IPP Software Navigation Tools IPP Links Communication Pan-STARRS Links

Changes between Initial Version and Version 1 of RoboDIMM


Ignore:
Timestamp:
Jan 25, 2010, 4:45:07 PM (16 years ago)
Author:
gavin
Comment:

--

Legend:

Unmodified
Added
Removed
Modified
  • RoboDIMM

    v1 v1  
     1= PS1 Seeing Observations: =
     2A series of ongoing observations are being made explicitly to analyze the seeing conditions for the PS1 telescope. The first several nights of data were taken with the RoboDIMM located in the PS1 parking lot; on Dec. 9 it was moved to the PS1 entry balcony on level 1. Efforts were made to simultaneously observe both the same and different stars that the DNSM DIMM was observing. At times, we were also able to acquire simultaneous observation from the PS1 of the same star. Different symbols show which star was being observed. Different line colors separate the DIMM measurements.
     3
     4[#Howto RoboDIMM Howto]
     5
     6[http://www.ctio.noao.edu/telescopes/dimm/dimm.html CTIO DIMM documentation]
     7
     8== RoboDIMM Measurements ==
     9__December 3, 2009__
     10
     11RoboDIMM located on jibcrane pad in parking lot. RoboDIMM measurements worse than DNSM and GPC1 measurements for most of the night
     12
     13 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/data/observations/RoboDIMM/ROBODIMMvsDNSM-12-03-09-r3.jpg Seeing Plot]
     14 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/data/observations/RoboDIMM/robodimm-12-03-corr.txt RoboDIMM data]
     15
     16__December 7, 2009__
     17
     18RoboDIMM located on jibcrane pad in parking lot. RoboDIMM measurments were better than GPC1 measurements but worse than or equal to the DNSM measurements.
     19
     20 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/data/observations/RoboDIMM/ROBODIMMvsDNSM-12-07-09.jpg Seeing Plot]
     21 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/data/observations/RoboDIMM/robodimm-12-07-corr.txt RoboDIMM data]
     22
     23__December 9, 2009__
     24
     25RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. RoboDIMM measurements were worse than DNSM measurements but better than GPC1 measurements for most of the night. Winds from the N-NW.
     26 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/data/observations/RoboDIMM/ROBODIMMvsDNSM-12-09-09-r1.jpg Seeing Plot]
     27 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/data/observations/RoboDIMM/12-09.txt RoboDIMM data]
     28
     29__December 11, 2009__
     30
     31RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Note that this night shows particularly good correspondence between the DNSM and RoboDIMMs seeing measurements.  Both DIMMs show better seeing than the GPC1 measurements.  Light tradewinds throughout the RoboDIMM measurement period
     32 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/data/observations/RoboDIMM/ROBODIMMvsDNSM-12-11-09.jpg Seeing Plot]
     33 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/data/observations/RoboDIMM/12-11.txt RoboDIMM data] 
     34
     35__December 16, 2009__
     36
     37RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. The wind during the RoboDIMM measurements was ~5 m/s out of the N-NW.  During the second set of GPC1 images both the DNSMand RoboDIMM were running but not able to collect data.
     38 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/ROBODIMMvsDNSM-12-16-09.jpg Seeing Plot]
     39 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/12-16.txt RoboDIMM data] 
     40
     41__December 24, 2009__
     42
     43RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. The wind during the RoboDIMM measurements was light (<3 m/s) and varied in direction from W to NW.  The target stars for both DIMMs were in the SE so data was collected pointing away from the wind.
     44
     45 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/ROBODIMMvsDNSM-12-24-09.jpg Seeing Plot]
     46 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/12-24.txt RoboDIMM data]
     47
     48__December 28, 2009__
     49
     50RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. The wind during the RoboDIMM measurements was light (<4 m/s) from the N-NW.  The target stars for both DIMMs were in the SE so data was collected pointing away from the wind. GPC1 data is corrected for airmass.
     51
     52 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/ROBODIMMvsDNSM-12-28-09.jpg Seeing Plot]
     53 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/12-28.txt RoboDIMM data]
     54
     55=== NOTE ===
     56From Dec. 28, 2009 onwards, DNSM data are corrected to zenith. Also, from this date, DNSM and RoboDIMM data are calibrated to PS1.
     57
     58The format of the data files is:
     59
     60 ''DNSM''::
     61   time_UT time_msec name r0 zenith_distance fwhm_uncorr fwhm_corr fwhm2ps1
     62 ''RoboDIMM''::
