Telescope - User contributions [en]

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-21T02:59:36Z

Jgoodma2: /* Periodic Error Correction */

=='''Periodic Error Correction'''==

1. Turn off PEC in The Sky->Telescope->Options->More Settings by unchecking the "Apply PEC correction" box.

[[File:unchecPEC.png]]

Figure 1: PEC window in The Sky. In More Settings window accessible from the Telescope->Options menu.

2. Open PEMPro. In the Setup tab (one of the lower tabs), connect to the scope and the camera. Switch to the Acquire Data tab, and set the exposure such that the bright star you are pointed at is bright but not saturated. Press Start to begin acquisition. Once the image is exposed, check Maxim DL to make sure it found the star, and not just a hot pixel. Acquire data for a large number of periods, until you have a good looking periodic curve.

3. When you have enough periods, click Stop. Save the data, and you will be prompted to create a PE curve, which you should do (if for some reason you do not, at a later point you can load the data into the Analyze tab and click Create PEC Curve there.) Do not worry about any syncing messages. A separate Create PE Curve window will open, and a curve will be fitted automatically. Check to see if any frequencies need to be added; you can reference the Frequency Spectrum from the upper left pull down menu. The RMS error in the upper right may be of interest. This window, along with the analyze data tab in the main window displaying the raw data collected (with the correction turned off) on 06/01/2010 are shown in figure 2. Save the curve by clicking the 'Create Paramount PEC curve' button (Note: throughout the procedure, save and open only text files). It will ask you if you want to open the curve data in a text file, which is unnecessary at this point. NOTE: if a this or any point it asks you to invert the curve, be careful. We determined that we do in fact need to invert the curve, but this is confusing (it is hard to tell exactly what each of the graphs represents: error, correction, telescope offset, star offset, etc.) and it is important to keep track of any inversions. You do not have to invert when prompted, since we can do it later in the Refine window.

[[File:uncorData.png]]

Figure 2: Raw data (with correction turned off) from 06-01-2010 in the analyze tab of the main menu, and the PEC curve creation window fitting a curve to the data.

4. Close the Create PE curve window. In the main PEMpro window, switch to the Refine tab and and load the curve data (not the original data) you just saved by clicking the 'Curve 1' button. Assuming the curve was not earlier inverted, click the Invert button next to where you loaded Curve 1 (trial and error taught us that we need to invert the curve). We determined (06/02/2010) that when we save a file here, and copy the data into the actual Periodic Error Correction window in The Sky (which does the actual correcting and actively follows the phase of the worm gear) there is a phase offset of 600 units (~66 seconds). On top of that, the zero phase point of the worm gear, as read from the The Sky window, corresponds to about the 15s phase point in PEMpro, requiring and additional 139 unit offset (the math: the worm gear cycle is divided into 1250 units, and has a period of 134.63 seconds. This corresponds to 9.3 units/second). The original offset was found by putting a spike in the The Sky correction curve, recording this spike in PEMpro, and then shifting the recorded curve fit and pasting it back into the sky until the spikes matched up. The 15s phase offset we noticed while acquiring data, by seeing that the The Sky phase mark line passed its zero point when in the PEMpro window the Current Worm Phase was at 15s (you can verify this). So the total offset we decided on is 740 units. So: using the Shift Curve section at the bottom of the window, shift the curve (make sure the pull down is on the correct curve) to an offset of +740 units (to the right. The maximum shift for each step is 50 units, so this will take some clicks. the recorder of the shift may wrap around to negative values, so you may have to keep track of how far you shifted to the right yourself.) The curve fit from our 06/01/2010 data is shown in the Refine tab in Figure 3, along with its shifted and inverted version. Save the curve from the Save section , again selecting the right curve from the pull down. In the save window, select 'Paramount PEC files (*.txt)' from the 'Save as type' pull down.

[[File:refine.png]]

Figure 2: Curve fit from 06/01/2010 in the refine window. Curve 1 is the original curve, Curve 2 is inverted and shifted +740 units (Note that the offset says -510; this is the wrap around).

5. Open Notepad, and open the file you just saved. Copy the entire thing, and switch back to the The Sky PEC window (Figure 1). Here, click the paste button. Your curve should appear in the table window. Click upload to save this curve. To apply the correction, disconnect PEMpro and Maxim DL from the camera, and back in the The Sky window switch to the "MKS 4000 options" tab, and in the reboot section click Normal. Click OK. The telescope should slew to home; you can send it yourself to make sure. Reopen the Telescope->options->more settings window, and go the PEC tab; click the Apply PEC correction box. The Preiodic error should now be correct! You can check this be Acquiring data in PEMpro, which should look much more flat, or by guiding and looking for periodic shifting.

Status(06/03/2010): With correction applied, PEMpro measures a much reduced but still extant periodic error, of about an arc second, more extreme in one half of the period than the other. Guiding in X shows a similar, still present periodic behavior, but it is less extreme and has many fewer jumps.

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-08T19:51:05Z

Jgoodma2: /* Periodic Error Correction */

=='''Periodic Error Correction'''==

1. Turn off PEC in The Sky->Telescope->Options->More Settings by unchecking the "Apply PEC correction" box.

[[File:unchecPEC.png]]

Figure 1: PEC window in The Sky. In More Settings window accessible from the Telescope->Options menu.

2. Open PEMPro. In the Setup tab (one of the lower tabs), connect to the scope and the camera. Switch to the Acquire Data tab, and set the exposure such that the bright star you are pointed at is bright but not saturated. Press Start to begin acquisition. Once the image is exposed, check Maxim DL to make sure it found the star, and not just a hot pixel. Acquire data for a large number of periods, until you have a good looking periodic curve.

3. When you have enough periods, click Stop. Save the data, and you will be prompted to create a PE curve, which you should do (if for some reason you do not, at a later point you can load the data into the Analyze tab and click Create PEC Curve there.) Do not worry about any syncing messages. A separate Create PE Curve window will open, and a curve will be fitted automatically. Check to see if any frequencies need to be added; you can reference the Frequency Spectrum from the upper left pull down menu. The RMS error in the upper right may be of interest. This window, along with the analyze data tab in the main window displaying the raw data collected (with the correction turned off) on 06/01/2010 are shown in figure 2. Save the curve by clicking the 'Create Paramount PEC curve' button (Note: throughout the procedure, save and open only text files). It will ask you if you want to open the curve data in a text file, which is unnecessary at this point. NOTE: if a this or any point it asks you to invert the curve, be careful. We determined that we do in fact need to invert the curve, but this is confusing (it is hard to tell exactly what each of the graphs represents: error, correction, telescope offset, star offset, etc.) and it is important to keep track of any inversions. You do not have to invert when prompted, since we can do it later in the Refine window.

[[File:uncorData.png]]

Figure 2: Raw data (with correction turned off) from 06-01-2010 in the analyze tab of the main menu, and the PEC curve creation window fitting a curve to the data.

4. Close the Create PE curve window. In the main PEMpro window, switch to the Refine tab and and load the curve data (not the original data) you just saved by clicking the 'Curve 1' button. Assuming the curve was not earlier inverted, click the Invert button next to where you loaded Curve 1 (trial and error taught us that we need to invert the curve). We determined (06/02/2010) that when we save a file here, and copy the data into the actual Periodic Error Correction window in The Sky (which does the actual correcting and actively follows the phase of the worm gear) there is a phase offset of 600 units (~66 seconds). On top of that, the zero phase point of the worm gear, as read from the The Sky window, corresponds to about the 15s phase point in PEMpro, requiring and additional 139 unit offset (the math: the worm gear cycle is divided into 1250 units, and has a period of 134.63 seconds. This corresponds to 9.3 units/second). The original offset was found by putting a spike in the The Sky correction curve, recording this spike in PEMpro, and then shifting the recorded curve fit and pasting it back into the sky until the spikes matched up. The 15s phase offset we noticed while acquiring data, by seeing that the The Sky phase mark line passed its zero point when in the PEMpro window the Current Worm Phase was at 15s (you can verify this). So the total offset we decided on is 740 units. So: using the Shift Curve section at the bottom of the window, shift the curve (make sure the pull down is on the correct curve) to an offset of +740 units (to the right. The maximum shift for each step is 50 units, so this will take some clicks. the recorder of the shift may wrap around to negative values, so you may have to keep track of how far you shifted to the right yourself.) The curve fit from our 06/01/2010 data is shown in the Refine tab in Figure 3, along with its shifted and inverted version. Save the curve from the Save section , again selecting the right curve from the pull down. In the save window, select 'Paramount PEC files (*.txt)' from the 'Save as type' pull down.

[[File:refine.png]]

Figure 2: Curve fit from 06/01/2010 in the refine window. Curve 1 is the original curve, Curve 2 is inverted and shifted +740 units (Note that the offset says -510; this is the wrap around).

5. Open Notepad, and open the file you just saved. copy the entire thing, and switch back to the The Sky PEC window (Figure 1). Here, click the past button. Your curve should appear in the table window. Click upload to save this curve. To apply teh correction, disconnect PEMpro and Maxim DL from the camera, and back in the The Sky window switch to the "MKS 4000 options" tab, and in the reboot section click Normal. Click OK. The telescope should slew to home; you can send it yourself to make sure. Reopen the Telescope->options->more settings window, and go the PEC tab; click the Apply PEC correction box. The Preiodic error should now be correct! You can check this be Acquiring data in PEMpro, which should look much more flat, or by guiding and looking for periodic shifting.

Status(06/03/2010): With correction applied, PEMpro measures a much reduced but still extant periodic error, of about an arc second, more extreme in one half of the period than the other. Guiding in X shows a similar, still present periodic behavior, but it is less extreme and has many fewer jumps.

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-08T19:44:04Z

Jgoodma2: /* Periodic Error Correction */

=='''Periodic Error Correction'''==

1. Turn off PEC in The Sky->Telescope->Options->More Settings by unchecking the "Apply PEC correction" box.

[[File:unchecPEC.png]]

Figure 1: PEC window in The Sky. In More Settings window accessible from the Telescope->Options menu.

2. Open PEMPro. In the Setup tab (one of the lower tabs), connect to the scope and the camera. Switch to the Acquire Data tab, and set the exposure such that the bright star you are pointed at is bright but not saturated. Press Start to begin acquisition. Once the image is exposed, check Maxim DL to make sure it found the star, and not just a hot pixel. Acquire data for a large number of periods, until you have a good looking periodic curve.

