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Logging in

The RCC telescope can be controlled from m6. To access the computer, you can use ssh, for example: ssh -X user@m6.konkoly.hu where user is your username on m6.

Note: until recently, m5 was used as a control computer for the RCC. Everything from m5 has been migrated to m6, a Virtual Machine running on m9. Nevertheless, if you find anything missing, notify the support astronomer.

For observing, it is advised to use the screen utility, see its description here: Usage of the screen program

As an alternative to ssh, you can use X2GO, which gives you remote access to the graphical user interface. See its description here: Usage of X2GO

Starting

Enter your working directory in a console: cd /data2/user/YYYYMMDD Always save your fits files into the /data or /data2 folder! Attention! It is recommended to use the /data2 folder with this camera on m6!

In a console type: rcc-test If everything is green, proceed further. If not, contact the support astronomer.

In a console type: acectrl --status If Main pickoff mirror is off, the telescope is ready for photometric observations. If not, type acectrl --stop. Start ds9. Check the telescope: http://ccdsh.konkoly.hu/static/tmp/prcc-state.html?refresh=60

Start CCDSH in a console: ccdsh

If your .ccdsh_startup file is not prepared for the usage of the SI camera, type in CCDSH: CCD> source /usr/local/ccdsh/scripts/load-ace-sicamera.ccdsh This will load the camera driver and the filter parameters.

Type CCD> status in CCDSH. If everything is green, proceed further.

Check the camera temperature in CCDSH: CCD> get temperature It should be -115 Celsius. If not, contact the support astronomer!

Cool the guider camera. Type in a console: rcc-autoguide.qsi --temperature -20 -15 recommended during summer.

Open the dome slit. In CCDSH: CCD> set dome slit open

Start the tracking: CCD> set mount track on

Start the automatic dome rotation: CCD> rcc dome auto

Open the tube and mirror covers: CCD> rcc tubecover open

After 30 seconds: CCD> rcc mirrorcover open

Type CCD> rcc status. If everything is opened and green, proceed.

You can check the status of the camera, too:

CCD> sicamera status

If you see something like this, the camera is Ok and you could proceed:

SI Camera device status: 0 idle

CCD temperature: -115.0 [C]

Cold end temperature: -133.0 [C]

CCD chamber pressure: 0.000 [Torr]

CryoTiger Pressure 1 (forward): 259 [psi]

CryoTiger Pressure 2 (return): 31 [psi]

Observing

Slew to your target. In CCDSH: CCD> slew M31

Check which filter is in use: CCD> get filter

If you want to change the filter, for example R, type: CCD> set filter R

Create a 20 second test image: CCD> acquire -t 20 -x

Attention! Right now (2024.11.14.) there is NO bin and trim support for this camera! Please do not attempt to trim and bin the image!

The field of view is about 16'x16'. If your target is not where you want it, type in a console: rccpanel --speed 8 &

This will bring up a small panel. With the arrows you can move the telescope. Check the position again with a test image. If the target is where you want it, start the autoguide. First, create a test image with the guider. Type in a console: rcc-autoguide.qsi --exptime 10 -o x.fits && xpaset ds9 fits < x.fits

If there are more than 10 stars, you can start the autoguide with this command in a console: rcc-autoguide.qsi --exptime 10 --relax 5 --point This will do a 10 seconds exposure, and wait 5 seconds until the next. And in the meantime it will adjust the position of the telescope.

If you have less than 10 stars in the guider FOV, use the --fine option, instead of the --point.

As an alternative, you can use the analytic guider with rcc-guide (check rcc-guide --help for help).

Check the focus in CCDSH: CCD> get focus

If you are not satisfied, change the focus: CCD> set focus 79.0.

The usual focus value with the SI camera is around 78.5-79.2, but it is heavily depending on the temperature! Also, the focuser has some hysteresis, so be careful when setting it. Always check your focus during the night, because it can change! You can use the fitsh based imexam command in a console, to check your stars, but always set the zoom level to 1 in ds9, because imexam has a small bug. As an alternative, you can use CCD> rcc autofocus apply, which sets the focus depending on the current temperature.

If everything is set, you can start your observing sequence. In CCDSH: CCD> sequence -n M31-%N -V -x -j name=M31 3*([r,180,delay=2])

This will create 3 images in r filter, with 180 seconds exposure time.

You can use multiple filters: CCD> sequence -n M31-%N -V -x -j name=M31 3*([r,180,delay=2],[i,120,delay=2])

Attention! The delay is necessary, because right now (2024.11.14.) you CANNOT stop the exposure or your script when the SI camera is in use! You can do that only during the delay time, so please be very careful!)

