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

Table of Contents

 

Beginning of night Procedure, should be done at least an hour before opening:

...

  1. On Atlas
    1. Log in with IGRINS account
      1. Ask for username and password if you do not already know it
    2. Open night log on Atlas
      1. Open a terminal and type "dr"
      2. Fill out observer name(s)
      3. Set instrument to IGRINS
      4. Check for any notes from the McDonald Observatory staff
    3. Open TCS GUI on Atlas
      1. Open a terminal and type "tcsgui"
    4. Startup the weather station GUI (optional)
      1. Go to a terminal, type > wx_gui
    5. Open monitoring cameras
      1. Open firefox and go to http://nexus.as.utexas.edu
      2. Click "Observing support"
      3. Click "monitoring cameras"
      4. Right click "MONET Sky Camera" and open in new window
      5. Right click "2.7m Tube camera" and open in new window
      6. Right click "2.7m Dome interior" and open in new window
        1. You can shrink size of 2.7m Dome Interior camera image by clicking "1x"
      7. Rearrange monitoring camera windows on the Atlas screens to your preference
  2. Start up the  Instrument Control Computer (ICC)
    1. Wake up the Instrument Control Computer (ICC), the iMac on the left of the control console.
    2. Close windows that are not needed by you (HKP, DTP, SCP, QLP, IGRINS Hub) on the Desktop if they happen to be open. HKP and the IGRINS Hub should have been open, make sure to close them now. Do not touch any terminals that have tmp350.py, hk_to_firebase.py, and test_mnt running, just in case they happen to be visible
    3. Open IGRINS Proxy
      1. Open a terminal
      2. > cd ~/igrins_admin
      3. > sh tcsproxy.sh
    4. Open IGRINS Hub
      1. Open a terminal or another tab
      2. > cd ~/igrins_admin
      3. > sh ics_hub.sh
    5. In the IGRINS Hub...
      1. Make sure Update Obsdate is the correct (civil) date
      2. Start up the Housekeeping Package (HKP) by clicking "Run HKP" in the IGRINS Hub
        1. In the HKP...
          1.  click "Start Periodic Monitoring"
          2. Make sure "Set Alert (T > 30)" box is checked
      3. Check terminal windows to see if run_hk2firebase.sh is running (This is what updates the website monitoring IGRINS)
          1. If it is not running, then start it up by...
            1. Open a terminal window or tab
            2. > cd ~/igrins_admin
            3. > sh run_hk2firebase.sh
      4. Start up the Slitview Camera Package (SCP) by clicking "Run SCP" in the IGRINS Hub
        1. Check if you are receiving the TCS information or not (blue values on the upper right, including RA, Dec). 
        2. In the Status box, the following lines should appear: 
          1.  “[time] NFS connection succeeded”
          2. “[time] Detector Status Check”
          3.  “[time] Detector is Ready” 
      5. Start up the Data Taking Package (DTP) by clicking "Run DTP" in the IGRINS Hub
        1. In the Status box, the following lines should appear for both the H and K detectors: 
          1.  “[time] NFS connection succeeded”
          2. “[time] Detector Status Check”
          3.  “[time] Detector is Ready” 
        2. Change the observer name to your Last Name. No single quotes or special characters. Commas are ok.
      6. Open the Quick Look Package (QLP)
        1. Open a terminal window or tab
        2.  > cd igrins/igrins_admin
        3.  > sh run_qlp.sh
        4.  This will open two different windows (each H and K).
          1. In the K window, click 'OPEN' and go to the 'obs_data' directory (this folder is conveniently found in the window that opens on the top left) and find the K image that you want. Do the same with H.
          2. Checking the "fits" button will enable you to look at a specific image, or alternatively, the "Auto Refresh" button will update with each newly obtained spectra.
          3. Click on the thumbnail image on the right (a yellow box overlay will appear). Adjust the scale, etc. as needed and hit apply, but you must click again on the thumbnail image to update the larger image.
    6. Take test exposures to check to make sure readout of detectors with the ICC are working
      1. On the SCP...
        1. Uncheck "Automatically Save"
        2. Check to that exposure time is set to 1.63 seconds and Fowler Sampling Number is 1
        3. Click "Single" to take a single test exposure
        4. If you see noise pattern or low-resolution image, repeat the short exposures or contact observing support
        5. Hopefully it will work fine
      2. On the DTP....
        1. Uncheck "Automatically Save"
        2. Set exposure time to 1.63 seconds
        3. Set Fowler Sampling Number to 1
        4. Make sure Repeat Number is set to 1
        5. Click "Single" to take a single test exposure
        6. Hopefully both detectors will read out fine, you should hear the computer say "H finished" and "K finished"
        7. If you see noise pattern or low-resolution image, repeat the short exposures or contact observing support
        8. When finished, check "Automatically Save" so you don't forget to save your calibration frames
    7. The ICC should now be set up for the night.  Now onto taking calibrations.
  3. Starting up the Telescope and Taking Calibrations

...

