== Recent Updates ==
* '''October 2023: a new autoguider system has been commissioned on SpUpNIC''', which means that '''SpUpNIC users now need to log into a new TCS PC, tcs74v4.suth'''. For the time being, HiPPo users will continue to use tcs74v3.suth. This is phase one of the project to install an instrument selector on the 1.9m, that will allow both SpUpNIC and SHOC, or HiPPo and SHOC, to be mounted together on the telescope. The new autoguider operates slightly differently from the old one - changes include:
** It is no longer necessary to initialise the XY slides at the start of the night, only if there is a fault, in which case the "Reset" and "Initialize" buttons will turn red, and should be clicked in that order.
** The XY slides centre position is no longer (0, 0) but (7000, 55000). The new "Center" button is now used to bring the XY slides back to that position, no longer the "Initialize" button.
** A '''red marker position of (358, 340)''' is a good place to start in centring an object on SpUpNIC's slit.
** An autoguider camera focus value of 5300 is a good starting point with SpUpNIC.
** It is currently necessary to kill the guide star finderchart image display box on the TSC, before pressing "Read" to import the target coordinates from SpUpNIC in order to load the new guide star finder.
** The area within the green circle on the finderchart no longer marks the usable guide star region - guide stars within parts of the circle are accessible to the XY slides. The XY slide ranges are (0 < X < 14000, 0 < Y < 91000).
** The new guide camera field is larger and the chip has far fewer hot pixels to upset the guiding.
* '''October 2023''' - the '''windblind is still out of action'''. Its refurbishment is at the design review stage.
== Emergency Stops ==
Before proceeding any further please familiarize yourself with the emergency stops throughout the facility and on the TCS. There are two hardware emergency stops: one located on the control room mimic panel and another on the control panel on the dome floor. These buttons will stop ALL telescope and dome movements including the dome shutters and tracking (slow motion drive). Control can only be re-enabled once the emergency stop button has been released by twisting it out of its pressed in position. During an emergency stop the telescope control software (TCS) will display an emergency message. Feel free to test the emergency stop buttons.
* ''Manual'' On the dome control panel, press "local" to get control and then press "WINDBLIND LOWER"
12. Initialise Set dome to Auto: press red "Man" button above shutter OPEN indicator on TCS. 13. Center the '''XY-slides''' (TCS).
==TCS Shutdown checklist==
1. '''Stop instrument and autoguider exposures'''.
2. Initialise Center '''XY-slides''' (TCS)
3. Switch OFF the '''slow motion drive/tracking''': Button should go from green to red.
1. '''Stop instrument and autoguider exposures'''.
2. Initialise Center '''XY-slides''' (TCS)
3. Switch OFF the '''slow motion drive/tracking SMD''' on the mimic control panel in the control room
1. Check that <big>'''COORDINATE EQUINOX'''</big> is set to that of your target coordinates (otherwise, type it under "SET EQUINOX" and press ENTER on the keyboard).
2. Click <big>'''TARGET and input the RA & DEC'''</big> (hh mm ss dd mm ss). Select If using SpUpNIC and you have a target selected in the SpUpNIC Control, clicking '''Read''' will import the coordinates. Click '''Auto''' for automatic slewing. The TCS will perform several tests before accepting your target request and slewing the telescope:
* Dome must be in '''Auto''' mode.[[File:Auto_ready.png|frame|20px]]
* Telescope must be under '''TCS''' control.
* '''Identify the target''' in the image display by comparing to a finder chart and making fine adjustments in RA & Dec using the handset or the TCS GUI handset.
* Place the target at the location on the image display corresponding to the desired position on the<big> '''science instrument'''</big>.
* Ensure that XY slides have been initializedcentered. (Click "InitializeCenter" under XY slides control). This should have been done before acquiring target.
Note the next steps are generalizations. Details may vary depending on the instrument being used.
7. Once the star is well positioned on the science detector, <big>'''select a guide star'''</big>.
* Enter coordinates of the target field in the guide star software and click '''GET IMAGE'''. Alternatively, if you are using SpUpNIC and have a target selected in SpUpNIC Control, press "READ". A window should appear with a 10x10 arcmin DSS map. In order to save time, this step could have been done earlier whilst telescope was slewing.
