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__**DOCUMENTATION TO BE UPDATED**__ \\ | __**DOCUMENTATION TO BE UPDATED**__ \\ | ||
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CHARA Array Operating Procedures\\ | CHARA Array Operating Procedures\\ | ||
- | Copyright © 2005-2020 The CHARA Team\\ | + | Copyright © 2005-2021 The CHARA Team\\ |
- | Last updated: | + | Last updated: |
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1.2 The Metrology Laser | 1.2 The Metrology Laser | ||
- | A high-powered infrared laser is used for the delay line metrology. This is an eye hazard, so before entering the lab check to make sure the red light above the door is not on. If the laser is activated, it is a must to put on IR-protective goggles. If you are not sure, wear the goggles. | + | A high-powered infrared laser is used for the delay line metrology. This is an eye hazard, so before entering the lab check to make sure the red light above the door is not on. If the laser is activated, it is a must to put on IR-protective goggles. If you are not sure, wear the goggles. Please note that the METLAS gui or OPLE controller gui may not show the corect state of the laser. Hit reopen on the METLAS gui if it does not agree with the others. |
1.3 General Lab Rules | 1.3 General Lab Rules | ||
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Before entering the lab, you must have a reason or tasks at hand. | Before entering the lab, you must have a reason or tasks at hand. | ||
- | Lab booties/ | + | Lab booties/ |
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=== Preparations in the Lab Prior to Observing === | === Preparations in the Lab Prior to Observing === | ||
- | 27 AUG 2012 by Judit, Current version | + | 27 AUG 2012 by Judit, Current version |
These are routine tasks to be performed in and around the lab every evening to prepare the array for regular observations. Note that there is a new Daily Alignment Check Procedure for configurations that do not change night to night. Use it instead of the full alignment given here. | These are routine tasks to be performed in and around the lab every evening to prepare the array for regular observations. Note that there is a new Daily Alignment Check Procedure for configurations that do not change night to night. Use it instead of the full alignment given here. | ||
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2.1 Starting the vacuum pump for the light pipes | 2.1 Starting the vacuum pump for the light pipes | ||
- | Go into vacuum pump shack. Flip on power switch for pump (wait for blower to go on) Open valve slowly (parallel to pipe means open) Note if fan cords are plugged into wall outlet to keep pumps cool. Note oil temperature when you start up. Oil temps below 20º C make for a labored start. Inform Larry if the oil temp is low and the heater | + | Go into vacuum pump shack. Flip on power switch for pump and wait for the blower to go on in about 6 seconds. |
- | Go into lab building, check pressures on Vacmon display. If pressure is higher than 100 torr in any of the lines, pump those lines only one at a time. Open valve a little, then come back to open fully. When all lines to be used are well below 100 torr, open all those valves. The final pressure should be 0.5 - 1.0 Torr in each line. The pump will normally bring all 6 lines down to .2-.3 Torr. The S1 and S2 lines leak the most during the day and will read the highest in the afternoon when you return, usually | + | Go into lab building, check pressures on Vacmon display. If pressure is higher than 100 torr in any of the lines, pump those lines only one at a time. Open valve a little, then come back to open fully. When all lines to be used are well below 100 torr, open all those valves. The final pressure should be 0.5 - 1.0 Torr in each line. The pump will normally bring all 6 lines down to .2-.3 Torr. The S1 and S2 lines leak the most during the day and will read the highest in the afternoon when you return, usually |
2.2 Filling NIRO with LN2\\ | 2.2 Filling NIRO with LN2\\ | ||
Fill both chambers on the NIRO camera. Use the gloves and glasses provided on the shelf with the funnels and the thermos. It will normally take 1 liter of LN2 in the outer chamber and 1/2 liter in the inner chamber. Fill it until the LN2 bubbles out of the top. This camera is normally kept cool all the time, exceptions will be noted.\\ | Fill both chambers on the NIRO camera. Use the gloves and glasses provided on the shelf with the funnels and the thermos. It will normally take 1 liter of LN2 in the outer chamber and 1/2 liter in the inner chamber. Fill it until the LN2 bubbles out of the top. This camera is normally kept cool all the time, exceptions will be noted.\\ | ||
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- | Record that you filled the camera in the log book, noting time and camera filled. Note also the vacuum measurement for the MIRCX camera. If you do not observe due to weather, fire or closure, | + | Record that you filled the camera in the log book, noting time and camera filled. |
2.3 Alignment of the light path to the telescopes\\ | 2.3 Alignment of the light path to the telescopes\\ | ||
