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chara:new_operating_procedures [2024/06/26 21:36] charaobs [Opening Telescope Optics] |
chara:new_operating_procedures [2024/08/07 20:02] (current) bflores [The Next Slew - Avoid Triggering AZ Limit Switches:] |
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====== New Operating Procedures ====== | ====== New Operating Procedures ====== | ||
- | Last updated | + | Last updated |
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- | [[http:// | + | [[http:// |
+ | [[: | ||
\\ __**ADAPTIVE OPTICS DOCUMENTATION**__ | \\ __**ADAPTIVE OPTICS DOCUMENTATION**__ | ||
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===== Observing Conditions ===== | ===== Observing Conditions ===== | ||
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==== Dust ==== | ==== Dust ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | First thing to check are the purple air particulate sensors. There are three (S1E1W1) and will give a fairly good representation of the number of particulates in the area. The baseline fluctuates somewhat, and the shutdown numbers are yet to be determined. The default is PM2.5 EPA AQI and should check other methods if the number is over 50-100 (needs calibration). Please find the map at the following link: | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[https:// | ||
Gauging the airborne dust and pollen can be problematic because you need a bright light and a relatively dark night. In general, you want to look in the bottom 0.5 meter of the light column. There will be a diffuse column lit up by the beam – don’t worry about it, just follow the dust glints. If you can count the dust glints, the conditions are safe to observe. If it looks like a blizzard, close up. If any of the dust glints shine with an orange or a peach hue, or the dust glints look abnormally large, the dust is probably ash – close up immediately. Ash seriously degrades bare aluminum coatings. Dust and wind go together. But, just because it is calm, the dust conditions might still be bad. If it was windy a few days earlier, it could have kicked up a lot of dust, which can take several days to settle. Finally, during late spring to early summer, conifer tree pollen can be problematic. If particulates are borderline please email the CHARA day staff so they can clean the optics as soon as possible. | Gauging the airborne dust and pollen can be problematic because you need a bright light and a relatively dark night. In general, you want to look in the bottom 0.5 meter of the light column. There will be a diffuse column lit up by the beam – don’t worry about it, just follow the dust glints. If you can count the dust glints, the conditions are safe to observe. If it looks like a blizzard, close up. If any of the dust glints shine with an orange or a peach hue, or the dust glints look abnormally large, the dust is probably ash – close up immediately. Ash seriously degrades bare aluminum coatings. Dust and wind go together. But, just because it is calm, the dust conditions might still be bad. If it was windy a few days earlier, it could have kicked up a lot of dust, which can take several days to settle. Finally, during late spring to early summer, conifer tree pollen can be problematic. If particulates are borderline please email the CHARA day staff so they can clean the optics as soon as possible. | ||
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===== Sunset Prep ===== | ===== Sunset Prep ===== | ||
- | ==== Opening the telescope domes and enclosures | + | ==== Opening the telescope domes and cylinders |
- | Begin opening telescope domes and enclosures | + | Begin opening telescope domes and cylinders |
+ | |||
+ | Currently, only S2 and W1 can have the lower cylinders opened. | ||
Before opening the domes, make sure to check the current weather conditions and the forecast to make sure conditions are safe to open and are likely to be stable as you wait for it to get dark. | Before opening the domes, make sure to check the current weather conditions and the forecast to make sure conditions are safe to open and are likely to be stable as you wait for it to get dark. | ||
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__To vent the domes (open partially, usually during Summertime): | __To vent the domes (open partially, usually during Summertime): | ||
- | | + | - On **obsgtk**, control tab, **[UNL SL], [VENT] ** |
- Open them fully when the sun has reached 40º for maximum cooling. The time you can fully open is on the white board, | - Open them fully when the sun has reached 40º for maximum cooling. The time you can fully open is on the white board, | ||
- Then** Dome GUI, RA/DEC tab, ANTI-SUN** | - Then** Dome GUI, RA/DEC tab, ANTI-SUN** | ||
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* Monitor the progress of opening the domes: | * Monitor the progress of opening the domes: | ||
* **Obsgtk, [ON], [SPY1]** | * **Obsgtk, [ON], [SPY1]** | ||
+ | __To open the cylinders: | ||
+ | |||
+ | - In a terminal, " | ||
+ | - Control tab, **[Low Open] ** | ||
+ | - do for each cylinder (currently only S2 and W1) | ||
+ | - Check status of each cylinder with each tab (S2 or W1) | ||
+ | - Should say "Lower cylinder: Opening/ | ||