* Click on a brightish star ''outside'' of the green circle in the DSS image.
**NOTE: this chart is centered on the coordinates. If you have substantially 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 software will automatically choose the chosen guide most appropriate star in the acquisition camera FOV. This will and put a dark blue box (guide point) centered of the starupon it.
* Press '''GUIDE''' on the ''Exposures & Guiding'' box to start 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 effecting the science target).
3. In '''Exposures & Guiding''':
* Move GUIDE MIRROR IN BEAM by clicking on that box. Alternatively, if using SpUpNIC, click on the guide mirror in the instrument schematic on the SpUpNIC Control GUI to move the mirror.
* Click '''Expose''' and select exposure time from drop-down menu to start images.
* Under “Image Options” select the preferred LUT and SCALE.
9. Once the star is well positioned on the science detector, select a guide star.
* Ensure that XY slides have been initializedcentered. (Click "InitializeCenter" under XY slides control).
* 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.
**NOTE: this chart is centered on the coordinates. 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 software will automatically choose the chosen guide most appropriate star in the acquisition camera FOV. This will and put a dark blue box around (guide point) upon it.* Press GUIDE on the star and begin Exposures & Guiding box to start 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 effecting the science target).
* To stop or restart guiding (e.g. after brief intervals of cloud), press GUIDE.
==Instrument Focus Settings==
Approximate focus values for each of the instruments are listed here. Make further adjustments on target.
SpUpNIC: ~2200
SHOC" ~1900 (~1940 with focal reducer)
HIPPO: ~2120
GIRAFFE: ~2090
HIPPO: ~2120
SHOC" ~1900 (~1940 with focal reducer; guide camera ~ 680)
SpUpNIC: ~2200
STE3/4: ~2090 (~ 2120 with focal reducer)
= Telescope =
* Report any problems on [https://faultreports.saao.ac.za/ the fault reports page].
* Give feedback at the end of your observing run: http://www.saao.ac.za/science/observing/feedback/.
* Fill in Download a copy of the [httphttps://wwwdocs.saaogoogle.ac.zacom/wp-contentspreadsheets/uploadsd/sites10w7tO4W3YR8kApaT-8jMN8QfUbGRi0fiHtWzl_NjRBY/5/observing_record.pdf edit?usp=sharing Sutherland Observing Record] and fill it in each night (paper copies in the dome).* For GIRAFFE, SpUpNIC, or STE3/4GIRAFFE: if observing from the dome, please fill in the triplicate Log Book for each exposure, else keep your own logs/spreadsheet.
== Call out list==
'''Telescope software issues:''' standby **113 (0829034869021 201 5178) or 9118
'''Electronics Issues:''' standby **103 (0767895131021 201 5179) or 9117
'''Mechanical Issues:''' standby **104 (07678951232021 201 5180)
= Current known issues (last updated Nov 2013)=
'''==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.
==Crash GUI fails to open when clicking icon==
Currently untested, but from SBP in the fault reports August 2019.
1) Exit the crash_limits software if it is running (presumably it is not)
2) Exit the TCS (Obviously do this during a convenient gap in observations, remember to stop acquisition exposures before exiting)
3) open an xterm
4) type "mv live.dat live.temp"
5) restart TCS
6) restart crash_limits software
==Webcam==* Download and install Foscam app from here:
[https://itunes.apple.com/za/app/foscam/id924381688?mt=8 App Store]
[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.foscam.foscam&hl=en Android]
* Login to the Foscam app with the following details:
'''Email:''' it@saao.ac.za
'''PW:''' Ask IT
This is the account you will need to login with using the Foscam app:
[https://itunes.apple.com/za/app/foscam/id924381688?mt=8 App Store]=Internet Explorer access only==
['''URL:''' https://play74incam.googlesuth.com/store/apps/details?id=comsaao.foscamac.foscam&hl=en Android]za
'''Username:''' operator (or admin)
'''URL:''' https://74incam.suth.saao.ac.za <-- This only works from Internet Explorer '''Username:''' admin '''PWPassword:''' Ask IT/astronomer