- | Go into the lab. The green alignment laser on the light source table is used. To open necessary guis, use laptops or the two tablets | + | Go into the lab. The green alignment laser on the light source table is used. To open necessary guis, use laptops or the tablet |
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2.3.1 In the lab (Beam Combination area) Turn on power switch for alignment laser, and turn the key. Above the tiptilt camera, turn on the Pico 3 controller. | 2.3.1 In the lab (Beam Combination area) Turn on power switch for alignment laser, and turn the key. Above the tiptilt camera, turn on the Pico 3 controller. | ||
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2.3.2 Laser alignment to east table | 2.3.2 Laser alignment to east table | ||
- | Check the laser spots on the E table target at North wall of Beam Switching area. On Laser Filter gui, select ND 0.0 Make sure VEGA periscope is UP. Open LASER shutter on the SHUTTERS gui and open shutters for the beams you are going to use. Using the VISBEAMS gui, move the laser to the first beam pair you will check, ie. Beams 1&2. Using the Beam Samplers gui, move beam samplers off of the beams you will align. Check each spot that is going to be used on each pair (for ex. 1&2, 2&3, 3&4, etc.) Use Pico3 gui to center laser dots on cross hairs. Be mindful of which pair was selected with VISBEAMS. (1&2-2 and 2&3-2 appear at the same spot, but different pieces of optics are involved) Use the Beam Samplers gui to put telescopes back on the appropriate beams. Note that when multiple telescope/ | + | Check the laser spots on the E table target at North wall of Beam Switching area. On Laser Filter gui, select ND 0.0 Open LASER shutter on the SHUTTERS gui and open shutters for the beams you are going to use. Using the VISBEAMS gui, move the laser to the first beam pair you will check, ie. Beams 1&2. Using the Beam Samplers gui, move beam samplers off of the beams you will align. Check each spot that is going to be used on each pair (for ex. 1&2, 2&3, 3&4, etc.) Use Pico3 gui to center laser dots on cross hairs. Be mindful of which pair was selected with VISBEAMS. (1&2-2 and 2&3-2 appear at the same spot, but different pieces of optics are involved) Use the Beam Samplers gui to put telescopes back on the appropriate beams. Note that when multiple telescope/ |
If the telescopes were used on the same beam on the previous night, the next steps may be very close and should not need much if any adjustment.\\ | If the telescopes were used on the same beam on the previous night, the next steps may be very close and should not need much if any adjustment.\\ | ||
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Put the rail target onto delay lines (toward back of the room from home sensor) Make sure carts are at back of the rails. Check spot on back side of target. If alignment is bad at the back, follow instructions for BRT adjustments. (Printed sheet on metrology table) Remove rail target and return it to the spare table when done. | Put the rail target onto delay lines (toward back of the room from home sensor) Make sure carts are at back of the rails. Check spot on back side of target. If alignment is bad at the back, follow instructions for BRT adjustments. (Printed sheet on metrology table) Remove rail target and return it to the spare table when done. | ||
- | 2.3.5 IR alignments are below in 2.4\\ | + | 2.3.5 Labao wfs camera covers and labao shutters\\ |
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- | 2.3.6 M10 Alignment | + | Put the Covers on gently when doing the following alignment steps in the lab: IR mirror check to CLIMB or MIRC with alignment laser or beam combiner alignments with white light source or tiptilt Zabers alignment with alignment laser. |
- | + | ||
- | Go to a computer anywhere to check the beam remotely at the telescopes. Check Vacuum Monitor that the vacuum is below 20 torr. Open telescope gui from pull down menu. Click TV [ON] to open the camera window and click [M10AL] to change view to the M10 alignment view, click [M7 open] to open the M7 mirror cover. Center bright spot in beam on the black reference spot. You may need to adjust the IRIS or the TV brightness to see the bright spot well. [BEAM] cycles the iris from open to closed and gives a good idea of where the center of the spot is. To adjust the position, use Pico 2 to select, for example, E2M10 → [MOVE] (use large steps ~ 100). Note that the up, down, left, and right buttons do no correspond to the actual directions the spot will move. When the spot is centered, click [M7 close] to close the mirror cover * click TV [OFF] to close the window | + | |
- | + | ||
- | \\ | + | |
- | 2.3.7 Labao wfs camera covers and labao shutters\\ | + | |
- | \\ | + | |
- | **Put the Covers on** gently when doing the following alignment steps in the lab: IR mirror check to CLIMB or MIRC with alignment laser or beam combiner alignments with white light source or tiptilt Zabers alignment with alignment laser. | + | |
- | **Covers off** after you remove the corner cubes from their bases.\\ | + | Covers off after you remove the corner cubes from their bases.\\ |
