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Quick Guide to Accessing and Using the Telescope

  • Instructions on Accessing the Telescope
    • Only authorized users are allowed to use the Tarleton Telescope. The use of the Tarleton telescope is currently restricted to Tarleton faculty doing astronomical research or Tarleton students working on astronomy projects. Details about Guest observers are giving below.
    • Make a request for Observing time, unless you are already scheduled (see the observatory schedule on the main page).
    • Decide weather the observing will be done locally at the observatory or remotely or both.
    • If a group of Tarleton faculty and students are observing together, decide who will be the primary observer. The primary observer will log into the observatory computers and will be responsible for setting up the scope and do a proper shut down at the end.
    • For projects with visiting guest observers, the tarleton project coordinator will be responsible for setting upt the scope and do a proper shut down at the end.
  • Using the Telescope locally from the observatory
    • If observing form the control room locally, log onto camera and telescope computer using the ACE_Limited account. The password has been distributed to all authorized users. This password is not be made public. Also log onto the astronomer computer using the personal windows account. ACE_Limited account does not apply to the astronomer computer. Note: Only the ACE_Limited account has the appropriate privileges for ACE software to control the telescope and the imaging software MaxIM DL.
  • Using the Telescope remotely form the campus room 103 or from your home.
    • Use Real VNC enterprise edition to enable remotely login. All observer will use their windows ID and password to authenticate. Preferably the primary observer will log in first.
    • If Real VNC log in is successful, a windows log in screen will be presented. On the camera and telescope computer, log in as ACE_Limited. The password is the same as when you log in locally at the observatory.
    • Fire up ACE from the Desktop or the Start menu. ACE interface will come up with log in credentials. Log in ID is observer and the password has been distributed to all authorized users. The scope is now ready for use.
  • Typical startup procedure
    • Create folder on the I:\Images\Nightly-Observations on the camera computer. The folder name should be year:month:day, eg. 20110228. Use the Calendar date rather than Julian date.
    • In ACE define the folder in the Observations:Simple menu.
    • Do bias and darks and ensure that the files are saved in the right folder
    • Open dome shutters. Observers usually open dome half hour before their observing time for inside temperature to reach in equilibrium with outside temperature. Do not open the mirror covers before the dome shutters. Some program may require sky Flats, these are usually done just after sunset during twilight or before sunrise during twilight. If the program does not require sky Flats, it is safe to skip this step.
    • Carry out appropriate observation as per you program requirements.
  • Typical Shutdown procedure.
    • At the end of the observing session, close the mirror covers.
    • Close the dome shutters and turnoff autodome
    • Send the Telescope to Flat park if screen Flats are required for data reduction, in most cases's this is usually the case. Complete Flats as per program requirements.
    • Put the Telescope to Zenith Park.
    • Transfer all data to the File-server. If you had a long night of observations this may take a while. There are two choices, 1) use an external drive to transfer the data to the File server in room 103 on campus or 2) Next morning go to room 103 and login to the observatory computer and transfer the data. Please note that data transfer from the computer to the File-server will happen only if both computers are in log in state.
    • Log of and quit ACE. Ensure that all fields are red on the interface.
    • Log of all computer. Do not turn off any computers.
    • If observing remotely exit out of Real VNC, else if observing locally
    • Lock all cupboards if they were unlocked while observing locally.
    • Turn of all inside and outside lights if observations were done locally from the observatory.
    • Check to ensure that the building door is locked, and the fence gate is locked when departing from the observatory.
  • Policy for Computer Reboots
    • There may be times when things don't work and computer reboots may be necessary. Only do hard reboots if someone is locally present at the observatory. In most cases restart may work.
    • If no one is present at the observatory, then only do computer restart as oppose to hard reboots.
    • There is no way to turn computers on remotely if they are in the off position. This may change in the future.
  • Policy for Guest Observers
    • Guest observers are observers who are partners in the research program of the principle observer or research projects that are undergoing within Tarleton under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Program for Astronomy Education and Research at Tarleton and partner institution.
    • Guest observers can visit the observatory locally while the Tarleton observer is physically present at the observatory and for the duration of the observing session. The principle observer or the Tarleton project coordinator will be the responsible person.
    • Guest observers are not allowed to be left alone at the observatory.
    • Guest observers may assist in the observing session. At the discretion of the principle observer or project coordinator they may use the telescope, while at the observatory.
    • Guest observers are not authorized to use and control the telescope remotely. However, they may observe the CCD images live on the Tarleton Observatory webpage (see instructions elsewhere).