Changes
/* Filters */
== Current status and issues ==
Things to be aware of at the 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]].
== Where to find the information you need ==
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: http://www.saao.ac.za/observing/operating-manuals * "1.0-m Telescope Control Software: A User's Guide" by Stephen Potter & Hannah Worters * [https://www.saao.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/SAAOCCDmanual.pdf "SAAO CCD Camera Control Program, version 1.2" by J. W. Menzies] * [https://shoc.saao.ac.za/Documents/ShocnHelpful.pdf "SHOC User Guide", by Rocco Coppejans] – contains useful instrument info, but new software described on SHOC wiki
* [https://topswiki.saao.ac.za/index.php/SHOC SHOC wiki]
* [https://shoc.saao.ac.za/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 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.
In the warm room, you will find:
* '''For STE3 or STE4''', a monitor at the leftright-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.
* A black & white printer. Print command: '''lpr -Ppr40in ''filename'''''
===== Log books, etc. =====
* '''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|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).
* Tall and short '''wheeled ladders''' for hanging the weight and for accessing the reset buttons on the Merlin transputer crates. Make sure the ladders are clear of the telescope while observing (the taller ladder is usually stored on the West side of the observing floor under the catwalk, the other is pushed to the East side of the North pier).
*'''STE3/STE4''' has its own blue '''instrument Merlin crate''' mounted to the cylindrical dewar. There is a red reset button on the side of the crate that should be pressed if the instrument control software hangs, crashes or reports a "Merlin error". There is no need for observers to fill the dewar with liquid nitrogen; this is done by technicians in the morning and afternoon.
* '''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.
=== Filters ===
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.'''
=== The old warm room ===
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.
Please [[#Contact numbers|call the duty electronics technician]].
=== If the TCS-web interface is not responding ===
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 browser, click here [http://remoteops1desk.suth.saao.ac.za:5001/ TCS-Web].
[[File:WebUser-Control.jpeg|600px|frameless]]
== Instrument start-up procedure ==
=== 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:
=== Sky 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 [[#Start-up recipe|facility start-up procedure]].
# Follow the appropriate [[#Instrument start-up procedure|instrument setup 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]].
# '''Initialise''' the XY-slides.
# Move the '''guide mirror into the beam'''.
# 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]].
# '''Initialise''' the XY-slides.
# Move the '''guide mirror into the beam'''.
# Type the '''equinox''' of the target coordinates into the "SET EQUINOX" box and press "ENTER" on the keyboard.
# Set "Exp Time" to ~2-4s and "WINDOW" to "Full frame" to take images with the acquisition camera.
# 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 8x8 arcmin finderchart is most helpful.
# The position should be accurate if you have followed [[#Determining pointing offsets using a bright star|this procedure]], 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).
* '''For STE4''', position the star approximately on coordinates (210, 270) of the TCS image display, to coincide with the centre of the science detector (for '''STE3''', approximately (180,190)).
'''On the instrument PC:'''
* 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.
* Using '''STE3/4''', video mode can be invoked by clicking "Snapshot", entering an integration time, selecting "Video" and clicking "Ready". It can be stopped by clicking "Snapshot" and "Stop". Video mode automatically prebins the CCD, so remember to change back to 1x1 afterwards, if appropriate.
'''or'''
* '''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 ===
'''At the end of an observation:'''
* In "XY Slides Control", click "STOP" to cease A/G camera integrations.
* In "XY Slides Control", click "Initialize" to home the XY slides.
== Shutdown procedures ==
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)
== STE3/STE4: CCD Camera log book ==
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.
The fields are explained as follows:
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.
Login to the Foscam app with the following details:
'''Email:''' it@saao.ac.za
'''PW:''' Ask IT
[https://itunes.apple.com/za/app/foscam/id924381688?mt=8 App Store]
'''URL:''' https://40incam.suth.saao.ac.za <-- This only works from Internet Explorer
'''Username:''' adminoperator
'''PW:''' Ask IT40incam