Observer Cookbook - McDonald 2.7m

This is a short summary of normal IGRINS startup sequence for observers.

Instrument Startup

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. Please leave the terminal running hk_to_firebase.py running in the background.
3. Ensure that TeamViewer is running on the ICC - blue box with two arrows on the top taskbar.
4. Start the TCS proxy by opening a terminal, and typing 
   1. > cd ~/igrins_admin
   2. > sh run_tcsproxy.sh
5. The TCS proxy is required for the IGRINS software to communicate coordinates and moves with the telescope. 
6. Changes to the instrument PA need to be input into the TCS proxy in order to propogate to the IGRINS software. The default PA is 90.
7. Start the ICS Hub by opening a terminal and typing 
   1. > cd ~/igrins_admin
   2. > sh run_icshub.sh
8. The ICS Hub allows you to:
   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.
9. On the HKP window, click the "Periodic Monitoring" button. 
10. In the left-bottom screen, open another terminal and run the Quicklook Packages (QLP) for the H and K detectors.
11. Take short exposures on SCP and DTP to test readout. If you see noise pattern or low-resolution image, contact observing support. 
12. The QLP should have updated when the test exposures are done.
13. IGRINS is now setup for the night.
    
    
    

Telescope Startup

1. On the TCS computer (four headed display on the right end of the control console) login to your observer account.
2. Open a terminal and type > tcsgui
3. Start the TCS GUI by clicking 'activate', then enable dome tracking.
4. Startup the weather station GUI in another terminal, by typing > wx_gui
5. You should now be ready to use TCS.
6. Night logs should also be completed on the TCS computer. 
   1. Open a terminal and type > dr
   2. Enter full names and estimate the seeing throughout the night. Comment that seeing estimates are from the K-band. DO NOT SUBMIT - just click 'exit' when finished.
      
      

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.

Dome Opening Procedure

• To startup the telescope follow the dome opening procedure.

Start of Night

1. Check the telescope pointing and focus.(THIS IS WHERE I NEED KYLE TO ADD. You might also edit the observer procedure pages and link to them here.).

Note: If you leave the Proxy and Hub running all day, you can start the next night by clicking 'Update Obsdate' and then click down the list of Hub buttons.

Note: RA and DEC that are saved in the digital log, from the DTP screen are the 'Next' coordinates on the TCS. The coordinates displayed in the SCP are the current epoch coordinates and these propagate the the FITS headers.

Note: Unless absolutely required for your science, please disable the autosave feature on the slit camera viewer. This will save 30GB of space each night.

Note: When keeping logs, track the A or B location of your frames. Your data reduction will be better in cases where you manually change the nod location or have bad frames.

Note: When guiding, 'send AG offsets to TCS' must be selected for offset commands to be sent to the telescope.

Note: You need at least one 300s sky frame each night for the PLP to work correctly. If you will not get one of these for your science, then get one to help with reductions.

Note: The A and B box positions need to be verified each night because the slit moves in its holder up to 5 pixels between observing runs.

Glossary

ICC: Instrument Control Computer

HKP: House Keeping Package

DTP: Data Taking Package

SCP: Slitview Camera Package

QLP: Quick Look Package

DCC: Detector Control Computer