Dark Frames

  1. Take dark frames before opening the window cover. Make sure it is closed by moving the telescope to the zenith and verifying that the velcro is holding the lever in the closed position.
  2. Dark frames can be taken at the zenith.
  3. The standard dark sequence is 10 frames of 30 seconds with Fowler16 reads.
  4. OBJ name = DARK, OBJ type = DARK
  5. After dark frames are completed, and the telescope is still at the zenith, go out and open the IGRINS window cover. Be sure to secure the lever with the velcro.
  6. Open the mirror cover.

Dome Flats

  1. While still at the zenith, take FLAT OFF exposures. The standard sequence is 10 frames of 30 seconds with Fowler16 reads.
  2. OBJ name = FLAT OFF, OBJ type = FLAT OFF
  3. After the FLAT OFFs are completed, move the telescope to the stow position.
  4. Plug in the flat lamp. The plug is on the south side of the tube and it plugs into the bottom outlet on the floor panel. The lamps are always on when they are plugged in.
  5. Move the telescope to the flatlamp location.
  6. Move the dome to the flatlamp location. This is when the black and white tape on the east side of the dome are in alignment.
  7. Take the standard FLAT ON sequence of 10 frames of 30 seconds with Fowler16 reads.
  8. OBJ name = FLAT ON, OBJ type = FLAT ON
  9. Move the telescope to the stow position and unplug the flat lamps.
  10. Move to the zenith and close the mirror cover.
    1. Go out in the dome
    2. Go to the old control room and press each of these buttons:
    3. Go to the console and press "Reset".  You will here a click as the breaks preventing the telescope from moving are released. There should be no messages on the TCS now.
    4. Point the telescope at the Flat position
      1. Go to 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 windscreen all the way down to reveal the full flat screen.
      5. Use the hand-paddle to manually move the dome to the Flat position so the black and clear tape on the east side of the dome match up.  Typically you want to slow down the dome movement rate to ~50% when doing this
    5. Set up IGRINS and telescope taking calibrations
      1. Raise the east platform so you can reach the top of IGRINS
      2. Check console to make sure telescope mirror cover is closed for taking darks
      3. Make sure the shutter on top of IGRINS is closed for taking darks
        Image Modified
      4. Unravel the Flat lamp power cord tied to side of telescope by undoing bungee cable and the two velcro ties
        Image ModifiedImage Modified

      5. Test that the Flat lamps are working by plugging in the power cord.  The flat lamps should turn on.
        Image Modified
      6. Unplug power cord to turn flat lamps off for now because we will start by taking Darks
      7. Turn off dome and passage lights on the console for taking Darks
      8. You can leave the east platform raised while taking calibrations

 

 

 

Instrument Startup

...

  1. > cd ~/igrins_admin
  2. > sh run_tcsproxy.sh

...

  1. > cd ~/igrins_admin
  2. > sh run_icshub.sh

...

  1. Adjust the output directory of your data. This is useful if you restart the computer near the end of the night.
  2. Check the status of the hard drive mounts. They should be 'Okay'. Otherwise you need to type
    1. > cd ~/igrins_admin
    2. > bash mntrun
    3. and enter the IGRINS password
  3. Check the Proxy status. Should be 'Okay'.
  4. Start the Housekeeping package, Slit Camera Package, and Data Taking Package.

...

Telescope Startup

...

    1. Taking Darks
      1. Go back to the control room
      2. In the DTP on the ICC...
        1. Make sure "Save Exposure" is checked at the bottom of the DTP.  You want to be sure you are saving your calibration frames.
        2. Make sure "H-band", "K-band", and "Sync" are all checked
        3. Set object name to DARK
        4. Set object type to DARK
        5. Set exposure time to 30 seconds
        6. Set Fowler Sample number to 16
        7. Set repeat number to 10
        8. Click "Start Exposure" to start taking your Dark frames
      3. Dark frames should take about 10 minutes to complete.  Computer will say "H finished" and "K finished" when they are done.
      4. Be sure to record all frames taken in your observation logs
    2. Taking Flat Offs
      1. Go out to the telescope dome and turn on the lights
      2. If the East platform is not raised, raise the platform to reach the top of IGRINS
      3. Open the shutter on top of IGRINS for taking flat frames
        Image AddedImage Added
      4. Go to the console and open the telescope mirror cover, DO NOT FORGET TO DO THIS!  IT NEEDS TO BE OPEN FOR FLATS
      5. Turn off all the lights in the dome
      6. You can keep the east platform raised
      7. Go back into the control room
      8. In the DTP on the ICC...
        1. Set object name to FLAT OFF
        2. Set object type to FLAT OFF
        3. Make sure exposure time to 30 seconds
        4. Make sure Fowler Sample number is set to 16
        5. Make sure repeat number is set to 10
        6. Click "Start Exposure" to start taking your Flat Off frames
      9. Flat Off frames should take about 10 minutes to complete.  Computer will say "H finished" and "K finished" when they are done.
    3. Taking Flat Ons
      1. Go out to the telescope dome
      2. Plug in the power cable for the flat lamps to turn the lamps on
        Image Added
      3. Go back in the control room
      4. In the DTP on the ICC...
        1. Set object name to FLAT ON
        2. Set object type to FLAT ON
        3. Make sure exposure time to 30 seconds
        4. Make sure Fowler Sample number is set to 16
        5. Make sure repeat number is set to 10
        6. Click "Start Exposure" to start taking your Flat On frames
      5. Flat On frames should take about 10 minutes to complete.  Computer will say "H finished" and "K finished" when they are done.
    4. After calibration frames are done being taken...
      1. Go out to the telescope dome
      2. Unplug the power cable to turn the flat lamps off
      3. Wrap flat lamp power cable back onto the side of the telescope and secure it tightly with the bungee cord and velcro ties so that it won't fall off the telescope as the telescope is moved around
        Image Added
      4. Close the telescope mirror cover on the console so nothing falls on the mirror when moving the upper wind screen
      5. Move the upper wind screen back to its original position using the hand-paddle
      6. Lower the east platform to the ground
  2. If you are ready to open....
    1. Reopen the mirror cover on the console
    2. go to OPENING PROCEDURES (Add Link?)
  3. If you are going to dinner or not going to open for a while...
    1. Press E-Stop to power down the telescope motors. 
    2.  Later when you are ready to open, go to OPENING PROCEDURES (Add Link?)