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The labao cameras (just like the tiptilt camera) are safe during pop changes as long as you do not open any labao shutters. You will notice increased counts on the labao cameras (just like in the tiptilt camera) whenever ND=0 alignment laser is going through the system, but this is not harmful as long as the labao shutters are closed. While observing none of the labao shutters need to be or should be opened. As usual, dim the laser after you are done with the pop change to protect any camera in the lab from ghost reflections and scattered laser light. | The labao cameras (just like the tiptilt camera) are safe during pop changes as long as you do not open any labao shutters. You will notice increased counts on the labao cameras (just like in the tiptilt camera) whenever ND=0 alignment laser is going through the system, but this is not harmful as long as the labao shutters are closed. While observing none of the labao shutters need to be or should be opened. As usual, dim the laser after you are done with the pop change to protect any camera in the lab from ghost reflections and scattered laser light. | ||
- | 2.4 Alignment of the IR light toward beam combiners | + | 2.3.6 Alignment of the IR light toward beam combiners |
The IR mirrors on the beam samplers can be adjusted using Pico 2 controller to targets depending on which IR beam combiner is to be used.\\ | The IR mirrors on the beam samplers can be adjusted using Pico 2 controller to targets depending on which IR beam combiner is to be used.\\ | ||
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- | For CLIMB 1 and CLIMB 2, the removable 6-beam target should be placed in the clamps on the CLIMB table. This also applies to aligning CLIMB for fringe tracking for VEGA or fringe finding for PAVO.\\ | + | For CLIMB 1, CLIMB 2 or CLASSIC, the removable 6-beam target should be placed in the clamps on the CLIMB table. This also applies to aligning CLIMB for fringe finding for PAVO.\\ |
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- | For MIRCX, the same target should be placed in the clamps on the MIRCX table. Place the target to the appropriate table, making sure it seats firmly in the clamps. Place the small corner cubes (labeled) on their bases at the BRTs. Make sure they seat firmly and correctly. Open IR shutters, send laser light using VISBEAMS gui to the position you want to check. Use a tablet to bring up Pico 2 gui. Click on icon or in xterm type: xpico2. Select the appropriate IR mirror for the beam you are about to adjust. For ex: S1IR. The Beam Sampler gui tells you which telescope is in the beam you are aligning. When done for all telescope to be used, remove target and place it above the CLASSIC/ | + | For MIRCX, the same target should be placed in the clamps on the MIRCX table. Place the target to the appropriate table, making sure it seats firmly in the clamps. |
- | 2.5 Final steps in the lab | + | \\ |
+ | 2.3.6 M10 Alignment | ||
- | If using CLASSIC or CLIMB, turn on the black box above the NIRO computer, and then turn on the silver box below it on the same cart. Remove | + | Go to a computer anywhere to check the beam remotely at the telescopes. Check Vacuum Monitor that the vacuum is below 20 torr. Open telescope gui from pull down menu. Click TV [ON] to open the camera window and click [M10AL] |
- | + | ||
- | 2.6 Starting | + | |
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+ | 2.4 Final steps in the lab | ||
+ | |||
+ | If using CLASSIC or CLIMB, turn on the black box above the NIRO computer, and then turn on the silver box below it on the same cart. Remove cover on camera. Note which filter is reported on the filter wheel. The NIRO CPU has clock troubles so it might be beneficial to power the computer on using the NIRO CPU button Rack 2 on the POWER gui. If all 3 LED's on the back of the computer are lit, with the green LED's blinking slowly and quickly, then the clock is likely correct. | ||
+ | |||
+ | If using MIRCX/ | ||
+ | |||
On the Metrology table inside the lab, turn on two blue amplifiers for metrology laser (on button is labeled " | On the Metrology table inside the lab, turn on two blue amplifiers for metrology laser (on button is labeled " | ||
- | Finish what you are doing in the lab, go out to the computer area, turn the laser signal | + | Make sure all lights are turned off in the ople room and the lab when leaving the inner lab. |
+ | |||
+ | Be sure to inform the MIRCX/ | ||
+ | |||
+ | 2.5 Starting up the new OPLE system and Metrology (Added 08/10/21 - Chris) | ||
+ | |||
+ | Go out to the computer area, turn the metrology | ||
After the laser is warmed up, check sockman for old OPLE" | After the laser is warmed up, check sockman for old OPLE" | ||
- | If the OPLE System Control gui is not already running on zoot, you can start the gui with the following command | + | If the OPLE System Control gui is not already running on wazoo, you can start the gui in the lab with the following command |
- | ssh -Y ople / | + | ssh -Y ople / |
The gui that appears does much of the start up sequence remotely and does not fully start everything yet. This will eventually only require fewer steps to complete. | The gui that appears does much of the start up sequence remotely and does not fully start everything yet. This will eventually only require fewer steps to complete. | ||
- | {{https:// | + | {{https:// |
