The Dome

Important

• The door to the roof can be opened with the appropriate key.
• The door must be closed again because the shutter of the dome could collide with it as the dome rotates.
• Usually the door of the dome itself is locked, too.
• The door opens easier if it's slightly pushed close during the unlocking.
• The doorway is lower than the average person's height – pay attention to your head.

First steps:

Control box with emergency button

• Just left to the door you can find the light switch (number 2 in the sketch).
• The left button is for white light, the right one is for red light.
• At the wall, next to the light switches there's a small box (number 3 in the sketch). It contains
  • the remote control of the dome,
  • the sensor that receives the signal of the remote (see Figure)
  • the emergency button (the red button) that disconnects the power supply of the dome

Computer setup:

Dome control remote control

At the left wall of the dome find a table (number 5 in the sketch) with the laptop on it. This computer can connect with the telescope and runs MS Windows 7 along with the required software to use the telescope. It also has an internet connection to find information on objects during the observation, e.g. in Simbad or to get other information.

Miscellaneous:

The dome inventory has the following items, too:

• a small treadle;
• a movable tread with platform (number 8);
• a roll container (number 6), including
  • equipment for the telescope,
  • manuals,
  • tools.

Each observation (night) must be registered in the log book (either the real book or in the Wiki: Wiki log book). This is especially important if changes at the equipment/mounting/telescope were performed. The roll container can also be used to place a laptop ontop to easily roll it though the dome. However, always ensure all parts of the equipment are standing securely.

A number of solutions of (well-) known problems and mistakes can be found the problem page.