C100/CCD Observing Procedures

1. Accessing Data Acquisition Computer (Canopus)

• Username: obs100
• Password: check with the staff
• Open an xterm window
• cd /export/data1/obs100/ccd_data/mario/
• mkdir 20020914_15 (e.g.)
• cd 20020914_15

2. Start Detector Control Window

• Select TEK5
• Select CURTAIN

3. Dome Flats

• Turn OFF platform lights
• Turn ON quartz light and adjust voltage
• Set Gain=3
• Set exptime, Imtype=flat, Loop=7, and take a sequence of flat frames
• When the sequence of flats is complete turn OFF quartz lamp
• Set exptime=0, Imtype=zero, Loop=10, and take a sequence of bias frames

4. Telescope Pointing

• Point to a bright star
• Take direct image
• Compute telescope offset to place star near CCD center at (920,475)
• Ask the NA to update the ZP of the telescope

5. Telescope Focus

• Point to a bright star
• In CCD window set Loop=7, set filter=V, Exptime=10, and use FOCUS (not START) command
• Imexamine the image (best focus is ~4580)

6. Observing

• Changing the gain during the night is not recommended since it's easy to forget to reset it.
• Set Imtype=object

7. Before going to bed

• After finishing the darks turn OFF monitors in control room
  
  mhamuy@lco.cl