Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- ssp_procedures [2024/06/29 17:11] – ssp
+++ ssp_procedures [2025/06/12 04:02] (current) – ssp
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-This is a draft version of the procedures for remote, real-time observing at TMO during SSP 2024. **THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. last edited: 25 June 2024 (AWR)**
+These are procedures for remote, real-time observing at TMO during SSP 2025. **last edited: 11 June 2025 (AWR)**
 **__Remote Observing Center__**
-SSP NMSU 2024 will be using the 24"B&C telescope at [[start|Tortugas Mountain Observatory]]. Observing will be done from Astronomy Building Rm 119, a.k.a. the TMO Remote Observing Center, a.k.a. the ROC.
+SSP NMSU 2025 will be using the 24" B&C telescope at [[start|Tortugas Mountain Observatory]]. Observing will be done from Astronomy Building Rm 119, a.k.a. the TMO Remote Observing Center, a.k.a. the ROC.
 **__Observing Team Responsibilities__**
-It is the team's responsibility to have their observing log prep work completed by the time decided by your academic director. Missing, incomplete, or late prep work may result in the cancellation of your observing shift!
+It is the team's responsibility to have their observing log prep work completed before dinner on the evening of your scheduled observing shift. Missing, incomplete, or late prep work may result in the cancellation of your observing shift!
-The Astronomy Building is locked at night. It is the team's responsibility to be loitering outside the doors no later than 5 minutes before your shift starts. The TA on shift will let you into the building.
+The Astronomy Building is locked at night. It is the team's responsibility to be assembled and ready to go before your shift starts.
+  - **Early shift** Assemble in the computer lab by 8:50 at the latest and be ready to walk over to the Astronomy Building with the TA on shift.
+  - **Middle shift** Assemble outside the Astronomy Building by 10:55 at the latest. The TA on shift will let you into the building.
+  - **Late shift** Assemble in the computer lab by 12:50 at the latest and be ready to walk over to the Astronomy Building with the TA on shift.
 There are three general jobs during an observing shift. These jobs should rotate amongst team members from one shift to the next.
   - **Observatory control**: Responsible for running the control computer - controlling the telescope and the camera, making sure data is saved to the correct directory, etc. This is done from a dedicated laptop which the TA on shift will bring to the ROC.
   - **Observing log**: Responsible for entering data in the digital observing log in real time. Bring your laptop with you to the observing session to enter data in real time.
-  - **Weather monitoring**: Responsible for monitor the current weather conditions. In addition to the weather station status on the remote computer, Bring your laptop with you to [[weather_links|monitor the weather]] and periodically go outside to actually look at the sky.
+  - **General Monitoring**: Responsible for [[weather_links|monitoring the weather]], watching the dome via the webcam, and referring to the wiki as needed. Bring your laptop with you to perform these important tasks.
@@ Line 24: / Line 27: @@
 The software is probably already up and running. **//If not//** start the necessary software on the remote computer (icons are left-to-right across the top of the remote desktop) in this order:
-  - Focus Max (talks to the focuser)
+  - Start FocusMax, which should also start SiTech and MaxIm DL (be patient)
-  - SiTech (talks to the telescope/mount; This should start automatically when Focus Max starts)
+  - Start ClarityII
-  - ClarityII (weather monitor)
+  - Start ACP
-  - Cloud Sensor (weather history)
+  - DON'T start Scheduler (It's for automated AAVSO observing - more on this later)
-  - MaxIm DL (talks to the camera)
-  - ACP (talks to the dome & everything)
-{{:observing_illustration.png?800|}}
 **__Keep an eye on things at TMO__**
-There should always be an open browser window with two tabs with views from two IR cameras. They use IR lights to see what's going on without messing up your observations. If the views are completely dark, click the "on" button on the left to turn on the IR lights. **This web browser is always open. You can minimize it, but don't close it!** Turn off the IR lights before taking images.
+The General Monitoring task should always have an open browser window with the [[http://tmocam.nmsu.edu/|TMO IR camera]].
+To turn the IR lamp on and off, Click Setup, then click IR Light (Mode = Off is off and Mode = Manual is on) & always remember to click save.
+You should be in the habit of turning on the IR lamp and watching whenever the telescope is moving, then turning it off before you take data.
 **__Connect to the telescope (if it's not already)__**
@@ Line 41: / Line 45: @@
   - Connect to telescope in ACP using the Telescope drop-down for good measure.
   - Upon connection, telescope's park position is displayed in the SiTech window. It should be at HA = -2h; dec = -20deg.
-  - If the SiTech status says 'Uninitialized' try connecting again. If this doesn't work, observing TA should contact Dr. R, Dr. F, or Zach.
+  - If the SiTech status says 'Uninitialized' try connecting again. If this doesn't work, observing TA should contact Dr. R or Zach.
