Lesedi is a 1-metre, Alt-Az, f/8, Ritchey-Chretien telescope built by [http://www.apm-telescopes.de APM Telescopes], and installed in the dome that previously housed SAAO's 30-inch Grubb Parsons equatorial. There are two Nasmyth foci, each with an instrument rotator and identical corrector optics. This page describes the facility and its operation.
== Current status and issues ==
Things to be aware of at the current time:
# The alt-az slew command has a liiittle bug and can't be used from the browser TCS just yet (the RA-Dec slew command is fine, so this doesn't affect observations).
== Contact numbers ==
Extension number: 9109 (to phone from within the observatory)
<!--To phone the dome from outside: 023 100 0 0230 (+27 23 100 0 0230 from outside South Africa)
-->
The control room, or "warm room", is the door on the right-hand side, opposite the kitchen. It contains an air-conditioned server room and has the following resources at your disposal:
* A PC on the left-hand side of the desk ("lesedi-nuc") for running the telescope and instrument control systems. * A PC on the right ("ioserver1") that runs the backend control software. '''Observers should not interact with this PC - it should only be used to display the weather page.'''
* Several network cables and power sockets for use with laptops.
* Lights on a dimmer switch (push and hold to adjust the brightness) and a desk lamp.
* An air conditioner to heat or cool the room.
* A stereo compatible with iPods and iPhones, and plays CDs, MP3s from DVDs and USB devices, and has a radio.
* A phone (you'll need a PIN from IT to dial out, but not for internal or standby numbers).
=== The Observing Floor ===
* '''Dome control console''' at the North end of the pier.
* '''Dome lockout switch''' beside the dome control console at the North end of the pier. '''Note that this does not lock out the telescope, only hardware. It disables the domeand the browser TCS functions.''' Lockout The lockout should be switched on (a red light on the box will flash) if people are working on the domeobserving floor, otherwise left off.
=== The Telescope ===
The Nasmyth ports are identified as left and right, defined from the point of view of someone standing behind the parked telescope, i.e. looking at the back of the primary mirror cell. SHOC Mookodi is mounted on the right-hand port, and Sibonise will be is being commissioned on the left. Future instruments (Mookodi (a low-resolution spectrograph incorporating a high-speed imager to replace SHOC) and a A future fibre-fed echelle) will be co-mounted on an instrument selector on the right-hand port. A software-controlled, motorised tertiary mirror allows an instrument on either port to be selected in seconds.
The telescope is parked facing East, the dome to the West. There shouldn't be any need for manual interaction with the telescope during the night, but you should ensure that the observing floor is clear of ladders and other obstacles before moving the telescope, and that the mirror covers are closed before opening the dome.
<br clear=all>
[[File:LesediAnnotatedDomeAnnotatedDome_20220216.png|250px800px|left|thumb|View of the observing floor from the Mobotix webcam, with telescope and dome both in their respective park positions.]]
<br clear=all>
* The [http://10.2.50.12 Mobotix] camera sees the full observing floor, but has no sound.
* The [https://unifivideo.suth.saao.ac.za:7443/cameras UniFi] camera should be used to listen out for things that go bump in the night. It sees the shutters, the top half of the telescope and half the observing floor, and the dome can be rotated to view the opposite half. '''The UniFi webcam must be viewed in Chrome/Chromium (not Firefox) for the sound to work.'''
=== Filters === At presentBoth webcams are mounted on the dome, SHOC has one 8-position filter wheel, containing UBVRI, a clear filter which can be rotated to match the focus view specific areas of the Bessell filters, and two empty slots. The SHOC software identifies the filter in each position. '''Filters must not be removed from the filter wheelobserving floor.'''
== Observing limits ==
* DIMM 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 '''all-sky cameras''', also available on the website above.
* ATLAS has an [https://fallingstar.com/weather/ excellent all-sky camera], which is much more effective than the others during twilight. (Scroll right on their page to the section labelled "STH".)
== Telescope pointing limits ==
Lesedi can safely point between 30° and 89° above the horizon, at any azimuth. There are no obstructions in the dome to be aware of (assuming the observing floor has been checked for ladders etc).
If the telescope reaches an altitude limit, it will simply stop tracking and can be pointed to a new position. Note that the TCS will not warn you that the limit has been reached, but you will see the RA & Dec changing and the Alt & Az not. The azimuth rotation is limited to a range of 400° in order to avoid twisting the cables that pass through the pier. It is therefore possible to encounter an azimuth limit while tracking, but this should be rare because the limits are in the West. If a limit is reached, the telescope should automatically "unwind" by 360° in azimuth and continue tracking (if it doesn't, simply repoint the telescope), but in an effort to avoid this scenario, . If the telescope is programmed would land within 40° of an azimuth limit when slewed to a target, it will instead "unwind" on pointing if an attempt is made to point within 40° of a avoid the limit.
