This is a summary of normal IGRINS use for observers at the McDonald 2.7m telescope
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Go out in the dome
Go to the old control room (Colossus Control Room) and press each of these buttons:
Go to the console and press "Reset". You will hear a click as the breaks preventing the telescope from moving are released. There should be no messages on the TCS now.
Point the telescope to Zenith
Go to the TCS, click the "Next" menu, click "Zenith", and click "Yes" on the warning message that pops up.
Click "Go Next" at the top of the TCS window.
Push the Autoslew button in the dome to move the telescope to the Zenith.
Use the console to open the telescope mirror cover
Set up IGRINS and telescope for taking calibrations
Raise the east platform so you can reach the top of IGRINS
Open the shutter on top of IGRINS is for taking flats
Be sure to secure the window cover arm using the velcro.
Move the telescope to the Flat position
Go to the TCS, click the “Next” menu, click “Flat”, and click “Yes” on the warning message that pops up.
Click “Go Next” at the top of the TCS window.
Push the Autoslew button to move the telescope to the Flat position.
Use the yellow hand paddle to move the upper wind screen all the way down to reveal the full flat screen.
Use the TCS to move the telescope dome to the “Park” position
Go to the TCS, click the “Tools”, click “Park”, and click “Yes” on the warning message that pops up.
In the Observing Room:
In the DTP on the ICC:
Click the “FLAT-OFF” button below the K-band image plot.
Click “Yes” on the pop-up that appears (this just fills in the Object Name and Exposure Time in the DTP)
This will fill the Seq Bar with 10 x E frames, change the object name, object type, and set the exposure time.
Change the exposure time to 20 seconds (if not already set to that).
Change the Object Name to “FLAT 20s” (if not already set to that).
When ready to take the FLAT-OFFs, click the “Start/Resume Sequence” button.
Flat Off frames should take about 10 minutes to complete. Computer will say "H finished", "K finished", “Sequence finished” when they are done.
Back to the dome to turn on the Flat lamps for FLAT ON frames
Move the rolling stairs from their stowed location to on platform east under the telescope
Ensure the location you place the rolling stairs is clear of the telescope
Raise the platform using the yellow hand paddle until you will be able to reach the plug for the flat lamps on the side of the telescope
!! Make sure you do not get close enough to bump IGRINS with the raising platform !!
Plug the flat lamp power cable into the side of the telescope, see images below
In the Observing Room:
In the DTP on the ICC...
Click the “FLAT-ON” button below the K-band image plot.
Click “Yes” on the pop-up that appears (this just fills in the Object Name and Exposure time in the DTP)
This will fill the Seq Bar with 10 x E frames, change the object name, object type, and set the exposure time.
Change the exposure time to 20 seconds (if not already set to that).
Change the Object name to “FLAT 20s” (if not already set to that).
When ready to take the FLAT-ONs, click the “Start/Resume Sequence” button.
Flat On frames should take about 10 minutes to complete. Computer will say "H finished", "K finished", and “Sequence finished” when they are done.
Turning off Flat Lamps/stowing wind screen
Close the telescope mirror cover on the console so nothing falls on the mirror when moving the upper wind screen
Move the upper wind screen back to its original position using the yellow hand-paddle
Dome Opening Procedure
To startup the telescope follow the dome opening procedure. Be sure to monitor the weather conditions and abide by the dome closing conditions while observing!
Start of Night
Check and zero the telescope pointing
If TCS has not been reset since the prior night of observing, your pointing
See: will be easier to find than if TCS was reset during the day.
Follow either of the directions outlined here:
Note: Since IGRINS has returned to McDonald Observatory in late 2024 the pointing has been difficult to obtain because the zeroes are often far off when TCS is reset. Be prepared to spend several hours in the beginning of the night pointing (particularly spiraling around using the paddle in the DTP), especially if you are not an experienced user of McDonald HJST. Our advice to make pointing easier is to pick a star near zenith that has several surrounding bright stars (see example 29 Peg) because if the telescope is very far off in pointing nearby bright stars clustered by dim stars are easier to identify in the slit view camera images than clusters of all dim stars. Remember to take into account the slit rotation when looking at finder charts!
Check telescope focus [Note: need to outline this procedure--20241204]
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Move the telescope to Zenith
Using the TCS select Next → Zenith and click yes on all of the pop-up windows
Close the IGRINS window cover
Raise the east platform using the yellow hand paddle
Close the IGRINS window cover using the handle
Be sure to secure the handle using the velcro strip
Stow the telescope
Using the TCS select Next → Stow and click yes on all of the pop-up windows
Close the Mirror Window Cover
Using the button on the Colossus Console (the console in the dome with all the red buttons)
Close the dome
Using the button on the Colossus Console
Park the dome
Using the TCS select Tools → Park Dome and click yes on all of the pop-up windows
Close the dome doors
Close the dome vents
Using the control panel on the East side of the dome near the door
E-stop the telescope
Using the button on the Colossus Console
Turn on the passage lights (only once dome is closed fully)
Using the button on the Colossus Console
From the control room
Log-out of ATLAS
Click the power button on top right hand side of the lower monitor
Turn off the heater in the observing room
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