+ | |||
===== ===== | ===== ===== | ||
+ | |||
===== Preparations in the Lab Prior to Observing ===== | ===== Preparations in the Lab Prior to Observing ===== | ||
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- Click **[Start RTD] **to start the display. | - Click **[Start RTD] **to start the display. | ||
- if gui is not responding, restart stst server | - if gui is not responding, restart stst server | ||
- | - ssh spooler@stst | + | - ssh spooler@stst |
- kill_stst, then run_stst | - kill_stst, then run_stst | ||
- Take backgrounds if the display is not evenly gray. Close shutter using FILTERS menu. Click Background, wait until finished, about 10-12 seconds (look at message at the bottom of the STST RTD to see status). The “Use Bkg” button should be green after taking backgrounds. | - Take backgrounds if the display is not evenly gray. Close shutter using FILTERS menu. Click Background, wait until finished, about 10-12 seconds (look at message at the bottom of the STST RTD to see status). The “Use Bkg” button should be green after taking backgrounds. | ||
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- Monitor progress of the M1 and M3 covers by using [SPY2] camera on the telescope TV screens. Wait for all covers to open. | - Monitor progress of the M1 and M3 covers by using [SPY2] camera on the telescope TV screens. Wait for all covers to open. | ||
- The Telescope Monitor reports the status of all mirror covers. Close and reopen the Telescope Monitor if it reads UNKNOWN for a telescope, even after hitting REOPEN. | - The Telescope Monitor reports the status of all mirror covers. Close and reopen the Telescope Monitor if it reads UNKNOWN for a telescope, even after hitting REOPEN. | ||
- | |||
==== Final Alignment Before Slewing ==== | ==== Final Alignment Before Slewing ==== | ||
- | - While still at stow, align red and blue beacon and bring focus terms to zero. | + | - While still at stow, align red and blue beacon and bring focus terms to zero. Be aware that SPICA sees the red beacon and may want it off when they do STS recording. |
- | - **[ZCEN]** | + | - **[ZCEN]** |
==== Enabling The Telescopes ==== | ==== Enabling The Telescopes ==== | ||
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- Note: ADDAB now works for astigmatism and coma terms. | - Note: ADDAB now works for astigmatism and coma terms. | ||
- | ===== The Next Slew - Avoid Limit Switch Issues Near AZ 0º: ===== | + | ===== The Next Slew - Avoid Triggering |
Always pay attention to the AZ you are slewing from or to, to avoid passing the sensors incorrectly and dealing with scopes getting stuck near 90° or 270°. | Always pay attention to the AZ you are slewing from or to, to avoid passing the sensors incorrectly and dealing with scopes getting stuck near 90° or 270°. | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Az Limit Switch Near 0º:__ | ||
There are two sensors negative and positive near AZ 0. | There are two sensors negative and positive near AZ 0. | ||
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* now you can slew back the other way to the next target. | * now you can slew back the other way to the next target. | ||
- | If you don't pay attention and only hit one sensor at AZ 0, some or all telescopes will continue to stall near 90 or 270 degrees and it is a pain to fix. | + | If you don't pay attention and only hit one sensor at AZ 0, some or all telescopes will continue to stall near 90 or 270 degrees and it is a pain to fix. Will have to trip the limit switch at the telescope. |
+ | |||
+ | __TCS Az limit beyond -90 and 450º: __ | ||
+ | |||
+ | On the telescope server, keep an eye on the TCS az to not go beyond -90º and 450º. If you are getting close, telescopes will have to go the other way around to avoid hitting the limit. | ||
+ | |||
+ | * can send to STOW or to another star using FIND* on obsgtk. | ||
Got to [[: | Got to [[: | ||
+ | |||
===== Additional Observing Procedures ===== | ===== Additional Observing Procedures ===== | ||
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- Turn off WFS COOL when Matt requests it. | - Turn off WFS COOL when Matt requests it. | ||
- Never do camerlink off | - Never do camerlink off | ||
- | - Obsgtk, MAIN→ | + | - Obsgtk, MAIN→ Labao STOP OFF |
- Shutdown STST | - Shutdown STST | ||
- | - Click the “Start Camera” button to turn off the camera (the button will go from green to gray). | + | - Click the “Start Camera” |
- Change the filter wheel to the closed position. | - Change the filter wheel to the closed position. | ||
- Using the shutter gtk, remove the STST stage from the beams. | - Using the shutter gtk, remove the STST stage from the beams. | ||
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- Visually check all telescopes in the spycams to make sure all covers and slits are closed. Turn the TV OFF. | - Visually check all telescopes in the spycams to make sure all covers and slits are closed. Turn the TV OFF. | ||
- Leave GPS, Metrol, and Vacmon servers and the Telescope servers open and running | - Leave GPS, Metrol, and Vacmon servers and the Telescope servers open and running | ||
+ | |||
==== Manually stowing the telescopes ==== | ==== Manually stowing the telescopes ==== |