vatt:vatt_streamlined_warm_startup

	Streamlined Warm Startup / Oct 1, 2020 / P Gabor, M Franz et al.	✔✘
	Before you get started it is always a good idea to check the weather
	all-sky camera etc
	Local Weather Station
	National Weather Service Forecast
	http://10.0.1.12:7680/3hours.html at VATT

Control room	Enable LiveView from the Dome Camera ¹⁾
Control room	Enable LiveView from the new FinderScope ²⁾
Control room	Enable live view from the Axis thermal IR P12 camera ³⁾

	Once every few days it is prudent to reboot VATTtel
Control room	Kill TCSglue if running; ensure that M2 Controller is disconnected; kill all GUIs (if any)
TCS room	Make sure that M2 PI Controller is off
TCS room	Reboot VATTtel: if VATTtel is running, press tiny “Reset” button, wait for the green “Run” and “Pass” LEDs. The old Guider will not be found.
TCS room	Booting VATTtel: if VATTtel is not running, power it on after checking that GPS is on. Also note that prior to booting, VATTtel requires VATTdata server to be running. PEPSI only: These are the servers that need to be running: VATTdata, VATTcontrol, VATTautoguide, VATTdev, VATTOCS, VATTarchive, PEPSI.
TCS room	Watch VATTtel monitor to make sure that the kernel loads from network server

	This streamlined version assumes there is no time to turn the thermal system on for a couple of hours before opening VATT. If there is time, use the other checklist
everywhere	Shutter all windows with blackout shades and curtains
TCS room	After VATTtel boots up, turn on the M2 PI Controller (just flip the switch and leave; it takes a while to boot up; you will check that it has done so later).
TCS room	Toggle power switches to `ON` on the DOME amplifier (fan will start, and amps will show on LCD readout)
Control room	@ VATTCONTROL (console) while logged in to vattcontrol as vattobs
Control room	Start `TCS_GLUE` (double click desktop icon)
Control room	`TCSglue` main window: Make sure dome tracking is enabled (left-clicking on the dome-position field toggles between tracking enabled/disabled)
Control room	`TCSglue` > `Mount Control` tab: Toggle the Telescope Control System's status bit regarding the dome slit: Click the `Open Slit` button (it will toggle to `Close Slit`). The slit will then need to be opened from the dome in due course. The dome slit control unit is deteriorating. As a consequence, the dome slit motor must be activated in the dome.. The Telescope Control System's status must anticipate the physical change.

Dome	Dome procedures
Dome	Open dome register vents (there are four pairs of them)
Dome	Remove Dome Short
Dome	At quad box on curved wall below the dome short installation position, plug dome shutters into the power socket (note on safety: this ensures dome short is out: tether attached to cord).
Dome	Plugging this cord in the socket powers up a gray electric box above the quad. Open the dome slit by turning and holding the selector (aka turn) switch in the `Open` position until the dome slit is fully open. If you forget to toggle the TCS status to the open-slit state, leaving it in the close-slit state, the TCS will close the slit immediately after you open it.
Dome	West door (leading to ladder to the roof) is to remain closed (for efficient airflow over the telescope)
Dome	VATT 4k CCD Imager only: start filling science camera dewar with LN2 (attach the grounding wire to the mirror cell first, then to the camera; insert needle into the dewar, fasten it with the bungee cord, open the valve); if using remotely controllable valve follow VATT:Jinvoo LN2 valve
Dome	VATT 4k CCD Imager only: fill out LN2/camera log – listen for full dewar, cease flow when dewar is full. Do not use force when moving the LN2 hose if it is stiff: just unfasten the bungee cord, and let gravity free reign.
Dome	Check dome home position and if necessary, correct it by lifting the encoder wheel, spinning it about ½ - turn (usually clockwise as viewed from the top) and immediately setting the wheel back down, into contact with the abrasive surface. Watch dome position until it settles down (usually overshoots at least twice, at varying velocities).
Dome	Check derotator position (home switch magnet is showing, near sensor, to its right); check cable wrap is not twisted
Dome	Check dome shutters are plugged into the wall power socket (if the dome shutters were left half way open, they will finish opening fully)
Dome	Turn on power supply of finder telescope camera (on top of box on South side of East fork)
Dome	Open finder telescope objective cover (CAUTION: check for snow on dome shutters if needed)
Dome	Open the new finder telescope objective cover
Dome	Andor Apogee guider camera power supply (a white inline electric switch mounted on the N side of the “guide box”): Turn power “ON”
Dome	VATT 4k CCD Imager only: finish disconnecting LN2 filler hose from camera dewar, move storage dewar off of telescope platform and south, to dome silo wall)
Dome	VATT 4k CCD Imager only: remove camera ground wire (first from the camera, and only then from the mirror cell) and clip it on silo, near storage dewar
Dome	Disengage stow pins (~100 on LCD readout), note telescope is south heavy if mirror cover is closed (which it should be), and must be raised slightly in elevation towards zenith with hand pressure, until marks align. Failure to do this usually binds stow pins, resulting in failure of pins to fully release.
Dome	Check azimuth axis “home” (pointers best visible from lower level by the entrance to dome)
Dome	Check AZ hard stop flippers are showing green sides north (manually flip if not)
Dome	Make sure West door (leading to ladder to the roof) is closed and locked for safety reasons (a person on the roof could get swept down by the rotating dome's shutters)
Dome	Check all lights off (except for the floodlight operated from Control Room) and close door to elevator vestibule when leaving
	Dome procedures complete