3. When you have enough periods, click Stop. Save the data, and you will be prompted to create a PE curve, which you should do (if for some reason you do not, at a later point you can load the data into the Analyze tab and click Create PEC Curve there.) Do not worry about any syncing messages. A separate Create PE Curve window will open, and a curve will be fitted automatically. Check to see if any frequencies need to be added; you can reference the Frequency Spectrum from the upper left pull down menu. The RMS error in the upper right may be of interest. This window, along with the analyze data tab in the main window displaying the raw data collected (with the correction turned off) on 06/01/2010 are shown in figure 2. Save the curve by clicking the 'Create Paramount PEC curve' button (Note: throughout the procedure, save and open only text files). It will ask you if you want to open the curve data in a text file, which is unnecessary at this point. NOTE: if a this or any point it asks you to invert the curve, be careful. We determined that we do in fact need to invert the curve, but this is confusing (it is hard to tell exactly what each of the graphs represents: error, correction, telescope offset, star offset, etc.) and it is important to keep track of any inversions. You do not have to invert when prompted, since we can do it later in the Refine window.

[[File:uncorData.png]]

Figure 2: Raw data with correction off from 06-01-2010 in the analyze tab of the main menu, and the PEC curve creation window fitting a curve to the data.

4. Close the Create PE curve window. In the main PEMpro window, switch to the Refine tab and and load the curve data (not the original data) you just saved by clicking the 'Curve 1' button. Assuming the curve was not earlier inverted, click the Invert button next to where you loaded Curve 1. We determined (06/02/2010) that when we save a file here, and copy the data into the actual Periodic Error Correction window in The Sky (which does the actual correcting and actively follows the phase of the worm gear) there is a phase offset of 600 units (~66 seconds). On top of that, the zero phase point of the worm gear, as read from the The Sky window, corresponds to about the 15s phase point in PEMpro, requiring and additional 139 unit offset (the math: the worm gear cycle is divided into 1250 units, and has a period of 134.63 seconds. This corresponds to 9.3 units/second). Original offset was found by putting a spike in the The Sky correction curve, recording this spike in PEMpro, and then shifting the recorded curve fit and pasting it back into the sky until the spike's matched up. The 15s phase offset we notcied while Acquiring data, by seeing that the The Sky phase mark line passsed its zero point when in the PEMpro window the Current Worm Phase was at 15s. So the total offset we decide don is 740 units. So: using the Shift Curve section at the bottom of the window, shift the curve (make sure the pull down is on the correct curve) to an offset of +740 units (to the right. The maximum shift for each step is 50 units, so this will take some clicks. the recorder of the shift may wrap around to negative values, so you may have to keep track of how far you shifted to the right.) The curve fit from our 06/01/2010 data is shown in the Refine tab in Figure 3, along with its shifted and inverted version. Save teh curve from teh Save section , again selecting the right curve from the pull down. In the save window, select Paramount PEC files (*.txt) from the Save as type pull down.

[[File:refine.png]]

Figure 2: Curve fit from 06/01/2010 in the refine window. Curve 1 is the original curve, Curve 2 is inverted and shifted +740 units (Note that the offset says -510; this is the wrap around).

5. Open Notepad, and open the file you just saved. copy the entire thing, and switch back to the The Sky PEC window (Figure 1). Here, click the past button. Your curve should appear in the table window. Click upload to save this curve. To apply teh correction, disconnect PEMpro and Maxim DL from the camera, and back in the The Sky window switch to the "MKS 4000 options" tab, and in the reboot section click Normal. Click OK. The telescope should slew to home; you can send it yourself to make sure. Reopen the Telescope->options->more settings window, and go the PEC tab; click the Apply PEC correction box. The Preiodic error should now be correct! You can check this be Acquiring data in PEMpro, which should look much more flat, or by guiding and looking for periodic shifting.

Status(06/03/2010): With correction applied, PEMpro measures a much reduced but still extant periodic error, of about an arc second, more extreme in one half of the period than the other. Guiding in X shows a similar, still present periodic behavior, but it is less extreme and has many fewer jumps.

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-08T18:54:43Z

Jgoodma2: /* Periodic Error Correction */

=='''Periodic Error Correction'''==

1. Turn off PEC in The Sky->Telescope->Options->More Settings by unchecking the "Apply PEC correction" box.

[[File:unchecPEC.png]]

Figure 1: PEC window in The Sky. In More Settings window accessible from the Telescope->Options menu.

2. Open PEMPro. In the Setup tab (one of the lower tabs), connect to the scope and the camera. Switch to the Acquire Data tab, and set the exposure such that the bright star you are pointed at is bright but not saturated. Press Start to begin acquisition. Once the image is exposed, check Maxim DL to make sure it found the star, and not just a hot pixel. Acquire data for a large number of periods, until you have a good looking periodic curve.

3. When you have enough periods, click Stop. Save the data, and you will be prompted to create a PE curve, which you should do (if for some reason you do not, at a later point you can load the data into the Analyze tab and click Create PEC Curve there.) Do not worry about any syncing messages. A separate Create PE Curve window will open, and a curve will be fitted automatically. Check to see if any frequencies need to be added; you can reference the Frequency Spectrum from the upper left pull down menu. The RMS error in the upper right may be of interest. This window, along with the analyze data tab in the main window displaying the raw data collected (with the correction turned off) on 06/01/2010 are shown in figure 2. Save the curve by clicking the 'Create Paramount PEC curve' button (Note: throughout the procedure, save and open only text files). It will ask you if you want to open the curve data in a text file, which is unnecessary at this point. NOTE: if a this or any point it asks you to invert the curve, be careful. We determined that we do in fact need to invert the curve, but this is confusing (it is hard to tell exactly what each of the graphs represents: error, correction, telescope offset, star offset, etc.) and it is important to keep track of any inversions. You do not have to invert when prompted, since as we will see we can do it in the Refine window.

[[File:uncorData.png]]

Figure 2: Raw data with correction off from 06-01-2010 in the analyze tab of the main menu, and the PEC curve creation window fitting a curve to the data.

4. Close the Create PE curve window. In the main PEMpro window, switch to the Refine tab and and load the curve data (not the original data) you just saved by clicking the 'Curve 1' button. Assuming the curve was not earlier inverted, click the Invert button next to where you loaded Curve 1. We determined (06/02/2010) that when we save a file here, and copy the data into the actual Periodic Error Correction window in The Sky (which does the actual correcting and actively follows the phase of the worm gear) there is a phase offset of 600 units (~66 seconds). On top of that, the zero phase point of the worm gear, as read from the The Sky window, corresponds to about the 15s phase point in PEMpro, requiring and additional 139 unit offset (the math: the worm gear cycle is divided into 1250 units, and has a period of 134.63 seconds. This corresponds to 9.3 units/second). Original offset was found by putting a spike in the The Sky correction curve, recording this spike in PEMpro, and then shifting the recorded curve fit and pasting it back into the sky until the spike's matched up. The 15s phase offset we notcied while Acquiring data, by seeing that the The Sky phase mark line passsed its zero point when in the PEMpro window the Current Worm Phase was at 15s. So the total offset we decide don is 740 units. So: using the Shift Curve section at the bottom of the window, shift the curve (make sure the pull down is on the correct curve) to an offset of +740 units (to the right. The maximum shift for each step is 50 units, so this will take some clicks. the recorder of the shift may wrap around to negative values, so you may have to keep track of how far you shifted to the right.) The curve fit from our 06/01/2010 data is shown in the Refine tab in Figure 3, along with its shifted and inverted version. Save teh curve from teh Save section , again selecting the right curve from the pull down. In the save window, select Paramount PEC files (*.txt) from the Save as type pull down.

[[File:refine.png]]

Figure 2: Curve fit from 06/01/2010 in the refine window. Curve 1 is the original curve, Curve 2 is inverted and shifted +740 units (Note that the offset says -510; this is the wrap around).

5. Open Notepad, and open the file you just saved. copy the entire thing, and switch back to the The Sky PEC window (Figure 1). Here, click the past button. Your curve should appear in the table window. Click upload to save this curve. To apply teh correction, disconnect PEMpro and Maxim DL from the camera, and back in the The Sky window switch to the "MKS 4000 options" tab, and in the reboot section click Normal. Click OK. The telescope should slew to home; you can send it yourself to make sure. Reopen the Telescope->options->more settings window, and go the PEC tab; click the Apply PEC correction box. The Preiodic error should now be correct! You can check this be Acquiring data in PEMpro, which should look much more flat, or by guiding and looking for periodic shifting.

Status(06/03/2010): With correction applied, PEMpro measures a much reduced but still extant periodic error, of about an arc second, more extreme in one half of the period than the other. Guiding in X shows a similar, still present periodic behavior, but it is less extreme and has many fewer jumps.

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-08T16:36:24Z

Jgoodma2: /* Periodic Error Correction */

=='''Periodic Error Correction'''==

1. Turn off PEC in The Sky->Telescope->Options->More Settings by unchecking the "Apply PEC correction" box.

[[File:unchecPEC.png]]

Figure 1: PEC window in The Sky. In More Settings window accessible from the Telescope->Options menu.

2. Open PEMPro. In the Setup tab (one of the lower tabs), connect to the scope and the camera. Switch to the Acquire Data tab, and set the exposure such that the bright star you are pointed at is bright but not saturated. Press Start to begin acquisition. Once the image is exposed, check Maxim DL to make sure it found the star, and not just a hot pixel. Acquire data for a large number of periods, until you have a good looking periodic curve.

3. When you have enough periods, click Stop. Save the data, and you will be prompted to create a PE curve, which you should do (if for some reason you do not, at a later point you can load the data into the Analyze tab and click Create PEC Curve there.) Do not worry about any syncing messages. A separate Create PE Curve window will open, and a curve will be fitted automatically. Check to see if any frequencies need to be added; you can reference the Frequency Spectrum from the upper right pull down menu. The RMS error in the upper left window may be on interest. This window, along with the analyze data tab in the main window displaying the raw data collected with the correction off on 06/01/2010 are shown in figure 2. Save the curve by clicking the 'Create Paramount PEC curve' button (Note: throughout the procedure, save and open only text files). It will ask you if you want to open the curve data in a text file, which is unnecessary at this point. NOTE: if a this or any point it asks you to invert the curve, be careful. We determined that we do in fact need to invert the curve, but this is confusing (it is hard to tell exactly what each of the graphs represents: error, correction, telescope offset, star offset, etc.) and it is important to keep track of any inversions. You do not have to invert when prompted, since as we will see we can do it in the Refine window.

