2.4-meter Hiltner Telescope
Observer's Manual and Technical Reference
Based on the original by Peter Mack, the HTML version by Bob Barr converted from TeX by Paul Schechter.
Updated: 2012 November 11 (Barr/MDM)
With contribution from John Thorstensen (Dartmouth) and Jules Halpren (Columbia) at various times.
Table of Contents
1 General Guidelines
and Preliminary Information
1.1)
About This Manual
1.2)
Graduate in One Night!
1.3)
Technical Problems
1.4)
Transportation and Area Maps
1.5)
Accommodation and Meals
1.6)
Observering Preparation Form
1.7)
Telephones & Fax
1.8)
Publications
1.9)
Sending Documents and Parcels To MDM. Also location of AURA lot
2 What Every Observer
Should Know
2.1)
Observing
2.1.1)
Obtaining the best seeing!
2.1.2)
Limits on observing conditions
2.2)
Weather Conditions
2.2.1)
Weather radio
2.2.2)
Weather Monitor II
2.2.3)
What to do during bad storms.
2.3)
Emergency Conditions
2.3.1)
Telephone help
2.3.2)
Emergency radio
2.3.3)
Emergency generator and the UPS.
3.1)
Historical Introduction
3.2)
Optical Specifications
3.2.1)
Collimation and the mirror support system
3.3)
Mechanical Specifications
3.4)
Geographical Location
4 Telescope Control
& Data Acquisition Computers
4.1)
Introduction
4.2)
Basic Operating Instructions
4.2.1)
Turning the machines on
4.2.2)
Re-booting from a computer ``crash''
4.2.3)
Turning the machines off
4.3)
The Telescope Control Computer
4.3.1)
Logging on
4.3.2)
Directory structure
4.3.3)
Disk storage space
4.3.4)
Starting the Telescope Control Software
4.3.5)
Restarting individual windows
4.3.6)
A primer on windows
4.4)
Some Useful Computer Commands
4.5)
Quick Look and Data Reduction
5 Telescope Control
System (TCS)
5.1)
Introduction
5.2)
TCS Computer Rack
5.3)
Telescope Controller and Monitor
5.4)
Telescope Control Software, xtcs
5.4.1)
Introduction
5.4.2)
Initializing the TCS and xtcs
5.4.3)
Entering coordinates from the keyboard
5.4.4)
Entering coordinates from a file
5.4.5)
Down-loading coordinates to the TCS and commanding the telescope to move
5.4.6)
The Setup menu
5.4.7)
Manually restoring coordinates using the tilt meters
5.4.8)
TCS display: setting other encoders
5.4.9)
Track Rate
5.4.10)
Trail Rate
5.5)
Telescope Hand Paddle
5.6)
The Dome
5.6.1)
Introduction
5.6.2)
Dome controller
5.6.3)
Back-up procedure for closing a disabled dome
5.6.4)
Occultation of the telescope by the dome near the zenith
5.6.5)
Obtaining dome flat fields with the white screen
5.7)
Moving the Telescope Out of the Hard Limits
5.8)
WWV Time
5.9)
Observing Room / Dome Intercom
5.10)
Moving Platform
5.11)
What To Do When Things Don't Work
6 The Multiple Instrument
System (MIS)
6.1)
Introduction
6.2)
The MIS Camera
6.3)
The Multiple Instrument System Control Software, xmis
6.4)
RETROCAM
6.4.1)
Wide field acquisition of astronomical objects
6.4.2)
Spectroscopic calibration
6.5)
Guider
6.5.1)
xmis guider parameters
6.5.2)
Off-axis guiding for direct imaging
6.5.3)
Now uses a slit viewing camera system by Yorke Brown
6.6)
How to Focus the Guider and the Instrument
6.6.1)
Focus procedure: direct imaging
6.6.2) Now uses a slit viewing camera system by Yorke Brown
6.6.3)
Coarse focus of the guider.
6.7)
MIS Filter wheel (default is the OSU filter wheel)
6.7.1)
Introduction
6.7.2)
How to change filters
6.7.3)
The MDM Johnson UBVRI filter sets
6.8)
Technical Reference Section
6.8.1)
Guest instrumentation and the MIS mounting plate
6.8.2)
MIS Controller: FORTH commands (for staff use only)
6.8.3)
xmis software configuration (for staff use only)
7.1) Introduction
7.2) New Andor Camers for Slit viewing software link.7.3) Auguiding and Acquisition at MDM telescopes (FLI cameras)
8.1) New Rotator Control
8.2) Rotator Display
8.3)
Instrument Rotator and Flange Mounting Dimensions
9.1)
Introduction
9.2)
Pressurizing LN2 Storage Dewars
9.3)
Changing Nitrogen Gas Cylinders
9.4)
Mirror Cover Failure
10 The Primary Mirror
Air-Conditioning System
10.1)
Introduction
10.2)
Hardware Description
10.2.1)
The sensors
10.2.2)
The cooling units
10.3)
The Control Computer
10.3.1)
Turning the machine on.
10.3.2)
Menu Option 1: Digital Output
10.3.3)
Menu Option 2: Graphical Output
10.3.4)
Menu Option F: Focus Tool
10.3.5)
Menu Option H: Toggle Heater Control On/Off
10.3.6)
Menu Option I: Set A/C Cooling Coil Minimum Temperature
10.3.7)
Menu Option S: Set Safety Margin for Cooling near Dewpoint
10.3.8)
Menu Option T: Set Primary Mirror Temperature
10.3.9)
Menu Option X: Exit
10.3.10)
Menu Option ?: Help
10.4)
The Switch Control Panel
APPENDIX B: Shutdown
Checklist
Emergency Lightning Shutdown Procedure
Updated: 2012 November 11 (Barr/mdm)