LWS
Evening Startup Checklist

The following afternoon routine is recommended to start the night.

Summary

Start FACSUM

The ``Facilities Summary'' or FACSUM window is a real-time display of the telescope status. To run FACSUM:
  1. Log into milolii (the single-headed workstation in between haleiwa and onomea) as user lwseng.
  2. Select the DCS Status option from the OpenWindows menu.
  3. Select the FACSUM Display item from the DCS Status menu. The FACSUM window will appear shortly.
  4. Click and drag the left mouse button on one of the window corners to expand the window to fill the screen.

Start guider eavesdropping

Guider eavesdropping allows you to monitor the image from the guide camera in real time. To start eavesdropping:
  1. On haleiwa, move the mouse to the rightmost screen.
  2. Quit any and all programs running on this screen only (including those running on other parts of the virtual desktop). This is necessary in order for the guider display to obtain the needed colors from the colormap.
  3. Select the Guider Eavesdropping option from the OpenWindows menu.
  4. Select the Eavesdrop (default) item from this menu. The guider display and accompanying tkrose window will appear shortly.
  5. Restart QuickLook and other desired programs on this screen.

Start Xmet

Xmet is a meteorological display showing current summit conditions. To run it:
  1. Select the DCS Status option from the OpenWindows menu.
  2. Select the Meteorological Display item from this menu. The Xmet window will appear shortly.

Check mid-IR conditions

The ``tau'' statistic tracks the amount of airborne water vapor above Mauna Kea and is a good indicator of current conditions in the mid-IR because atmospheric transparency at these wavelengths is determined by the atmospheric water vapor density. Click here to check the current value of tau, and multiply the resulting value by 20 to estimate the amount of precipitable water vapor (in mm). Note that tau values below ?? indicate acceptable conditions for observing at 20 µm.

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.

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

Since the malign procedure cannot be used on LWS, it is the responsibility of the observer to focus the telescope. Currently this is done by observing a bright IR point source at various focus settings and selecting the pointing which yields the best image. Please see the LWSFOC page for detailed focusing instructions. Make sure set the LWS position angle is set to the value you wil be using for your target, and to focus in the vicinity of your object.

Acquire first target

If you expect your target to be visible in the guider (i.e., R<20) then ask the OA to put your target on the guider, center it up, and send it to LWS. Otherwise, simply ask the OA to send your target to LWS. Then wait while the OA sets up on your guide star and begins guiding.

Center target on LWS

Ask the OA to send you a guider handpaddle.

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Last modified: Mon Jun 21 23:57:24 HST 1999