e.g. the RA \& Dec zeropoints for the specific coordinates used.

== Current known issues (last updated Nov 2013)==

Dec zeropoint ("): 41  ==Webcam==There is a webcam display that should be visible at all times for viewing and listening to the telescope while observing.

 This is the account you will need to login with using the Download and install Foscam appfrom here:

'''Username:''' adminoperator

'''PW:''' Ask IT40incam