en:ost:telescope:handling_new

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en:ost:telescope:handling_new [2021/03/17 17:15] – [Shutdown] rhainichen:ost:telescope:handling_new [2024/02/22 21:27] (current) – [The All-Sky Monitor] rhainich
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-FIXME <fs xx-large><fc #ff0000>This website is still incomplete and under construction.</fc></fs> 
- 
 ====== OST 2.0 operation ====== ====== OST 2.0 operation ======
 +/*
 [{{ost:cdk20:cdk20_1.jpg?350 | OST 2.0 -- Our new Telescope a CDK20 (Planewave)}}] [{{ost:cdk20:cdk20_1.jpg?350 | OST 2.0 -- Our new Telescope a CDK20 (Planewave)}}]
 +*/
  
 +<WRAP group>
 +<WRAP third column>
 +[{{ost:cdk20:cdk20_cut.jpg | OST 2.0 -- Our new Telescope a CDK20 (Planewave)}}]
 +
 +</WRAP>
 +<WRAP twothirds column>
 ===== Security remarks ===== ===== Security remarks =====
     *  **NEVER** look at the Sun with a telescope without a proper sun filter. This can lead to **irreparable damage** of your eyes and the optical instruments! The OST is not designed for observations of the Sun, so never point it to the Sun!     *  **NEVER** look at the Sun with a telescope without a proper sun filter. This can lead to **irreparable damage** of your eyes and the optical instruments! The OST is not designed for observations of the Sun, so never point it to the Sun!
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 ===== General remarks ===== ===== General remarks =====
 The observatory can operated complete remotely or semi remotely (being locally in the observatory, using some of the remote capabilities). The handling of the individual components of the observatory is briefly explained in the following, starting with the manual controls before the remote capabilities are discussed. The observatory can operated complete remotely or semi remotely (being locally in the observatory, using some of the remote capabilities). The handling of the individual components of the observatory is briefly explained in the following, starting with the manual controls before the remote capabilities are discussed.
-\\ + 
-\\+</WRAP> 
 +</WRAP> 
 ===== The dome and the roof ===== ===== The dome and the roof =====
 Information on the dome and the roof can be found in a separate [[en:ost:telescope:kuppel | article]].  Information on the dome and the roof can be found in a separate [[en:ost:telescope:kuppel | article]]. 
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 As shown in the figure above, four devices can be switched using the control menu. In position 1 is the OMS itself, which of course may never be switched off and is therefore always highlighted in green. On position 2 is the telescope or the mount. The 3rd position is used to switch the cameras, the all-sky camera and all other electrical attachments to the telescope. The 4th position is currently not occupied by a device.  As shown in the figure above, four devices can be switched using the control menu. In position 1 is the OMS itself, which of course may never be switched off and is therefore always highlighted in green. On position 2 is the telescope or the mount. The 3rd position is used to switch the cameras, the all-sky camera and all other electrical attachments to the telescope. The 4th position is currently not occupied by a device. 
  
-If you click on **Cameras &...**, for example, the buttons for switching on and off become visible. By clicking on **On**, the cameras and all other telescope attachments can be switched on. The corresponding entry is then colored green. After the observation and after you have shut down the cameras properly, you have to switch off the power supply of the cameras and all attachments again by clicking **Off**. For telescopes/mount the shutdown procedure is slightly different. More about this below.+If you click on **Cameras &...** the buttons for switching on and off become visible. By clicking on **On**, the cameras and all other telescope attachments can be switched on. The corresponding entry is then colored green. After the observation and after you have shut down the cameras properly, you have to switch off the power supply of the cameras and all attachments again by clicking **Off**.  
 + 
 +For telescopes/mount the procedure is slightly different. Click on the **Batch** button and then make sure that the settings are as follows: **switch** ''on''**, wait** ''3'' **sec(s), switch** ''off''. Then click on **Ok**. The status indicator will briefly go to green and then change back to red. This is perfectly normal and expected. More about this below in the section [[en:ost:telescope:handling_new#After the observations|After the observations]]. After about 20 seconds, the mount should be fully booted and ready for operation.
  
