Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- en:ost:ccds:ccdops [2016/10/22 00:40] – [Auto Guiding] rhainich
+++ en:ost:ccds:ccdops [2017/01/14 01:31] (current) – [Mounting and connecting to the computer] rhainich
@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 The CCDs can be controlled by the computer with the software CCDOPS. The program is linked to the desktop and can by starting by clicking the CCDOPS symbol.
-[{{:ost:ccds:ccdops_desktop_icon.jpg?100 |symbol }}]
+[{{:ost:ccds:ccdops:ccdops_desktop_icon.jpg?100 |symbol }}]
 \\
@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
-[{{:ost:ccds:ccdops_no_cameralink.jpg|not connected}}]
+[{{:ost:ccds:ccdops:ccdops_no_cameralink.jpg|not connected}}]
-[{{:ost:ccds:ccdops_cameralink.jpg|connected}}]
+[{{:ost:ccds:ccdops:ccdops_cameralink.jpg|connected}}]
+\\
 \\
 \\
@@ Line 33: / Line 34: @@
 <WRAP group>
 <WRAP half column>
-[{{  :ost:ccds:ccdops_cooling_1.jpg  }}]
+[{{  :ost:ccds:ccdops:ccdops_cooling_1.jpg  }}]
 </WRAP>
 <WRAP half column>
-[{{  :ost:ccds:ccdops_cooling_2.jpg  }}]
+[{{  :ost:ccds:ccdops:ccdops_cooling_2.jpg  }}]
 </WRAP>
 </WRAP>
@@ Line 53: / Line 54: @@
 <code> Camera -> Focus</code>
-[{{:ost:ccds:focus.jpg?direct|}}]
+[{{:ost:ccds:ccdops:focus.jpg?direct|}}]
 \\
@@ Line 69: / Line 70: @@
  <code> Camera -> Grab</code>
 The following popup window opens, where all required settings for the exposures can be given.
-{{ :ost:ccds:grab.jpg?direct |}}
+{{ ost:ccds:ccdops:grab.jpg?direct |}}
   * set the exposure time in seconds in the //**Exposure Time**// field
   * choose whether **None** or **Only** dark frames shall be taken by means of the //**Dark frame**// drop-down menu
@@ Line 77: / Line 78: @@
 === Exposure series ===
-For series of exposures, set **Auto Grab** in //**Special Processing**//. Click //OK// to get to the next window "Auto Grab Setup" (see below).
+For series of exposures, set **Auto Grab** in //**Special Processing**//. Click ''OK'' to get to the next window "Auto Grab Setup" (see below).
-{{ :ost:ccds:autograbsetup.jpg?direct&300 |}}
+{{ ost:ccds:ccdops:autograbsetup.jpg?direct&300 |}}
-Set the number of exposures in //**Number of exposures**// in this window. In this example a series of 5 images is taken. It is **important** to set the directory where the FITS files shall be saved to in //**Set Name/Dir**//, along with the name pattern for the filenames (in this example "v_m101_0-5s_"). The filename should contain all important information on the exposure, here e.g. exposures of M101 in the V band with an exposure time of half a second. After the last given character the program will add sequential numbers for the individual exposures, so best use an underscore as a delimiter between the name pattern and the exposure ID. In the current example, the files would be named "v_m101_0.5s_1.fits", "v_m101_0.5s_2.fits", etc. After confirming the settings (click //OK//), the series will start.
+Set the number of exposures in //**Number of exposures**// in this window. In this example a series of 5 images is taken. It is **important** to set the directory where the FITS files shall be saved to in //**Set Name/Dir**//, along with the name pattern for the filenames (in this example "v_m101_0-5s_"). The filename should contain all important information on the exposure, here e.g. exposures of M101 in the V band with an exposure time of half a second. After the last given character the program will add sequential numbers for the individual exposures, so best use an underscore as a delimiter between the name pattern and the exposure ID. In the current example, the files would be named "v_m101_0.5s_1.fits", "v_m101_0.5s_2.fits", etc. After confirming the settings (click ''OK''), the series will start.
 <color red>IMPORTANT</color>: There must be **no** dot in the filename pattern, otherwise CCDOPS (or more precise WINDOWS) will interpret the string after the dot as the file extension!
@@ Line 213: / Line 214: @@
 The guider cable for the STF-8300 has two modular connectors (RJ plugs) [4]. One of these plugs must be connected with the corresponding socket of the ST-i. The second one needs to be plugged into the GUIDER port of the mount [6], as it is the case for the ST-7/ST-8.