When the laser is on, the circle marked Laser will be green and the wattage listed will be close to 80mw (instead of 20mW when off) | When the laser is on, the circle marked Laser will be green and the wattage listed will be close to 80mw (instead of 20mW when off) | ||
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After the 30 minute warmup, press the Metro button which will power up the Metrology cage, the laser repeater and the oscilloscope. When button indicator is green, you can proceed to the next step. | After the 30 minute warmup, press the Metro button which will power up the Metrology cage, the laser repeater and the oscilloscope. When button indicator is green, you can proceed to the next step. | ||
- | Press the Start button near the bottom. This will start up the computers, and the first stage of hardware and takes about 90 seconds to complete. The grey buttons will turn yellow with a blue icon when the computers have started up, but not loaded the drivers yet. They will then turn solid yellow when they are ready for the next step and have loaded all the drivers. | + | Press the Start button near the bottom. This will start up the computers, and the first stage of hardware and takes about 90 seconds to complete. The grey buttons will turn yellow with a blue icon when the computers have started up, but not loaded the drivers yet. They will then turn solid yellow when they are ready for the next step and have loaded all the drivers. |
- | Once all 6 are solid yellow, right click on each yellow dot, and select start. This loads the control software and will turn the button green. Once all 6 are green, you are ready to start the OPLE server. | + | Once all 6 are solid yellow, right click on each yellow dot, and select start. This loads the control software and will turn the button green. Once all 6 are green, you need to close the gui and reopen |
- | + | ||
- | Once the OPLE server has fully started, (IF running MIRC) please check sockman for CHAMPtoMet. If it is running, then MIRC is ok to start. If it is not running, log into the ople computer and run the command : CHAMPtoMet This is case sensitive. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Now the MIRC server is ok to start. | + | |
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=== Setting up Computer in the Control Room === | === Setting up Computer in the Control Room === | ||
- | Updated | + | Updated |
3.1 General Overview of Control Room computer setup | 3.1 General Overview of Control Room computer setup | ||
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3.2 Setting up for observing | 3.2 Setting up for observing | ||
- | Turn on the following from the POWER GUI: To change the setting on the power GUI, unclick LOCK, make change, re-click LOCK. Under RACK_2, turn on [METSCOPE] (button will turn green when ON). If observing with CLASSIC, turn on [NIRO CPU] and [CLS-DITH] on RACK_2. If observing with CLIMB, turn on [NIRO CPU] on RACK_2 and [CLM-DITH] on RACK_3. For each telescope | + | The first thing to start is the Ople server so you can let the MIRCX and MYSTIC observers know it is running. Some will start the STS data recording before Ople is started, but others may want it running. |
+ | |||
+ | The following windows should be opened on computer screen 1 (these are usually kept open all the time): Telescope monitor, Beam Samplers and PoPs, Visbeams, Shutters and Laser Filter Wheel, Iris, Metrology Laser and Metrology Monitor, Sockman, Pico 2, Power, Weather, and a terminal for opening popperigtk. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Turn on the following from the POWER GUI: To change the setting on the power GUI, unclick LOCK, make change, re-click LOCK. Under RACK_2, turn on [METSCOPE] (button will turn green when ON). If observing with CLASSIC | ||
3.3 Servers required for observing | 3.3 Servers required for observing | ||
- | Servers can be opened from the pop up menu at bottom of screen 1, using the black platter icon or using the Observation Setup icon which opens them all automatically. The GPS server and the METROL server should always stay on and remain on screen 1. Close and re-open all Telescope servers after UT 0h, (because of tiptilt connection issues) in screen 2. Open Primary OPLE Server and gui, Open Classic, Climb1, or Climb2 if needed, Open Tiptilt Server if needed, Open Metrology Monitor (METROL) gui, (upper right of screen 1), this gui usually remains open. Open Metrology Laser (METLAS) gui, (upper right of screen 1), this gui usually remains open. | + | Servers can be opened from the pop up menu at bottom of screen 1, using the black platter icon or using the Observation Setup icon which opens them all automatically. The GPS server and the METROL server should always stay on and remain on screen 1. Close and re-open all Telescope servers after UT 0h, (because of tiptilt connection issues) in screen 2. Open Primary OPLE gui, Open Classic, Climb1, or Climb2 if needed, Open Tiptilt Server if needed, open Labao servers as needed, Open Metrology Monitor (METROL) gui, (upper right of screen 1), this gui usually remains open. Open Metrology Laser (METLAS) gui, (upper right of screen 1), this gui usually remains open. |
3.4 Open Telescope guis, or obsgtks from icons on desktop | 3.4 Open Telescope guis, or obsgtks from icons on desktop | ||