Basement	Basement procedures
Basement	USE HEARING PROTECTION PROVIDED IF STAYING TO OBSERVE OPERATION OF PUMPS (muffs are by light switch)
Basement	Check dry air supply system dew point (typ. ~ -47°F; now tends to be 10°F warmer)
Basement	Turn on building & pier fans
Basement	STEP ONE (labeled as such): Pull out red switch, upper left corner of control box
Basement	After recirculation pump starts, check flow meter by oil tank
Basement	Check that one chiller is “ON” (green indicator) (alternates between chillers #1 & #2, each on/off cycle). If neither indicator comes on, check the current (look at the box with the STEP ONE and STEP TWO: on the bottom right of the right side of the box there is a selector switch, its two leftmost positions allow you to monitor the current through the two chillers on the red digital ampmeter). If neither chiller is on yet at this stage, turn one of them on manually (turn the top switch to `manual` and push the `ON` button).
Basement	Check oil temp set point (61°F)
Basement	Check oil temp actual (should rise immediately after recirculation pump starts, then settle at or very slightly above set point)
Basement	Check oil level light “OK” (if it's going to go out because of low oil level, it will do so after recirculation pump and/or pressure pumps have been started. May come back on after more running, as oil returns from azimuth bearing)
Basement	STEP TWO (labeled as such): Rotate pumps switch clockwise to “ON”
Basement	Check low side (feed pump) pressure rising
Basement	WAIT FOR HIGH PRESSURE PUMP TO START
Basement	Check high pressure side: pressure and flow “OK” after running awhile
Basement	Hydrostatic-bearing oil system active
	Basement procedure complete

