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ssp_procedures [2025/06/12 03:59] sspssp_procedures [2025/07/03 14:10] (current) astroadmin
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-These are procedures for remote, real-time observing at TMO during SSP 2025. **last edited: 11 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__** **__Remote Observing Center__**
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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.   - **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.   - **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__** **__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. 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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   - Open the "Scheduler" application from the desktop.   - Open the "Scheduler" application from the desktop.
   - Select "Dispatcher Running". This will start-up automated observing for AAVSO.   - 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.    - Turn off the lights on your way out. 
  
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   - Try jogging the telescope away and back   - Try jogging the telescope away and back
   - Instead of five 1-min exposures, take ten 30-sec exposures.   - 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. 
  
ssp_procedures.1749700757.txt.gz · Last modified: by ssp

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