[[File:uncorData.png]]

Figure 2: Raw data with correction off from 06-01-2010 in the analyze tab of the main menu, and the PEC curve creation window fitting a curve to the data.

4. Close the Create PE curve window. In the main PEMpro window, switch to the Refine tab and and load the curve data (not the original data) you just saved by clicking the 'Curve 1' button. Assuming the curve was not earlier inverted, click the Invert button next to where you loaded Curve 1. We determined (06/02/2010) that when we save a file here, and copy the data into the actual Periodic Error Correction window in The Sky (which does the actual correcting and actively follows the phase of the worm gear) there is a phase offset of 600 units (~66 seconds). On top of that, the zero phase point of the worm gear, as read from the The Sky window, corresponds to about the 15s phase point in PEMpro, requiring and additional 139 unit offset (the math: the worm gear cycle is divided into 1250 units, and has a period of 134.63 seconds. This corresponds to 9.3 units/second). Original offset was found by putting a spike in the The Sky correction curve, recording this spike in PEMpro, and then shifting the recorded curve fit and pasting it back into the sky until the spike's matched up. The 15s phase offset we notcied while Acquiring data, by seeing that the The Sky phase mark line passsed its zero point when in the PEMpro window the Current Worm Phase was at 15s. So the total offset we decide don is 740 units. So: using the Shift Curve section at the bottom of the window, shift the curve (make sure the pull down is on the correct curve) to an offset of +740 units (to the right. The maximum shift for each step is 50 units, so this will take some clicks. the recorder of the shift may wrap around to negative values, so you may have to keep track of how far you shifted to the right.) The curve fit from our 06/01/2010 data is shown in the Refine tab in Figure 3, along with its shifted and inverted version. Save teh curve from teh Save section , again selecting the right curve from the pull down. In the save window, select Paramount PEC files (*.txt) from the Save as type pull down.

[[File:refine.png]]

Figure 2: Curve fit from 06/01/2010 in the refine window. Curve 1 is the original curve, Curve 2 is inverted and shifted +740 units (Note that the offset says -510; this is the wrap around).

5. Open Notepad, and open the file you just saved. copy the entire thing, and switch back to the The Sky PEC window (Figure 1). Here, click the past button. Your curve should appear in the table window. Click upload to save this curve. To apply teh correction, disconnect PEMpro and Maxim DL from the camera, and back in the The Sky window switch to the "MKS 4000 options" tab, and in the reboot section click Normal. Click OK. The telescope should slew to home; you can send it yourself to make sure. Reopen the Telescope->options->more settings window, and go the PEC tab; click the Apply PEC correction box. The Preiodic error should now be correct! You can check this be Acquiring data in PEMpro, which should look much more flat, or by guiding and looking for periodic shifting.

Status(06/03/2010): With correction applied, PEMpro measures a much reduced but still extant periodic error, of about an arc second, more extreme in one half of the period than the other. Guiding in X shows a similar, still present periodic behavior, but it is less extreme and has many fewer jumps.

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-04T19:41:59Z

Jgoodma2: /* Periodic Error Correction */

=='''Periodic Error Correction'''==

1. Turn off PEC in The Sky->Telescope->Options->More Settings by unchecking the "Apply PEC correction" box.

[[File:unchecPEC.png]]

Figure 1: PEC window in The Sky. In More Settings window accessible from the Telescope->Options menu.

2. Open PEMPro. In the Setup tab (one of the lower tabs), connect to the scope and the camera. Switch to the Acquire Data tab, and set the exposure such that the bright star you are pointed at is bright but not saturated. Press Start to begin acquisition. Once the image is exposed, check Maxim DL to make sure it found the star, and not just a hot pixel. Acquire data for a large number of periods, until you have a good looking periodic curve.

3. When you have enough periods, click Stop. Save the data, and you will be prompted to create a PE curve, which you should do (if for some reason you do not, at a later point you can load the data into the Analyze tab and click Create PEC Curve there.) Do not worry about any syncing messages. A separate Create PE Curve window will open, and a curve will be fitted automatically. Check to see if any frequencies need to be added; you can reference the Frequency Spectrum from the upper right pull down menu. The RMS error in the upper left window may be on interest. This window, along with the analyze data tab in the main window displaying the raw data collected with the correction off on 06/01/2010 are shown in figure 2. Save the curve by clicking the 'Create Paramount PEC curve' button (Note: throughout the procedure, save and open only text files). It will ask you if you want to open the curve data in a text file, which is unnecessary at this point. NOTE: if a this or any point it asks you to invert the curve, be careful. We determined that we do in fact need to invert the curve, but this is confusing (it is hard to tell exactly what each of the graphs represents: error, correction, telescope offset, star offset, etc.) and it is important to keep track of any inversions. You do not have to invert when prompted, since as we will see we can do it in the Refine window.

[[File:uncorData.png]]

Figure 2: Raw data with correction off from 06-01-2010 in the analyze tab of the main menu, and the PEC curve creation window fitting a curve to the data.

4. Close the Create PE curve window. In the main PEMpro window, switch to the Refine tab and and load the curve data (not the original data) you just saved by clicking the 'Curve 1' button. Assuming the curve was not earlier inverted, click the Invert button next to where you loaded Curve 1. We determined (06/02/2010) that when we save a file here, and copy the data into the actual Periodic Error Correction window in The Sky (which does the actual correcting and actively follows the phase of the worm gear) there is a phase offset of 600 units (~66 seconds). On top of that, the zero phase point of the worm gear, as read from the The Sky window, corresponds to about the 15s phase point in PEMpro, requiring and additional 139 unit offset (the math: the worm gear cycle is divided into 1250 units, and has a period of 134.63 seconds. This corresponds to 9.3 units/second). Original offset was found by putting a spike in the The Sky correction curve, recording this spike in PEMpro, and then shifting the recorded curve fit and pasting it back into the sky until the spike's matched up. The 15s phase offset we notcied while Acquiring data, by seeing that the The Sky phase mark line passsed its zero point when in the PEMpro window the Current Worm Phase was at 15s. So the total offset we decide don is 740 units. So: using the Shift Curve section at the bottom of the window, shift the curve (make sure the pull down is on the correct curve) to an offset of +740 units (to the right. The maximum shift for each step is 50 units, so this will take some clicks. the recorder of the shift may wrap around to negative values, so you may have to keep track of how far you shifted to the right.) The curve fit from our 06/01/2010 data is shown in the Refine tab in Figure 3, along with its shifted and inverted version. Save teh curve from teh Save section , again selecting the right curve from the pull down. In the save window, select Paramount PEC files (*.txt) from the Save as type pull down.

[[File:refine.png]]

Figure 2: Curve fit from 06/01/2010 in the refine window. Curve 1 is the original curve, Curve 2 is inverted and shifted +740 units (Note that the offset says -510; this is the wrap around).

5. Open Notepad, and open the file you just saved. copy the entire thing, and switch back to the The Sky PEC window (Figure 1). Here, click the past button. Your curve should appear in the table window. Click upload to save this curve. To apply teh correction, disconnect PEMpro and Maxim DL from the camera, and back in the The Sky window switch to the "MKS 4000 options" tab, and in the reboot section click Normal. Click OK. The telescope should slew to home; you can send it yourself to make sure. Reopen the Telescope->options->more settings window, and go the PEC tab; click the Apply PEC correction box. The Preiodic error should now be correct! You can check this be Acquiring data in PEMpro, which should look much more flat, or by guiding and looking for periodic shifting.

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-04T19:31:24Z

Jgoodma2: /* Periodic Error Correction */

=='''Periodic Error Correction'''==

1. Turn off PEC in The SKy->Telescope->Options->More Settings by unchecking the "Apply PEC correction" box.

[[File:unchecPEC.png]]

Figure 1: PEC window in The Sky. In More Settings window accessible from the Telescope->Options menu.

2. Open PEMPro. In the Setup tab (one of the lower tabs), connect to the scope and the camera. Switch to the Acquire Data tab, and set the exposure such that the bright star you are pointed at is bright but no saturated. Press Start to begin acquisition. Once Image is exposed. check Maxim DL to make sure it found the star, and not just a hot pixel. Acquire data for a large number of periods.

3. When you have enough periods, click Stop. Save the data, and you will be prompted to create a PE curve, which you should do (if for some reason you do not, at a later point you can load the data into the Analyze tab and click Create PEC Curve there.) Do not worry about any syncing messages. A separate Create PE Curve window will open, and a curve will be fitted automatically. Check to see if any frequencies need to be added; you can reference the Frequency Spectrum from the upper right pull down menu. The RMS error in the upper left window may be on interest. This window, along with the analyze data tab in the main window displaying the raw data collected with the correction off on 06/01/2010 are shown in figure 2. Save the curve by clicking the 'Create Paramount PEC curve' button (Note: throughout the procedure, save and open only text files). It will ask you if you want to open the curve data in a text file, which is unnecessary at this point. NOTE: if a this or any point it asks you to invert the curve, be careful. We determined that we do in fact need to invert the curve, but this is confusing (it is hard to tell exactly what each of the graphs represents: error, correction, telescope offset, star offset, etc.) and it is important to keep track of any inversions. You do not have to invert when prompted, since as we will see we can do it in the Refine window.

[[File:uncorData.png]]

Figure 2: Raw data with correction off from 06-01-2010 in the analyze tab of the main menu, and the PEC curve creation window fitting a curve to the data.

4. Close the Create PE curve window. In the main PEMpro window, switch to the Refine tab and and load the curve data (not the original data) you just saved by clicking the 'Curve 1' button. Assuming the curve was not earlier inverted, click the Invert button next to where you loaded Curve 1. We determined (06/02/2010) that when we save a file here, and copy the data into the actual Periodic Error Correction window in The Sky (which does the actual correcting and actively follows the phase of the worm gear) there is a phase offset of 600 units (~66 seconds). On top of that, the zero phase point of the worm gear, as read from the The Sky window, corresponds to about the 15s phase point in PEMpro, requiring and additional 139 unit offset (the math: the worm gear cycle is divided into 1250 units, and has a period of 134.63 seconds. This corresponds to 9.3 units/second). Original offset was found by putting a spike in the The Sky correction curve, recording this spike in PEMpro, and then shifting the recorded curve fit and pasting it back into the sky until the spike's matched up. The 15s phase offset we notcied while Acquiring data, by seeing that the The Sky phase mark line passsed its zero point when in the PEMpro window the Current Worm Phase was at 15s. So the total offset we decide don is 740 units. So: using the Shift Curve section at the bottom of the window, shift the curve (make sure the pull down is on the correct curve) to an offset of +740 units (to the right. The maximum shift for each step is 50 units, so this will take some clicks. the recorder of the shift may wrap around to negative values, so you may have to keep track of how far you shifted to the right.) The curve fit from our 06/01/2010 data is shown in the Refine tab in Figure 3, along with its shifted and inverted version. Save teh curve from teh Save section , again selecting the right curve from the pull down. In the save window, select Paramount PEC files (*.txt) from the Save as type pull down.