Silo 2nd lvl	NESLAB: First night of the run check coolant level; not necessary on following nights, unless there is a visible leak. [Access hatch is on the top of the cabinet, at the far left. Under the hatch is the hatch into the coolant reservoir, removable with two captured thumbscrews. Coolant should cover the visible, coiled pipes. DO NOT ADD COOLANT WITHOUT CONSULTING THE DAY CREW (Gary Gray): it is better to run with the coolant slightly low (i.e., ~1/4 of the diameter of the top, coiled pipe exposed) than to put the wrong coolant mixture into the reservoir.]
Silo 2nd lvl	Turn NESLAB on only if VATTtel is already booted so that you can turn cell fans and thermal control on without undue delay
Silo 2nd lvl	NESLAB: Simultaneously toggle front panel ON/OFF switch to “ON” & slowly raise manual valve lever (to minimize vibration)
Silo 2nd lvl	NESLAB: Also simultaneously: watch pneumatic-actuated valves “OPEN”
Silo 2nd lvl	NESLAB: Check pressure gauge (usually well above the nominal 56 psi)
	Turn on M1 cell fans: Legacy TCS glue does not* control the cell fans anymore.* When in doubt, send co-observer to listen in the Dome to make sure that the cell fans will be turned on correctly because the only confirmation available will be their sound. Listening at the East fork is best.
TCS room	Flip the switch on the quad to turn M1 cell fans on. A night light connected in parallel will light up to indicate that M1 cell fans are now powered up.
TCS room	M2 PI Controller: make sure it is on by checking the status LEDs
TCS room	Check both toggle switches on clear panel under VATTtel keyboard are toggled down
TCS room	Turn on VATTtel monitor and check for error messages
TCS room	Toggle power switches `ON`: AZ, EL & DEROTATOR amplifiers (should see some values on dome current (ampere) readout; the rest are dead) DO NOT POWER UP COUNTERWEIGHTS AMPLIFIER
TCS room	Turn off light
TCS room	Make sure bellows door is fully open after leaving the room
2nd lvl lobby	Close doors to silo and to the instrument room (air flow management)
Control room	Turn on the intercom
Control room	Turn on dome flood light (left of the SW balcony door)
Control room	Turn on the main dome fan (green button on a strip to the right of the SW balcony door); adjust the speed to 8 by turning the knob on the top of the strip counter-clockwise to the limit (yes, 0 = the highest speed); listen to sound of proper operation over the intercom
Control room	MOUNT CONTROL tab: Wait for “NESLAB is On” to appear
Control room	THERMAL tab: note temperature differential (strut & mirror)
Control room	THERMAL tab: radio button “ON” (do not use setpoint; setpoint to be used EXCLUSIVELY to change mirror temperature fast in time-critical situations ⇒ CLOSE SUPERVISION REQUIRED)
Control room	TURN ON VIDEO MONITORS for the old FinderScope and Porch Sky Camera
Control room	Mandatory for remote operation: check that Skype is running on the Samsung Galaxy Tablet A using the Skype username and password listed on the intercom unit
Control room	PEPSI only: At the easternmost xterm, log in to vattarchive as vattobs
Control room	PEPSI only: Open an xterm and start the VNC viewer using this command: `vncviewer –via ajarvinen@ssh.lbto.org –shared –viewonly 192.168.164.19:1` (pressing the “Up” arrow at the command prompt should load this stored command). Enter password (posted on the bottom of the xterm monitor) when prompted.
Control room	PEPSI only: At the xterm closest to the old printer, log in to vattarchive as vattobs (OK to have two logins of same operator on this machine). In menu bar at top of vattarchive desktop start Firefox, hover near the top of the display to lower the title/URL bar enough to access, and use address bar drop-down history to open http://10.0.2.11/local/viewer/axisvid.html; click on All Sky window, then make Firefox full-screen by pressing F11 (not necessary if Firefox was left in full screen mode when last shut down).
Control room	MOUNT CONTROL tab: Press “Open Slit” button and make sure dome shutters (slit) open (visual inspection via Dome camera), listening for sound of proper operation over the intercom.
Control room	MOUNT CONTROL tab: Open mirror cover, listening for sound of proper operation over the intercom
Control room	MOUNT CONTROL tab: Enable drives (automatically releases brake: listen over intercom)
Control room	TCSglue main window: Enable Derotator tracking if disabled: click on the derotator position field, opening a small dialog box, and toggle the tracking there, then close dialog box
Control room	DO NOT “Calibrate”
Control room	PEPSI only: TCSglue main window: during PEPSI runs, disable derotator tracking
Control room	If applicable, right mouse click on the dome-position field opens offset input dialog box. Enter inputs and watch dome movement (floodlight on). Kill dialog box.
Control room	Start INDI server (double click desktop icon): a terminal appears; you may minimize it. The INDI server must be running in order to communicate with `vatttel`, i.e., it must be running before you start `azcam`, `xephem`, `PHD2`, etc.
Control room	Start “Secondary and Guidebox” GUI. A window opens: select VATT4k or VATTSpec. Another window opens. The top controls the M2 PI hexapod and the bottom controls various motors in and on the Guide box. The GUI is a browser window. The diagram and the text output box scale with CTRL+/- (or CTRL and mouse scroll wheel). Other elements scale when the window is resized.
Control room	Start autocollimation (more detailed instructions are in a separate document): Press `Connect` button; field surrounding button should turn green; press `Reference` button; field surrounding it turns yellow(ish); wait for it to turn green; press `Auto Collimate` button; hit `enter` in Focus, TipX, and TipY boxes, to move secondary to previous night's final positions
Control room	Connect the Guidebox part of the GUI to the hardware by pressing the `Connect` button. After any loss of power to the Guidebox you must click `Reference` (the procedure takes several minutes). Use the `Initialize` button if one of the axes becomes unresponsive (e.g., stuck in a limit).
Control room	Start PHD2 (double click desktop icon): your main reference should be a separate dedicated document; instructions that follow here are simplified
Control room	PHD2: Main tool bar, click icon that looks like a USB male connector: `connect equipment` window appears
Control room	PHD2: `connect equipment`, in the camera row, click on the icon that looks like a screwdriver and wrench in an “X”: `INDI Configuration` window should appear
Control room	PHD2: `INDI Configuration` window: click the INDI button near the bottom of the window: `INDI options` window appear
Control room	PHD2: `INDI Options` window: select `Apogee CCD` tab (there are many tabs, and `Apogee CCD` is the right-most one; depending on the dimensions of the window, you may not see it at first; just scroll the tabs until you see it), and click the `connect` button in the `Connection` field: after a few seconds, a bunch of new fields and tabs appears. (The message “[ERROR] Model is not supported by the INDI Apogee driver” may mean that the camera is not powered up.) Check that the cooling system is on. Set binning to 8×8.
Control room	PHD2: Close the two INDI-related windows. Back in the `Connect Equipment` window click the `Connect` buttons for `Camera` and `Mount`. Ignore error message, “Bad-pixel map does not match camera…” If the Mount does not connect the first time (there may be an error message), try clicking the “Connect” again.
Control room	Start XEPHEM (double click desktop icon)
Control room	XEPHEM: main window: click “Now” on top right and “Update” in bottom bar, then toggle the small “RT” button to the right of `Looping` ⁴⁾; check that the bottom bar says `Stop`
Control room	XEPHEM: If applicable, “Data” menu: Load/delete local files
Control room	XEPHEM: If applicable, dialog box/“filter” field: ENTER PATH TO USER FILES
Control room	XEPHEM: Make sure that XEPHEM communicates with the telescope: In the “Telescope” pull-down menu, select “INDI Panel”, which opens, and then toggle “Connect” at the panel's bottom. Check that there is a graphical representation of the telescope's position (bull's eye) in the SKY VIEW chart.
Control room	XEPHEM: SKY VIEW window: We used to click grid control (under Images menu) twice, turning RA–DEC grid off and then Alt–Az grid on. This does not seem to work anymore. In the “Control” pull-down menu select “Options”, which opens a new window, and toggle “Alt-Az” at the top left of the window.
Control room	First initialization of coordinates can be performed shortly after sunset, using a bright star (<2mag) near the meridian.
Control room	XEPHEM: SKY VIEW window: Find a bright star near the meridian, at Elevation 30°-60°; based on RA and DEC, picture 1st move in ALT–AZ telescope will make; after selecting star in Sky View window, hit “Telescope GoTo”; WATCH telescope to see whether it is moving as envisaged. BE READY with software stop (hover mouse over “STOP” button); Watch for target star on the finder telescope monitor.⁵⁾
Control room	Watch the telescope behavior immediately after commanding the motion, to make sure the motion seems to be appropriate and that the telescope is not accelerating to slew-speed, non-commanded co-ordinates (i.e., “running away”).
Control room	If the telescope runs away (an exceedingly rare phenomenon), immediately click the red Stop button at the top of the TCS Information Window. If the telescope still continues to accelerate, hit the red Emergency Stop button on the console, to your right, above the phone.
Control room	Paddle: push telescope until object is in grease pencil cross-hairs circle
Control room	TCSglue main window: Left-click the `Init. coords.` button (this can be done at any point, and more than once)
Control room	Turn up the main dome fan to speed 6 (strip to the right of the SW balcony door)
Control room	turn intercom down
Control room	Start Trouble Report (TRVATT): In menu bar at top of vattcontrol desktop, start Firefox; Trouble Report page will open (https://cbtest.as.arizona.edu/mtnops-trouble-report/). Open new tab in Firefox, and open VATT Weather Dashboard from Bookmarks bar. Click 3 Hours tab. Fill in pertinent fields along top (Observer(s), Instrument, Operator(s), etc.).
	TELESCOPE “Go Live” SEQUENCE COMPLETE

