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wiki:RoboDIMM

Version 45 (modified by giebink, 16 years ago) ( diff )

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PS1 Seeing Observations:

A 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. On February 5 the RoboDIMM was moved to the PS2 (formerly MAGNUM) dome.

  1. PS1 Seeing Observations:
    1. PS1 RoboDIMM Measurements
      1. December 3, 2009
      2. December 7, 2009
      3. December 9, 2009
      4. December 11, 2009
      5. December 16, 2009
      6. December 24, 2009
      7. December 28, 2009
      8. NOTE
      9. December 30, 2009
      10. December 31, 2009
      11. January 3, 2010
      12. January 6, 2010
      13. January 7, 2010
      14. January 8, 2010
      15. January 10, 2010
      16. January 19, 2010
      17. January 20, 2020
      18. January 21, 2010
      19. January 22, 2010
      20. January 23, 2010
      21. January 26, 2010
      22. January 27, 2010
      23. January 28, 2010
      24. January 29, 2010
      25. January 30, 2010
      26. February 2, 2010
      27. February 3, 2010
      28. February 4, 2010
      29. NOTE
      30. February 5, 2010
      31. February 6, 2010
      32. February 9, 2010
      33. February 10, 2010
      34. February 11, 2010
      35. February 12, 2010
      36. February 13, 2010
      37. February 16, 2010
      38. February 17, 2010
      39. February 18, 2010
      40. February 19, 2010
      41. February 20, 2010
      42. February 23, 2010
      43. February 24, 2010
      44. February 25, 2010
      45. February 26, 2010
      46. February 27, 2010
      47. March 2, 2010
      48. March 3, 2010
      49. March 4, 2010
      50. March 9, 2010
      51. March 10, 2010
      52. March 11, 2010
      53. March 12, 2010
      54. March 13, 2010
    2. PS1 Skin Seeing
    3. Reber Circle Seeing
    4. PS1 'Fuzzball' Events
    5. RoboDIMM-Howto
      1. Setup
        1. General
        2. Telescope
        3. Camera
        4. Laptop
      2. Telescope Alignment
      3. Running SBIG software (CCDOPS)
      4. Running RoboDIMM
      5. Operation
      6. End of Night

PS1 RoboDIMM Measurements

PS1 Skin Seeing

Reber Circle Seeing

PS1 'Fuzzball' Events

RoboDIMM Howto

​CTIO DIMM documentation

PS1 RoboDIMM Measurements

December 3, 2009

RoboDIMM located on jibcrane pad in parking lot. RoboDIMM measurements worse than DNSM and GPC1 measurements for most of the night

December 7, 2009

RoboDIMM located on jibcrane pad in parking lot. RoboDIMM measurments were better than GPC1 measurements but worse than or equal to the DNSM measurements.

December 9, 2009

RoboDIMM 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.

December 11, 2009

RoboDIMM 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

December 16, 2009

RoboDIMM 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.

December 24, 2009

RoboDIMM 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.

December 28, 2009

RoboDIMM 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.

NOTE

From Dec. 28, 2009 onwards, DNSM data are corrected to zenith. Also, from this date, DNSM and RoboDIMM data are calibrated to PS1.

The format of the data files is:

DNSM
time_UT time_msec name r0 zenith_distance fwhm_uncorr fwhm_corr fwhm2ps1
RoboDIMM
time_UT time_msec name_1 name_2 r0 fwhm fwhm2ps1

December 30, 2009

RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from SW at < 2 m/s. Target stars in the SE.

December 31, 2009

RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from W at < 3 m/s. Target stars in the SE.

January 3, 2010

DNSM not operating. RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from W-SW at < 8 m/s. Target stars in the SE.

January 6, 2010

DNSM not operating. RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from W at < 10 m/s. Target stars in the SE.

January 7, 2010

DNSM not operating. RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from W at < 10 m/s. Target stars in the SE.

January 8, 2010

RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from W at < 8 m/s. Target stars in the SE.

January 10, 2010

RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from W at < 6 m/s. Target stars in the SE.