== Telescope Control System (TCS ) Overview ==
The user interface is a web browser that communicates with Lesedi's underlying control software. The browser-based software will be referred to as the "TCS" and the back-end software as the "SiTech software". The SiTech software consists of seven GUIs that must be running in the background for the TCS to function. Ideally, these GUIs will remain running at all times and Observers must not interact with the user will SiTech software, only interact with the TCS. <br clear=all>[[File:LesediTCStwoTabOverview_20220215.png|thumb|850px|frame|left|The TCS user interface runs in a web browser. The functionality for routine observing is accessed from the Controls tab (left), while a second tab provides access to more Advanced functions (right). Warnings requiring action pop up in orange, and messages appear in white bubbles that can be cleared by clicking the "x". The emergency stop button, startup/shutdown button, LCU, timing info and dome schematic are always visible on both tabs.]]<br clear=all>
=== Safety ===
Note that there is no hardware lockout for the telescope (except for brackets that can be fitted to hold the telescope vertical vertically for e.g. primary mirror removal). All the subsystems' motors are brushless DC motors and remain powered up all the time; powering down the motors would leave the telescope and subsystems free to move under gravity or external forces (e.g. leaning on it). There is a '''dome lockout''', which is a physical switch in the dome that prevents the shutters and dome from moving. As a safety feature, '''the TCS disables all actions when the dome lockout is on''' and displays the warning shown in the image below. Before the telescope can be used from the TCS, you must ensure that it is safe to turn off the lockout, then do so using the switch at the North end of the pier in the dome. If observing remotely, you will need to call a technician to do this for you.<br clear=all>[[File:LesediTCSlockoutSnippet.png|400px|frame|left|This message on the TCS indicates that the dome is locked out and the TCS cannot be used. The dome must be checked for safety before switching off the lockout and continuing.]]<br clear=all>
=== Local Control Unit (LCU) === There is a local control unit (LCU) that has the ability to shutdown the facility under certain circumstances:* '''Weather''': the telescope will shutdown if meteorological limits are reached. Note that the LCU currently ignores the cloud monitor, which doesn't always give an accurate indication of cloud cover, so it is especially important to monitor for cloud yourself using the [https://fallingstar.com/weather/ all-sky cameras]. You won't be able to startup the telescope again until the weather is good again. * '''TCS connection''': the LCU will close up the telescope if the connection to the user's TCS browser is lost for more than 10 minutes. Therefore '''it is essential to reload the browser if you see a message informing you that the connection has been lost, else the telescope will shutdown of its own accord''', potentially ruining an observation. * '''LCU connection''': if the LCU drops out, then the telescope will also shutdown. During the verification period of the LCU, there are tick boxes available to override the LCU and weather shutdowns. Please don't tick the boxes unless you experience spurious shutdowns, and report the circumstances of those shutdowns. '''If the suthweather.saao.ac.za page is not updating, the LCU will not be able to read the weather and will close the dome''', so you will need to tick the weather override in this circumstance. '''Note that there is no way to override a loss of connection to the user's browser, so you always need to ensure that you reload the page if a connection warning appears on the TCS'''.<br clear=all>[[File:LesediTCSlockoutSnippetLCU_20220215.png|400px|This message frame|left|The LCU -- displayed on both tabs of the TCS indicates that the dome is locked out -- monitors weather and connections, and shuts down the TCS cannot be usedtelescope when certain criteria are met. The dome must be checked ]]<br clear=all>[[File:LCUwarning.png|300px|frame|left|In this instance, the weather page hadn't updated for safety before switching off more than 10 minutes, so the lockout and continuingLCU issued a shutdown.]]<br clear=all>
=== The Controls Tab ===
Below is a screenshot of the main "Controls" tab of the TCS, where everything required for routine observing is located. There is one other tab, for more rarely used "Advanced" functions. The Controls tab is split into four main panels: command of the telescope and instrument selection on the left; the status of each subsystem in the middle; time and positional information and the LCU on the upper right; and important buttons that need to be easily accessible on the bottom right. <br clear=all>[[File:LesediTCScontrolsTabAnnotated_20220216v4.png|thumb|850px|frame|left|The main Controls tab of the TCS indicates the status of all subsystems; displays the time, telescope and dome position; gives access to a target catalogue; and allows the user to slew and offset the telescope, adjust the focus focus and select the required instrument.]]<br clear=all>
==== Emergency Stop ====Clicking on the three vertical dots beside a subsystem displays a drop down list of further subsystem status info, as can be seen below "Dome" in the central panel of the screenshot above. The meaning behind the colour coding of subsystem status is as follows:
It is important to note the *'''Emergency StopGreen''' button: a subsystem or state is either selected (e.g. in the screenshot above, on the lower right of telescope the TCS display. It Mookodi instrument is always visible on both tabsselected), and will stop or is in the motion of the domecorrect state for observing (e.g. mirror covers open, dome shuttersopen, telescopetracking, rotators and secondary mirrordome tracking, rotator tracking).*'''Orange''': a subsystem is in an inappropriate state for observing. It will not stop the autoguider XY-slides, If the mirror covers or the tertiary mirror. The Emergency Stop button should be clicked if anything that is moving is going to cause a hazard. Once clickeddome shutters are closed, their indicators would turn orange; likewise if the Emergency Stop button will lights are switched on, their indicators would be toggled to read orange. *'''ResetBlue''', and you must ensure : a parameter that it has a range of permissible numerical values is safe to reset all the subsystems before pressing this button to continueindicated in blue, e.g. azimuth, RA, airmass, etc.
[[File:lesedi_control_observing==== Emergency Stop ==== It is important to note the '''Emergency Stop''' button on the lower right of the TCS display.png|none|1400px|The control tab It is always visible on both tabs, and will stop the motion of Lesedithe dome, shutters, telescope, rotators and secondary mirror. It will not stop the autoguider XY-slides, the mirror covers or the tertiary mirror. The Emergency Stop button should be clicked if anything that is moving is going to cause a hazard. Once clicked, the Emergency Stop button will be toggled to read 's TCS]]''Reset''', and you must ensure that it is safe to reset all the subsystems before pressing this button to continue. Call a technician if necessary.