Control room	It is highly advisable to collimate the telescope using a star in the vicinity of your science target field.
Control room	If applicable, WATCH telescope to see whether it is moving as envisaged. BE READY with software stop (hover mouse over “STOP” button).
Control room	XEPHEM SKY VIEW WINDOW: Identify a collimation object (magnitude < 7). Use XEPHEM GoTo function.
Control room	Paddle: Jog selected object into finder telescope monitor cross hairs
Control room	TCSglue main window: Init co-ords (do this again because it will improve localized pointing: collimation object is in the vicinity of the science target)
Control room	Check/optimize telescope focus with science instrument prior to collimation
Control room	“Autocollimation” must be running throughout the collimation & focusing procedure!
Control room	Adjust focus with Secondary GUI, taking an exposure with the science camera, and when using the 4k CCD Imager, evaluate the distribution curve fit in IRAF xgterm
Control room	Guidebox GUI: insert Center field pickoff mirror
Control room	Use PHD2 to observe the object. If the image is noisy, you may need to check whether PHD2 is correctly processing the image. Open the `Darks` pull-down menu and select `Use dark library`. A tick-mark appears to the left. Refer to PHD2's help files.
Control room	Paddle: push collimation object to center of guider monitor @ rate of 5 sec/sec. DO NOT USE GUIDER STAGES TO CENTER OBJECT.
Control room	Guidebox GUI: defocus to obtain “donut” (offset -30)
Control room	Secondary GUI: adjust TipX, TipY to even out light distribution in “donut”, re-centering object with paddle
Control room	Guidebox GUI: refocus (eliminate/adjust offset; it will be a value close to 0)
Control room	Guidebox GUI: select U-mirror
Control room	Check/optimize telescope focus with science instrument (after collimation)
	Collimation & focusing completed

