Usage of the FLI PL16803 on the RCC

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Logging in

You can use the telescope and the camera via ssh login and screen. See description here: Usage of the screen program

An example for ssh login: ssh -X user@m5.konkoly.hu where user is your username on m5

Or, alternatively, you can use x2go to connect to the RCC control computer, m5.

The x2go Session preferences window

To use x2go, you need the following setup:

  • Session:
    • Session name: whatever you want
    • Host: m5.konkoly.hu
    • Login: your username on m5
    • SSH port: 22
    • Session type: GNOME
    • If you want to connect to m5 outside of the konkoly network, you have to tick Use proxy server for SSH connection.
      • Type: SSH
      • Host: buda.konkoly.hu
      • Port: 42137
      • Login: your username on buda.konkoly.hu
  • Connection
    • Connection speed: the speed of your internet
    • Compression: 16m-jpeg + image quality 9 usually works just fine.
  • Input/output
    • Display: You can choose whatever you prefer here. Usually in a FHD display a costume 1920*1040 resolution works fine. Tick Set display DPI and set it to 96.
    • Clipboard mode: Bidirectional
    • Keyboard: Auto detect
  • Media
    • Untick everything.
  • Shared folders
    • If you want to access a folder on your computer on m5, add your folder here.

Starting

Enter your working directory in a console: cd /data/user/YYYYMMDD Always save your fits files into the data folder!

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 FLI camera, type in CCDSH: CCD> source /usr/local/ccdsh/scripts/load-ace-proline.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 If it is not cooled down, cool it down: CCD> set temperature -40

If the temperature difference between the actual temperature of the camera and the target temperature is big, cool it down in two steps. In summer, the target temperature should be -35 Celsius, in other seasons -40.

Cool the guider camera. Type in a console: rcc-autoguide.fli --temperature -30

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

Open the guider cap: CCD> rcc guidercap 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.

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 -b 2,2 -t 20 -x

Attention! Always use the FLI camera in 2x2 binning mode to avoid oversampling! Use 1x1 binning only if your target is extremely bright.

The field of view is about 10'x10'. 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.fli --exptime 10 -o x.fits And: xpaset ds9 fits < x.fits

If there are more than 10 stars, you can start the autogide with this command in a console: rcc-autoguide.fli --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.

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 FLI camera is around 78.5-79.0, 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.

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

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

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

Or, you can use a delay, if you don't want too much images or too small time resolution: CCD> sequence -b 2,2 -n Interamnia-%N -V -x -j name=Interamnia 420*([filter=r,time=5,delay=50])

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.fli --temperature off

In CCDSH:

  • CCD> set mount track off
  • CCD> rcc dome manual
  • CCD> rcc mirrorcover close
  • After 30 seconds: CCD> rcc tubecover close
  • CCD> rcc guidercap 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

After you finished making the calibration images you can warm up the camera: CCD> set temperature off

The temperature of the camera should rise slowly. You don't have to warm completely up the camera, but in case of storms and other anomalies it is recommended.

Calibration frames

It is highly recommended to make bias and dark frames every night. You should make flat frames at least once a week. If it possible, always make the calibration frames at the same temperature as the object frames. Also, it is recommended to make dark frames with the same exposure time as the object and flat frames.

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

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

For VRI/riz filters the faint lamp is enough. For B/g you need the bright. For Empty or Clear you need the dimm lamp.

  • Some examples with faint lamp:
    • CCD> sequence -b 2,2 -n flat2x2 -V -j flat -x 11*([filter=r,time=20])
    • CCD> sequence -b 2,2 -n flat2x2 -V -j flat -x 11*([filter=i,time=10])
    • CCD> sequence -b 2,2 -n flat2x2 -V -j flat -x 11*([filter=V,time=60])
    • CCD> sequence -b 2,2 -n flat2x2 -V -j flat -x 11*([filter=R,time=20])
    • CCD> sequence -b 2,2 -n flat2x2 -V -j flat -x 11*([filter=I,time=8])
  • An example with bright lamp:
    • CCD> sequence -b 2,2 -n flat2x2 -V -j flat -x 11*([filter=B,time=60])

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

If needed, warm up the camera.

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.
  • 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.
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