==== The Startup button ====
The '''Startup''' button is not a "power-up" button, as everything all telescope subsystems should be powered up at all times. '''The Startup button should be used only when you intend to open up to observe, as it opens the domeand the mirror covers.''' '''If you don't want to run the full Startup procedure''' (e.g. because it's daytime and the dome should not open), but do need to interact with the telescope, individual subsystems can be commanded from the Advanced tab. Buttons on the Controls tab will work without running Startup (with the exception of Shutdown), though the telescope will need to be "unparked" from the Advanced tab before it can slew. The Startup button runs a script that performs the following tasks in this order:
# Take remote control of the dome
# Switch off fluourescent lights# Switch on slew fluorescent lights
# Open dome shutters
# Open mirror covers
# Unpark telescope so it can slew
# Set dome to track telescope
# Select SHOC Mookodi rotator
# Switch off the slew lights
You can watch the startup procedure from the webcamby turning on the slew lights in the Advanced tab. The While the procedure is running, the Startup button displays a revolving circle, and the indicators on the status panel on of the Controls tab is are updated with the appropriate colour as each subsystem is activated. Don't try to perform any other operation until the procedure is complete, when the text on the Startup button will be replaced with "Shutdown". The SHOC Mookodi rotator is automatically selected on startup to ensure that observations are not made with the tertiary mirror isn't in an unknown position. '''If you don't want to run the full Startup procedure''' (e.g. because it's daytime and the dome should not open), but do need so to interact with the telescope, individual subsystems can be commanded from the Advanced tab. Buttons on the Controls tab will work without running Startup (with the exception of Shutdown), though the telescope use Sibonise you will need to be "unparked" from select the Advanced tab before it can slewinstrument after the startup procedure has completed.
==== The Shutdown button ====
Once the Startup procedure is complete, the button will read '''Shutdown''', and should be used to close everything at the end of observing. The shutdown script essentially reverses the Startup procedure:
# Set the dome to remote control (in most scenarios it will already be in remote, but just as a precaution)
# Switch on slew lights
# Close mirror covers
# Close dome shutters
# Switch off fluorescent lights (likely to be off, but as a precaution)
Control of the dome is not given up, but it can be "taken" using the lockout in the dome. It is not necessary to lockout the dome after use; staff will use this function when working in the dome.
=== The Advanced Tab ===
The Advanced tab is made up of four panels, one for telescope-related functions including mirrors , most notably telescope park/unpark and coversmirror cover control; one for the selected instrument's rotator in current use; one for the dome, including lights; and the panel containing positional position and timing time information and vital buttons, replicated on from the Controls tab.<br clear=all>[[File:LesediTCSadvancedTab_20220215.png|thumb|850px|frame|left|The Advanced tab of the TCS facilitates lesser-used functions, such as standalone opening/closing the mirror covers/dome shutters, switching lights on/off and switching subsystem motors to auto mode.]]<br clear=all>
Green buttons indicate a state appropriate for observing. Below is an explanation of the features of the Advanced tab, from top to bottom, left to right:
'''Telescope''' panel:
* Park (alt=50° az=90°) or unpark the telescope (also turns tracking on) to enable it to slew.* Slew the telescope to specified alt-az coordinates. The This is not currently operational due to a bug that prevents the telescope will then start trackingfrom reaching the required position.* Start/stop the telescope tracking. Tracking should be on while observing, otherwise off. If you have pointed to a target from the Controls tab, the telescope will track automatically.
* Open/close the mirror covers. Covers should be open when observing, otherwise closed.
* Put the altaz, secondary and tertiary mirror motors in Auto mode. Motors should always be in Auto unless there is a fault. If a motor will not stay in Auto mode, call a technician.* Park (alt=50° az=90°) or unpark the telescope to enable it to slew.
'''Rotator''' panel:
* Turn tracking on/off for the rotator on which the instrument currently in use selected is mounted. Tracking is automatically disabled for the other rotator. Tracking "on" does not necessarily mean that the rotator is moving, but that it will move if the telescope is tracking. Rotator status can be found on the Controls tab, where the angle will be updating if the rotator is tracking.* Put the motor in Auto for the rotator currently in use. The motor should always be in Auto unless there is a fault. If it won't switch it to Auto, call a technician.
'''Dome''' panel:
* Take control of the dome (needed for all dome functions except controlling the slew lights)
* Rotate the dome to a specified azimuth
* Set the dome to start or stop tracking the telescope. Tracking should be on while observing, otherwise off.
* Switch the "Lights" on/off. This refers to the fluorescent lights mounted high in the dome.
* Switch on/off the slew lights. This refers to the dimmer lights mounted on the ring beam, that can be used to check on the telescope using the webcam.
* Take TCS control of the dome (needed for all dome functions except controlling the slew lights).
* Park the dome (az=270°).
* Open/close the dome shutters.
* Stop the dome rotation or and shutter movement.
'''Position/timingtime/vital functions''' panel:* The [[#Local Control Unit (LCU)|LCU]] monitors observing conditions, and has tick boxes to override some forms of shutdown.
* The schematic shows the shutter status (red=closed or moving, green=open) and position, and the telescope status (slewing=red, tracking=yellow) and altaz position. No indication of telescope presence implies that it has not tracked or slewed for the past 30 minutes.
* The time is displayed in SAST, UT, LST and Julian Date.