 

 

 

Dome Opening Procedure

...

DCC: Detector Control Computer

 

 

1. Wake up ICC on the right (a big iMac) and close these windows (HKP, DTP, SCP, QLP, IGRINS Hub) on the Desktop if they happen to be open. HKP and the IGRINS Hub should have been open, make sure to close them now. Do not touch any terminals that have tmp350.py, sh_to web.sh, and test_mnt running, just in case they happen to be visible - these will often be running on a different Desktop window so you do not see them. As such, your work should be be limited to Desktop 1 and 3.

 

2. Turn on the IG proxy by clicking the icon on the top right corner of the iMac desktop.

 

3. Turn on the IG software (HKP house keeping package, SCP slitview camera, DTP data taking package) by opening a new terminal and typing:

 

> cd ~/igrins_admin
>sh icsrun_dct.sh
When it launches, the "IGRINS Hub" window will pop up.

 

You should see the "check Mount" and "check Proxy" change from "..." to "Okay" status.

 

Start the HKP (click "run HKP"). In the HKP gui, click the “periodic monitoring”  and, below that, the “Send Alert (T>20)” buttons.

 

Once you see that the HKP status says "connected" in the Hub, start the SCP (click "run SCP"). You should see the SCP window pop open.

 

Once you see that the SCP status says "connected" in the Hub, start the DTP (click "run DTP"). You should see the DTP window pop open.

 

4. Check the software

 

In the SCV, check if you are receiving the TCS information or not (blue values on the upper right, including RA, Dec). 

 

Note -  TCS will not be running without your TO. Images and cals can still be taken but headers will be incomplete.

 

In the Status box, the following lines (for the SVC, and then for both H and K in the DTP) should appear:

 

      •  “[time] NFS connection succeeded”
      •  “[time] Detector Status Check”
      •  “[time] Detector is Ready” 

 

5. Test Exposures

 

Change the observer name to your Last Name. No single quotes or special characters. Commas are ok.

 

Change the object name to 'test'.

 

Take a test image on both SVC and with the HK detectors to test readout.

 

      • Turn off ‘automatically save’ if you prefer
      • Use shortest exposure 1.63s

 

 

If you see noise pattern or low-resolution image, repeat the short exposures or contact observing support.

 

 

 

Instrument Startup

...

  1. > cd ~/igrins_admin
  2. > sh run_tcsproxy.sh

...

  1. > cd ~/igrins_admin
  2. > sh run_icshub.sh

...

  1. Adjust the output directory of your data. This is useful if you restart the computer near the end of the night.
  2. Check the status of the hard drive mounts. They should be 'Okay'. Otherwise you need to type
    1. > cd ~/igrins_admin
    2. > bash mntrun
    3. and enter the IGRINS password
  3. Check the Proxy status. Should be 'Okay'.
  4. Start the Housekeeping package, Slit Camera Package, and Data Taking Package.

...

Telescope Startup

...

Dark Frames

  1. Take dark frames before opening the window cover. Make sure it is closed by moving the telescope to the zenith and verifying that the velcro is holding the lever in the closed position.
  2. Dark frames can be taken at the zenith.
  3. The standard dark sequence is 10 frames of 30 seconds with Fowler16 reads.
  4. OBJ name = DARK, OBJ type = DARK
  5. After dark frames are completed, and the telescope is still at the zenith, go out and open the IGRINS window cover. Be sure to secure the lever with the velcro.
  6. Open the mirror cover.

Dome Flats

...

Dome Opening Procedure

...