TO Tips: TYPICAL OBSERVING SEQUENCE

• Enter the coordinates of the object.
  
  • From StarCat, (available catalogs or user catalog).
    

    A way to load the user catalog is to copy the file from his account to yours from ROOT, be careful to allow it to be read from your account.

    Starcat will also provide you with nearby SAO, BS, and guiding stars.
    Choose carefully in between the different options: off axis / user define, search by index..., then send the coordinates.

  • Manually in the TCS_term window, with the exact number of digits and decimals, RA, DEC, and proper motion when necessary.
    ######.## (+)/-(#)#####.# (#.#### #.###) s
    Enter the equinox if different from 2000.
    ATTENTION! If you send afterwords coordinates from Starcat, to check a nearby SAO for example, the equinox will be automatically resetted to 2000.0, do not forget to enter the proper equinox again to go back to the object.

  The coordinates of planets, asteroids or comets can be obtained with the ephemerides programm, (ephem in c:\golisch\cprogs on PC, or on laptop). Be very careful to use the proper TRACKING RATES for every object!

• Slew to the object.

  Always check the LIMITS before to actually slew;
  the air masse at destination will appear on the monitor screen at the beginning of the slew, adjust the shutters position accordingly, (close the mirror covers!);
  slew with system override if the object is out of the TCS set limits but still reachable (roughly DEC < 70, cf...).

• Find the object.
  
  • Check a nearby SAO whenever you have the slightest doubt.
  • Correct the coordinates on a nearby BS if necessary, for example when you slewed over a long distance and/or cannot find it.
  • If the object or even the BS is difficult to find, do a spiral:
    choose the velocities and pitch,
    PB 3 to begin, PB 3 again to stop,
    R to reverse the movment,
    H to go back home,
    PB 9 hold the last stop during the spiral.

    Or search for it manually.

    Center the object on your screen, guiding manually.
    The cross-hair should be at the best position to suit the astronomers needs.
    The object may be too faint for you to see, the astronomers would then have to check the field and center the object themselves.
    Do not forget the weather might be another reason not to find the star.

    Do not forget to adjust the guide rate to your needs!

• PB 8 to zero the offset,
  after the object is centered,
  to keep track of tracking rates adjustments,
  whenever the astronomers ask for it,
  BUT ALWAYS IN BEAM A! And never while guiding.
• MIRROR OUT!
• Try to find a guiding star.
  
• While observing, always be aware of:
  • getting closer to the LIMITS (shutter, TCS) and warn the astronomers,
  • the position of the telescope,
  • the variation in offsets and adjust the tracking rates when needed,
  • of the different values used for focus and tracking rates,
  • it will be more difficult to find an object or guiding star while beam switching...,
• Be careful to always enter the PROPER TRACKING RATES for the object!

OPENING PROCEDURE / DOME / TELESCOPE / CSHELL / NSFCAM / BOLOMETER / REMEMBER! / TROUBLE SHOOTING LIST / CLOSING PROCEDURE

IR WEATHER MAP / UKIRT WEATHER / GEMINI CAMERA VIEW /

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