TAO
Tools for Automated Observing
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Introduction
  System requirements
 
Getting Started
  Installation
  Modeling slew times
  Measuring camera
  download times
  Specifying filter
  names and numbers
  Modeling the local
  horizon
  Creating user profiles
  Initializing target
  databases
  Customizing the
  scheduler
 
Daily Operation
  Starting observatory
  control software
  Updating target
  databases
  Generating a list of
  potential targets
  Preparing a list of
  observation requests
  Running the
  scheduler
  Starting scheduled
  observations
 
Image Acquisition with
the MU Script
  Customizing the
  script
  Starting MU
  Sequence of events
  during an observing
  run using MU
 
Timing Refinement
  Collecting timing
  data
  Analyzing timing
  data
  Adjusting the
  empirical timing
  correction
 
Other Tools
  Slew time
  measurement script
  Minor Planet Checker
  query script
  Regression program
 
Etc.
  Software updates
  License agreement
  Contact the author
Image acquisition with the MU script



Sequence of events during an observing run

The following table describes the sequence of events during a typical observing run using the MU script. Note that certain events may be skipped when the script is started too late (for example, if the script is started in the evening after the sky is already dark, it will skip taking evening twilight flats).

Time
Sun
altitude
(deg)
Event
Start MU
Read user IDs from userFile
Create log files (main log, emergency log, accounting log) and directories to store the night's data
Read filter information and flat field windows from filterFile
Sunset - cameraCoolingTime
 Start cooling the CCD to nighttime setpoint
Sunset
0
 Open the dome
Move focuser to a position computed from a focus-temperature relationship (or to a default position)
Take unbinned bias frames
Produce master bias frames and binned/center frame versions of individual bias frames
Copy all bias frames to user directories
Take unbinned dark frames
Produce master dark frames and binned/center frame versions of individual dark frames
Copy all dark frames to user directories
highSunAltFlat
Start taking evening twilight flat fields
lowSunAltFlat
Stop taking evening twilight flat fields
Process evening twilight flat fields, producing master flat fields and binned/center frame versions of individual flat fields
Copy all evening twilight flat fields to user directories
highSunAltObsEvening
Start monitoring one of the night's data directories for the presence of target lists (ideally, a target list would have been placed in the directory some time earlier)
Read target list
Start science imaging. This may include periodic focus breaks, the first of which occurs before taking the first science image.
highSunAltObsMorning
Interrupt science imaging if still in progress (science imaging would normally be over by now)
lowSunAltFlat
Start taking morning twilight flat fields
highSunAltFlat
Stop taking morning twilight flat fields
Process morning twilight flat fields, producing master flat fields and binned/center frame versions of individual flat fields
Copy all morning twilight flat fields to user directories
Produce calibrate.zip files for each user
Automatic shutdown (park telescope, close the dome, raise CCD temperature to daytime setpoint)
MU stops running
Sunrise
0

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Next: Timing refinement



© 1999-2004 Paulo Holvorcem