     63   time_UT time_msec name_1 name_2 r0 fwhm fwhm2ps1
     64
     65__December 30, 2009__
     66
     67RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from SW at < 2 m/s. Target stars in the SE.
     68 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/PS1-seeing-12-30-09.jpg Seeing Plot]
     69 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/robodimm-12-30.txt RoboDIMM data]
     70 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/dnsm-364.txt DNSM data]
     71
     72__December 31, 2009__
     73
     74RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from W at < 3 m/s. Target stars in the SE.
     75 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/PS1-seeing-12-31-09.jpg Seeing Plot]
     76 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/robodimm-12-31.txt RoboDIMM data]
     77 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/dnsm-365.txt DNSM data]
     78
     79__January 3, 2010__
     80
     81DNSM not operating. RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from W-SW at < 8 m/s. Target stars in the SE.
     82 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/PS1-seeing-1-3-10.jpg Seeing Plot]
     83 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/robodimm-1-3.txt RoboDIMM data]
     84
     85__January 6, 2010__
     86
     87DNSM not operating. RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from W at < 10 m/s. Target stars in the SE.
     88 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/PS1-seeing-1-6-10.jpg Seeing Plot]
     89 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/robodimm-1-6.txt RoboDIMM data]
     90
     91__January 7, 2010__
     92
     93DNSM not operating. RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from W at < 10 m/s. Target stars in the SE.
     94 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/PS1-seeing-1-7-10.jpg Seeing Plot]
     95 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/robodimm-1-7.txt RoboDIMM data]
     96
     97__January 8, 2010__
     98
     99RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from W at < 8 m/s. Target stars in the SE.
     100 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/PS1-seeing-1-8-10.jpg Seeing Plot]
     101 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/robodimm-1-8.txt RoboDIMM data]
     102 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/dnsm-008.txt DNSM data]
     103
     104__January 10, 2010__
     105
     106RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from W at < 6 m/s. Target stars in the SE.
     107 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/PS1-seeing-1-10-10.jpg Seeing Plot]
     108 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/robodimm-1-10.txt RoboDIMM data]
     109 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/dnsm-010.txt DNSM data]
     110
     111__January 19, 2010__
     112
     113RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony.  Wind from NNE at < 1 m/s.  Target stars in E & SE
     114 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/PS1-seeing-1-19-10.jpg Seeing Plot]
     115 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/robodimm-1-19.txt RoboDIMM data]
     116 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/dnsm-019.txt DNSM data]
     117
     118__January 20, 2020__
     119
     120RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony.  Wind from NW at < 1 m/s.  Target stars in E & SE
     121 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/PS1-seeing-1-20-10.jpg Seeing Plot]
     122 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/robodimm-1-20.txt RoboDIMM data]
     123 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/dnsm-020.txt DNSM data]
     124
     125__January 21, 2010__
     126
     127RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from N at ~ 5.5m/s.  Target stars in E & SE
     128 * last couple of minutes we lost the star due to it being eclipsed by PS1
     129 
     130 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/PS1-seeing-1-21-10.jpg Seeing Plot]
     131 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/robodimm-1-21.txt RoboDIMM data]
     132 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/dnsm-021.txt DNSM data]
     133
     134__January 22, 2020__
     135
     136RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony.  No wind.  Target stars in E & SE
     137 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/PS1-seeing-1-22-10.jpg Seeing Plot]
     138 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/robodimm-1-22.txt RoboDIMM data]
     139 * [http://ps1wiki.ifa.hawaii.edu/trac/attachment/wiki/RoboDIMM/dnsm-022.txt DNSM data]
     140
     141__January 23, 2020__
     142
     143RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony.  Wind from S-SW at < 5 m/s.  Additional tarp hung to block wind.  Target stars in E & SE
