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This is a summary of normal IGRINS use for observers at the McDonald 2.7m telescope 

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  1. Go out in the dome

    1. Go to the old control room (Colossus Control Room) and press each of these buttons:

    2. 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.

    3. Point the telescope to Zenith

      1. Go to the TCS, click the "Next" menu, click "Zenith", and click "Yes" on the warning message that pops up.

      2. Click "Go Next" at the top of the TCS window.

      3. Push the Autoslew button in the dome to move the telescope to the Zenith.

    4. Use the console to open the telescope mirror cover

    5. Set up IGRINS and telescope for taking calibrations

      1. Raise the east platform so you can reach the top of IGRINS

      2. Open the shutter on top of IGRINS is for taking flats

      3. Be sure to secure the window cover arm using the velcro.

    6. Move the telescope to the Flat position

      1. Go to the TCS, click the “Next” menu, click “Flat”, and click “Yes” on the warning message that pops up.

      2. Click “Go Next” at the top of the TCS window.

      3. Push the Autoslew button to move the telescope to the Flat position.

      4. Use the yellow hand paddle to move the upper wind screen all the way down to reveal the full flat screen.

    7. Use the TCS to move the telescope dome to the “Park” position

      1. Go to the TCS, click the “Tools”, click “Park”, and click “Yes” on the warning message that pops up.

  2. In the Observing Room:

    1. In the DTP on the ICC:

      1. Click the “FLAT-OFF” button below the K-band image plot.

        1. Click “Yes” on the pop-up that appears (this just fills in the Object Name and Exposure Time in the DTP)

        2. This will fill the Seq Bar with 10 x E frames, change the object name, object type, and set the exposure time.

      2. Change the exposure time to 20 seconds (if not already set to that).

      3. Change the Object Name to “FLAT 20s” (if not already set to that).

      4. When ready to take the FLAT-OFFs, click the “Start/Resume Sequence” button.

    2. Flat Off frames should take about 10 minutes to complete.  Computer will say "H finished", "K finished", “Sequence finished” when they are done.

  3. Back to the dome to turn on the Flat lamps for FLAT ON frames

    1. Move the rolling stairs from their stowed location to on platform east under the telescope

      1. Ensure the location you place the rolling stairs is clear of the telescope

    2. 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

      1. !! Make sure you do not get close enough to bump IGRINS with the raising platform !!

    3. Plug the flat lamp power cable into the side of the telescope, see images below

      IMG_6806.jpegIMG_6807.jpeg
  4. In the Observing Room:

    1. In the DTP on the ICC...

      1. Click the “FLAT-ON” button below the K-band image plot.

        1. Click “Yes” on the pop-up that appears (this just fills in the Object Name and Exposure time in the DTP)

        2. This will fill the Seq Bar with 10 x E frames, change the object name, object type, and set the exposure time.

      2. Change the exposure time to 20 seconds (if not already set to that).

      3. Change the Object name to “FLAT 20s” (if not already set to that).

      4. When ready to take the FLAT-ONs, click the “Start/Resume Sequence” button.

    2. Flat On frames should take about 10 minutes to complete.  Computer will say "H finished", "K finished", and “Sequence finished” when they are done.

    3. The target peak counts per FLAT exposure are between 6,000 and 10,000 counts. Inspect the FLATS in DS9 to ensure that this was achieved. You can also check the peak flux counts in the SNR quicklook tool (see 1.b. in the Setup above).

  5. Turning off Flat Lamps/stowing wind screen

    1. Close the telescope mirror cover on the console so nothing falls on the mirror when moving the upper wind screen

    2. Move the upper wind screen back to its original position using the yellow hand-paddle

c. Unplug the flat lamps from the side of the telescope.

d. Stow the ladder on the side of the dome floor, out of the way.

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!

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  1. Move the telescope to Zenith

    1. Using the TCS select Next → Zenith and click yes on all of the pop-up windows

  2. Close the IGRINS window cover

    1. Rotate IGRINS back to a PA of 90 degrees, if needed

    2. Raise the east platform using the yellow hand paddle

    3. Close the IGRINS window cover using the handle

    4. Be sure to secure the handle using the velcro strip

  3. Stow the telescope

    1. Using the TCS select Next → Stow and click yes on all of the pop-up windows

    2. Press and hold the button on the dome floor console to move the telescope to the stow position

  4. Close the Mirror Window Cover

    1. Using the button on the Colossus Console (the console in the dome with all the red buttons). You should hear the motor stop when it is fully closed.

  5. Close the dome

    1. Using the button on the Colossus Console. There will be a loud sound when it finishes closing.

  6. Put any wind screens that are over the dome slit back to their stow positions using the handpaddle

  7. Park the dome

    1. Using the TCS select Tools → Park Dome and click yes on all of the pop-up windows

  8. Close the dome doors

  9. Close the dome vents

    1. Using the control panel on the East side of the dome near the door

  10. E-stop the telescope

    1. Using the button on the Colossus Console

  11. Turn on the passage lights (only once dome is closed fully)

    1. Using the button on the Colossus Console

  12. From the control room

    1. Log-out of ATLAS

      1. Click the power button on top right hand side of the lower monitor

  13. Turn off the heater in the observing room

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