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)
• 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