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Contents
Contents
Manual for the Robotically Controlled Telescope at Kitt Peak
Edited by R Campbell
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Quick Scheduling Primer
Logging In
Creating a New Project
Choosing an Existing Project
Creating a New Target
Stationary Targets
Moving Targets
Sidereal Tracking of Moving Targets
Request an Observation be added to the Queue
Target Selection
Picture Selection
the RCT Queue
Retrieving your Observations
Access to RCT Database
Object Name Search
Near Position Search
Download images
Notes and Tips
History
A Remotely Controlled Telescope Returns to its Roots
Consortium Members
Western Kentucky University
Planetary Science Institute
South Carolina State University
Villanova University
Fayetteville State University
Telescope and other Devices
The Telescope
The Camera
RCT Camera System Overview
Introduction
Principal Components
The CCD
Sensitivity Curves
CCD Throughput
Camera Readout Options
Layout of the FITS Images: Image and Overscan Sections
Subarray readouts (windowed images)
Camera Cooling
Specifications
Notes of Caution
Troubleshooting
Connecting the Camera
Connection checklist
A description of the system components
Camera Operation
Voodoo
The Cloud Camera
Calibration
Declination Axis
Dome Azimuth
Dome Slit
Filter Wheels
Miscellaneous Notes
The Finder
Focus
The Great White Spot
Guide Stages
Guide Camera
Hour Angle Drive
Hour Angle Preload
Interlocks
Mirror Cover
Mirror Support
Manual Override Panel
Power Strip
Temperature Sensors
Communications
Analysis
Tilt Assembly
Universal Power Supply
Weather detector
Web Cameras
Observing Procedure
Automatic Instructions
Monitoring Observations
Manual Instructions
Opening the Observatory
Pointing the Telescope
Taking an Image
Guider Instructions
Selecting a Guidestar and Positioning the Stage
Acquiring the guidestar
Guiding
Software
Basic Observatory Control Programs
beep - pulses the klaxon in the dome
Usage
Options
closedown - shuts down the observatory for the night
Usage
dome - reports back the azimuth of the dome
Usage
Examples
Options
encoder - reads the telescope position encoders
Usage
Options
home - homes the selected axes
Usage
Options
home2 - homes the various axes
Usage
insgen - telescope scheduler program
Usage
Reading the Database
Rejected Requests
Observation Time
Observation Windows
Handling the Moon
Repeating Requests during the Night
Scheduling Algorithm
Publishing Results
Options
interlocks - reports on the status of various auxiliary systems
Usage
Examples
Options
keepopen - keep the slit open
Usage
Options
mirror - controls the mirror cover on the telescope
Usage
offset - moves the telescope from its present position
Usage
Options
openup - opens the observatory and does a power-on test
Usage
point - positions the telescope to the specified RA and Dec
Usage
OPTIONS
Examples
power - turns on the power to the requested devices
Usage
preload - turns on the telescope drive preloads
Usage
OPTIONS
slit - opens the observatory dome slit
Usage
Examples
track - sets the telescope tracking rate
Usage
OPTIONS
Examples
where - reports the telescope position
Usage
Examples
OPTIONS
zero - sets the current position as zero in the telescope control program
Usage
Filter Wheel Commands
filter - positions the filter wheels based on filter position
Usage
Examples
pfilter - positions the filter wheel based on the name of the filter.