== Start-up recipes ==
=== Start-up : observing in Sutherland ===Follow this procedure to prepare the telescope and dome facility for observing from the dome in Sutherland:
# '''Check the weather conditions [https://suthweather.saao.ac.za/ here]'''. If windspeed <60km/h and ''T''-''T''<sub>dew</sub> > 1.5 (see [[#Observing limits|observing limits]]), continue with step 2.
# Check the observing floor and '''clear any obstacles''' (e.g. ladders) that may obstruct the telescope.
# '''Switch off the [[#Light switches|lights]]''' everywhere except in the warm room.
# Log into lesedi-nuc in the warm room (address, username & password in the User Resources google doc), open a browser and navigate to the [https://unifivideo.suth.saao.ac.za:7443/cameras webcam] and click "Live Feed". Adjust the PC's volume to ensure that you can hear the ambient noise in the dome.# Open a second browser window and navigate to the TCS (URL, username & password in the User Resources google doc).# Click the '''STARTUP''' button on the TCS. This will switch on the slew lights so you can watch it open the dome, baffle and mirror covers, and set the dome to follow the telescope, then switch off the slew lights. A blue progress circle will rotate on the button while all the commands are executed - don't try to send any other TCS commands until it disappears, indicating that the startup procedure is complete.# Select The startup procedure rotates the '''Instrument''' tertiary mirror to Mookodi, so if you require by clicking either SHOC or wish to use Sibonise click SIBONISE to the mid-left of the TCS display. The selected instrument name will turn green.# On the central panel of the TCS "Controls" tab, check for green indicators showing the status of each subsystem: Mirror covers = Open; Secondary & Tertiary mirror motors = Auto; Dome: Control = TCS and Tracking = On; and the relevant rotator for your chosen instrument Tracking = On and Motors = Auto.
=== Start-up : observing remotely ===
On-site technical staff should have checked the facility in the afternoon, clearing any obstacles, turning off the dome lockout and any lights that are not under software control.
# If you are not working on the SAAO network (i.e. not on site at SAAO in Cape Town), enable your SAAO VPN.# '''Check the weather conditions [https://suthweather.saao.ac.za/ here]'''. If windspeed <60km/h and T-T<sub>dew</sub> > 1.5 (see [[#Observing limits|observing limits]]), continue with step 23.# Open a Chrome or Chromium browser, navigate to the [https://unifivideo.suth.saao.ac.za:7443/cameras Unifi webcam], click "Live Feed" and check your volume level so you can hear sounds from the dome. Also # In another tab, open this [httpshttp://10.2.50.12 webcam] which gives a wider view of the observing floor.# Open another browser window and navigate to the TCS (URL, username & password in the Lesedi User Resources google doc).
# Navigate to the "Advanced" tab of the TCS, and in the central "Dome" section, turn the Slew Lights ON and check the webcam to see if observing floor is clear (if not, call the standby technician). Switch the Slew Lights OFF.
# Click the '''STARTUP''' button on the bottom right of the screen. This will switch on the slew lights so you can watch it open the dome, baffle and mirror covers, and set the dome to follow the telescope, then switch off the slew lights. A blue progress circle will rotate on the button while all the commands are executed - don't try to do anything else until it disappears, indicating that the startup procedure is complete.# On the TCS "Controls" tab, check that the '''Instrument''' you require is selected (highlighted in green to the mid-left of the display), and if not, click either SHOC MOOKODI or SIBONISE. SHOC MOOKODI is automatically selected on startup.
# On the central panel of the TCS "Controls" tab, check for green indicators showing the status of each subsystem: Mirror covers = Open; Secondary & Tertiary mirror motors = Auto; Dome: Control = TCS and Tracking = On; and the relevant rotator for your chosen instrument Tracking = On and Motors = Auto.
=== Instrument start-up ===
Follow the instructions on the [https://topswiki.saao.ac.za/index.php/SHOC SHOC Mookodi Mookodi wiki] and note the [[#SHOC on Lesedi vs. other SAAO telescopes|Lesedi-specific SHOC info]] further down this page.
== Sky flat recipe ==
If the sky conditions are photometric is clear during morning/evening twilight, you will be able to take sky flats. ''' 1. (a) If you're starting with the facility closed:'''# * Follow the [[#Start-up recipes| start-up procedure]].# * Follow the appropriate [[#Instrument start-up |instrument setup procedure]].# This will result in a stationary telescope pointing out of the open shutters with open mirror covers. '''Or,''' '''1. (b) If the telescope is already up and running, dome and mirror covers open:'''On the TCS '''Advanced tab''': * On the central '''Dome''' panel, make sure '''Tracking''' is switched ON, * On the left-hand side under '''Telescope'''panel, enter 80 in click '''Park Telescope'''. If the Altitude box and enter an Azimuth to face dome stops moving before it reaches the telescope park azimuth in the opposite direction to East, on the rising (270) or setting (90) Sunleft-hand-side of Advanced tab, click telescope Tracking ON, wait for the dome to catch up, then turn telescope tracking off again. Click This might be necessary because the dome won't track a stationary telescope. ''Slew'''. Then immediately below the Slew button, click :'''Tracking OFF '''2.# ''' On the instrument PC, '''select the required filter'''. If you need flats in a variety of filters, be sure to cycle through them in the correct order (e.g. UBVRI during evening twilight; IRVBU in the morning). This also applies if you need a range of prebin settings (i.e. start with low binning in the evening; high to low binning in the morning).# You can easily take a minimum of 15 flats in each filter/prebin setting with SHOC; Sibonise has longer readout times.