January 19, 2010

RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from NNE at < 1 m/s. Target stars in E & SE

January 20, 2020

RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from NW at < 1 m/s. Target stars in E & SE

January 21, 2010

RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from N at ~ 5.5m/s. Target stars in E & SE. Last couple of minutes we lost the star due to it being eclipsed by PS1

January 22, 2010

RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. No wind. Target stars in E & SE

January 23, 2010

RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from S-SW at < 5 m/s. Additional tarp hung to block wind. Target stars in E & SE. Operations halted at 8 after the wind increased and moved to due W.

January 26, 2010

RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from S at < 6 m/s, but dropped quickly to nearly nothing. By 6 it had moved to the SW at 7 m/s. Additional tarp hung to block wind. Target stars in E & SE.

January 27, 2010

RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from S-SW at < 7-10 m/s. Additional tarp hung to block wind. Target stars in E & SE.

January 28, 2010

RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from W-SW at < 7-8 m/s. Minimal wind buffeting of RoboDIMM. Target stars in E & SE. DNSM restarted at 5:45.

January 29, 2010

RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Lots of dew with some drops on L1 balcony. Observations ended early.

January 30, 2010

Poor weather; no RoboDIMM observations.

February 2, 2010

RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. Wind from S. Weather/visibility deteriorated at 7:30. PS1 did not open.

February 3, 2010

Poor weather in early evening; no RoboDIMM observations.

February 4, 2010

RoboDIMM located on L1 entry balcony. 3-4 deg. C with 20-30+ mph winds from the NW. Problem with CCDOPS program from 7-9:30.

NOTE

RoboDIMM moved to PS2 (formerly MAGNUM) dome. To cool dome to ambient the large blower is run for an hour with the slit open.

February 5, 2010

Wind from E at 6-9 m/s. Dome cooled to ambient by 6:30.

February 6, 2010

Wind from SW at 4-7 m/s; moved to W at 9. Ran blower test at 9:15.

February 9, 2010

A windy and cold but clear night.Winds were 9 to 12 m/s from the NE.

February 10, 2010

A warmer than usual night, steady 10 C with light winds (3m/s) from NE. Humidity 13%. A few thin cirrus clouds.

February 11, 2010

Another nice weather night. Winds 5 m/s from the NNE, 10% humidity and near 10 C throughout the observing period. Some thin cirrus around.

February 12, 2010

Clear, fairly warm (8-8.5 C), with wind from the N-NE at 3-6 m/s. Temperature stable in PS2 dome.

February 13, 2010

Clear, with light (3-5 m/s) NE winds. Colder tonight (5-6 C) and low (< 5%) RH.

February 16, 2010

A clear night with 4-6 m/s winds out of the NW. Locked onto Sirius at 0508 U.T. after recovering from a COM 1 port non-connection. Moved to Regulus at 0800.

February 17, 2010

A clear and cold night with northerly winds at 6 to 19 m/s sec. Starting tracking Sirius at 0515. It was a bit difficult keeping the star in the box, it wanted to drift to the lower left apparently due to wind turbulence. Moved to Regulus at 0810 but due to wind buffeting we could not acquire for more than a few minutes. Wind conditions get worse so we quit attempts at 0930.

February 18, 2010

No observations due to PS1 shutter issues.

February 19, 2010

Nice, clear evening with winds 2-6 m/s from the NW. Blower started at 4:40; shut off at 5:30. RoboDIMM started at 4:45, looking at Sirius. Moved to Regulus at 7:30.

February 20, 2010

Clear with no wind at 4:30. Around 5 the wind picked up to 5-6 m/s from the NE. 30 minutes later it dropped to 2-4 m/s from the N-NE where is stayed until 10. Blower started and PS2 dome opened at 2:45. Seeing extremely poor early in the night. RoboDIMM imaging Sirius which moved all over (and off) the display. The same star was spattered across the DNSM display. Moved to Regulus at 7:30. Seeing continued to be poor throughout the night.

February 23, 2010

A partly cloudy night (cirrus) with winds, 2-4 m/s second out of the NNW. No wind in the dome. Seeing Monitor for the observing period was 1.5 to .5 at end of shift. Locked onto Sirius at 0453. On to Regulus at 0745 to midnight.

