Quick Review

  1. Focus the telescope using MIRA: if needed
  2. Slew to target and while slewing
  3. Fine Alignment:
  4. Start Spectroscopic Observations .

Slitmask Alignment

This checklist describes the procedure for aligning a relatively faint object on a standard MOSFIRE Longslit using the Slitmask Alignment Tool (SAT). The process is essentially the same as that of aligning a slitmask using the SAT ( see SAT), but we do not need to coarse align a field.

To launch the SAT:

Focus telescope

Focusing the telescope before aligning a slitmask should be done periodically during the night but is not needed for each mask alignment. It is generally recommended to re-focus the telescope when the telescope elevation angle has changed by 30° or more.

To complete the focus:

  1. Highlight the target in the MAGIQ target list using the middle mouse button, and ask the OA to slew to the new highlighted target.
  2. Ask to OA to run MIRA in the neighborhood of your target.
Note:

Slew to Target

  1. While slewing
  2. When the OA tells you that your target is on MOSFIRE, check the following information on FACSUM to verify that your position is correct:

Fine Alignment

In this step, we refine the positions of the star within the respective alignment box to achieve optimal centering of the object in the longslit using the Fine Align tab on the gui.
  1. Confirm that MOSFIRE is configured for imaging:
  2. Click Start Fine Alignment button. The software will then:
  3. Review Object and Box fits, calculated offsets, and move recommendations. For the star the SAT graphs:
    XYFIT codes
    Graphic Description
    white solid line star profile (sky subtracted)
    white dotted vertical line star center
    red solid vertical line Predicted star position
    green box shows centering of the fitted box
    yellow dashed line box profile (object +sky)
  4. If you want to change a move recommendation, select the Y or N button next to the offset. Note: rotational moves are not calculated for single stars.
  5. Send the Moves
  6. In case Fine Align fails to find the star, we can perform alignment manually

Spectroscopy

  1. Reconfigure the instrument for spectroscopy:
  2. Expose...phew!

Tips and Tricks

  • specify the sky frame to use:
  • Load an image from the data directory using Actions -> Load Fine Alignment Image. Note that you may need to set the sky image to match.