== Observing recipes ==
'''1.''' Follow the facility [[#Start-up recipes|start-up procedure]].
'''2.''' Check that the selected target is within the [[#Telescope pointing limits|pointing limits]]. If you're not sure, or want to find out the exact altaz of when your targetis visible, you can enter the coordinates into the input boxes on the upper left panel of the Controls tab, then click "Visibility...". This brings up a panel that shows the altitude and azimuth of the target at that moment , and the times at which the target rises and sets at the 30° altitude limit.
Then/or, either:
'''3(a)''' In the TCS '''Controls''' tab , in the boxes on the upper left panel, enter the RA, and Dec in sexagesimal (you can use not degrees). Use spaces for delimiters, i.e. hh mm ss, (though colons will work too) and - '''don't include any decimals'''. Then enter the Equinox into , e.g. 2000 (don't include the boxes on the upper left panel "J") and click '''Go'''.
or:
'''3(b)''' In the TCS '''Controls''' tab click on the box labelled '''Targets''', then select the desired object from the dropdown list. To populate the dropdown list, see the [[#Target Creating a target catalogue| catalogue instructions]].
The telescope will slew to the target, and its movement will be plotted in red dots on the schematic in the right-hand panel. The "Go" button will become a "STOP" button, which you can click if you need to stop the telescope. Once it reaches the target coordinates, the telescope will start to track and yellow dots will show the track progress on the visibility plot. If nothing happens, the target is probably outside the observing window - return to step 2.
'''4.''' The telescope will track the target until you click '''STOP''', or until it reaches the lower altitude limit (note that the TCS will not warn you if this happens, so keep an eye on the visibility plot). To run SHOC, follow the instructions on the [https://topswiki.saao.ac.za/index.php/SHOC SHOC wiki].
'''5.''' Lesedi's pointing is excellent, so your target should land very close to the centre of the SHOC image. The Due to cable wrap limits that preclude a 360° instrument rotation, the '''image orientation''' with no "flips" applied in the SHOC software (check the Advanced tab of the SHOC control) is usually will vary between North up, East to the left with SHOC, but will change to ; and North down, East to the right for a short time after passing through the meridian. ,
To adjust the pointing (e.g. to position a target and comparison star in the field), in the TCS Controls tab, click on the three dots beside "RA offset" (to shift the image horizontally) or "Dec offset" (for a vertical shift), enter the size of the required offset in arcsec, then click on the North, South, East or West button to move the telescope in the desired direction. When you're done, clicking the three dots again will hide the offset boxes.
'''6.''' The focus position is reported in the central status panel on the Controls tab. A reasonable starting point for SHOC Mookodi focus (imaging with a clear filter in the beam ) is ~2000μm, or 2380μm; ~1800μm without a filter1700μm for Sibonise. Once you're close to focus, a reasonable increment for small adjustments is ~5μm10μm. Focus the telescope using the '''Adjust Focus...''' button, which brings up a box in which you can enter the focus incrementin microns, then click '''+''' or '''-''' to add or subtract e.g. 5μm 10μm to the focus position.
== Autoguiding = Creating a target catalogue ===
Ultimately the autoguider control If you will be integrated into observing many targets during your run, or revisiting the TCSsame targets repeatedly, but for now it has would be helpful to create a standalone GUI run on 1ms1 via the Lesedi-NUC. Connect target catalogue so that you don't have to type the NUC via remote desktop, e.g. for Linux use coordinates into the Remmina client, set the server to lesedi-nuc.suth.saao.ac.za and enter the username and password from the Lesedi User Resources Google documentTCS every time. There are two ways to do this:
Once connected # '''Add each target to Lesedi-NUC, if the autoguider GUI isncatalogue the first time you observe it.'t already running (or is not responding)'' To do this, open a terminalclick "Catalogue..." enter the target, login to 1ms1 (username & password in coordinates and equinox into the google doc) boxes and check for any autoguider jobs already running:click "Add Target". You can then select the target from the dropdown "Targets" list above the Catalogue button.
ssh -Y observer@1ms1# '''Create a catalogue file.suth''' Create a text file on the PC that is running the browser TCS (e.saaog. if you are in the dome, this will be lesedi-nuc). The file should consist of one line per target, with RA, Dec, target name & equinox as comma-separated variables, e.acg.za ps aux | grep readPLC
If there are outstanding jobs 11 12 13, the result will be something like:-14 15 16,J1112-1415,2000 22 23 24,-25 26 27,J2223-2526,2000
root 1310 99Save the catalogue with an easily identifiable filename, e.8 0g.1 39384 13016 ? R Jun21 5284:08 python readPLCandLesediV1myname.py root 14103 0txt, then on the TCS, click "Catalogue.0 0.1 39384 13040 pts/11 S+ 14:41 0:00 python readPLCandLesediV1.py root 20411 99" and "Import".9 0Navigate to the appropriate directory and select your catalogue file.1 39384 13092 ? R Jun23 1187:37 python readPLCandLesediV1.py observer 25808 0.0 0.0 14224 1032 pts/12 S+ 17:49 0:00 grep --color=auto readPLC
These processes remain "hanging" if the xyslides software was not exited properly If you are observing from the EXIT button. You dome, using lesedi-nuc, and have created your catalogue file on your own PC, you will need to kill them upload it using their IDs given above, e.g. in this case:
sudo kill scp myname.txt ccd@lesedi-9 1310 14103 20411nuc.suth.saao.ac.za:~/Targets
Then in then on the same terminalTCS, check that the Lodestar cameras are connected:click "Catalogue..." then "Import" and select your file from /home/ccd/Targets.