February 24, 2010

A clear start to the night with just a few clouds low in the west and east. Winds 2 m/s, temp. is 8. The moon was close to RoboDIMM's first star, Sirius. Most of the time seeing was sub arc second despite increasing cloudiness. . Locked onto Sirius at 0500. To Regulus at 0720. Blocked by clouds for a short time.

February 25, 2010

A clear night with good seeing throughout Robo's tracking period. Winds were around 4 to 6 m/s from the wsw, turning nw. First acquisition on Sirius, drifted away. Restarted the system and locked on at 0515. On to Regulus at 0745.

February 26, 2010

Clear, warm (11 deg) evening with no wind at the beginning of the night. Later it picked up (<3 m/s) out of the NW. Pointed RoboDIMM at Sirius at 5 UT; moved to Regulus at 6:45; Spica at 9:30.

February 27, 2010

Clear, warm (11 deg), and no wind at 5 UT. Winds gradually picked up (<4 m/s) from the N-NW. Followed DNSM star list; closed down at 14 UT.

March 2, 2010

Shift started out with clear skies, winds from the NE at 2-3 m/s. Temp was 5 C with 3 % humidity. At midnight winds are around 6-8 m/s. DIMM seeing is not good.

Locked onto Sirius at 0455. On to Spica at 1005 On to Arcturus at 1130. The telescope did not recognize this star as pre-programmed # 147. Wind is affecting data collection now. At 1345 to Vega. The scope was having tracking problems on Arcturus which was near zenith. Retried Arcturus but still having near zenith tracking problems. A quiet night otherwise.

March 3, 2010

A start of shift, skies are clear, wind 4 to 6 m/s from the ENE. Humidity5%, temp 7. Winds decrease after midnight. Seeing 1" to 1.5" most of the night. Supposedly, seeing conditions (tonight and especially last night) were affected by a 100+ mph sub tropical jet in the free atmosphere.

Locked onto Sirius at 0654. On to Procyon at 1010. PS1 has been doing non stop engineering from start of shift to 1028. Onto Arcturus at 1110. Arcturus lost track at zenith (its keyhole) so onto Antares at 1355 to end of tracking period at 1533.

March 4, 2010

A variable weather night that started out with with mostly clear skies except for a little bit of cirrus. Wind were 3-6 m/s from the NE. The subtropical jet affects seeing again. Clouds thicken a lot around 0930. Humidity rises (70's), PS1 closes due to sudden drop of visibility. Clouds are nearby but lower in elevation. At 1050, a little fog blows through. Clouds, humidity and periods of fog end the night about an hour early as PS1 is closed again.

A problem at start up. The telescopes 18v power supply was dead. It was replaced with another power supply from Haleakala's Amateur Astronomer's (Rob) surplus parts department. Locked onto Sirius at 0515. Lost track once due to clouds. To Procyon at midnight. Clear skies again. To Arcturus at 1110. Due to tracking problems with Arcturus at zenith, moved to Antares at 1345. Humidity and clouds again. PS1 closes. RoboDIMM closes at 1420.

March 9, 2010

At start of shift gusty winds, up to 20 m/s from the NNE made donuts out of the RoboDIMM image. Due to the winds the Seeing Monitor is down. We will try though. Locked onto Sirius at 0510. Star reacquired numerous times as RoboDIMM can only hold star for 3 to 5 minutes. To Spica at 0800. The Seeing Monitor is still down for weather. Qtfocus indicates poor seeing. Moved to Arcturus at 0905. Too windy to acquire. Now just waiting for the winds to subside or call it a night. At midnight, no change in weather. Going home.

March 10, 2010

At the start of shift we have winds gusting into the 20's m/s, high humidity, and fog. Temp is 1.9 C. Rob added some lead weight to the Mead telescope to mitigate vibration in the case we do observe. It appears that some of RoboDIMM's bouncing is caused by the winds vibrating the dome floor. Uninterrupted high winds and fog continue through midnight. We're bailing. No data collected.