 === Get an overview === === Get an overview ===
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 ==== The All-Sky Monitor ==== ==== The All-Sky Monitor ====
  
-The All-Sky-Monitor from SBIG offers the possibility to get a good impression of the given observing conditions. As soon as the power supply for the cameras is switched on, the software for controlling the all-sky camera can be started. The corresponding shortcut on the desktop is called **SBIG All Sky Camera**.  +<WRAP group> 
- +<WRAP twothirds column> 
-{{ ost:software:all_sky_1.png | AllSky-340 }}+The All-Sky camera (see photo) from SBIG offers the possibility to get a good impression of the given observing conditions. As soon as the power supply for the cameras is switched on, the software for controlling the all-sky camera (see figure below) can be started. The corresponding shortcut on the desktop is called **SBIG All Sky Camera**.  
 +[{{ ost:software:all_sky_3.jpg | All-Sky software }}] 
 +</WRAP> 
 +<WRAP third column> 
 +[{{ ost:cdk20:all_sky_with_rain.jpg | AllSky-340 from SBIG with a little residual moisture from the last rain on the dome}}] 
 +</WRAP> 
 +</WRAP>
  
 The All-Sky monitor is already focused and it is usually not necessary to adjust the default setting, so you can click **Start Capture** directly. The camera will start capturing images continuously. The current image is displayed in the **SBIG ALLSky-340 Current Image** window (on the left of the image above), while the **SBIG ALLSky-340 Previous Images** window (on the right of the image above) shows a video from the images already captured. The camera adjusts the exposure time automatically. Especially in darkness, you may have to wait a few exposures until the camera has adjusted the exposure time correctly and you can then see the surroundings and the night sky. The camera is connected to the OMS via a serial connection, which makes the connection stable but also very slow, so that it takes a while until the individual images are downloaded.  The All-Sky monitor is already focused and it is usually not necessary to adjust the default setting, so you can click **Start Capture** directly. The camera will start capturing images continuously. The current image is displayed in the **SBIG ALLSky-340 Current Image** window (on the left of the image above), while the **SBIG ALLSky-340 Previous Images** window (on the right of the image above) shows a video from the images already captured. The camera adjusts the exposure time automatically. Especially in darkness, you may have to wait a few exposures until the camera has adjusted the exposure time correctly and you can then see the surroundings and the night sky. The camera is connected to the OMS via a serial connection, which makes the connection stable but also very slow, so that it takes a while until the individual images are downloaded. 
 +
 +In addition to this well-established all-sky camera, we now have our own construction that is in operation 24 hours a day and provides a [[https://polaris.astro.physik.uni-potsdam.de/allsky/ | Live-View]] that is accessible to all. In addition a [[https://polaris.astro.physik.uni-potsdam.de/allsky/videos/ | Video]], a [[https://polaris.astro.physik.uni-potsdam.de/allsky/keograms/ | keogram]] and a [[https://polaris.astro.physik.uni-potsdam.de/allsky/startrails/ | star trail exposure]] have been made for each night of the last weeks.  
 +
 +<WRAP group>
 +<WRAP third column>
 +[{{ ost:example_image_allsky.jpg | All sky - example image (**Placeholder**)}}] 
 +[{{ ost:startrails_allsky.jpg | All sky - star trails (**Placeholder**)}}]
 +</WRAP>
 +<WRAP third column>
 +[{{ ost:keogram_allsky.jpg | All sky - keogram (**Placeholder**)}}]
 +</WRAP>
 +<WRAP third column>
 +[{{ ost:all-sky_own_design.jpg | In-house designed all sky camera}}]
 +</WRAP>
 +</WRAP>
  
 ==== Focusing & PWI3 ==== ==== Focusing & PWI3 ====
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 === Changing the instruments === === Changing the instruments ===
- 
-When changing the instruments, two basic things have to be considered: On the one hand, the focuser has naturally only a limited adjustment range, so for different instruments also different adapters (M68 thread) are needed. In the article on [[en:ost:fokus_new | focusing]], we go into more detail on how to calculate the ideal adapter length and also list the adapter lengths used for the most commonly used instruments.  
  
 <WRAP group> <WRAP group>
 <WRAP half column> <WRAP half column>
  
-Furthermore, the interchangeable balance weights at the front of the telescope should be adapted to the instrument in question. As shown in the image to the right, balance weights can be attached at two points. The configuration shown is for the STF8300M, while for the BACHES with the ST-8 another balance weight should be added. This balance weight should ideally be attached to the side away from the mount (the right side in the picture). For our QHY600M, one balance weight must be added on each side compared to the configuration in the picture. For observations with the eyepieces, all balance weights should be removed from the front and ideally some should be reattached at the back.+There are two basic things to keep in mind when changing instruments: First, the focuser has a limited range of adjustment, which means that different adapters (M68 thread) are needed for different instruments. In the [[en:ost:fokus_new | focusing]] article, we explain in more detail how to calculate the ideal adapter length and list the adapter lengths normally used for the most common instruments. 
  