[[File:refine.png]]

Figure 2: Curve fit from 06/01/2010 in the refine window. Curve 1 is the original curve, Curve 2 is inverted and shifted +740 units (Note that the offset says -510; this is the wrap around).

5. Open Notepad, and open the file you just saved. copy the entire thing, and switch back to the The Sky PEC window (Figure 1). Here, click the past button. Your curve should appear in the table window. Click upload to save this curve. To apply teh correction, disconnect PEMpro and Maxim DL from the camera, and back in the The Sky window switch to the "MKS 4000 options" tab, and in the reboot section click Normal. Click OK. The telescope should slew to home; you can send it yourself to make sure. Reopen the Telescope->options->more settings window, and go the PEC tab; click the Apply PEC correction box. The Preiodic error should now be correct! You can check this be Acquiring data in PEMpro, which should look much more flat, or by guiding and looking for periodic shifting.

Task list

2010-06-03T19:37:58Z

Jgoodma2: /* Documenting telescope operations */

== Introduction ==
When you complete a task, do not delete it! Mark it with strike-through (see example below) and add your name and date after it.
* <s>Make a to-do list on the wiki.</s> Completed 2010-05-27, Eric.

== Observing ==
*
<s>Create an [[Observing schedule]] page, </s> with a calendar for who is responsible for observing if a given night is clear. --Jean (see link under Documentation on the Main Page...)
* Sign up for observing times - we'll plan on two people per night. (Keep in mind that you probably will not end up observing on about 50% of the nights you sign up for, due to the vagaries of our weather. But you need to be ready to observe on those nights.)

== Telescope software tasks (good for cloudy weather!) ==
*<s> Install [http://www.thinkman.com/dimension4/download.htm Dimension 4 software] to improve clock accuracy on observatory PC. </s> See [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010arXiv1005.4415E Eastman et al. 2010] for more details on precise timekeeping. ~Andrew 05-28
* <s> Install [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~physics/faculty/skycalc/flyer.html JSkyCalc] on control room computer. ([http://www.astrobetter.com/jskycalc/ More info] on using it at [http://www.astrobetter.com AstroBetter].) --Andrew </s>
** Edit local file to add our observatory coordinates as described [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~physics/faculty/skycalc/flyer.html here].
** After that file is created, let Eric know and we'll also install on the Linux machines.
*<s> Install latest version of FocusMax software (3.4.40) - it's on the Y: drive mapped to the PC. </s> Andrew
* Preparations for mapping run to improve the telescope pointing model.
** <s>Download and install the full version of [http://pinpoint.dc3.com/ PinPoint]. Eric will do - this should be registered to the department. </s>
** <s> Download and install [http://www.aagware.eu/software.htm AAG TPointMapper] </s> Andrew
** <s> Download and install USNO A2.0 catalog for use by PinPoint as described [http://support.dc3.com/wsx/$webstar.exe/prob?129 here]. </s> ''Jean and Andrew? June 2nd''

== Improving telescope operations ==
* Do a substantial (> 100 point) point run using AAG TPointMapper.
* Use FocusMax software to automate focusing of the imaging camera.
** Read [http://users.bsdwebsolutions.com/~larryweber/ITSPaper.htm background info] on its operation. ---''Jean, Read It''
** Set up FocusMax to link to TCC focuser.
** Do calibration runs to set up V curves for our system.
** Change MaximDL settings to link to FocusMax hub, which then links to the focuser/TCC. Save this configuration (under Apogee/Photometry).
* Continue to work on [[Autoguiding]] improvements - especially the optimal Dec backlash setting.
* <s> Investigate and document whether or not slow warm-up of the CCD is necessary.</s> --Jean
* Create and save some Auto sequences in MaximDL to facilitate running a series of bias and dark frames before or after a run.
* Reinforce flat-field screen and hang in dome.
* Document procedure for dome flats.
* Install and test out [http://winfij.homeip.net/maximdl/index.html plug-in for automating sky flats].

== Documenting telescope operations ==
* <s> Create a page on [[Autoguiding|Autoguiding]] to document what we learn about best settings for autoguiding. </s> -- Jean 10-28(see main page, Equipment and Technical Information)
* <s> Download available manuals for the [http://www.shelyak.com/en/eshel.html eShel spectrograph] and put on our [[Documentation]] page. </s> --''Jean 10-28''
* <s> Put MaximDL documentation (or links to it) on [[Documentation]] page. </s> ''--Jean (manual) Andrew (yahoo help site) 10-28''
* <s> Document PEC process with solutions from 06/01-02/2010 </s> ''--Jackson 06/03/2010 under Software/hardware troubleshooting and workarounds''

== Photometric light curve improvements ==
* Write scripts to streamline data reduction (bias, flat, etc.)
* Write or find scripts to streamline photometry and creating light curves.
* Investigate optimal use of multiple comparison stars, e.g. approaches of [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009MNRAS.396.1023S Southworth et al. 2009] or [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005AN....326..134B Broeg et al. 2005]. --Jackson

== Possible future improvements ==
* Possible automation of dome opening/closing?
* Install weather station / cloud sensor?
* Observatory automation with ACP, CCD AutoPilot, or CCD Commander?
* Install eShel spectrograph.

Task list

2010-06-03T19:33:38Z

Jgoodma2: /* Documenting telescope operations */

== Introduction ==
When you complete a task, do not delete it! Mark it with strike-through (see example below) and add your name and date after it.
* <s>Make a to-do list on the wiki.</s> Completed 2010-05-27, Eric.

== Observing ==
*
<s>Create an [[Observing schedule]] page, </s> with a calendar for who is responsible for observing if a given night is clear. --Jean (see link under Documentation on the Main Page...)
* Sign up for observing times - we'll plan on two people per night. (Keep in mind that you probably will not end up observing on about 50% of the nights you sign up for, due to the vagaries of our weather. But you need to be ready to observe on those nights.)

== Telescope software tasks (good for cloudy weather!) ==
*<s> Install [http://www.thinkman.com/dimension4/download.htm Dimension 4 software] to improve clock accuracy on observatory PC. </s> See [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010arXiv1005.4415E Eastman et al. 2010] for more details on precise timekeeping. ~Andrew 05-28
* <s> Install [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~physics/faculty/skycalc/flyer.html JSkyCalc] on control room computer. ([http://www.astrobetter.com/jskycalc/ More info] on using it at [http://www.astrobetter.com AstroBetter].) --Andrew </s>
** Edit local file to add our observatory coordinates as described [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~physics/faculty/skycalc/flyer.html here].
** After that file is created, let Eric know and we'll also install on the Linux machines.
*<s> Install latest version of FocusMax software (3.4.40) - it's on the Y: drive mapped to the PC. </s> Andrew
* Preparations for mapping run to improve the telescope pointing model.
** <s>Download and install the full version of [http://pinpoint.dc3.com/ PinPoint]. Eric will do - this should be registered to the department. </s>
** <s> Download and install [http://www.aagware.eu/software.htm AAG TPointMapper] </s> Andrew
** <s> Download and install USNO A2.0 catalog for use by PinPoint as described [http://support.dc3.com/wsx/$webstar.exe/prob?129 here]. </s> ''Jean and Andrew? June 2nd''

== Improving telescope operations ==
* Do a substantial (> 100 point) point run using AAG TPointMapper.
* Use FocusMax software to automate focusing of the imaging camera.
** Read [http://users.bsdwebsolutions.com/~larryweber/ITSPaper.htm background info] on its operation. ---''Jean, Read It''
** Set up FocusMax to link to TCC focuser.
** Do calibration runs to set up V curves for our system.
** Change MaximDL settings to link to FocusMax hub, which then links to the focuser/TCC. Save this configuration (under Apogee/Photometry).
* Continue to work on [[Autoguiding]] improvements - especially the optimal Dec backlash setting.
* <s> Investigate and document whether or not slow warm-up of the CCD is necessary.</s> --Jean
* Create and save some Auto sequences in MaximDL to facilitate running a series of bias and dark frames before or after a run.
* Reinforce flat-field screen and hang in dome.
* Document procedure for dome flats.
* Install and test out [http://winfij.homeip.net/maximdl/index.html plug-in for automating sky flats].

== Documenting telescope operations ==
* <s> Create a page on [[Autoguiding|Autoguiding]] to document what we learn about best settings for autoguiding. </s> -- Jean 10-28(see main page, Equipment and Technical Information)
* <s> Download available manuals for the [http://www.shelyak.com/en/eshel.html eShel spectrograph] and put on our [[Documentation]] page. </s> --''Jean 10-28''
* <s> Put MaximDL documentation (or links to it) on [[Documentation]] page. </s> ''--Jean (manual) Andrew (yahoo help site) 10-28''
* <s> Document PEC process with solutions from 06/01-02/2010 </s> ''--Jackson 06/02/2010 under Software/hardware troubleshooting and workarounds''

== Photometric light curve improvements ==
* Write scripts to streamline data reduction (bias, flat, etc.)
* Write or find scripts to streamline photometry and creating light curves.
* Investigate optimal use of multiple comparison stars, e.g. approaches of [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009MNRAS.396.1023S Southworth et al. 2009] or [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005AN....326..134B Broeg et al. 2005]. --Jackson

== Possible future improvements ==
* Possible automation of dome opening/closing?
* Install weather station / cloud sensor?
* Observatory automation with ACP, CCD AutoPilot, or CCD Commander?
* Install eShel spectrograph.

Task list

2010-06-03T19:32:01Z

Jgoodma2: /* Documenting telescope operations */

== Introduction ==
When you complete a task, do not delete it! Mark it with strike-through (see example below) and add your name and date after it.
* <s>Make a to-do list on the wiki.</s> Completed 2010-05-27, Eric.

