*** 40-inch Observing Guidlines 2001.5 ***

 
GETTING STARTED  

Although murky has been replaced in the control room by monsoon, the version of 
cicada that runs on monsoon does not yet support ccd6.  We use monsoon's disk 
and console, but we must still run cicada from murky remotely.

*) Log on to the yale account on monsoon.  You should end up with xterms 
   monsoon1, monsoon2, and murky.  


*) Running Teldisk      

   In a monsoon xterm:

     cicada & 

   Run teldisk (creating /data/monsoon1/cicada/yale), then quit cicada.


*) Starting Cicada 

   In the murky xterm:

     setenv DISPLAY monsoon:0.0 

     cicada &  (start ximtool, git, etc.)

   Close the murky xterm (otherwise it's in the way).


*) The Desktop 

   Monsoon has two screens, monsoon:0.1 on the left, and monsoon:0.0 on the right.  
   This makes it possible to use one for observing (cicada) and one for reduction
   stuff (figaro, netscape, etc.)  I still prefer to use the Virtual Desktop to
   switch between workspaces on just the one screen though.

   When the ximtool display has been sized to fit a 700x700 frame, everything in 
   the observing workspace can be arranged so as to tile the screen neatly, with 
   no windows overlapping.  To resize the ximtool display, select "Fit frame" from 
   the ximtool's "Options" menu after loading your first 700x700 frame via the git.


*) Ximtool and the Git

   Frames are not displayed correctly in the ximtool when first read out.  You must
   *always* reload the frame via the git before checking the frame for centering.


*) The Reduction Workspace

   Move the monsoon xterms to the reduction workspace and start up figaro in the
   one you'll use for reductions:

     figstart              (enable figaro commands)

     figdisp -bm 700x700   (bitmap graphics)

     soft /xdisp           (line graphics)

   Also, start up Netscape:

     communicator -install &

   Note that weather and Southern Parallax pages are available via the browser's 
   toolbar.



*) At the E.T.S. Console

   To set up the display so that HA will display in HH MM SS format:

     Select "ShutDown" from the bottom toolbar.

     login   (Observer Identification: yale) 

     startup

     From the "File" menu select "Load Display file".

     From the "Files" list click on DISPLAY.DSP, then click on OK.


   To switch between automatic and manual dome control:

     From the "Configuration" menu, select "Configure".        

     Next to "Dome Control" click on either "Automatic" or "Manual".

   Set the dome to manual control before opening the dome.


*) In the Dome

   With the dome set to manual control, it's possible to operate the telescope and 
   dome from the dome console per usual.

   The trick for getting the cover off the tube is to pry the bottom edge gently 
   free before lifting by the handles.  Conversely, to get the cover back on, hook 
   the top edge over the lip of the tube first. 

   When finished in the dome:

    * Leave the telescope sytems on.

    * Put the floor all the way down.          


OBSERVING

*) Set the dome to Automatic Control and make sure the floor is all the way down.
   Otherwise the dome won't move and the telescope won't respond to commands.


*) To Acquire and Track an Object

   On the E.T.S. bottom toolbar, click on "Track".

   Enter the desired coordinates and click on "Track".

   Wait for the telescope to stop moving, then use the paddle to set the telescope 
   to the final coordinates.  The message

      telescope arrived at the desired coordinates

   will flash and the telescope will begin tracking.


*) To Halt Tracking

   On the E.T.S. bottom toolbar, click on "Halt".


*) To Park the Telescope

   Use the "Motion" menu to move the telescope to the zenith or to park it south
   for access to the top end.


*) Taking a Trail

   The easiest way to take a trail is to park the telescope at the intersection
   of the meridian and the equator and take 60-second exposures until you get a
   keeper.  

   Dewar 6 is now fixed via allen screws to a larger tailpiece adapter.  Rather 
   than fuss with the screws to adjust the chip rotation as before (using the 
   sliding rotation limit with the two knurled knobs), it's easier to loosen and 
   rotate the larger adapter.  Experience suggests the adapter will need to be
   backed off its limit just a smidgen.