March 11, 2010

Poor weather; no RoboDIMM observations

March 12, 2010

Clear but windy (6-10 m/s with periods to ~15 m/s) night. DNSM was closed from 10-11 due to high winds. Little DNSM data throughout the night probably due to a combination of high wind and poor seeing. Followed DNSM star list ​http://banana.ifa.hawaii.edu/data/nsm/seeinglist/2010/list.071 Moved to Antares at 12:50 because Arcturus was directly overhead.

March 13, 2010

Clear night with moderate (<7 m/s) E-SE winds. Seeing reported by DNSM consistently mediocre. Followed DNSM star list ​http://banana.ifa.hawaii.edu/data/nsm/seeinglist/2010/list.072 from 5-13 UT.

PS1 Skin Seeing

Reber Circle Seeing

PS1 'Fuzzball' Events

RoboDIMM-Howto

Setup

General

  • Adjust tarps for anticipated wind (there's an extra in the wood chest)
  • Remove RoboDIMM cover *CAREFULLY* so as not to dislodge finder (remember carabiner at bottom)
  • Check to see that the leveling bubble is still mostly within the circle (close is okay)
  • Retrieve telescope cables, camera controller, power strip, keypar, and stool from L1

Telescope

  • Release alt brake, flip telescope, attach keypad, RS232 connector, and 18vDC pwr (tuck all cables under tripod)

Camera

  • Set controller on stool, attach camera cable *BEFORE powering camera controller*

Laptop

  • Set on camera controller, attach white cable from controller to LPT1, and serial from telescope (tape these together)
  • Plug GPS in USB port; set receiver in the open
  • Turn on power strip (then switch telescope ON and plug in controller)
  • Use down arrow and hit return to select "Windows" at GRUB (Suse) prompt
  • Press cancel at login screen
  • Double click NMEATime icon
    • Click the GPS Signal Quality tab (bars must be blue; GPS Locked LOCKED)
    • Click Update PC Clock Now
    • Close NMEATime window

Telescope Alignment

  • Get a star in the finder (there are 4 speed buttons on the keypad)
  • With the keypad:
    • Use down arrow to select "Align" press Enter
    • ALTAZ press Enter
    • 1 Star press Enter
    • Level base (should be) press ENTER
    • press ENTER, then scroll (with arrows) to align star (probably Aldebaran)
    • In the flip mirror viewport the star should be aligned so the lower image is centered on the crosshairs of reticulated eypiece
    • Turn the flip mirror knob

Running SBIG software (CCDOPS)

  • Double click the CCDOPS icon
  • There will be a message "Trying to Establish Link with Camera"
  • If a link cannot be established, unplug controller, gently reseat all camera connections, power up and try again.
  • 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
  • If the force is with you you'll get a double image centered in the field
  • If not, use the keypad on the lowest speed (bottom button) to adjust their position. (It does not have to be perfect.)
  • No image? Check the flip mirror.
  • Close CCDOPS (if there are messages about cooling ignore them)

Running RoboDIMM

  • Click the Newtest_robodimm2.exe icon (looks like a dome)
  • Check Auto Measure Enable checkbox
  • Click Expose CCD button
  • 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).
  • Confirming Operation:
    • If there are two spots inside a flashing white box the odds are RoboDIMM is happy
    • In the lower left of the window there will be output:
      • Last Seeing Data should have a time that's fairly recent
      • 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.)
      • Last Strehl Ratio for Left/Right ~= 0.5
    • Leave the platform gently

Operation

  • Record wind speed, direction, and ops start time
  • Check for a flashing box/star images ~10 min intervals

End of Night

  • Click Quit button
  • Turn telescope OFF and unplug controller
  • Telescope: unplug keypad, RS232, and 18 vDC
    • Release alt brake, tip so camera is on top, wrap cord carefully
    • Bag carefully; lightly cinch straps opposite finder; clip carabiner
  • Laptop: pull serial, unplug LPT1; check the time to make sure it's not way off
  • Controller: unscrew camera (black cable)
  • Data is in C:\dimmdata2002\D1test_seeing_lab.log
    • Open with double click, hightlight and copy the night's data; paste into a notepad file (icon in lower bar)
    • Save as MM-DD.txt (maybe leave off 0's because win98 is a bit dim) on F: (usb memory stick)

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