== Observing ==
*
<s>Create an [[Observing schedule]] page, </s> with a calendar for who is responsible for observing if a given night is clear. --Jean (see link under Documentation on the Main Page...)
* Sign up for observing times - we'll plan on two people per night. (Keep in mind that you probably will not end up observing on about 50% of the nights you sign up for, due to the vagaries of our weather. But you need to be ready to observe on those nights.)

== Telescope software tasks (good for cloudy weather!) ==
*<s> Install [http://www.thinkman.com/dimension4/download.htm Dimension 4 software] to improve clock accuracy on observatory PC. </s> See [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010arXiv1005.4415E Eastman et al. 2010] for more details on precise timekeeping. ~Andrew 05-28
* <s> Install [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~physics/faculty/skycalc/flyer.html JSkyCalc] on control room computer. ([http://www.astrobetter.com/jskycalc/ More info] on using it at [http://www.astrobetter.com AstroBetter].) --Andrew </s>
** Edit local file to add our observatory coordinates as described [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~physics/faculty/skycalc/flyer.html here].
** After that file is created, let Eric know and we'll also install on the Linux machines.
*<s> Install latest version of FocusMax software (3.4.40) - it's on the Y: drive mapped to the PC. </s> Andrew
* Preparations for mapping run to improve the telescope pointing model.
** <s>Download and install the full version of [http://pinpoint.dc3.com/ PinPoint]. Eric will do - this should be registered to the department. </s>
** <s> Download and install [http://www.aagware.eu/software.htm AAG TPointMapper] </s> Andrew
** <s> Download and install USNO A2.0 catalog for use by PinPoint as described [http://support.dc3.com/wsx/$webstar.exe/prob?129 here]. </s> ''Jean and Andrew? June 2nd''

== Improving telescope operations ==
* Do a substantial (> 100 point) point run using AAG TPointMapper.
* Use FocusMax software to automate focusing of the imaging camera.
** Read [http://users.bsdwebsolutions.com/~larryweber/ITSPaper.htm background info] on its operation. ---''Jean, Read It''
** Set up FocusMax to link to TCC focuser.
** Do calibration runs to set up V curves for our system.
** Change MaximDL settings to link to FocusMax hub, which then links to the focuser/TCC. Save this configuration (under Apogee/Photometry).
* Continue to work on [[Autoguiding]] improvements - especially the optimal Dec backlash setting.
* <s> Investigate and document whether or not slow warm-up of the CCD is necessary.</s> --Jean
* Create and save some Auto sequences in MaximDL to facilitate running a series of bias and dark frames before or after a run.
* Reinforce flat-field screen and hang in dome.
* Document procedure for dome flats.
* Install and test out [http://winfij.homeip.net/maximdl/index.html plug-in for automating sky flats].

== Documenting telescope operations ==
* <s> Create a page on [[Autoguiding|Autoguiding]] to document what we learn about best settings for autoguiding. </s> -- Jean 10-28(see main page, Equipment and Technical Information)
* <s> Download available manuals for the [http://www.shelyak.com/en/eshel.html eShel spectrograph] and put on our [[Documentation]] page. </s> --''Jean 10-28''
* <s> Put MaximDL documentation (or links to it) on [[Documentation]] page. </s> ''--Jean (manual) Andrew (yahoo help site) 10-28''
* <s> Document PEC process with solutions from 06/01-02/2010 </s> ''--Jackson 06/02/2010 under''

== Photometric light curve improvements ==
* Write scripts to streamline data reduction (bias, flat, etc.)
* Write or find scripts to streamline photometry and creating light curves.
* Investigate optimal use of multiple comparison stars, e.g. approaches of [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009MNRAS.396.1023S Southworth et al. 2009] or [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005AN....326..134B Broeg et al. 2005]. --Jackson

== Possible future improvements ==
* Possible automation of dome opening/closing?
* Install weather station / cloud sensor?
* Observatory automation with ACP, CCD AutoPilot, or CCD Commander?
* Install eShel spectrograph.

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-03T19:28:45Z

Jgoodma2:

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-03T19:27:40Z

Jgoodma2:

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-03T19:23:17Z

Jgoodma2:

=='''Periodic Error Correction'''==

'''Opening the Dome'''

1. Turn off PEC in The SKy->Telescope->Options->More Settings by unchecking the "Apply PEC correction" box.

[[File:unchecPEC.png]]

Figure 1: PEC window in The Sky. In More Settings window accessible from the Telescope->Options menu.

2. Open PEMPro. In the Setup tab (one of the lower tabs), connect to the scope and the camera. Switch to the Acquire Data tab, and set the exposure such that the bright star you are pointed at is bright but no saturated. Press Start to begin acquisition. Once Image is exposed. check Maxim DL to make sure it found the star, and not just a hot pixel. Acquire data for a large number of periods.

3. When you have enough periods, click Stop. Save the data, and you will be prompted to create a PE curve, which you should do (if for some reason you do not, at a later point you can load the data into the Analyze tab and click Create PEC Curve there.) Do not worry about any syncing messages. A separate Create PE Curve window will open, and a curve will be fitted automatically. Check to see if any frequencies need to be added; you can reference the Frequency Spectrum from the upper right pull down menu. The RMS error in the upper left window may be on interest. This window, along with the analyze data tab in the main window displaying the raw data collected with the correction off on 06/01/2010 are shown in figure 2. Save the curve by clicking the 'Create Paramount PEC curve' button (Note: throughout the procedure, save and open only text files). It will ask you if you want to open the curve data in a text file, which is unnecessary at this point. NOTE: if a this or any point it asks you to invert the curve, be careful. We determined that we do in fact need to invert the curve, but this is confusing (it is hard to tell exactly what each of the graphs represents: error, correction, telescope offset, star offset, etc.) and it is important to keep track of any inversions. You do not have to invert when prompted, since as we will see we can do it in the Refine window.

[[File:uncorData.png]]

Figure 2: Raw data with correction off from 06-01-2010 in the analyze tab of the main menu, and the PEC curve creation window fitting a curve to the data.

4. Close the Create PE curve window. In the main PEMpro window, switch to the Refine tab and and load the curve data (not the original data) you just saved by clicking the 'Curve 1' button. Assuming the curve was not earlier inverted, click the Invert button next to where you loaded Curve 1. We determined (06/02/2010) that when we save a file here, and copy the data into the actual Periodic Error Correction window in The Sky (which does the actual correcting and actively follows the phase of the worm gear) there is a phase offset of 600 units (~66 seconds). On top of that, the zero phase point of the worm gear, as read from the The Sky window, corresponds to about the 15s phase point in PEMpro, requiring and additional 139 unit offset (the math: the worm gear cycle is divided into 1250 units, and has a period of 134.63 seconds. This corresponds to 9.3 units/second). Original offset was found by putting a spike in the The Sky correction curve, recording this spike in PEMpro, and then shifting the recorded curve fit and pasting it back into the sky until the spike's matched up. The 15s phase offset we notcied while Acquiring data, by seeing that the The Sky phase mark line passsed its zero point when in the PEMpro window the Current Worm Phase was at 15s. So the total offset we decide don is 740 units. So: using the Shift Curve section at the bottom of the window, shift the curve (make sure the pull down is on the correct curve) to an offset of +740 units (to the right. The maximum shift for each step is 50 units, so this will take some clicks. the recorder of the shift may wrap around to negative values, so you may have to keep track of how far you shifted to the right.) The curve fit from our 06/01/2010 data is shown in the Refine tab in Figure 3, along with its shifted and inverted version. Save teh curve from teh Save section , again selecting the right curve from the pull down. In the save window, select Paramount PEC files (*.txt) from the Save as type pull down.

[[File:refine.png]]

Figure 2: Curve fit from 06/01/2010 in the refine window. Curve 1 is the original curve, Curve 2 is inverted and shifted +740 units (Note that the offset says -510; this is the wrap around).

Open Notepad, and open the file you just saved. copy the entire thing, and switch back to the The Sky PEC window. Here, click the past button. Your curve should appear in the table window. Click upload to save this curve. In the same window, switch to
'''Powering up the Telescope'''

5. Remove the cover for the large mirror.

6. Turn ON the power on the black uninterrupted power supply (UPS) at the base of the telescope. The green power light will flash for a few seconds; wait until it glows steady green before proceeding.

7. Turn ON the power for the telescope on the black box in the base. Listen for 2 beeps.

'''Software Setup and Connections'''

If not already on, start up the PC that operates the telescope.

Log in to the PC as user "telescope".

13. Open TheSky6.

14. Establish link to telescope by clicking green telescope icon in the top shortcuts menu

15. Allow telescope to home if it wasn't done manually with the joystick. Listen for 3 beeps.

16. Open ddwcp.

17. Wait until program connects with the dome then check "Slave to Telescope." (Don't do this if you don't want the dome to move with the telescope, i.e. if you want to take dome flats.)

18. Open MaximDL Pro 5.

19. Click "Toggle Camera Control" (Ctrl + W) in the top shortcuts menu.

20. Camera 1 should read "Apogee U16M".

21. Select Camera 2 from Setup Camera, or "No Camera" if there isn't one connected.

22. Click "Connect."

23. Directly below "Connect", turn on Coolers. Set cooler set point with the Cooler button specific to each camera.

24. Click "Toggle Observatory Control" (Ctrl + T).

25. In the Setup Tab, check that under Telescope it reads "TheSky-controlled telescope" and that Focuser 1 reads "RCOS TCC".

26. Click "Connect All".

27. The telescope can be controlled under Observatory-Telescope (nudging or setting coordinates), set to specific objects through Observatory-Catalog, or moved through TheSky. Manual control of the telescope is possible with the joystick, but will confuse the dome.

=='''Taking Images in MaxIm DL'''==
1. Wait until sensor temperature reaches set point under Camera Control-Expose.

2. Under Camera Control-Expose, set exposure time and frame type for a single frame. Hit start. Single frames must be manually saved and will be deleted once the next image is taken.

3. Use Autosave to take multiple images. Enter an autosave file name. Use different Slots for images with different settings. Click slot number buttons, and select exposure type and a suffix to distinguish between multiple slots. The Repeat box controls the number of frames taken.

4. The image save path can be found under Options, on the right of the box. Images should be saved to the Z:\ drive, and Auto-Subfolder should be checked to save images by date taken.

