The following routine is recommended to start the night.

Summary

• Start guider eavesdropping
• Start FACSUM
• Start Xmet
• Enable DCS Rotator Control
• Open the DEIMOS hatch
• Select first target
• Wait for dome to open
• Set the rotator angle
• Slew to vicinity of first target
• Focus telescope

Start guider eavesdropping

Guider eavesdropping allows you to monitor the image from the guide camera in real time. If the MAGIQ GUI has not been started yet:

1. On any of the VNC desktops, select Telescope GUIs →MAGIQ guider UI from the background menu.
2. Resize the window as desired.

Start FACSUM

The “Facilities Summary” or FACSUM window is a real-time display of the telescope status. If FACSUM has not been launched yet:

1. On the telstatus VNC desktop, select Telescope GUIs → FACSUM from the background menu.
2. Resize the window as desired.

Start XMET

The XMET GUI is a meteorological display showing current summit temperature/dewpoint data. If the MET GUI has not been launched yet:

1. On the telstatus VNC desktop, select Telescope GUIs → XMET - Weather from the background menu.
2. Adjust the size of this window as desired.

Enable DCS Rotator Control

The telescope drive and control system must be given explicit permission to run the instrument rotator. To do so, on the DEIMOS instrument control GUI, click on the rotator Details... button to bring up the rotator GUI. Then:

• Click on Sky mode to activate the sky mode buttons
• Click on the Enable DCS button
• Ask the Observing Assistant to perform a "Shutdown/Init" of the rotator.

Open the DEIMOS hatch

Command the hatch open from the Mechanism control area of the DEIMOS instrument control 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 telescope control system 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 the MIRA script. Please, note the following guidelines:

• Direct mode programs will require a MIRA script to be run with the Mirror in the optical path.
• Spectroscopy mode programs will require a MIRA script to be run with one of the gratings in Zeroth Order.