Customizing the SlewTime script

Before starting the customization of the SlewTime script, it is usually a good idea to copy directory TAO\ACP_scripts\SlewTime from the computer where you have installed TAO to the observatory control computer (unless you use a single computer to produce observation schedules and to control the observatory). This directory contains the SlewTime script (SlewTime.vbe) and its configuration file (SlewTime.cfg).

The SlewTime script may be customized by editing the copy of SlewTime.cfg on the observatory control computer and changing the values of various parameters to suit your needs. The SlewTime configuration file is divided into several sections. The various parameters which may be specified in each section are explained below and in the next pages.

File locations

' FILE LOCATIONS
logDir = "c:\ST_logs"                 ' Directory which stores log files and files containing
                                      ' slew time data

• logDir. This parameter specifies a directory where the script will store log files and text files containing slew time data.

Station data

' STATION DATA
siteLon = -97.12345                   ' Site longitude (degrees), positive E of Greenwich    
siteLat = +39.12345                   ' Site latitude (degrees), positive North
siteHeight = 700                      ' Altitude of observing station (meters)
siteTemp = 20                         ' Approximate ambient temperature (deg C)

• siteLon. Specify the latitude of the observing station (in degrees; north latitudes are positive).

• siteLat. Specify the longitude of the station (in degrees; longitudes east of Greenwich are positive).

• siteHeight. Specify the altitude of the station in meters above sea level. This parameter, which is used in atmospheric refraction calculations, is only relevant if you set parameter corrTgtCoords to True.

• siteTemp. Specify a typical ambient temperature (in degrees Celsius) at the station. This parameter, which is used in atmospheric refraction calculations, is only relevant if you set parameter corrTgtCoords to True.