- | 3.5 Open GUIs required for observing from the menu under GTK or the desktop icons: Open Primary OPLE gui, Open Classic, Climb1, or Climb2 gui if needed, Open LDC1 and LDC2 if VEGA or PAVO programs are observing. | + | 3.5 Open GUIs required for observing from the menu under GTK or the desktop icons: Open Primary OPLE gui, Open Classic, Climb1, or Climb2 gui if needed, Open LDC1 and LDC2 if PAVO program is observing. |
+ | |||
+ | 3.6 Metrology laser and homing the carts | ||
+ | |||
+ | <font 14px/Arial,Helvetica, | ||
+ | \\ | ||
+ | <font 14px/ | ||
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+ | <font 14px/ | ||
- | 3.6 Using the Cosmic Debris job sequencer | + | The new ople system has a home check procedure that will give the homing error of each cart. Use the CHECK button on the ople gui to have ople check the homing accuracy. A value of a few microns is usually returned after the cart is checked. Hit ESC to clear the display in the Ople server and check the next cart. If any cart has large values above 20 microns, home the cart again and check the homing until it shows low values. |
- | Open Cosmic Debris, CD for short, from the desktop icon. On the CONFIGURE tab, check to make sure the PoPs and telescope beam assignments agree with the white board or the setup email. | + | If using the CHAPMtoMet feature, once the OPLE server has fully started, please check sockman for CHAMPtoMet. If it is running, then MIRC is ok to start. If it is not running, log into the ople computer |
- | Set the instrument and settings on Cosmic Debris. On the " | + | |
- | Establish connection between tiptilt | + | |
- | Finish setting up tiptilt GUIs. Click re-open on the Tiptilt GUI. This will update the TT labels on the TT viewing screens from B1,B2,etc to the telescope names. Click on the [SERVO CONTROL] tab on the tiptilt GUI to bring up a second window and move to screen 5 with the telescope guis. The Servo Control GUI allows you to turn ON the servo for the TT loop and make biases for individual beams (DBIAS and ZBIAS) | + | |
- | 3.7 Turn on metrology laser and home the carts | + | 3.7 Setting up the Cosmic Debris job sequencer |
- | Make sure that no one is in the lab. Turn the Laser on using the metrology laser GUI. The [Laser Power] button will go from red to green. On the Metrology Monitor GUI, click [INITIALIZE] | + | Open Cosmic Debris, CD for short, from the desktop icon. On the CONFIGURE tab, check to make sure the PoPs and telescope beam assignments agree with the white board or the setup email. If the POPs are wrong on CD, then open the "PoPs" |
- | Home each of the active carts. The carts must be homed before observing or else fringes will not be found. Do not forget this step or endless frustration will follow. At the start of the night the carts will usually be at the back of the rails with the back switch (BS) column marked with an " | + | Set the instrument |
3.8 Synchronizing the clocks | 3.8 Synchronizing the clocks | ||
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Synchronizing the clocks is very important for positional calculations of the telescopes and ople carts. All clocks are synchronized with the [SYNC CLOCKS] button on Cosmic Debris. Push the button, and after 17 seconds, a series of messages will display on CD to indicate that the various systems and servers are sync' | Synchronizing the clocks is very important for positional calculations of the telescopes and ople carts. All clocks are synchronized with the [SYNC CLOCKS] button on Cosmic Debris. Push the button, and after 17 seconds, a series of messages will display on CD to indicate that the various systems and servers are sync' | ||
- | 3.9 | + | 3.9. Beacon Alignments |
- | The following windows should | + | The beacons wil<font 14px/ |
- | 3.10 | + | In the WFS tab of the telescope GUI or the CONTROL tab of the obsgtk, turn on the red and blue LED’s, open the fiber covers, then beacon flat covers. The CAMERALINK and WFS server are now part of Bootlaunch script and the ANDOR camera power should always be on in the POWER gui. Open M5 and M7 covers. |
+ | |||
+ | In the WFS GUI or obsgtk, turn the cooler on (COOL ON) and open the camera shutter (SOPEN) or SHUTTER (OPEN/ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Turn on the ACQ camera in the obsgtk. Make sure that the red beacon is going through the hole in the acquisition display. If not, use Beacon UP/DOWN etc buttons on a HUT gui or WFS tab on the obsgtk to move it into the hole. Look for spots to be in boxes on the WFS display. Turn on the boxes on the obsgtk (NOBOX) to see how the alignment is. The boxes may be in the default position or may be moved to a position that worked better when observing. Align to whichever gives a more even illumination of spots in the boxes. As the red beacon is bright, use low gains, ie. 30-50 for the BARE dichroic or 200 for the IR dichroic, to make these alignments. If the red beacon spots on the WFS display are in the boxes, press (ALIGN BEACON) on the ALIGN tab on the TWFS GUI or (ALIGN) TELWFS: on the obsgtk, wait for completion. The default maximum number of tries is 10 so if it is not aligned before it ends, repeat the step if needed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Turn labao camera (ON) and (START) the display. Make a dark with the MKDRK button in the LABAO section of the obsgtk. Turn on the blue beacon. The blue beacon should show spots on the LABAO display. Adjust the FPS lower if they are dim. If the spots are not in the boxes, set the M7 mirror to the default position, then use the DICHROIC buttons on the WFS tab of the telescope gui, obsgtk or HUT gtk to get them in the boxes before using the auto align of the labao. If the spots are inside the boxes, then press (SCOPE DICH) button in the ALIGN tab on the LABAO GUI or the (ALIGN) LABAO: on the obsgtk to align the spots. | ||