5. Click Save and make sure to hit Start under the Expose tab.

6. If two cameras are connected, switch between them by selecting camera 1 or 2 next to the binning information.

=='''Disconnecting and Shutting Down the Telescope'''==

'''Disconnecting'''

1. Under Observatory-Setup, click Disconnect All.

2. Under Camera Control-Setup, turn coolers OFF and Disconnect.

3. Close Maxim DL.

4. In TheSky, home the telescope under Telescope-Options-Find Home (or double click joystick) and then terminate the link with telescope by clicking the red telescope icon.

5. Make sure the dome is Homed, then exit DDW and hit close when the Pin settings window pops up.

File:Refine.png

2010-06-03T19:12:47Z

Jgoodma2: uploaded a new version of "File:Refine.png"

File:Refine.png

2010-06-03T19:00:42Z

Jgoodma2:

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-03T19:00:17Z

Jgoodma2:

=='''Periodic Error Correction'''==

'''Opening the Dome'''

1. Turn off PEC in The SKy->Telescope->Options->More Settings by unchecking the "Apply PEC correction" box.

[[File:unchecPEC.png]]

Figure 1: PEC window in The Sky. In More Settings window accessible from the Telescope->Options menu.

2. Open PEMPro. In the Setup tab (one of the lower tabs), connect to the scope and the camera. Switch to the Acquire Data tab, and set the exposure such that the bright star you are pointed at is bright but no saturated. Press Start to begin acquisition. Once Image is exposed. check Maxim DL to make sure it found the star, and not just a hot pixel. Acquire data for a large number of periods.

3. When you have enough periods, click Stop. Save the data, and you will be prompted to create a PE curve, which you should do (if for some reason you do not, at a later point you can load the data into the Analyze tab and click Create PEC Curve there.) Do not worry about any syncing messages. A separate Create PE Curve window will open, and a curve will be fitted automatically. Check to see if any frequencies need to be added; you can reference the Frequency Spectrum from the upper right pull down menu. The RMS error in the upper left window may be on interest. This window, along with the analyze data tab in the main window displaying the raw data collected with the correction off on 06/01/2010 are shown in figure 2. Save the curve by clicking the 'Create Paramount PEC curve' button. It will ask you if you want to open the curve data in a text file, which is unnecessary at this point. NOTE: if a this or any point it asks you to invert the curve, be careful. We determined that we do in fact need to invert the curve, but this is confusing (it is hard to tell exactly what each of the graphs represents: error, correction, telescope offset, star offset, etc.) and it is important to keep track of any inversions. You do not have to invert when prompted, since as we will see we can do it in the Refine window.

[[File:uncorData.png]]

Figure 2: Raw data with correction off from 06-01-2010 in the analyze tab of the main menu, and the PEC curve creation window fitting a curve to the data.

4. Close the Create PE curve window. In the main PEMpro window, switch to the Refine tab and and load the curve data (not the original data) you just saved by clicking the 'Curve 1' button. Assuming the curve was not earlier inverted, click the Invert button next to where you loaded Curve 1. We determined (06/02/2010) that when we save a file here, and copy the data into the actual Periodic Error Correction window in The Sky (which does the actual correcting and actively follows the phase of the worm gear) there is a phase offset of 600 units (~66 seconds). On top of that, the zero phase point of the worm gear, as read from the The Sky window, corresponds to about the 15s phase point in PEMpro, requiring and additional 139 unit offset (the math: the worm gear cycle is divided into 1250 units, and has a period of 134.63 seconds. This corresponds to 9.3 units/second). so the total offset we decide don is 740 units. So: using the Shift Curve section at the bottom of the window, shift the curve (make sure the pull down is on the correct curve) to an offset of +740 units (to the right. The maximum shift for each step is 50 units, so this will take some clicks. the recorder of the shift may wrap around to negative values, so you may have to keep track of how far you shifted to the right.) The curve fit from our 06/01/2010 data is shown in the Refine tab in Figure 3, along with its shifted and inverted version. Save teh curve from teh Save section , again selecting the right curve from the pull down. In the save window, select Paramount PEC files (*.txt) from the Save as type pull down.

[[File:refine.png]]

Figure 2: Curve fit from 06/01/2010 in the refine window. Curve 1 is the original curve, Curve 2 is inverted and shifted +740 units (Note that the offset says -510; this is the wrap around).

'''Powering up the Telescope'''

5. Remove the cover for the large mirror.

6. Turn ON the power on the black uninterrupted power supply (UPS) at the base of the telescope. The green power light will flash for a few seconds; wait until it glows steady green before proceeding.

7. Turn ON the power for the telescope on the black box in the base. Listen for 2 beeps.

'''Software Setup and Connections'''

If not already on, start up the PC that operates the telescope.

Log in to the PC as user "telescope".

13. Open TheSky6.

14. Establish link to telescope by clicking green telescope icon in the top shortcuts menu

15. Allow telescope to home if it wasn't done manually with the joystick. Listen for 3 beeps.

16. Open ddwcp.

17. Wait until program connects with the dome then check "Slave to Telescope." (Don't do this if you don't want the dome to move with the telescope, i.e. if you want to take dome flats.)

18. Open MaximDL Pro 5.

19. Click "Toggle Camera Control" (Ctrl + W) in the top shortcuts menu.

20. Camera 1 should read "Apogee U16M".

21. Select Camera 2 from Setup Camera, or "No Camera" if there isn't one connected.

22. Click "Connect."

23. Directly below "Connect", turn on Coolers. Set cooler set point with the Cooler button specific to each camera.

24. Click "Toggle Observatory Control" (Ctrl + T).

25. In the Setup Tab, check that under Telescope it reads "TheSky-controlled telescope" and that Focuser 1 reads "RCOS TCC".

26. Click "Connect All".

27. The telescope can be controlled under Observatory-Telescope (nudging or setting coordinates), set to specific objects through Observatory-Catalog, or moved through TheSky. Manual control of the telescope is possible with the joystick, but will confuse the dome.

=='''Taking Images in MaxIm DL'''==
1. Wait until sensor temperature reaches set point under Camera Control-Expose.

2. Under Camera Control-Expose, set exposure time and frame type for a single frame. Hit start. Single frames must be manually saved and will be deleted once the next image is taken.

3. Use Autosave to take multiple images. Enter an autosave file name. Use different Slots for images with different settings. Click slot number buttons, and select exposure type and a suffix to distinguish between multiple slots. The Repeat box controls the number of frames taken.

4. The image save path can be found under Options, on the right of the box. Images should be saved to the Z:\ drive, and Auto-Subfolder should be checked to save images by date taken.

5. Click Save and make sure to hit Start under the Expose tab.

6. If two cameras are connected, switch between them by selecting camera 1 or 2 next to the binning information.

=='''Disconnecting and Shutting Down the Telescope'''==

'''Disconnecting'''

1. Under Observatory-Setup, click Disconnect All.

2. Under Camera Control-Setup, turn coolers OFF and Disconnect.

3. Close Maxim DL.

4. In TheSky, home the telescope under Telescope-Options-Find Home (or double click joystick) and then terminate the link with telescope by clicking the red telescope icon.

5. Make sure the dome is Homed, then exit DDW and hit close when the Pin settings window pops up.

File:UncorData.png

2010-06-03T18:20:53Z

Jgoodma2:

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-03T18:20:27Z

Jgoodma2:

=='''Periodic Error Correction'''==

'''Opening the Dome'''

1. Turn off PEC in The SKy->Telescope->Options->More Settings by unchecking the "Apply PEC correction" box.

[[File:unchecPEC.png]]

Figure 1: PEC window in The Sky. In More Settings window accesible from the Telescope->Options menu.

2. Open PEMPro. In the Setup tab (one of the lower tabs), connect to the scope and the camera. Switch to the Acquire Data tab, and set the exposure such that the bright star you are pointed at is bright but no saturated. Press Start to begin acquisition. Once Image is exposed. check Maxim DL to make sure it found the star, and not just a hot pixel. Acquire data for a large number of periods.

3. When you have enough periods, click Stop. Save teh data, and you will be prompted to create a PE curve, which you should do (if for some reason you do not, at a later point you can load the data into the Analyze tab and click Create PEC Curve there.) Do not worry about any synching messages. A separate curve creation window will open, and a curve will be fitted automatically. Check to see if any frequencies need to be added; you can reference the Frequency Spectrum from the upper right pull down menu. The RMS error in the upper left window may be on interest. Thsi window, along with the analyze data tab in teh main window displaying the raw data collected with the correction off on 06/01/2010 are shown in figure 2. Save the curve by clicking the 'Create Paramount PEC curve' button. It will ask you if you want to open the curve data in a text file, which is unnecessary at this point. NOTE: if a this or any point it asks you to invert the curve, be careful. We determined that we do in fact need to invert the curve, but this is confusing (it is hard to tell exactly what each of the graphs represents: error, correction, telescope offset, star offset, etc.) and it is important to keep track of any inversions. You do not have to invert when prompted, since as we will see we can do it in the Refine window.

[[File:uncorData.png]]

Figure 2: raw data with correction off from 06-01-2010 in teh analyze tab of the main menu, and the PEC curve creation window fitting a curve to the data.

4. Once the Top lip has cleared the Bottom, push the BOTTOM lever to the LEFT. This needs to be manually stopped by pushing the lever back to the center 'off' position. You will hear the motors straining once it is fully opened.

'''Powering up the Telescope'''

5. Remove the cover for the large mirror.

6. Turn ON the power on the black uninterruptible power supply (UPS) at the base of the telescope. The green power light will flash for a few seconds; wait until it glows steady green before proceeding.

7. Turn ON the power for the telescope on the black box in the base. Listen for 2 beeps.

'''Software Setup and Connections'''

If not already on, start up the PC that operates the telescope.

Log in to the PC as user "telescope".

13. Open TheSky6.

14. Establish link to telescope by clicking green telescope icon in the top shortcuts menu

15. Allow telescope to home if it wasn't done manually with the joystick. Listen for 3 beeps.

16. Open ddwcp.

17. Wait until program connects with the dome then check "Slave to Telescope." (Don't do this if you don't want the dome to move with the telescope, i.e. if you want to take dome flats.)

18. Open MaximDL Pro 5.

19. Click "Toggle Camera Control" (Ctrl + W) in the top shortcuts menu.

20. Camera 1 should read "Apogee U16M".

21. Select Camera 2 from Setup Camera, or "No Camera" if there isn't one connected.

22. Click "Connect."

23. Directly below "Connect", turn on Coolers. Set cooler set point with the Cooler button specific to each camera.

24. Click "Toggle Observatory Control" (Ctrl + T).

25. In the Setup Tab, check that under Telescope it reads "TheSky-controlled telescope" and that Focuser 1 reads "RCOS TCC".