-Additional balance weights are located in the large metal cabinet. The balance weights can simply be screwed onto the existing ones. When handling the balance weights, the telescope should be placed in a position where it is facing the ground as much as possible to prevent the balance weights from falling into the tube. +In addition, the interchangeable balancing counterweights on the tube should be matched to the instrument (see table below). Several small 230g counterweights and a large 1kg counterweight are available. The latter is mounted on a rod on which it can be moved as required. The rod holder remains attached to the tube at all times. 
 + 
 +The counterweights are located in the large metal cabinet. The small counterweights are screwed onto a counterweight holder, which usually has to be mounted first. When handling the counterweights at the front of the tube, the telescope should be positioned as close to the ground as possible to prevent the counterweights from falling into the tube when they are screwed on or off. 
  
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
 <WRAP half column> <WRAP half column>
-[{{ ost:cdk20:cdk20_small_counterweights.jpg | CDK20 with counterweights}}]+[{{ ost:cdk20:balacing_weight_eyepiece.jpg | CDK20 with counterweights}}]
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-**A table configurations will follow soon...**+**Configurations:** 
 + 
 +|< 100% 20% 45% 15% >| 
 +^ Counterweight holder                 |                                                | {{ost:cdk20:balance_weights_mount.jpg|}} | 
 +^ Mounting block for counterweight bar |                        |  {{ost:cdk20:mounting_block_counterweight_bar_highlighted.jpg|}} | 
 +^ Always mounted        | **A** small balancing counterweight **in front** of the tube | {{ost:cdk20:balacing_weight_front.jpg|}} | 
 +^ Eyepiece | **1kg** balancing counterweight (square box) and **four** small balancing counterweights (ellipse) **at the rear** of the tube | {{ost:cdk20:balacing_weight_eyepiece.jpg|}} | 
 +^ DADOS & QHY 268M    | **A** small balancing counterweight **at the back** of the tube | {{ost:cdk20:balacing_weight_dados.jpg|}} | 
 +^ BACHES & QHY 268M   | **No** balance weight required                                | {{ost:cdk20:balance_weights_qhy600m.jpg|}} | 
 +^ QHY600M             | **No** balance weight required                                 | {{ost:cdk20:qhy600_mounted_trimmed.jpg|}} | 
 + 
 +/* 
 +^  STF8300M              |  Currently not known                               | {{ost:cdk20:balance_weights_sft8300.jpg|}} | 
 +*/
  
 ==== After the observations ==== ==== After the observations ====
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    * **Shut down telescope/mount:** In the same tab of the web browser, first click on the **Mount/Telescope** item. After that, the following two steps have to be executed:    * **Shut down telescope/mount:** In the same tab of the web browser, first click on the **Mount/Telescope** item. After that, the following two steps have to be executed:
-      - click on the **Batch** button and then make sure that the settings are as follows: **switch** ''off''**, wait** ''2'' **sec(s), switch** ''on'' (see photo above). Then click on **Ok**. The status indicator will briefly go to red and then change back to green. This is perfectly normal and expected. +      - click on the **Batch** button and then make sure that the settings are as follows: **switch** ''off''**, wait** ''3'' **sec(s), switch** ''on'' (see photo above). Then click on **Ok**. The status indicator will briefly go to red and then change back to green. This is perfectly normal and expected. 
-      - Wait at least 30 seconds for the mount to shut down. You can look at the internal webcam to check. When parked, the mount's indicator light is in the center of the camera's field of view (see photo below). If the indicator light is off, the mount has successfully shut down. You can then click **Off**. The status indicator will then change back to red and remain so.+      - Wait at least 20 seconds for the mount to shut down. You can look at the internal webcam to check. When parked, the mount's indicator light is in the center of the camera's field of view (see photo below). If the indicator light is off, the mount has successfully shut down. You can then click **Off**. The status indicator will then change back to red and remain so.
  
 <WRAP group> <WRAP group>
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    * **Close web browser**]    * **Close web browser**]
    * **Log out user**    * **Log out user**
 +
 +===== Problems and their solution =====
 +
 +A compilation of problem solutions to known error sources can be found in our article [[en:ost:telescope:probleme|Known error sources and their solution]]. 
  • en/ost/telescope/handling_new.1616001316.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2021/03/17 17:15
  • by rhainich