+ | |||
+ | If the spots do not show at all in the labao, the scope dichroic is likely out of alignment. Turn on the lab laser and set it to ND 4.0. Use the Dichroic controls to make the laser spots match the blue beacon spots on the ACQ camera view. If they are way off or not visible in the ACQ, you can hit the button for the appropriate dichroic in the HUT gui and it will set the dichroic to its last saved default position. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Note the focus term on both the TWFS and LABAO GUIs or obsgtks. The next steps will minimize both focus terms. Start with the (BEACON FOC) button on the ALIGN tab of the LABAO GUI or (FOCUS) LABAO: on obsgtk, wait until the procedure finishes. Then use the (FOCUS WFS) button on the ALIGN tab of the TWFS GUI or (FOCUS) TELWFS: on the obsgtk and wait for completion. Note that focusing the beacons does not work when the spots are not reasonably centered. Always get the spots well into the boxes first before focusing. Sometimes it helps to repeat the scope dichroic alignment and focus as each needs the other to be close to align well. | ||
See the instruments page for information about starting different instruments at the beginning of the night:\\ | See the instruments page for information about starting different instruments at the beginning of the night:\\ | ||
- | [[: | + | [[: |
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4.2 Humidity | 4.2 Humidity | ||
- | Only open the telescopes if the humidity is steady or dropping, at 75% or below. If the roofs outside the control room are ever dripping, then the telescopes should not be opened or should be closed immediately. If when starting out, the RH is above 80%, do not open unless it drops to below 75% and stays there for at least 30 minutes. If you do open after that, be wary and watch the RH, and if it starts rising, be prepared to close. Closing up takes about 5 minutes, so be ready for that. The array operator is in charge of protecting the telescopes and makes the final decision on whether the conditions are safe to open. If the RH is low at the beginning of the night, and rises after you are already open, the array operator should inform the PI around 70-75%, and start closing between 80-85%. Other humidity warning signs are: 1) water dripping off the OPLE building (or wet spots on the asphalt straight down from the eaves); 2) cold, clammy feel to metal objects such as railings; and 3) dew forming on the parked cars. It is important to note that the humidity can rise from 50% to 80% in as little as 10 minutes, so please keep a close eye on the rate of change of the humidity plots. It can also rain or hail from small, passing clouds when the humidity is quite low, even 40% RH or lower. Operators have been surprised before by small puffy clouds in unsettled air with low humidity. If in doubt, stay closed. The HPWREN webcams are a good resource to view the bottoms of clouds. If there is any virga, the clouds are holding moisture and try to rain out. Stay closed if you see anything streaming below the clouds. | + | Only open the telescopes if the humidity is steady or dropping, at 75% or below. If the roofs outside the control room are ever dripping, then the telescopes should not be opened or should be closed immediately. If when starting out, the RH is above 80%, do not open unless it drops to below 75% and stays there for at least 30 minutes. Be aware that if the RH is at 100% for many hours, things will be very wet, even if the RH drops dramatically below 75%. If you do open after that, be wary and watch the RH, and if it starts rising, be prepared to close. Closing up takes about 5 minutes, so be ready for that. The array operator is in charge of protecting the telescopes and makes the final decision on whether the conditions are safe to open. If the RH is low at the beginning of the night, and rises after you are already open, the array operator should inform the PI around 70-75%, and start closing between 80-85%. Other humidity warning signs are: 1) water dripping off the OPLE building (or wet spots on the asphalt straight down from the eaves); 2) cold, clammy feel to metal objects such as railings; and 3) dew forming on the parked cars. It is important to note that the humidity can rise from 50% to 80% in as little as 10 minutes, so please keep a close eye on the rate of change of the humidity plots. It can also rain or hail from small, passing clouds when the humidity is quite low, even 40% RH or lower. Operators have been surprised before by small puffy clouds in unsettled air with low humidity. If in doubt, stay closed. The HPWREN webcams are a good resource to view the bottoms of clouds. If there is any virga, the clouds are holding moisture and try to rain out. Stay closed if you see anything streaming below the clouds. |
