Differences

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

--- ssp_procedures [2025/06/11 03:13] – ssp
+++ ssp_procedures [2025/07/03 14:10] (current) – astroadmin
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-This is a draft version of the procedures for remote, real-time observing at TMO during SSP 2025. **THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. last edited: 03 June 2025 (AWR)**
+These are procedures for remote, real-time observing at TMO during SSP 2025. **last edited: 22 June 2025 (AWR)**
 **__Remote Observing Center__**
-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.
+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__**
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   - **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.
-  - **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.
+  - **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. //**In addition to monitoring the weather online, you should also periodically be actually going outside and looking at the actual sky. Once every 15-20 minutes if it's clear. Once every 5-10 minutes if it's cloudy.**//
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 **__Keep an eye on things at TMO__**
-The General Monitoring task should always have an open browser window with the [[http://tmocam.nmsu.edu/|TMO IR camera]]TMO IR camera. The IR camera sometimes wants you to re-enter a username/passwd. Those are on the whiteboard in the ROC.
+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.
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   - 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 85: / 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 95: / 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.
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   - 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 149: / Line 141: @@
   - Open the "Scheduler" application from the desktop.
   - Select "Dispatcher Running". This will start-up automated observing for AAVSO.
+  - //**If you start ACP scheduler, ensure that the autonomous observations have started before leaving**//
   - Turn off the lights on your way out.
@@ Line 160: / Line 153: @@
   - Park the telescope (SiTech, under the “Scope” tab)
   - Stop the telescope (SiTech)
-  - Turn off the infrared lights in the dome (turn them off on both tabs).
+  - Turn off the infrared lights in the dome.
   - Turn off the camera cooler (MaxIm DL Camera Control)
@@ Line 182: / Line 175: @@
   - Try jogging the telescope away and back
   - Instead of five 1-min exposures, take ten 30-sec exposures.
+**"SHUTTER ERROR" appears on the status of the ACP dome control window.** - **FIRST** Please check using the tmocam if the shutter is partially opened or closed. **If the shutter is not fully closed / opened when this error occurs, stop everything and call Zach! (or if ACP asks you to "Force close the dome"**. If the shutter is fully open or closed, proceed with the following:
+This tends to happen exclusively when the shutter is near-ish the scope's park position (Aziumuth ~110). Some variation in the metal / position causes the physical dome shutter switch to no longer be triggered / read in this very particular spot. If you see this **DO NOT FREAK OUT**! This is a recoverable error! If you need to move the dome out of the position that is causing "SHUTTER ERROR", please do the following:
+  - Park the dome (no need to close assuming you'll be continuing observing!)
+  - Slew the telescope to the desired position.
+  - Use the bottom most / longest button on the ACP Dome Control window labeled "Unpark/Unhome" (this will unpark the scope and slew it to the scope. May also have to select "Slave to telescope".)
+  - And that's it!
+While it is certainly concerning to see "SHUTTER ERROR" - it is non-critical in of itself. As long as the shutter does not close while reading the shutter error code, it's fine! And the behavior of the dome has been changed such that the dome must first slew to the park position (a place that has never prompted this particular error) before closing.
+This error is very intermittent and some night you will not see it. While other nights you may see it constantly. **If you see it during a night, please inform the late shift TA!** While this error is non-critical for manaul observers, it will cause error for the scheduler! If this "SHUTTER ERROR" seems to be common in the night, it would be best just to close down (park) everything rather than starting ACP Scheduler.
+Note, while it is known by Zach and Jon to happen in a very particular spot, there's the possibility it happens else where! If it happens, please inform Zach regardless of if you were able to recover it yourself or not.