Usage
OPTIONS
Examples
Observing Commands
acquire - finds the brightest star in a guide star and centers telescope
Usage
Examples
fimage - takes a picture with the finder camera
Usage
guidestar - finds the brightest stars around a given location
Usage
image - takes a picture with the CCD camera
Usage
Examples
Calibration Scripts
domeflat - takes flats using the GWS
Usage
Input Variables
focus - moves the telescope to the desired focus position
Usage
OPTIONS
focusdip - telescope focus program by taking multiple pictures
Usage
Options
focanl - focus image analyzer
Usage
gws - turns on the lights for the Great White Spot
Usage
sky - determines the sky level in an image file
Usage
Options
Weather and Sensor Commands
mets - returns the values of the Vaisala weather station
Usage
Examples
taux - reads the auxiliary temperature sensors
Usage
tel_status - returns a string describing the telescope
Usage
temps - returns the values of the telescope sensor temperatures
Usage
weatherpause - temporary observatory hiatus
Usage
Miscellaneous Commands
mkid - change a fits file into the canonical name
Usage
Options
nobaby - converts Hour:Minute:Second format to decimal
Usage
Options
Examples
ok - ask whether to continue or not
Usage
stderr - writes to standard error rather than standard out
Usage
Options
tobaby - converts decimal to Hour:Minute:Second format
Usage
Options
Examples
Guide camera commands
gdark - creates dark frame for guider
Usage
guide - causes the guider to operate
Usage
Options
guider - opens the guider shutter for the time specified
Usage
guider_setup - adjusts the bias and gain of the chip
Usage
guider_status - outputs the current conditions of the guider
Usage
guimage - takes an exposure of the guider image
Usage
setstage - calculates guide stage offsets and blocking
Usage
stage - positions the guide stage to the x, y, z coordinates specified
Usage
Examples
stage_status - returns the current position of the guide
Usage
Data Analysis Tools
extract - pulls out ranges of timestamped data from stdin
Usage
Example
Options
flex - telescope pointing analysis program
Usage
Options
getkey - keyword/value program
Usage
Options
Examples
Astronomical Programs
altaz - converts ra/dec to altitude azimuth
Usage
apparent - computes apparent celestial position
Usage
asteroid - calculates minor planet positions
Usage
Options
bright - locates bright stars
Usage
dist - calculates angular distances
Usage
Options
jd - prints out the current Julian date
Usage
Options
lst - prints out the local sidereal time
Usage
Options
moon - prints out the RA and Dec of the moon
Usage
Options
nomad - locates USNO NOMAD catalog stars
Usage
precess - precesses RA and Dec to different epochs
Usage
Options
sun - prints out the RA and Dec of the Sun
Usage
Options
ut - prints out the current Universal time
Usage
Options
visible - sees if celestial object is within telescope limits
Usage
Options
Mathematical Functions
centroid - determine the centroid and width of an object
Usage
Examples
csort - star list ordering algorithm
Usage
Options
cubic - cubic equation software
Usage
Options
linfit - least square fitting algorithm
Usage
Options
poly - polynomial evaluator
Usage
Options
rand - prints out random number
Usage
Options
Servers and Daemons
show - displays status of telescope servers and daemons
Usage
Examples
Options
telco - observatory master controler
Usage
Waiting Strategy
Request Execution
Talking to the Telco
Examples
Updating the Database
Dealing with Bad Weather
Options
tin - telco communicator script
Usage
rctel - telescope server
Usage
Options
killall - script to kill off all telescope servers
Usage
killtserver - script to kill off tservers
Usage
rmsem - script to remove semaphores
Usage
startnet - server starter script
Usage
Options
tserver - server concatenating program
Usage
Options
tx - server message transmitter program
Usage
Options
Examples
weatherd - the weather daemon
Usage
X-Window Programs
xtime - countdown timer
Usage
Data Reduction
Software components
rctred - Reducing the images listed in a file
setred - Creating a parameter file for rctred
rctcom - Combining the images listed in a file
rctnight - More automated reductions
setnight - creating a parameter file for rctnight
Examples of data reduction
Example 1- using rctred and rctcom
Example 2 - using rctnight
Example 3 - automated data reduction
Installing this software
Pitfalls and features
Database
Observatory Table Descriptions
The Filter table
The Fits table
The Object table
The Log table
The Picture table
The Request table
The Schedule table
The Skipped table
The Target table
The Observer table
The Window table
Creating The Database
Maintenance
The Telescope
The Camera
Pumping the dewar
Cleaning the optical path
Transporting the Camera
Transporting the Cryotiger
Removing filter wheels
Replacing filter wheels
Removing filters from the wheel
Inserting filters in the wheel
The Dome
Bibliography
About this document ...
Louis-Gregory Strolger 2012-01-09