4.3 Dust | 4.3 Dust | ||
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4.6 Essential Observing Links | 4.6 Essential Observing Links | ||
- | 150-Foot Solar Tower Current TowerCam Image ([[http://www.astro.ucla.edu/%7Eobs/towercam.htm|http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~obs/towercam.htm]]) a live view of the mountain. Check the clock when viewing the page as it can sometimes fail to refresh. | + | Mount Wilson HP Wren Cameras |
Caltech Millikan Library Camera ([[http:// | Caltech Millikan Library Camera ([[http:// | ||
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National Weather Service ([[http:// | National Weather Service ([[http:// | ||
- | CHARA telescopes spy cams and weather graph ([[http://astro.gsu.edu/~weather/chara_scopes.html|http://www.astro.gsu.edu]]) Status of each CHARA telescope and the All-sky camera. | + | Mount Wilson Ambient station |
- | Mount Wilson HP Wren Cameras ([[http://hpwren.ucsd.edu/cameras/wilson.html|http://hpwren.ucsd.edu/cameras/wilson.html]]) 360º view of mountain in color and IR | + | Jet stream forecast |
- | Aerospace Corporation weather station ([[http://www.weatherlink.com/user/mocam/index.php?view=summary&headers=1|http://www.weatherlink.com/ | + | IR satellite loop [[https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES/sector_band.php?sat=G17§or=psw& |
- | + | ||
- | Jet stream forecast ([[http:// | + | |
- | + | ||
- | IR satellite loop ([[http:// | + | |
California Regional Weather Server ([[http:// | California Regional Weather Server ([[http:// | ||
Clear Sky Clock ([[http:// | Clear Sky Clock ([[http:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | CHARA telescopes spy cams and weather graph ([[http:// | ||
\\ | \\ | ||
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5.1 Opening the Telescope Domes and enclosures\\ | 5.1 Opening the Telescope Domes and enclosures\\ | ||
\\ | \\ | ||
- | You can begin opening the telescope domes and enclosures | + | You can begin opening the telescope domes and enclosures |
+ | |||
+ | Opening the M5 mirror cover also helps to cool the AO box by allowing the warm air to rise out of the box and cooler air to flow in from below the telescope. It can be opened early while doing the alignments in the lab. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [NOT YET OPERATIONAL] | ||
5.2 Opening telescope optics\\ | 5.2 Opening telescope optics\\ | ||
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5.5 Slewing to a Target Using Cosmic Debris\\ | 5.5 Slewing to a Target Using Cosmic Debris\\ | ||
\\ | \\ | ||
- | It is typically dark enough to lock on your first star if TT reports ~ 1000 counts while not point at anything (sky counts) with the SpyCams turned off. This is roughly | + | It is typically dark enough to lock on your first star roughly |
+ | |||
+ | Enter the HD number of the star into Cosmic Debris using the Object or Calibrator Tabs. Click the [HD] button to register the entry. (Alternatively, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Slew to your first star by clicking [OBJECT], [CHECK STAR], [CALIBRATOR 1], or [CALIBRATOR 2] on Cosmic Debris (depending on which field you entered the target information). Note that these buttons will slew the telescopes AND send the carts to their positions. Verify that the telescopes are moving by checking the azimuth and elevation status in the telescope servers (the left set of numbers show the commanded EL/AZ of the target while the right set of numbers show the current location of the telescope). Also view " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Make sure all carts are tracking to values between 0 and 44m. You might have to click [TRACK] for the reference cart on the OPLE Control Tab. The [OL] buttons should be depressed gray for ALL active scopes (including the reference cart). The [MAN] buttons should be depressed gray for the moving carts to allow the beam combiners to send manual offsets to the carts. (The [MAN] button for the reference cart should be green.) | ||
+ | |||
+ | When the telescope slew finishes, check the SPY 1 to make sure that the domes are aligned with the telescope | ||
+ | |||
+ | Locking Tiptilt using the telescope WFS | ||
+ | |||
+ | Before locking the star, align the twfs to the red beacon, align the blue beacon to the labao, focus the labao and then focus the twfs. Turn off the red LED and you are ready to lock the star. | ||
+ | |||
+ | To lock the star, hit [MOVE] on the Main Tab of the Telescope GUI and then click the right star to bring the star to the ACQ hole. Turn on the TWFS tiptilt and DM servo on scopes that have it. Make sure the twfs tiptilt spots window show green dots that show the servo is tracking. Turn on the labao servo and auto M7 on all scopes. | ||
5.6 Locking Tiptilt (when using lab tiptilt) | 5.6 Locking Tiptilt (when using lab tiptilt) | ||
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6.4 Manually stowing the telescopes | 6.4 Manually stowing the telescopes | ||