26. Click "Connect All".

27. The telescope can be controlled under Observatory-Telescope (nudging or setting coordinates), set to specific objects through Observatory-Catalog, or moved through TheSky. Manual control of the telescope is possible with the joystick, but will confuse the dome.

=='''Taking Images in MaxIm DL'''==
1. Wait until sensor temperature reaches set point under Camera Control-Expose.

2. Under Camera Control-Expose, set exposure time and frame type for a single frame. Hit start. Single frames must be manually saved and will be deleted once the next image is taken.

3. Use Autosave to take multiple images. Enter an autosave file name. Use different Slots for images with different settings. Click slot number buttons, and select exposure type and a suffix to distinguish between multiple slots. The Repeat box controls the number of frames taken.

4. The image save path can be found under Options, on the right of the box. Images should be saved to the Z:\ drive, and Auto-Subfolder should be checked to save images by date taken.

5. Click Save and make sure to hit Start under the Expose tab.

6. If two cameras are connected, switch between them by selecting camera 1 or 2 next to the binning information.

=='''Disconnecting and Shutting Down the Telescope'''==

'''Disconnecting'''

1. Under Observatory-Setup, click Disconnect All.

2. Under Camera Control-Setup, turn coolers OFF and Disconnect.

3. Close Maxim DL.

4. In TheSky, home the telescope under Telescope-Options-Find Home (or double click joystick) and then terminate the link with telescope by clicking the red telescope icon.

5. Make sure the dome is Homed, then exit DDW and hit close when the Pin settings window pops up.

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-03T17:44:05Z

Jgoodma2:

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-03T17:43:46Z

Jgoodma2:

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-03T17:37:09Z

Jgoodma2:

=='''Periodic Error Correction'''==

'''Opening the Dome'''

1. Turn off PEC in The SKy->Telescope->Options->More Settings by unchecking the "Apply PEC correction" box.

[[File:unchecPEC.png]]

2. Look for the box with the two levers along the bottom edge of the dome. If they are in an unreachable place, use the Dome Rotation lever to the right of the computer desk to rotate the dome.

3. First open the top part of the dome by pushing the TOP lever to the RIGHT. This will stop automatically once it is completely opened. It can be stopped before completely opened by pushing the lever back to the center 'off' position.

4. Once the Top lip has cleared the Bottom, push the BOTTOM lever to the LEFT. This needs to be manually stopped by pushing the lever back to the center 'off' position. You will hear the motors straining once it is fully opened.

'''Powering up the Telescope'''

5. Remove the cover for the large mirror.

6. Turn ON the power on the black uninterruptible power supply (UPS) at the base of the telescope. The green power light will flash for a few seconds; wait until it glows steady green before proceeding.

7. Turn ON the power for the telescope on the black box in the base. Listen for 2 beeps.

'''Software Setup and Connections'''

If not already on, start up the PC that operates the telescope.

Log in to the PC as user "telescope".

13. Open TheSky6.

14. Establish link to telescope by clicking green telescope icon in the top shortcuts menu

15. Allow telescope to home if it wasn't done manually with the joystick. Listen for 3 beeps.

16. Open ddwcp.

17. Wait until program connects with the dome then check "Slave to Telescope." (Don't do this if you don't want the dome to move with the telescope, i.e. if you want to take dome flats.)

18. Open MaximDL Pro 5.

19. Click "Toggle Camera Control" (Ctrl + W) in the top shortcuts menu.

20. Camera 1 should read "Apogee U16M".

21. Select Camera 2 from Setup Camera, or "No Camera" if there isn't one connected.

22. Click "Connect."

23. Directly below "Connect", turn on Coolers. Set cooler set point with the Cooler button specific to each camera.

24. Click "Toggle Observatory Control" (Ctrl + T).

25. In the Setup Tab, check that under Telescope it reads "TheSky-controlled telescope" and that Focuser 1 reads "RCOS TCC".

26. Click "Connect All".

27. The telescope can be controlled under Observatory-Telescope (nudging or setting coordinates), set to specific objects through Observatory-Catalog, or moved through TheSky. Manual control of the telescope is possible with the joystick, but will confuse the dome.

=='''Taking Images in MaxIm DL'''==
1. Wait until sensor temperature reaches set point under Camera Control-Expose.

2. Under Camera Control-Expose, set exposure time and frame type for a single frame. Hit start. Single frames must be manually saved and will be deleted once the next image is taken.

3. Use Autosave to take multiple images. Enter an autosave file name. Use different Slots for images with different settings. Click slot number buttons, and select exposure type and a suffix to distinguish between multiple slots. The Repeat box controls the number of frames taken.

4. The image save path can be found under Options, on the right of the box. Images should be saved to the Z:\ drive, and Auto-Subfolder should be checked to save images by date taken.

5. Click Save and make sure to hit Start under the Expose tab.

6. If two cameras are connected, switch between them by selecting camera 1 or 2 next to the binning information.

=='''Disconnecting and Shutting Down the Telescope'''==

'''Disconnecting'''

1. Under Observatory-Setup, click Disconnect All.

2. Under Camera Control-Setup, turn coolers OFF and Disconnect.

3. Close Maxim DL.

4. In TheSky, home the telescope under Telescope-Options-Find Home (or double click joystick) and then terminate the link with telescope by clicking the red telescope icon.

5. Make sure the dome is Homed, then exit DDW and hit close when the Pin settings window pops up.

File:UnchecPEC.png

2010-06-03T17:35:03Z

Jgoodma2:

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-03T17:34:45Z

Jgoodma2:

=='''Periodic Error Correction'''==

'''Opening the Dome'''

1. Turn of PEC in The SKy->Telescope->Options->More Settings

[[File:unchecPEC.png]]
2. Look for the box with the two levers along the bottom edge of the dome. If they are in an unreachable place, use the Dome Rotation lever to the right of the computer desk to rotate the dome.

3. First open the top part of the dome by pushing the TOP lever to the RIGHT. This will stop automatically once it is completely opened. It can be stopped before completely opened by pushing the lever back to the center 'off' position.

4. Once the Top lip has cleared the Bottom, push the BOTTOM lever to the LEFT. This needs to be manually stopped by pushing the lever back to the center 'off' position. You will hear the motors straining once it is fully opened.

'''Powering up the Telescope'''

5. Remove the cover for the large mirror.

6. Turn ON the power on the black uninterruptible power supply (UPS) at the base of the telescope. The green power light will flash for a few seconds; wait until it glows steady green before proceeding.

7. Turn ON the power for the telescope on the black box in the base. Listen for 2 beeps.

'''Software Setup and Connections'''

If not already on, start up the PC that operates the telescope.

Log in to the PC as user "telescope".

13. Open TheSky6.

14. Establish link to telescope by clicking green telescope icon in the top shortcuts menu

15. Allow telescope to home if it wasn't done manually with the joystick. Listen for 3 beeps.

16. Open ddwcp.

17. Wait until program connects with the dome then check "Slave to Telescope." (Don't do this if you don't want the dome to move with the telescope, i.e. if you want to take dome flats.)

18. Open MaximDL Pro 5.

19. Click "Toggle Camera Control" (Ctrl + W) in the top shortcuts menu.

20. Camera 1 should read "Apogee U16M".

21. Select Camera 2 from Setup Camera, or "No Camera" if there isn't one connected.

22. Click "Connect."

23. Directly below "Connect", turn on Coolers. Set cooler set point with the Cooler button specific to each camera.

24. Click "Toggle Observatory Control" (Ctrl + T).

25. In the Setup Tab, check that under Telescope it reads "TheSky-controlled telescope" and that Focuser 1 reads "RCOS TCC".

26. Click "Connect All".

27. The telescope can be controlled under Observatory-Telescope (nudging or setting coordinates), set to specific objects through Observatory-Catalog, or moved through TheSky. Manual control of the telescope is possible with the joystick, but will confuse the dome.

=='''Taking Images in MaxIm DL'''==
1. Wait until sensor temperature reaches set point under Camera Control-Expose.

2. Under Camera Control-Expose, set exposure time and frame type for a single frame. Hit start. Single frames must be manually saved and will be deleted once the next image is taken.

3. Use Autosave to take multiple images. Enter an autosave file name. Use different Slots for images with different settings. Click slot number buttons, and select exposure type and a suffix to distinguish between multiple slots. The Repeat box controls the number of frames taken.

4. The image save path can be found under Options, on the right of the box. Images should be saved to the Z:\ drive, and Auto-Subfolder should be checked to save images by date taken.

5. Click Save and make sure to hit Start under the Expose tab.

6. If two cameras are connected, switch between them by selecting camera 1 or 2 next to the binning information.

=='''Disconnecting and Shutting Down the Telescope'''==

'''Disconnecting'''

1. Under Observatory-Setup, click Disconnect All.

2. Under Camera Control-Setup, turn coolers OFF and Disconnect.

3. Close Maxim DL.

4. In TheSky, home the telescope under Telescope-Options-Find Home (or double click joystick) and then terminate the link with telescope by clicking the red telescope icon.

5. Make sure the dome is Homed, then exit DDW and hit close when the Pin settings window pops up.

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-03T17:05:19Z

Jgoodma2:

=='''Periodic Error Correction'''==

'''Opening the Dome'''

1. Check to make sure the Dome Opening and Dome Rotation power switches are ON, located to the right of the computer desk. (These should always been on.)

2. Look for the box with the two levers along the bottom edge of the dome. If they are in an unreachable place, use the Dome Rotation lever to the right of the computer desk to rotate the dome.

3. First open the top part of the dome by pushing the TOP lever to the RIGHT. This will stop automatically once it is completely opened. It can be stopped before completely opened by pushing the lever back to the center 'off' position.

4. Once the Top lip has cleared the Bottom, push the BOTTOM lever to the LEFT. This needs to be manually stopped by pushing the lever back to the center 'off' position. You will hear the motors straining once it is fully opened.

'''Powering up the Telescope'''

5. Remove the cover for the large mirror.

6. Turn ON the power on the black uninterruptible power supply (UPS) at the base of the telescope. The green power light will flash for a few seconds; wait until it glows steady green before proceeding.

7. Turn ON the power for the telescope on the black box in the base. Listen for 2 beeps.

'''Software Setup and Connections'''

If not already on, start up the PC that operates the telescope.