 ==== Calibration ====
@@ Line 219: / Line 221: @@
 <code>Track -> Calibrate...</code>
-[{{ ost:ccds:track_calibrate_parameters.jpg | Calibration menu }}]
+[{{ ost:ccds:ccdops:track_calibrate_parameters.jpg | Calibration menu }}]
 Select the exposure time, the temporal shifts in X and Y direction, the current declination, the number of shifts, and the CCD chip. The exposure time should not be too short so the calibration star can clearly be identified by CCDOPS. The temporal shifts in X and Y direction should also not be to small to allow an exact calibration. The calibration star should move approximately 100 pixel in each direction during the calibration. The temporal shifts (in X and Y direction) can be split in several individual steps. This number can be set in //**Steps**//. In most cases, the value can remain at 1. By giving a declination one can use any star for the calibration. The results will then be scaled to the observational target, so that calibration is valid there. The following figure depicts the result of such a calibration. If the movements in +X and -X (+Y and -Y, too) are about equal a good calibration has been achieved. The axes in the lower right part of the image don't necessarily have to be horizontal and vertical to facilitate a good tracking.
-[{{ ost:ccds:track_calibrate.jpg | Calibration result }}]
+[{{ ost:ccds:ccdops:track_calibrate.jpg | Calibration result }}]
 Further tracking parameters can be set in:
@@ Line 231: / Line 233: @@
 //**Active Relays**// denotes the directions that shall be tracked actively. The //**X Direction**// must be switched between **Forward** and **Reverse**, if the telescope crosses the meridian. In //**Aggressiveness**// one can damp or amplify the corrections CCDOPS gives to the telescope. The corrections are applied without damping at an //**Aggressiveness**// level of 10, while only 50% of the corrections are applied at a level of 5. The different //**Noise Filter**//s can be helpful to achieve a successful tracking, if the guide star is relatively faint. If //**Log Tracking**// is activated, the corrections are recorded for further analyses. The //**X-**// and //**Y-Backlash**// can remain 0 for our mount. The settings //**Minimum move**// and //**Maximum move**// define the allowed correction ranges; they can be kept at their default values in most cases.
-[{{ ost:ccds:autoguide_parameters.jpg }}]
+[{{ ost:ccds:ccdops:autoguide_parameters.jpg }}]
 ==== Self Guiding ====
@@ Line 241: / Line 243: @@
 <WRAP group>
 <WRAP half column>
-[{{ ost:ccds:self_guide_parameters.jpg | Self-guide parameters }}]
+[{{ ost:ccds:ccdops:self_guide_parameters.jpg | Self-guide parameters }}]
 </WRAP>
 <WRAP half column>
@@ Line 251: / Line 253: @@
 **Centroid** allows tracking to the position of the guide star; **Cursor** allows tracking to the position of an specific pixel. Either the guide star (not necessarily the brightest star in the field of view) or a specific pixel to guide to must be chosen after clicking the ''OK'' button. Then click ''Resume'' to start the tracking. If the tracking is sufficient, one can start the exposure of the imaging CCD by clicking the ''Start'' button.
-[{{ ost:ccds:self_guide_info.jpg | Status information on the tracking behavior}}]
+[{{ ost:ccds:ccdops:self_guide_info.jpg | Status information on the tracking behavior}}]
 The above window gives statistical information on the tracking and allows to control it. //**Statistics**// depicts details on the shifts in X and Y direction (in pixels), the brightness integrated over the tracking box, and the rate of exposures taken by the tracking CCD. The further graphs contain details on the temporal change of the shifts in the X and Y direction. In the lower part one can follow the progress of the main exposure by the imaging CCD. In case, the guide star "leaves" the tracking box, the exposure is automatically stopped and all counts (until that moment) of the imaging CCD are read out.
@@ Line 272: / Line 274: @@
 <code>AO -> Setup...</code>
-[{{ ost:ccds:ao_setup.jpg | Setup menu of the AO-7}}]
+[{{ ost:ccds:ccdops:ao_setup.jpg | Setup menu of the AO-7}}]
-The options for //**Aggressiveness**//, //**Noise Filter**// and the //**Log Tracking**// are equal to their counterparts in the standard guiding (see above, [[en:ost:ccds:ccdops#Calibration]]). The //**Slew rate**// allows an additional influence on the correction strength, besides the //**Aggressiveness**//. The default value of 500 should be sufficient for most observations. In case the corrections are too strong, lower that value. In //**Relay threshold**// one can set the point when the mounting is addressed to follow the guide star to keep it in the range of the AO-7 (in case it's about to leave the tracking field). If the option //**Adaptive Gain**// is active, the //**Aggressiveness**// is automatically readjusted. However, this option should only be activated by experienced observers of the AO-7.