observer@sa1:~$ lsusb Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3If you then click on the dropdown Targets list above the Catalogue button, your targets will be available for you to select, then click "Go" to point.0 root hub Bus 001 Device 079: ID 1278:0507 Starlight Xpress Lodestar autoguider Bus 001 Device 081: ID 1278:0507 Starlight Xpress Lodestar autoguider
If you do not see the Starlight Xpress listed then the cameras are not detected on the USB ports and the icron devices probably need power cycling. == Autoguiding ==
As of February 2021, there is a web browser interface to the backend autoguider control GUI, so users no longer need to access the backend. Note that the original autoguider software does need to be running on ioserver1 in order to operate the guider, but you shouldn't need to interact with it directly. The procedure for autoguiding via the browser is described below.
Once any rogue processes are killed Open a web browser and the cameras are connected, start the autoguider GUInavigate to: 10.2.2.32:5001
cd /home/observer/xyslide_lodestar_GUI_V5 sudo '''Make sure that there is only ever one autoguider window open at a time on any PC, or you will have problems./main_prog -depth 24'''
To run the finder chart software, open a new terminal The autoguider control interface looks like this:<br clear=all>[[File:lesediAutoguider.png|thumb|400px|frame|left|The web browser interface for Lesedi's autoguider (or a new window in the same terminal with CTRL-SHIFT-T) and login again click to 1ms1:enlarge).]]<br clear=all>
ssh -Y observer@1ms1The autoguider camera image is displayed on the top right, with the finderchart image below.suth There will be a green "Online" indicator at the top left if all is well; if it's red ("Offline") the autoguider control software might not be running on ioserver1.saao If it looks ok, continue reading this section, otherwise call a technician.ac.za cd /home/observer/GS_FC python genfinderLesediFeb2020.py
This brings up To acquire a finder chart and a coordinates box. To start guidingguide star, do the following:
# On In the main autoguider GUI, if using SHOC select Slide 0; or Slide 1 for Sibonise."X-Y Slides Control" section at the bottom left:# Check that "Error = 0". If the status of any of the error codes (Err, XLL, XUL, YLL or YUL) is "Error = 1, " click "RESET, then INITIALISE". # Click "FAKEINITIALISE" should always be to initialise the XY slides. Confirmation of a green "Fake successful initialisation is OFFindicated with "Initialised = 1" button while guiding - this is a test function for engineering purposes. # To start continuous exposures with From the autoguider Lodestar cameradropdown menu under "GOTO GS", enter a number Select Slide 0 if using Mookodi, or Slide 1 for Sibonise (~2 secondseach Nasmyth port has its own autoguider) in . '''Make sure the box on camera is not exposing when switching slides.'''# Enter the right, RA and click CONTINUOUSDec of your target on the two lines below "Fetch DSS image". Binning should be set to 2x2Use space delimiters, not colons. To get a workable look-up table, on # '''Slew the left-hand side of telescope to the main autoguider GUI, move target using the upper slider ~1/6 of TCS and make sure it is tracking before pressing the way from the bottom"Fetch DSS image" button'''. Leave This is important because the other two sliders autoguider software needs to know the rotator angle relative to the sky in their default positions.# Enter order to load the target coordinates catalogue image in the separate GS_FC window and click "Set"correct orientation.# Check that a finder chart loads showing A catalogue image of your field. Guide stars are to be selected from outside the green box will load in the finder chart imagebottom right. When North is Up in the SHOC/Sibonise image, click Click on a fairly bright star in the upper top half of the image to use as a guide star.<!--, with X<20000 and Y<15000. As Y approaches 10000 it begins The closer to vignette the SHOC fieldtop of the image the better, so try to choose a guide star at low Yavoid vignetting the Mookodi field (central) with the Lodestar camera pickoff arm.--># On the XY Slide Control section of the main GUI, click Click "Goto GOTO GS". This will send the XY slides to the position you clicked on left of the finder chartfinderchart. <!--If it doesn't, read You will see the XY slide coordinates of the guide star off the image updating and enter them manually; when the position is reached click status "Pick guide starMoving = 1" and click on your chosen star in the guide camera image.--># Click In the upper-left "Pick G_StarExposure Control" button section, enter an exposure time in the milliseconds (e.g. 2000) and click "GuidingStart Continuous" panel, which will turn dark blue to indicate that it's ready to receive your guide star selection. # Choose a star in the The Lodestar image and will continuously update. Your guide star should be visible - click on it. The , then click "Pick G_StarSearch guide star" button will turn green if it recognises in the star. If the button turns grey"Guiding Control" section, your selection has been unsuccessful and you will need to click watch for the message box below it to be populated with numbers and a time stamp, beginning with e.g. "Pick G_Starzmax = 12345" button again and then try clicking . The zmax value is counts on a different the star, so make sure it isn't saturated (<65536), else reduce the exposure time.# Click "Guide". If successful, the red GUIDE guide button - it should will turn green to indicate , and the star will continuously be pulled back towards the red cross that it has started guidingappears on the image.