Log in to the PC as user "telescope".

13. Open TheSky6.

14. Establish link to telescope by clicking green telescope icon in the top shortcuts menu

15. Allow telescope to home if it wasn't done manually with the joystick. Listen for 3 beeps.

16. Open ddwcp.

17. Wait until program connects with the dome then check "Slave to Telescope." (Don't do this if you don't want the dome to move with the telescope, i.e. if you want to take dome flats.)

18. Open MaximDL Pro 5.

19. Click "Toggle Camera Control" (Ctrl + W) in the top shortcuts menu.

20. Camera 1 should read "Apogee U16M".

21. Select Camera 2 from Setup Camera, or "No Camera" if there isn't one connected.

22. Click "Connect."

23. Directly below "Connect", turn on Coolers. Set cooler set point with the Cooler button specific to each camera.

24. Click "Toggle Observatory Control" (Ctrl + T).

25. In the Setup Tab, check that under Telescope it reads "TheSky-controlled telescope" and that Focuser 1 reads "RCOS TCC".

26. Click "Connect All".

27. The telescope can be controlled under Observatory-Telescope (nudging or setting coordinates), set to specific objects through Observatory-Catalog, or moved through TheSky. Manual control of the telescope is possible with the joystick, but will confuse the dome.

=='''Taking Images in MaxIm DL'''==
1. Wait until sensor temperature reaches set point under Camera Control-Expose.

2. Under Camera Control-Expose, set exposure time and frame type for a single frame. Hit start. Single frames must be manually saved and will be deleted once the next image is taken.

3. Use Autosave to take multiple images. Enter an autosave file name. Use different Slots for images with different settings. Click slot number buttons, and select exposure type and a suffix to distinguish between multiple slots. The Repeat box controls the number of frames taken.

4. The image save path can be found under Options, on the right of the box. Images should be saved to the Z:\ drive, and Auto-Subfolder should be checked to save images by date taken.

5. Click Save and make sure to hit Start under the Expose tab.

6. If two cameras are connected, switch between them by selecting camera 1 or 2 next to the binning information.

=='''Disconnecting and Shutting Down the Telescope'''==

'''Disconnecting'''

1. Under Observatory-Setup, click Disconnect All.

2. Under Camera Control-Setup, turn coolers OFF and Disconnect.

3. Close Maxim DL.

4. In TheSky, home the telescope under Telescope-Options-Find Home (or double click joystick) and then terminate the link with telescope by clicking the red telescope icon.

5. Make sure the dome is Homed, then exit DDW and hit close when the Pin settings window pops up.

Here

2010-06-03T16:53:36Z

Jgoodma2: Blanked the page

Periodic Error Correction

2010-06-03T16:53:13Z

Jgoodma2: Created page with 'Hello'

Hello

Software/hardware troubleshooting and workarounds

2010-06-03T16:52:54Z

Jgoodma2: /* Periodic Error Correction */

== Meade DSI ==
* We were having problems with getting the Meade DSI to talk to Maxim DL - it kept giving errors saying that it got an error trying to link to the camera. I eventually found the answer [http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2995045/Main/2710730 here]. I had to invoke a slightly different version of that command, but what worked for me was just typing C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\RegAsm.exe "\Program Files\Diffraction Limited\MaxIm DL V5\dsiio.dll" all as one command, with a direct path to the RegAsm executable. After I did this, then MaximDL was able to talk to the DSI.

* Note that MaximDL requires you to set particular gain values for the DSI in [http://www.cyanogen.com/help/maximdl/Meade_DSI.htm its setup], so it's not the easiest to adjust on the fly.

* We still need to figure out if there's a good way to get a more-or-less continuous readout from the DSI, like Autostar Envisage does.

== TheSky and CCDSoft ==

In general, the best place to find useful information for troubleshooting these programs (both sold by Software Bisque) is the [http://www.bisque.com/sc/forums documentation and support forums on the Software Bisque website]. There is also [http://www.bisque.com/sc/media a download area] with some documentation there. Both of these require a username and password to log in. See Eric for the password if you don't have it (though it should be saved to log in automatically on the telescope control computers).

== MaximDL ==

MaximDL will sometimes hang if it and another program are both trying to control a camera. The solution: don't do it! Or if you do, quit both programs, and restart.

== Guiding ==

There a couple of useful plugins that may help with guiding through MaximDL. There is one to use multiple stars, and another to set the guiding parameters based on a plate-solved guider image. Both are on [http://winfij.homeip.net/maximdl/index.html John Winfield's plugin page].

== Periodic Error Correction ==

Using PEMpro to do periodic error correction turned out to be not as simple as it should be. A step by step walk through of how our solution worked can be found under [[Periodic Error Correction]].

Here

2010-06-03T16:51:19Z

Jgoodma2: Created page with 'Periodic Error Correction'

Periodic Error Correction

Software/hardware troubleshooting and workarounds

2010-06-03T16:50:52Z

Jgoodma2:

== Meade DSI ==
* We were having problems with getting the Meade DSI to talk to Maxim DL - it kept giving errors saying that it got an error trying to link to the camera. I eventually found the answer [http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2995045/Main/2710730 here]. I had to invoke a slightly different version of that command, but what worked for me was just typing C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\RegAsm.exe "\Program Files\Diffraction Limited\MaxIm DL V5\dsiio.dll" all as one command, with a direct path to the RegAsm executable. After I did this, then MaximDL was able to talk to the DSI.

* Note that MaximDL requires you to set particular gain values for the DSI in [http://www.cyanogen.com/help/maximdl/Meade_DSI.htm its setup], so it's not the easiest to adjust on the fly.

* We still need to figure out if there's a good way to get a more-or-less continuous readout from the DSI, like Autostar Envisage does.

== TheSky and CCDSoft ==

In general, the best place to find useful information for troubleshooting these programs (both sold by Software Bisque) is the [http://www.bisque.com/sc/forums documentation and support forums on the Software Bisque website]. There is also [http://www.bisque.com/sc/media a download area] with some documentation there. Both of these require a username and password to log in. See Eric for the password if you don't have it (though it should be saved to log in automatically on the telescope control computers).

== MaximDL ==

MaximDL will sometimes hang if it and another program are both trying to control a camera. The solution: don't do it! Or if you do, quit both programs, and restart.

== Guiding ==

There a couple of useful plugins that may help with guiding through MaximDL. There is one to use multiple stars, and another to set the guiding parameters based on a plate-solved guider image. Both are on [http://winfij.homeip.net/maximdl/index.html John Winfield's plugin page].

== Periodic Error Correction ==

Using PEMpro to do periodic error correction turned out to be not as simple as it should be. [[Here]] is a step by step walk through of how are solution worked.

Software/hardware troubleshooting and workarounds

2010-06-03T16:49:18Z

Jgoodma2:

== Meade DSI ==
* We were having problems with getting the Meade DSI to talk to Maxim DL - it kept giving errors saying that it got an error trying to link to the camera. I eventually found the answer [http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2995045/Main/2710730 here]. I had to invoke a slightly different version of that command, but what worked for me was just typing C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\RegAsm.exe "\Program Files\Diffraction Limited\MaxIm DL V5\dsiio.dll" all as one command, with a direct path to the RegAsm executable. After I did this, then MaximDL was able to talk to the DSI.

* Note that MaximDL requires you to set particular gain values for the DSI in [http://www.cyanogen.com/help/maximdl/Meade_DSI.htm its setup], so it's not the easiest to adjust on the fly.

* We still need to figure out if there's a good way to get a more-or-less continuous readout from the DSI, like Autostar Envisage does.

== TheSky and CCDSoft ==

In general, the best place to find useful information for troubleshooting these programs (both sold by Software Bisque) is the [http://www.bisque.com/sc/forums documentation and support forums on the Software Bisque website]. There is also [http://www.bisque.com/sc/media a download area] with some documentation there. Both of these require a username and password to log in. See Eric for the password if you don't have it (though it should be saved to log in automatically on the telescope control computers).

== MaximDL ==

MaximDL will sometimes hang if it and another program are both trying to control a camera. The solution: don't do it! Or if you do, quit both programs, and restart.

== Guiding ==

There a couple of useful plugins that may help with guiding through MaximDL. There is one to use multiple stars, and another to set the guiding parameters based on a plate-solved guider image. Both are on [http://winfij.homeip.net/maximdl/index.html John Winfield's plugin page].

== Periodic Error Correction ==

Using PEMpro to do periodic error correction turned out to be not as simple as it should be. Here is a step by step walk through of how are solution worked.

Software/hardware troubleshooting and workarounds

2010-06-03T16:47:52Z

Jgoodma2:

Software/hardware troubleshooting and workarounds

2010-06-03T16:41:07Z

Jgoodma2:

== Meade DSI ==
* We were having problems with getting the Meade DSI to talk to Maxim DL - it kept giving errors saying that it got an error trying to link to the camera. I eventually found the answer [http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2995045/Main/2710730 here]. I had to invoke a slightly different version of that command, but what worked for me was just typing C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\RegAsm.exe "\Program Files\Diffraction Limited\MaxIm DL V5\dsiio.dll" all as one command, with a direct path to the RegAsm executable. After I did this, then MaximDL was able to talk to the DSI.

* Note that MaximDL requires you to set particular gain values for the DSI in [http://www.cyanogen.com/help/maximdl/Meade_DSI.htm its setup], so it's not the easiest to adjust on the fly.

* We still need to figure out if there's a good way to get a more-or-less continuous readout from the DSI, like Autostar Envisage does.

== TheSky and CCDSoft ==

In general, the best place to find useful information for troubleshooting these programs (both sold by Software Bisque) is the [http://www.bisque.com/sc/forums documentation and support forums on the Software Bisque website]. There is also [http://www.bisque.com/sc/media a download area] with some documentation there. Both of these require a username and password to log in. See Eric for the password if you don't have it (though it should be saved to log in automatically on the telescope control computers).

== MaximDL ==

MaximDL will sometimes hang if it and another program are both trying to control a camera. The solution: don't do it! Or if you do, quit both programs, and restart.

== Guiding ==

There a couple of useful plugins that may help with guiding through MaximDL. There is one to use multiple stars, and another to set the guiding parameters based on a plate-solved guider image. Both are on [http://winfij.homeip.net/maximdl/index.html John Winfield's plugin page].

== Periodic Error Correction ==

Using PEMpro to do periodic error correction turned out to be not as simple as it should be. Here is a step by step walk through of how are solution worked.