The following routine is recommended to start the night.

Summary

Verify guider stages

If the DEIMOS dashboard's TV Guider button is red and says TV Init, then these stages were not properly intialized after being homed during the afternoon. To reset these, click the Default DEIMOS Configuration button on this panel to send all stages to their nominal positions. Wait about 5 minutes for all stages to finish moving and the button to return to its original appearance before continuing.

Start guider eavesdropping

Guider eavesdropping allows you to monitor the image from the guide camera in real time. To start eavesdropping:
  1. Log into kealoha (five-headed display next to hanauma) if you have not already done so.
  2. On the right-hand monitor, select the K2 Guider Eavesdropping > MAGIQ Menu > Start ObserverUI option from the OpenWindows menu.

Start FACSUM

The “Facilities Summary” or FACSUM window is a real-time display of the telescope status. To run FACSUM:
  1. On the middle kealoha screen, select the K2 telescope status menu > FACSUM option from the OpenWindows menu.
  2. Resize the window as desired.

Start Xmet

Xmet is a meteorological display showing current summit temperature/dewpoint data. To run it:
  1. On the middle kealoha screen, select the K2 telescope status menu > XMET - Weather option from the OpenWindows menu.
  2. Adjust the size of this window as desired.

Disable xbox practice mode

In IRAF, turn off practice mode by issuing the command 
	xbox.practice = no

Enable DCS Rotator Control

The telescope drive and control system must be given explicit permission to run the instrument rotator. To do so:

Select desired guider filter

Since DEIMOS lacks an atmospheric dispersion compensator, observers are advised to select a guider filter which is well matched to the central wavelength of observation in order to ensure that the objects remain centered in the slits as the airmass changes during observing. TV guider filter options include broadband B, V, R, and I, plus Clear and ND2 (2 mag neutral density for bright sources); the default filter is R. To change the filter: Please note that the filter set is parfocal and hence no guider refocusing is required when changing TV filters.

Open the DEIMOS hatch

Command the hatch open from the Dashboard GUI to allow the guider to see the sky.

Select first target

In the starlist shown on MAGIQ, click the middle mouse button on the target you wish to begin observing; this will highlight the line in yellow on your MAGIQ GUI and also on the Observing Assistant's MAGIQ GUI. Providing this information to the OA before opening the dome may allow him or her to save time by pre-positioning the telescope. If you have other needs (e.g., twilight flats), this is a good time to advise the OA.

Wait for dome to open

The Observing Assistant (OA) is not permitted to open the dome until after sunset. Please be patient while the shutter opens and the OA checks the initial telescope pointing.

Set the rotator angle

The DCS will not be able to locate targets until DEIMOS is explicity sent to a rotator position. Ask the OA to send DEIMOS to any position; for example, the position angle to be used for your first target.

Slew to vicinity of first target

When ready to move the telescope, the OA will ask you for your first target and load the coordinates from your starlist file. He or she will select a bright star near your target and will attempt to acquire that in the guider, then will double-check the accuracy of pointing by acquiring one or two additional stars from the SAO or GSC catalogs.

Focus telescope

Ask the OA to focus the telescope using the appropriate method: Ensure that the DEIMOS position angle is set to the value you wil be using for your target, and to focus in the vicinity of your object.