Instrument Scientist: Josh Walawender
Deputy Instrument Scientist: Sherry Yeh
Email Contact: KPF Support

Afternoon Setup

The afternoon setup process for the instrument itself is minimal. Calibrations are automated, so unless you have very special requirements for your observation (if so please contact the Staff Astronomer supporting your night in advance), then observers will not need to execute any calibrations.

Prior to starting observing, observers should run

KPF Control Menu --> Start KPF GUIs from the background menu (or kpfStartUp from the command line on any KPF machine)

This will:

Configure the output directories
Set the observer names based on the telescope schedule
Start the KPF GUIs

This can be run at any time prior to observing. If automated calibrations are in progress, this may take several minutes as certain operations can only be done while the detectors are not exposing.

Observers should use the afternoon to prepare Observing Blocks (OBs) and their star list if they have not done so already.

Start of Night

KPF does, however, need to be configured properly at the start of the night. There is a procedure which should be run only

after the Observing Assistant (OA) has selected KPF as the instrument
and
after automated afternoon calibrations are complete

It is important that this not be run while other instruments are observing. To configure KPF for observing, run

KPF Control Menu --> Run Start of Night Script from the background menu (or kpfStartOfNight from the command line on any KPF machine)

This will:

Disable automated calibrations
Configure the FIU to the observing mode
Open the science and sky source select shutters
Configure the AO Bench. Including positioning the PCU stage and opening the AO hatch.
Configure DCS for KPF by setting dcs.ROTDEST=0 and dcs.ROTMODE=stationary
Confgure the tip tilt loop gain to its default setting

	Afternoon Setup
KPF Home Page NEWS Observing Troubleshooting Keck Instrument Ready? Archive (KOA) Observer Home Page Tel Schedule Instruments Home Keck Home Observing Info ToO Policies Weather MK Forecast CFHT SkyProbe MK Seeing CFHT Cloudcam Summit Cams Keck Cloud Cams Planning Tools Starlist Tool Finding Charts IRSA Finder Charts Observing Planning Tool Offset/PA Tool Contact Us Contact Info Post-Observing Comment Form WWW Keck Web Site	Instrument Scientist: Josh Walawender Deputy Instrument Scientist: Sherry Yeh Email Contact: KPF Support Afternoon Setup The afternoon setup process for the instrument itself is minimal. Calibrations are automated, so unless you have very special requirements for your observation (if so please contact the Staff Astronomer supporting your night in advance), then observers will not need to execute any calibrations. Prior to starting observing, observers should run `KPF Control Menu --> Start KPF GUIs` from the background menu (or `kpfStartUp` from the command line on any KPF machine) This will: Configure the output directories Set the observer names based on the telescope schedule Start the KPF GUIs This can be run at any time prior to observing. If automated calibrations are in progress, this may take several minutes as certain operations can only be done while the detectors are not exposing. Observers should use the afternoon to prepare Observing Blocks (OBs) and their star list if they have not done so already. Start of Night KPF does, however, need to be configured properly at the start of the night. There is a procedure which should be run only after the Observing Assistant (OA) has selected KPF as the instrument and after automated afternoon calibrations are complete It is important that this not be run while other instruments are observing. To configure KPF for observing, run `KPF Control Menu --> Run Start of Night Script` from the background menu (or `kpfStartOfNight` from the command line on any KPF machine) This will: Disable automated calibrations Configure the FIU to the observing mode Open the science and sky source select shutters Configure the AO Bench. Including positioning the PCU stage and opening the AO hatch. Configure DCS for KPF by setting `dcs.ROTDEST=0` and `dcs.ROTMODE=stationary` Confgure the tip tilt loop gain to its default setting
Last modified: 02/27/2023 21:24 Send questions or comments to:KPF Support