For more options see CCD> sequence --help in CCDSH.

You can use scripts in CCDSH: CCD> source kedvencscriptem.ccdsh. But keep in mind, that if you slew to an other target, you have to stop and restart the guiding process!

Closing

When you finished observing, stop the autoguider when it is in a relax state with ctrl+c. Also, you can stop a sequence or a script with ctrl+c.

Warm up the guider camera. In a console: rcc-autoguide.qsi --temperature off or rcc-autoguide.qsi --temperature 0 (Only if you are sure that it will be used next night too.)

In CCDSH:

  • CCD> set mount track off
  • CCD> rcc dome manual
  • CCD> rcc mirrorcover close
  • After 30 seconds: CCD> rcc tubecover close
  • CCD> set dome slit close
  • CCD> rcc slew 0 47.8
  • CCD> set dome azimuth=156.3

After a few minutes, check that everything is ok and closed in CCDSH: CCD> status; rcc status

Turn on the lights in the dome: CCD> set dome light 1 on/off

Check the telescope on the webpage: http://ccdsh.konkoly.hu/static/tmp/prcc-state.html?refresh=60

Turn off the lights in the dome: CCD> set dome light 1 off/on

The SI camera should not be warmed up! Please do not attempt to do it!

Calibration frames

It is highly recommended to make bias and dark frames every night. You should make flat frames at least once a day.

  • Some examples
    • Bias:
    • CCD> sequence -n bias 11*([bias])
    • Dark:
    • CCD> sequence -n dark-20sec 11*([dark,time=20,delay=2])

NOTE: The SI camera is cooled to -115 °C, so in theory the dark current is negligible, therefore, in theory, there is no need for dark frames.

To make flat frames, you should open the tube and mirror covers and turn off the dome lights. Depending on what filter you would like to use, turn on the appropriate flat lamp. In a console: energenie-manage --flat-faint on

Or: energenie-manage --flat-bright on

Or: energenie-manage --flat-dimm on

In CCDSH: CCD> set dome azimuth=156.3 and CCD> rcc slew 7 -4.5

  • Recommended exposure times with the bright lamp:
    • B: 120 sec
    • V: 20 sec
    • g: 40 sec
  • Recommended exposure times with the faint lamp:
    • R: 20 sec
    • r: 20 sec
    • i: 8 sec
    • z: 8 sec
  • Recommended exposure times with the dimm lamp:
    • I: 40 sec
    • E: 20 sec
    • C: 20 sec
  • An example flat sequence:
    • CCD> sequence -n flat -V -j flat -x 11*([filter=B,time=60,delay=2])

Always check the exposure times for the flats. A good flat is around 20000-30000 ADU.

When you finished, turn off the flat lamp(s). In a console:

energenie-manage --flat-faint off, etc.

Close the mirror and tube covers.

Put the telescope in a vertical position. In CCDSH: CCD> rcc slew 0 47.8

Miscellaneous

  • The dome light switch is a two way switch, so sometimes the off command will turn it on and the on will turn it off.
  • If you expect any trouble with the camera, please contact the support astronomer immediately! This camera is very sensitive to temperature increase, which can lead to vacuum loss! To check if everything is in order, you can take a look at the windows control program of the camera at vncviewer 172.31.171.171 Please do not touch anything here, just check if there is any error messages, or if the control program is running or not!
  • Sometimes when a minor malfunction occurs, the following command can help. Issue it twice in CCDSH:
    • CCD> criorcc --clearerr
    • If it not helps, contact the support astronomer.
  • If it is absolutely necessary, to restart the SI camera's windows program, do the following:
    • Exit ccdsh. Check if every ccdsh process is terminated. If not, use kill -9 PID.
    • vncviewer 172.31.171.171
    • Start SI Image SGLE
    • Wait for the popup Settings window to process the camera. It will close. Open it again.
    • Inicialize? Yes
    • Open Settings File in popup window
    • Extremely important step: Check the box "Use Saved Configuration Parameters"
    • Open, then select 1100-189.set
    • If pressure is about 0.01 torr, everything is fine.
    • Press the Cooler button, to start the cooling if it is not working.
    • If the camera is still not available in ccdsh, restart the TCP/IP socket: Click on the blue TCP/IP icon. This terminates the current socket.
    • Go to: Operate -> TCP/IP Server
    • The TCP/IP button will reappear in yellow. Then try to run ccdsh again.
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