+The options for //**Aggressiveness**//, //**Noise Filter**//, and the //**Log Tracking**// are equal to their counterparts in the standard guiding (see above, [[en:ost:ccds:ccdops#Calibration]]). The //**Slew rate**// allows an additional influence on the correction strength, besides the //**Aggressiveness**//. The default value of 500 should be sufficient for most observations. In case, the corrections are too strong, lower that value. In //**Relay threshold**// one can set the point when the mount is addressed to follow the guide star to keep it in the control range of the AO-7. If the option //**Adaptive Gain**// is active, the //**Aggressiveness**// is automatically readjusted. However, this option should only be activated by experienced observers.
 ==== Calibration ====
-First, apply the calibration of the normal tracking, see above, so CCDOPS can correctly address the mounting in case the tracking object might leave the range of the AO-7. Second, the calibration of the AO-7 can be started to maximally tilt/deflect the mirror unit of the AO-7 in all directions. Five exposures are then taken to obtain the range of the element. Find the menu at:
+First, apply the calibration of the normal tracking, see above, so CCDOPS can correctly address the mount in case the tracking object might leave the control range of the AO-7. Afterwards, the calibration of the AO-7 can be started to maximally tilt the mirror unit of the AO-7 in all directions. Five exposures are then taken to determine the control range of the AO. Find the menu at:
 <code>AO -> Calibrate...</code>
-In this popup window one can set the exposure time and the used CCD. Additionally one can activate the (debug) log can be recorded. It's recommend to activate the option //**Calibrate from Corner**// as this obtains better results.
+In the following window one can set the exposure time and the CCD to use. Additionally, one can activate the (debug) log. Furthermore, it is recommend to activate the option //**Calibrate from Corner**// as this gives better results.
-[{{ ost:ccds:ao_calibrate_menu.jpg |Calibration menue of the AO-7}}]
+[{{ ost:ccds:ccdops:ao_calibrate_menu.jpg |Calibration menue of the AO-7}}]
-The following image depicts the result of the calibration (very similar to the "normal guiding), which in this case is (qualitatively) somewhere between the typical and the optimal calibration result of the AO-7. In principal the same rules apply as described above for the "normal" guiding.
+The following image depicts the result of the calibration (very similar to the "normal guiding"), which in this case is (qualitatively) somewhere between the typical and optimal calibration result of the AO-7. In principle, the same criteria as described above for the "normal" guiding apply here.
-[{{ ost:ccds:ao_calibration_results.jpg | Calibration results of the AO-7 }}]
+[{{ ost:ccds:ccdops:ao_calibration_results.jpg | Calibration results of the AO-7 }}]
 ==== Self Guiding ====
-Once the calibration is done, open the Self Guiding menu:
+Once the calibration is done, open the Self-guiding menu:
 <code>AO -> Self Guide...</code>
-As before, //**Exposure time**// is the desired exp. time for the imaging CCD. The //**Track time**// is the exp. time for the tracking CCD, which can, in contrast to the normal guiding, be much shorter as the AO-7 can regulate much faster. The minimal //**Track time**// is 0.001 seconds, however, note that the integrated number of counts for the guide star should still be larger than 1000. In //**Track Box**// one can set the size of the tracking box around the guide star. Choose between **Small** (4x4 pixels), **Medium** (8x8 pixels) and **Large** (16x16 pixels). The smaller the box, the better the guiding result. But note that the guiding star can drop out of the (small) box if seeing is bad. Indeed seeing is often bad and Large is not available for our telescope, so the only (useful) remaining choice then is Medium. The option //**Dither Exposure**// is only for debugging purposes and can be deactivated in most cases.
+As before, //**Exposure time**// is the desired exposure time for the imaging CCD. The //**Track time**// is the exposure time for the tracking CCD that can be much shorter in comparison to the normal guiding, since the AO-7 can regulate much faster. The minimal //**Track time**// is 0.001 seconds, however, note that the integrated number of counts for the guide star should still be larger than 1000. In //**Track Box**// one can set the size of the tracking box around the guide star. Choose between **Small** (4x4 pixels), **Medium** (8x8 pixels), **Large** (16x16 pixels), and **Huge** (32×32 Pixel?). The smaller the box is, the better is the guiding result. But note that the guiding star can easily drop out of the (small) box if the seeing is bad. Since the seeing is quite often pretty bad at our site and the **Large** box is not available for our telescope, the most useful choice is **Medium**. The option //**Dither Exposure**// is only for debugging purposes and can be deactivated in most cases.