Control room	Select target and use XEPHEM GoTo function. Monitor the telescope motion during slewing.
Control room	Use Paddle to center target in the Finder
Control room	VATT 4k CCD Imager only: Take image with main science camera to check the field; use paddle to adjust; re-initialize coordinates as required
	Target acquired
Control room	Instructions for guiding are provided in a separate document. Briefly, once you have a guide star, click on it. A yellowish frame appears. Open the `Tools` pull-down menu, select `Modify calibration` > `Clear calibration data`, answer in the affirmative when asked whether you know what you are doing, and click on the green `Guide` icon in the main tool bar. PHD2 will perform a calibration of the corrective motions and start guiding.
Control room	IRAF In order to work with multi-extension fits files in IRAF, load mscred in IRAF (typing `mscred`), and use `mscexam` command to interact with ds9 (rather than imexam).

Streamlined Warm Startup / Oct 1, 2020 / P Gabor, M Franz et al.

✔✘

Before you get started it is always a good idea to check the weather

all-sky camera etc

Local Weather Station

National Weather Service Forecast

http://10.0.1.12:7680/3hours.html at VATT

Control room

Enable LiveView from the Dome Camera ¹⁾

Control room

Enable LiveView from the new FinderScope ²⁾

Control room

Enable live view from the Axis thermal IR P12 camera ³⁾

Once every few days it is prudent to reboot VATTtel

Control room

Kill TCSglue if running; ensure that M2 Controller is disconnected; kill all GUIs (if any)

TCS room

Make sure that M2 PI Controller is off

TCS room

Reboot VATTtel: if VATTtel is running, press tiny “Reset” button, wait for the green “Run” and “Pass” LEDs. The old Guider will not be found.

TCS room

Booting VATTtel: if VATTtel is not running, power it on after checking that GPS is on. Also note that prior to booting, VATTtel requires VATTdata server to be running. PEPSI only: These are the servers that need to be running: VATTdata, VATTcontrol, VATTautoguide, VATTdev, VATTOCS, VATTarchive, PEPSI.

TCS room

Watch VATTtel monitor to make sure that the kernel loads from network server

This streamlined version assumes there is no time to turn the thermal system on for a couple of hours before opening VATT. If there is time, use the other checklist

everywhere

Shutter all windows with blackout shades and curtains

TCS room

After VATTtel boots up, turn on the M2 PI Controller (just flip the switch and leave; it takes a while to boot up; you will check that it has done so later).