 **__Connect to the camera (if it's not already)__**
@@ Line 69: / Line 73: @@
   - Slew to asteroid coordinates first, using GoToSync in the SiTech window. You may need to unpark the telescope first by clicking Start to allow the telescope to start tracking.
+  - Enter the coordinates of your asteroid. Make sure the J2000 button is checked. Then click GoTo. **Do not use the "Sync" button**.
   - Select FindBrightStar.vbs script in ACP window by clicking the "Select the Script" button, and click "Run".
   - Enter filter #2 at prompt. Type `2` into the prompt when flashing.
   - Let it do its thing. Windows may pop up and disappear; do not do anything until the dialog box in ACP says "Star is now centered in view"
+  - The FindBrightStar.vbs script may change the chip binning to 4. Change it back to 2 before proceeding.
 **__Focus the telescope__**
@@ Line 81: / Line 87: @@
 ----
-**Manual Procedure (preferred)**
   - Slew (back) to one of your predetermined focus stars.
   - Set the camera to the filter you will be using for your observations, under camera control ("filter wheel" under the expose tab)
-  - Make sure the telescope is tracking and not stopped. If not tracking, hit start and "GoTo" **do not use the "Sync" button**.
+  - Make sure the telescope is tracking and not stopped. If not tracking, hit start and "GoTo" **Do not use the "Sync" button**.
   - Take a single exposure with the camera.
   - Find the subframe box in camera control (in the expose tab): turn it 'on' and hit `mouse` and draw a square around the bright star. Out of focus stars might look like donuts. (If you need to exit the zoomed in image in MaxIm DL, turn it back off and take a new exposure)
@@ Line 91: / Line 96: @@
   - If the image has improved, continue to increment in that direction. If the image worsens, increment in the opposite direction.
   - Continue to increment, decreasing the step size until you've reached a focus level you are satisfied with.
-The automatic procedure below uses an ACP automated script. If it works, great. If it doesn't work, you have your three focus stars the choose from for the backup manual procedure.
-**Automatic Procedure (deprecated)**
-  - Slew to one of your predetermined focus stars. To slew, use the "Gotosync" tab in the SiTech window (the tabs run down the right side). Enter the desired RA and DEC, and click "GoTo" **(do not use the Sync button)**. Make sure to use sexagecimal format for RA and dec. (hours:minutes:seconds for RA)
-  - Select AutoFocus.vbs script in ACP window by pressing the "Select the Script", and select "Run"
-  - Let the AutoFocus script do its thing. Various windows will pop up, don't close them. The ACP dialog box will tell you the autofocus failed or succeeded upon completion of the script.
-  - Telescope seems to stop tracking after AutoFocus script completes. Watch the status in the SiTech window and start tracking again if this happens.
 Take your time with this step. A good focus means crisp images, which will result in better astrometry.
@@ Line 107: / Line 104: @@
   - If necessary, use Nudge Telescope in the ACP window to center the asteroid's predicted location in the image. For scale, the full field of view is about 36x24 arcmin.
 Take your time with this step. Placing the asteroid near the center of the frame will make things easier.
-**__Begin guiding__ (if needed)**
-  - Use the Guide tab in the Camera Control window in MaxIm DL to take a single 10-sec exposure.
-  - MaxIm DL will automatically select the brightest star in the frame, or you can select a different star by clicking on it.
-  - Switch from Expose to Track and click Start.
 **__Take data__**
@@ Line 142: / Line 134: @@
   - Set the camera to take "single" exposures.
   - Leave the camera cooled for the next team.
-  - If applicable, stop the guiding (guide tab of camera control)
   - Rearrange the windows in an orderly way (see the screenshot above).
   - Park the telescope (SiTech, under the "Scope" tab).
@@ Line 152: / Line 143: @@
   - Turn off the lights on your way out.
+If the weather is getting bad, AAVSO scheduler is smart enough to refuse to start. If that happens,:
-If the weather is getting bad:
+  - Close out any images in Maxim DL you took (keep the main Maxim DL window still open)
+  - Set the camera to take “single” exposures.
-- If applicable, stop the guiding (guide tab of camera control)
+  - Rearrange the windows in an orderly way (see the screenshot above).
-- Close out any images in Maxim DL you took (keep the main Maxim DL window still open)
+  - Close the dome (ACP)
-- Set the camera to take “single” exposures.
+  - Park the dome (ACP)
-- Rearrange the windows in an orderly way (see the screenshot above).
+  - Park the telescope (SiTech, under the “Scope” tab)
-- Close the dome (ACP)
+  - Stop the telescope (SiTech)
-- Park the dome (ACP)
+  - Turn off the infrared lights in the dome.
-- Park the telescope (SiTech, under the “Scope” tab)
+  - Turn off the camera cooler (MaxIm DL Camera Control)
-- Stop the telescope (SiTech)
-- Turn off the infrared lights in the dome (turn them off on both tabs).
-- Turn off the camera cooler (MaxIm DL Camera Control)
 **__Getting flat fields__**