- | Unlock the tiptilt beams using the Tiptilt servo control GUI. Turn the telescope TVs to SPY1 so that you can watch the telescopes and domes stow. On the Control Tab of the telescope GUI, click [STOW]. This will send the telescope and dome to the stow position. When the telescopes reach an elevation above 50 degrees, you can begin closing the mirror covers. M1 CLOSE, M3 CLOSE, M5 CLOSE, M7 CLOSE, Finder CLOSE Note that W2 and E1? finder covers and the W1 and W2 M7 covers need a second click to close. Visually inspect the telescopes using SPY2 to make sure that the mirror covers close properly. Check the Telescope Monitor for mirror cover status. After the M1, M3 and finder mirror covers finish closing, close the dome slits by clicking [SLIT CLOSE] on the telescope control tab for each telescope dome that is open. Close the dome enclosures by clicking [CLOSE] on the cylinder GUI. Watch that each reads .000 or .001 when closed. Check that the telescopes moved to their stow positions in EL and AZ: EL 90.0 deg, AZ 55.9 deg for E1 and E2, EL 90.0 deg, AZ 99.3 deg for W1 and W2, EL 90.0 deg, AZ 82.0 deg for S1 and S2. Turn off the power for [TEL AZ], [TEL EL] and [TIP/TILT] for the active scopes using the Power GUI. Visually check all telescopes in the spycams to make sure all covers and slits are closed. Leave the telescope GUIs open until the End Night Sequence is finished. (Cosmic Debris will turn on the TVs and the Spy Cam 2 during the End Night Sequence.) If the humidity is high, make sure that the heaters are turned on. | + | Unlock the tiptilt beams using the Tiptilt servo control GUI. Turn the telescope TVs to SPY1 so that you can watch the telescopes and domes stow. On the Control Tab of the telescope GUI, click [STOW]. This will send the telescope and dome to the stow position. When the telescopes reach an elevation above 50 degrees, you can begin closing the mirror covers. M1 CLOSE, M3 CLOSE, M5 CLOSE, M7 CLOSE, Finder CLOSE Note that W2 and E1? finder covers and the W1 and W2 M7 covers need a second click to close. Visually inspect the telescopes using SPY2 to make sure that the mirror covers close properly. Check the Telescope Monitor for mirror cover status. After the M1, M3 and finder mirror covers finish closing, close the dome slits by clicking [SLIT CLOSE] on the telescope control tab for each telescope dome that is open. Close the dome enclosures by clicking [CLOSE] on the cylinder GUI. Watch that each reads .000 or .001 when closed. Check that the telescopes moved to their stow positions in EL and AZ: EL 90.0 deg, AZ 55.9 deg for E1 and E2, EL 90.0 deg, AZ 99.3 deg for W1 and W2, EL 90.0 deg, AZ 82.0 deg for S1 and S2. Turn off the power for [TEL AZ], [TEL EL] and [TIP/TILT] for the active scopes using the Power GUI and disable the scopes using the dome gui or obsgtk. Visually check all telescopes in the spycams to make sure all covers and slits are closed. Leave the telescope GUIs open until the End Night Sequence is finished. (Cosmic Debris will turn on the TVs and the Spy Cam 2 during the End Night Sequence.) If the humidity is high, make sure that the heaters are turned on. |
6.5 Send the OPLE carts to the back of the rails | 6.5 Send the OPLE carts to the back of the rails | ||
- | Click the OL and MAN buttons for the active carts on the OPLE GUI Control Tab so that the buttons turn green. Turn the carts OFF using the OPLE GUI. Click BACK on the OPLE GUI to send the carts to the back. Watch OPLE Server for Back Switch indicator to light up with an " | + | Click the OL and MAN buttons for the active carts on the OPLE GUI Control Tab so that the buttons turn green. Turn the carts OFF using the OPLE GUI. Click BACK on the OPLE GUI to send the carts to the back. Watch OPLE Server for Back Switch indicator to light up with an " |
6.6 Finish shutting down in the control room | 6.6 Finish shutting down in the control room | ||
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If using Classic or CLIMB, check to make sure the dither is off by looking at the dither status in the CLASSIC/ | If using Classic or CLIMB, check to make sure the dither is off by looking at the dither status in the CLASSIC/ | ||
- | Shut down the ople control system: | + | Shut down the ople control system |
Close the OPLE server. | Close the OPLE server. | ||
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6.8 Odds and ends.\\ | 6.8 Odds and ends.\\ | ||
\\ | \\ | ||
- | Back in the Control Room: If you run into any problems during the shutdown procedures, send an email to charamnt or directly to Larry and Steve so that they can work to resolve any problems that need to be resolved promptly. Please feel free to record any details in the Observers Notebook or email Tech Report to specified groups or individual employees. Lock front and side doors of Operations Center if you are the last one in the building. Close OPLE building doors; they tend to stick open, please | + | Back in the Control Room: If you run into any problems during the shutdown procedures, send an email to charamnt or directly to Craig and Steve so that they can work to resolve any problems that need to be resolved promptly. Please feel free to record any details in the Observers Notebook or email Tech Report to specified groups or individual employees. Lock front and side doors of Operations Center if you are the last one in the building. Close OPLE building doors; they tend to stick open, please |
\\ | \\ | ||
[[: | [[: | ||