How to start up observatory (no embedded images)
Check weather (outside conditions) use common sense
Log on to control PC via VNC skydome.mpe.mpg.de port 5200
1st check if mount handpad program and focuser program are running and connected to mount and focuser respectively.
- This should usally be the case.
- If not start the programs and try to connect.
- If they are not started, and cannot connect, then start up windows internet explorer.
Then Log on to ePower #1 and check if focuser and mount are powered on ePower #1.
Power up the focuser if necessary and check that the focuser control program is running and connected.
Power up mount if necessery:
switch on power supply on ePower #1 if not yet powered up. Normally it should be on.
then toggle mount switch both on ePower #1 if not yet powered up.
checked if Mount handpad control program connects properly.
Power up imager/s on ePower #1 if not yet powered up. Normally it should be off on starting up.
- open dome
How to start up observatory (embedded images)
Check weather (outside conditions) use common sense
Log on to control PC via VNC skydome.mpe.mpg.de port 5200
1st check if mount handpad program and focuser program are running and connected to mount and focuser respectively.
- This should usally be the case.
- If not start the programs and try to connect.
If they are not started, and cannot connect, then start up windows internet explorer.
Then Log on to ePower #1 and check if focuser and mount are powered on ePower #1.
Power up the focuser if necessary and check that the focuser control program is running and connected.
Power up mount if necessery:
switch on power supply on ePower #1 if not yet powered up. Normally it should be on.
then toggle mount switch both on ePower #1 if not yet powered up.
checked if Mount handpad control program connects properly.
Power up imager/s on ePower #1 if not yet powered up. Normally it should be off on starting up.
- open dome
How to start up GOWI
cool imager to target temperature (-30C typically - cooler power < 80% at target temperature)
- start dark and bias frame sequence
- set focuser to expected setting for the night (if known)
take skyflats until start of actual observations
How to start up GOWI using chimera
- Turn camera on (using power control)
- Launch chimera:
# fixes broken sbig library (required.. otherwise you will get camera not found or something like that!) export LD_PRELOAD=/home/welterde/libwrap.so # launch chimera (connects to camera and telescope mount) chimera
- Cool down camera (using different terminal
# -T <target temp> -w waits for it to complete chimera-cam -T -25 -w
- Unpark telescope using remote hand controller (not possible via chimera yet)
- Attach rtd view
export RTD_CAMERA=0 skycat -rtd 1 & # then click Real-Time -> Attach camera
- (optional) Load scheduler program and launch it
# creates new database (use --append if you want to append instead of overwrite) chimera-sched -f programfile.sched --new # start scheduler chimera-sched --start # stopping scheduler (just doing control-c on the previous command will not stop scheduler!) chimera-sched --stop