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| howto [2023/09/18 23:16] – holtz | howto [2023/09/18 23:30] (current) – holtz | ||
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| Usually, software is left running. The software consists of: | Usually, software is left running. The software consists of: | ||
| - | * FocusMax | + | * FocusMax |
| * MaximDL : camera control software (science and guider) | * MaximDL : camera control software (science and guider) | ||
| * Scitech controller : telescope controller | * Scitech controller : telescope controller | ||
| Line 67: | Line 67: | ||
| * Clarity II : weather station program | * Clarity II : weather station program | ||
| - | If all is up, check the Scitech controller program to confirm that it says "Scope Parked" | + | If all is up, check the Scitech controller program to confirm that it says "Scope Parked" |
| - | (for now, contact Jon or Zach). | + | |
| - | If you are starting observation from an empty desktop (please inform Zach E of this) and follow these steps: | + | If you are starting observation from an empty desktop (please inform Zach of this) and follow these steps: |
| - | * Open FocusMax | + | * Open FocusMax |
| - | * Open up MaximDL | + | * FocusMax *should* automatically open MaximDL |
| - | * In MaximDL - click the ''' | + | * In MaximDL - click the ''' |
| * Open up ACP using the desktop icon. | * Open up ACP using the desktop icon. | ||
| * If doing manual observations - in ACP go to both ''' | * If doing manual observations - in ACP go to both ''' | ||
| Line 80: | Line 79: | ||
| == Dome Control == | == Dome Control == | ||
| - | The Dome Control is done via ACP (note, ''' | + | The Dome Control is done via ACP (note, ''' |
| + | |||
| + | We recommend watching | ||
| == Slew to an Object == | == Slew to an Object == | ||
| Line 86: | Line 87: | ||
| Slewing can be accomplished through the ACP program, which provides a deep sky catalog and various bright stars, or through the !SciTech telescope controller. The " | Slewing can be accomplished through the ACP program, which provides a deep sky catalog and various bright stars, or through the !SciTech telescope controller. The " | ||
| - | To go to an object | + | To go to an object, click ''' |
| * Coordinates (RA and Dec) : note, however, that ACP does not seem to take J2000 coordinates in the slew window. To slew to coordinates, | * Coordinates (RA and Dec) : note, however, that ACP does not seem to take J2000 coordinates in the slew window. To slew to coordinates, | ||
| * Deep Sky Object : can be entered by name, but note it is picky about spacing in Messier and NGC catalog ''' | * Deep Sky Object : can be entered by name, but note it is picky about spacing in Messier and NGC catalog ''' | ||
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| * Alignment Star: set of bright stars, you need to know your constellations to know where they are! | * Alignment Star: set of bright stars, you need to know your constellations to know where they are! | ||
| - | There is also an ACP !FindBrightStar script: use Select the Script in the upper right of the ACP window to find it, then click the Run button in the lower right. After starting up, it will prompt you for a filter to use, which you will enter in the Console window: here the filter is specified by number, 2 will use SDSS r. | + | There is also an ACP !FindBrightStar script |
| == Taking exposures == | == Taking exposures == | ||
| - | You take exposures manually using MaxIm DL, using the Camera Control window (the icon to the left of the observatory icon). Use the Expose tab, where you can set the filter and the exposure time. The science camera is Camera 1, while the guide camera (no filters) is camera 2. The guide camera is mounted on the 6" finder scope and is pointed in about the same direction as the main scope/ | + | You take exposures manually using MaxIm DL, using the Camera Control window (the icon to the left of the observatory icon). Use the Expose tab, where you can set the filter and the exposure time. The science camera is Camera 1, while the guide camera (no filters) is camera 2. |
| - | If you just take exposures using Camera 1, they will be unguided. This is probably fine for most observations. If | + | The raw pixels in the science camera subtend about 0.24 arcsec on the sky. We typically run the detector in 2x2 binning |
| - | you wish to try autoguiding, | + | |
| - | == Image display | + | You can either take single images or set it up to take images continuously. The latter is useful, |
| + | The guide camera is mounted on the 6" finder scope and is pointed in about the same direction as the main scope/ | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Image display in MaximDL == | ||
| - | The science camera has a lot of pixels, so if you display it at 100% it will be far larger than the image window and you will need to use the scroll bars to see everything. To see the whole frame at once, use 12.5% view. | + | The science camera has a lot of pixels, so if you display it at 100% it will be far larger than the image window, even with 2x2 binning, |
| The Screen Stretch window is useful for adjusting the brightness and contrast. | The Screen Stretch window is useful for adjusting the brightness and contrast. | ||
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| (Must be used with a window computer, usually Jon and Zach keep a browser opened with the camera. If it asks you for the password, Jon and Zach can provide it). | (Must be used with a window computer, usually Jon and Zach keep a browser opened with the camera. If it asks you for the password, Jon and Zach can provide it). | ||
| - | ==== ACP WEb interface ==== | + | ==== ACP Web interface ==== |
| ==== ACP Scheduler ==== | ==== ACP Scheduler ==== | ||
| Line 163: | Line 166: | ||
| ==== Calibration of AutoGuider ==== | ==== Calibration of AutoGuider ==== | ||
| + | |||
| The auto-guider is calibrated using MaximDL. | The auto-guider is calibrated using MaximDL. | ||
| https:// | https:// | ||
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| If observing manually, you should keep a log of your observations to make finding your .fits file easier. When taken with MaxIm DL, the images are automatically named " | If observing manually, you should keep a log of your observations to make finding your .fits file easier. When taken with MaxIm DL, the images are automatically named " | ||
| - | Data is stored on the local computer at TMO, but is automatically synced to the NMSU Astronomy servers every two hours. On the Astronomy computers, it is located at /home/tmo/, which can be accessed via the web at http:// | + | Data are stored on the local computer at TMO, but is automatically synced to the NMSU Astronomy servers every 15 minutes. On the Astronomy computers, it is located at /home/tmo/, which can be accessed via the web at http:// |
| ACP stores logs per object; this can be pretty inconvenient if you just want an idea of what it did all night. Therefore we have a script that runs each morning that concatenates these logs into summary logs for each night, helpfully stored in / | ACP stores logs per object; this can be pretty inconvenient if you just want an idea of what it did all night. Therefore we have a script that runs each morning that concatenates these logs into summary logs for each night, helpfully stored in / | ||
howto.1695078989.txt.gz · Last modified: 2023/09/18 23:16 by holtz