'''If guiding fails''' at any point during a track (e.g. due to cloud), the "Guide" button will turn red. Try increasing the exposure time (change the value and click "CONTINUOUSStart Continuous") and click GUIDE "Guide" if the star is sill near the boxred cross. If the star has drifted, you can either offset the telescope to bring it back to its original position and then click GUIDE"Guide", or if it is not important to you to keep the target in the original position on the science image, you can repeat the guide star selection procedure to resume guiding in the new post-drift position.
To stop the autoguiderat the end of the night:
# Click "GUIDE" to stop guiding.
# Click "STOP CONT.Stop Continuous" to stop exposing.# Click "InitializeINITIALISE" to return the XY-slides to the home position.# '''If you close Close the autoguider GUI (not necessary under normal circumstances), be sure to press the EXIT button'''; do not kill the GUI with the X in the corner or you will leave problematic hanging jobs. == SHOC on Lesedi vs. other SAAO telescopes == SAAO has two Andor cameras, interchangeably referred to as SHOC. The one largely dedicated to Lesedi is "shocndisbelief" ("shocnawe" is usually on the 1.9- & 1.0-m). Shocndisbelief has a roving bias issue in the 1MHz mode (a differential count level occurs, the number of rows affected varying with time) so it is recommended to operate in 3MHz readout. SHOC's field of view is larger on Lesedi than on the other telescopes (5.7x5.7 arcmin<sup>2</sup>), with a platescale of 0.33"/pixel, so the appropriate binning is usually 1x1 or 2x2. On the Advanced tab of the SHOC control browser, set both "Flip X Axis" and "Flip Y Axis" to OFF to set SHOC's image display to North up and East to the left on Lesedi. The login for SHOC on Lesedi is given in the Lesedi User Resources google docwindow.
== Shutdown recipes ==
=== Shutting down using the SHUTDOWN button ===
# Ensure that you can see the feed from one of the webcams.# Click the '''SHUTDOWN''' button on the bottom right of the TCS screen. This will switch on the slew lights so you can watch close the mirror & baffle covers close, close the dome shutters close, and park the telescope and dome park, then the slew lights switch off. A blue progress circle will rotate on the button while all the commands are executed; it will disappear once the shutdown procedure is complete.# Turn on the slew lights on the "Advanced" tab and check on the Mobotix webcam that telescope and dome are parked and closed.# On the central panel of the TCS "Controls" tab, check for grey or orange indicators showing the status of each subsystem: telescope Tracking = Off (grey); Mirror covers = Closed (orange); Dome (orange) Tracking = Off (grey) and Shutters = Closed (orange) [the arc indicating the shutters on the schematic will also turn redand settle in the West].
# On the left-hand panel of the Controls tab, there should be a message in orange stating "Unpark telescope to slew", indicating that the telescope is parked.
# If any of the above is not in the correct state, you can rectify it using the relevant buttons on the Advanced tab.
# '''Logout ''' of the TCS and close the webcam browser windowswindow.# Stop the autoguider exposures and , initialise the XY slidesand close the autoguider browser window.# Close the webcam browser windows.# Make sure the instrument (SHOC Mookodi or Sibonise) is not exposing and turn off follow the camerarelevant instrument shutdown procedure.
=== Shutting down without the SHUTDOWN button ===
# On the Controls tab of the TCS check for grey or orange indicators showing the status of each subsystem: telescope Tracking = Off (grey); Mirror covers = Closed (orange); Dome (orange) Tracking = Off (grey) and Shutters = Closed (orange) [the arc indicating the shutters on the schematic will also turn red].
# If any of the above is not in the correct state, you can rectify it using the relevant buttons on the Advanced tab.
# '''Logout ''' of the TCS and close the webcam browser windowswindow.# Stop the autoguider exposures, initialise the XY slides and close the remote session to lesedi-nucautoguider browser window.# Close the webcam browser windows.# Make sure the instrument (SHOC Mookodi or Sibonise) is not exposing and turn off follow the camerarelevant instrument shutdown procedure.
== Troubleshooting ==
The table below describes some problems you might encounter. Some can be tackled by the observer (see column 4). If the suggested steps to be followed by an observer fail, please call a technician.
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
| The browser TCS won't load or is unresponsive.
| (i) The page might need refreshing. (ii) One or more of the SiTech GUIs may not be running. (iii) The web server may need restarting.
| (i) Reload the page. (ii) Check that all SiTech GUIs are running and have no comms problems; restart all GUIs if there are any issues. (iii) Restart the lesedi server and web server by logging into observer@1ms1lesedis2.suth.saao.ac.za and running the command "commands <code>sudo systemctl restart lesedi"</code> and <code>sudo systemctl restart lesedi-web</code>, then reload the browser. If any of the SiTech software is restarted, you must also do (iii).
| (ii) Hannah, IT or electronic standby.
|-
| Mechanical or electronic standby.
|-
| The telescope spontaneously shut down (mirror covers closed, dome closed, telescope parked).| The facility was shutdown by the LCU, either due to bad weather or a loss of connection to the TCS.| Check the weather: if it's bad you must leave the telescope closed. Check the TCS: if there is a message stating that the connection has been lost, reload the page. If the weather is good, press Startup and resume observing.| Observer|-| The dome didn't open on startup, or closed by itself and won't reopen.| There may be a dome comms problem.| Call a technician to remedy.| Hannah, Electronic or IT standby.|-| The telescope does not slew when I enter coordinates and press Go, but the lockout is off, the telescope is not parked and there are no error messages.| (i) Target may not be visible. (ii) Coordinate format may be wrong. (iii) If (i) and (ii) fail, there may be a problem with the telescope.| (i) With the coordinates entered into the Controls tab of the TCS, click "Visibility" then "Calculate" to check whether your target is visible. (ii) Reload the page, then enter the coordinates again with space delimiters and no decimals. (iii) SiTech status will need checking.| (i) & (ii) Observer. (iii) Hannah, IT or electronic standby.|-| There is an error message saying "No Instrument selected".| The tertiary mirror is facing neither Mookodi nor Sibonise's Nasmyth port.| Click on either "Mookodi" or "Sibonise" in the Instrument panel of the Controls tab.