     144 * Operations halted at 8 after the wind increased and moved to due W.
     145
     146== Howto ==
     147
     148=== Setup ===
     149 * Adjust tarps for anticipated wind (there's an extra in the wood chest)
     150 * Remove RoboDIMM cover *CAREFULLY* so as not to dislodge finder (remember carabiner at bottom)
     151 * Check to see that the leveling bubble is still mostly within the circle (close is okay)
     152 * Retrieve telescope cables, camera controller, power strip, keypar, and stool from L1
     153
     154==== Telescope ====
     155 * Release alt brake, flip telescope, attach keypad, RS232 connector, and 18vDC pwr (tuck all cables under tripod)
     156
     157==== Camera ====
     158 * Set controller on stool, attach camera cable *BEFORE powering camera controller*
     159
     160==== Laptop ====
     161 * Set on camera controller, attach white cable from controller to LPT1, and serial from telescope (tape these together)
     162 *Plug GPS in USB port; set receiver in the open
     163 * Turn on power strip (then switch telescope ON and plug in controller)
     164 * Boot laptop but if the two larger LEDS along the top are not green and orange, respectively, the connector is not working. This is '''BAD'''. Gently try to reconnect the power supply a couple times. If Tom is there, get his help.
     165 * Press cancel at login screen
     166 * Double click NMEATime icon
     167  * Click the GPS Signal Quality tab (bars must be blue; GPS Locked LOCKED)
     168  * Click Update PC Clock Now
     169  * Close NMEATime window
     170
     171==== Telescope Alignment ====
     172 * Get a star in the finder (there are 4 speed buttons on the keypad)
     173 * With the keypad:
     174  * Use down arrow to select "Align" press Enter
     175  * ALTAZ press Enter
     176  * 1 Star press Enter
     177  * Level base (should be) press ENTER
     178  * press ENTER, then scroll (with arrows) to align star (probably Aldebaran)
     179  * ''In the flip mirror viewport the star should be aligned so the lower image is centered on the crosshairs of reticulated eypiece''
     180  * Turn the flip mirror knob
     181
     182==== Running SBIG software (CCDOPS) ====
     183 * Double click the CCDOPS icon
     184 * There will be a message "Trying to Establish Link with Camera"
     185 * ''If a link cannot be established, unplug controller, gently reseat all camera connections, power up and try again.''
     186 * Click on the Focus button; a dialog window ill come up with and exposure time of 0.25 sec. This is appropriate for the bright stars we're currnetly using; click okay
     187 * If the force is with you you'll get a double image centered in the field
     188 * If not, use the keypad on the lowest speed (bottom button) to adjust their position. (It does not have to be perfect.)
     189 * No image? '''Check the flip mirror.'''
     190 * Close CCDOPS (if there are messages about cooling ignore them)
     191
     192==== Running RoboDIMM ====
     193 * Click the Newtest_robodimm2.exe icon (looks like a dome)
     194 * Check Auto Measure Enable checkbox
     195 * Click Expose CCD button
     196 * ''If there is a message about a telescope error, reseat the telescope connection to the laptop (the serial port). You may also have to cycle power to the telescope (and repeat the alignment).''
     197 * Confirming Operation:
     198  * If there are two spots inside a flashing white box the odds are RoboDIMM is happy
     199  * In the lower left of the window there will be output:
     200    * Last Seeing Data should have a time that's fairly recent
     201    * dx ~= 90 and dy ~= 0 (These values refer to the orientation of the prism and should not change unless the cover is dislodged. If it is, adjst dy by loosening the thumbscrews and rotating the cover.)
     202    * Last Strehl Ratio for Left/Right ~= 0.5
     203  * '''Leave the platform gently'''
     204
     205==== Operation ====
     206 * Record wind speed, direction, and ops start time
     207 * Check for a flashing box/star images ~10 min intervals
     208
     209==== End of Night ====
     210 * Click Quit button
     211 * Turn telescope OFF and unplug controller
     212 * Telescope: unplug keypad, RS232, and 18 vDC
     213  * Release alt brake, tip so camera is on top, wrap cord carefully
     214  * Bag '''carefully'''; lightly cinch straps opposite finder; clip carabiner
     215 * Laptop: pull serial, unplug LPT1; check the time to make sure it's not '''way''' off
     216 * Controller: unscrew camera (black cable)
     217 * Data is in C:\dimmdata2002\D1test_seeing_lab.log
     218   * Open with double click, hightlight and copy the night's data; paste into a notepad file (icon in lower bar)
     219   * Save as MM-DD.txt (maybe leave off 0's because win98 is a bit dim) on E (usb memory stick)
     220