-After clicking the **OK** button an exposure on the selected CCD is taken and shown along with the status menus (see Figure below).
+[{{ ost:ccds:ccdops:selfguide_ao7_1.png?300 | Setup menu of the AO-7}}]
-Select the guide star by dropping the small pixel box on it and start the tracking process by clicking the **Resume** button.
+After clicking the ''OK'' button an exposure with the selected CCD is taken and shown along with the status menu (see the figure below). Select the guide star by moving the selection box on it and start the tracking process by clicking the ''Resume'' button.
-[{{ ost:ccds:ao_self_guide.jpg |Self-Guide-Status menu}}]
+[{{ ost:ccds:ccdops:ao_self_guide.jpg |Self-guide status menu}}]
-This status menue presents details, e.g. on the //**Guide Rate**//, which is the rate of corrections applied by the AO-7. Usually: the higher that value the better the guiding. This can be reached by either shorter exposure times or a smaller tracking box. The //**AO Position**// gives the deviation from the normal position (50% x 50%) of the mirrors. //**RMS Wander**// gives details in the current capacity /* capability? efficiency? hmm, Leistungsfähigkeit jedenfalls */ of the guiding (smaller values are better), so try to get or keep low values there. //**Total Counts**// is the number of integrated counts of the tracking box (current and starting value). If //**Adaptive Gain**// has been activated in the setup menu, //**Adapt. Gain**// shows the applied amplification factor.
+This status menu presents some details, e.g. on the //**Guide Rate**//, which is the rate of corrections applied by the AO-7. Usually, the higher that value is, the better is the guiding. This can be reached by either by shorter exposure times or a smaller tracking box. The //**AO Position**// gives the deviation from the neutral position (50% x 50%) of the mirror. The //**RMS Wander**// is a measure for the efficiency of the guiding (smaller values are better), so try to reduce this value. //**Total Counts**// is the number of integrated counts of the tracking box (current and starting value). If //**Adaptive Gain**// has been activated in the setup menu, //**Adapt. Gain**// shows the applied amplification factor.
-The option //**Fan On**// allows to turn off the fan of the CCD cooling device, in case its rotations excite vibrations in/of the telescope. In our mounting this should not happen. The option //**AO Enable**// can stop the guiding process of the AO-7 if the box is unchecked. Use the //**Slew Rate**// and //**Aggressiveness**// to optimize the guiding and reduce the value of //**RMS Wander**//. First, change the //**Aggressiveness**//. If the guide star jumps or oscillates in the tracking box, reduce the //**Aggressiveness**//. In any case, keep an eye on the value of //**RMS Wander**//. Once the //**Aggressiveness**// is sufficiently set, vary the //**Slew Rate**//, which limits the range of the AO-7's mirrors. It has proven helpful to first raise the //**Slew Rate**// until the value of //**RMS Wander**// raises, then to slightly reduce it again. If the guide star is (still) jumping in the box, reducing the //**Slew Rate**// can help, too. Note, that large parts of the high velocity movements of the guide star can generally be ignored as it does not correlate with sequential exposures. Only variations to which this applies are usable for the guiding process.
+The option //**Fan On**// allows to turn off the fan of the CCD cooling device, in case its rotation excites vibrations in the telescope. However, this should not be a problem for our combination of camera, telescope, and mount. The option //**AO Enable**// can stop the guiding process of the AO-7 once the box is unchecked. Use the //**Slew Rate**// and //**Aggressiveness**// to optimize the guiding and to reduce the value of //**RMS Wander**//. First, adjust the //**Aggressiveness**//. If the guide star jumps or oscillates in the tracking box, reduce the //**Aggressiveness**//. In any case, keep an eye on the value of //**RMS Wander**//. Once the //**Aggressiveness**// is sufficiently adjusted, vary the //**Slew Rate**//, which limits the range of the AO-7's mirrors. It has proven helpful to first raise the //**Slew Rate**// until the value of the //**RMS Wander**// raises, then to slightly reduce it again. If the guide star is jumping in the box, it might also help to reduce the //**Slew Rate**//. Note, that large parts of the high velocity movements of the guide star can generally be ignored as they do not correlate with sequential exposures. Only variations to which this applies can be corrected by the guiding process.
-Finally, once the result of guiding is sufficient, click the **Start** button to start the exposure with the Imaging CCD.
+Finally, once the result of guiding is sufficient, click the ''Start'' button to start the exposure with the imaging CCD.