| Observer.
|-
| The autoguider Lodestar camera is not reading out.
| The Lodestar camera needs rebooting.
| In the main [[#Backup autoguiding procedure|backend autoguider GUI]], click the turquoise "Power Cycle Cameras" button and wait 30 seconds. Then press the red "EXIT" button to exit the guider software, before restarting it from the command line.
| Observer.
|-
| The the autoguider GUI crashes.| (i) One or more of the SiTech GUIs may not be running or may have comms issues. (ii) The Icron device connected to the Lodestar cameras likely needs might need rebooting.| (i) Check that all SiTech GUIs are running and have no comms problems; restart all GUIs if there are any issues. (ii) Unplug the power cable from the Lodestar Icron device mounted on the underside of the pier, then plug it in again. If the problem persists, unplug the Lodestar Icron device from 1ms1 lesedis2 downstairs in the server room. N.B. there are separate Icron devices for the Lodestar cameras and the SiTech controllers - make be sure you to check the labels and get the right ones.
| (i) Hannah, IT or Electronic standby. (ii) Electronic or IT standby if on site, otherwise mechanical standby can fix this.
|-
| Either (i) the motor is not in auto, or (ii) there is a comms issue with one or more subsystems, or (iii) the controller is in a fault state.
| (i) On the Advanced tab of the TCS, check that there is a green "AUTO" indicator beside the relevant subsystem. If the button says "MANUAL", click it to put the motor in AUTO mode. If that doesn't help, or if it is already in AUTO, the problem is likely (ii) or (iii) and you'll need assistance.
| Hannah, Electronic or IT standby(i) Observer.|-| The dome didn't open on startup.| There may be a comms problem.| Call a technician to remedy.| (ii) & (iii) Hannah, Electronic or IT standby.|-| There is an error message saying "No Instrument selected".| The tertiary mirror is facing neither SHOC nor Sibonise's Nasmyth port.| Click on either "SHOC" or "Sibonise" in the Instrument panel of the Controls tab.| You can fix this!
|-
|
<!--== Commissioning Aids ==
== SHOC on Lesedi vs. other SAAO telescopes ==
If you notice any funny effects with the SHOC interface running in Chrome (e.g. image not displaying, red lines being deposited in the plot area by the cursor), '''run SHOC from Firefox''' and these should be resolved.
SAAO has two Andor cameras, interchangeably referred to as SHOC. The one largely dedicated to Lesedi is "shocndisbelief" ("shocnawe" is usually on the 1.9- & 1.0-m). Shocndisbelief has a roving bias issue in the 1MHz mode (a differential count level occurs, the number of rows affected varying with time) so it is recommended to operate in 3MHz readout. SHOC's field of view is larger on Lesedi than on the other telescopes (5.7x5.7 arcmin<sup>2</sup>), with a platescale of 0.33"/pixel, so the appropriate binning is usually 1x1 or 2x2.
On the Advanced tab of the SHOC control browser, set both "Flip X Axis" and "Flip Y Axis" to OFF to set SHOC's image display to North up and East to the left on Lesedi.
The login for SHOC on Lesedi is given in the Lesedi User Resources google doc.
=== Filters ===
At present, SHOC has one 8-position filter wheel, containing UBVRI, a clear filter to match the focus of the Bessell filters, and two empty slots. The SHOC software identifies the filter in each position. '''Filters must not be removed from the filter wheel.'''
=== Data ===
To retrieve your data from the SHOC PC during your run, use this command from the PC on which you which to view the images:
rsync -avzP shoc1m@shoc1m.suth.saao.ac.za:/data/lesedi/shd/YYYY/MMDD/SHD_YYYYMMDD.nnnn.fits .
where YYYY is the year, MMDD the month and day, and nnnn the file number.
=== Centre of rotation on SHOC ===
* Log into SHOC as shoc1m at http://shoc1m.suth.saao.ac.za:5000 and switch camera on
* If in the dome, log into the NUC as ccd <br />
* Open a terminal and ssh -X observer@1ms1lesedis2.suth.saao.ac.za <br />
* rts2-mon <br />
* In CUP menu, check that manual=false. If not, manually switch off dome lockout on observing floor <br />
sudo bash<br />
cd /home/petr/rts2/src/camd<br />
sudo killall CameraServer && sudo ./rts2-camd-andor --server 1ms1lesedis2.suth.saao.ac.za <br />
* Take images with SHOC:<br />
ssh -X observer@1ms1lesedis2.suth.saao.ac.za <br />
rts2-xfocusc -d C0 -e 1<br />
(where -e is the exposure time option. Add "-X 1" to overlay grid lines).<br />
/etc/init.d/rts2 start<br />
* Take images with the Lodestar:<br />
ssh -X observer@1ms1lesedis2.suth.saao.ac.za <br />
rts2-xfocusc -d AG1CCD -e 1<br />
(where AG1CCD is on DER1 and -e is the exposure time option).<br />