TCS room

Toggle power switches to ON on the DOME amplifier (fan will start, and amps will show on LCD readout)

Control room

@ VATTCONTROL (console) while logged in to vattcontrol as vattobs

Control room

Start TCS_GLUE (double click desktop icon)

Control room

TCSglue main window: Make sure dome tracking is enabled (left-clicking on the dome-position field toggles between tracking enabled/disabled)

Control room

TCSglue > Mount Control tab: Toggle the Telescope Control System's status bit regarding the dome slit: Click the Open Slit button (it will toggle to Close Slit). The slit will then need to be opened from the dome in due course. The dome slit control unit is deteriorating. As a consequence, the dome slit motor must be activated in the dome.. The Telescope Control System's status must anticipate the physical change.

Dome

Dome procedures

Dome

Open dome register vents (there are four pairs of them)

Dome

Remove Dome Short

Dome

At quad box on curved wall below the dome short installation position, plug dome shutters into the power socket (note on safety: this ensures dome short is out: tether attached to cord).

Dome

Plugging this cord in the socket powers up a gray electric box above the quad. Open the dome slit by turning and holding the selector (aka turn) switch in the Open position until the dome slit is fully open. If you forget to toggle the TCS status to the open-slit state, leaving it in the close-slit state, the TCS will close the slit immediately after you open it.

Dome

West door (leading to ladder to the roof) is to remain closed (for efficient airflow over the telescope)

Dome

VATT 4k CCD Imager only: start filling science camera dewar with LN2 (attach the grounding wire to the mirror cell first, then to the camera; insert needle into the dewar, fasten it with the bungee cord, open the valve); if using remotely controllable valve follow VATT:Jinvoo LN2 valve

Dome

VATT 4k CCD Imager only: fill out LN2/camera log – listen for full dewar, cease flow when dewar is full. Do not use force when moving the LN2 hose if it is stiff: just unfasten the bungee cord, and let gravity free reign.

Dome

Check dome home position and if necessary, correct it by lifting the encoder wheel, spinning it about ½ - turn (usually clockwise as viewed from the top) and immediately setting the wheel back down, into contact with the abrasive surface. Watch dome position until it settles down (usually overshoots at least twice, at varying velocities).

Dome

Check derotator position (home switch magnet is showing, near sensor, to its right); check cable wrap is not twisted

Dome

Check dome shutters are plugged into the wall power socket (if the dome shutters were left half way open, they will finish opening fully)

Dome

Turn on power supply of finder telescope camera (on top of box on South side of East fork)

Dome

Open finder telescope objective cover (CAUTION: check for snow on dome shutters if needed)

Dome

Open the new finder telescope objective cover

Dome

Andor Apogee guider camera power supply (a white inline electric switch mounted on the N side of the “guide box”): Turn power “ON”

Dome

VATT 4k CCD Imager only: finish disconnecting LN2 filler hose from camera dewar, move storage dewar off of telescope platform and south, to dome silo wall)

Dome

VATT 4k CCD Imager only: remove camera ground wire (first from the camera, and only then from the mirror cell) and clip it on silo, near storage dewar

Dome

Disengage stow pins (~100 on LCD readout), note telescope is south heavy if mirror cover is closed (which it should be), and must be raised slightly in elevation towards zenith with hand pressure, until marks align. Failure to do this usually binds stow pins, resulting in failure of pins to fully release.

Dome

Check azimuth axis “home” (pointers best visible from lower level by the entrance to dome)

Dome

Check AZ hard stop flippers are showing green sides north (manually flip if not)

Dome

Make sure West door (leading to ladder to the roof) is closed and locked for safety reasons (a person on the roof could get swept down by the rotating dome's shutters)

Dome

Check all lights off (except for the floodlight operated from Control Room) and close door to elevator vestibule when leaving

Dome procedures complete

Basement

Basement procedures

Basement

USE HEARING PROTECTION PROVIDED IF STAYING TO OBSERVE OPERATION OF PUMPS (muffs are by light switch)

Basement

Check dry air supply system dew point (typ. ~ -47°F; now tends to be 10°F warmer)

Basement

Turn on building & pier fans

Basement

STEP ONE (labeled as such): Pull out red switch, upper left corner of control box

Basement

After recirculation pump starts, check flow meter by oil tank

Basement

Check that one chiller is “ON” (green indicator) (alternates between chillers #1 & #2, each on/off cycle). If neither indicator comes on, check the current (look at the box with the STEP ONE and STEP TWO: on the bottom right of the right side of the box there is a selector switch, its two leftmost positions allow you to monitor the current through the two chillers on the red digital ampmeter). If neither chiller is on yet at this stage, turn one of them on manually (turn the top switch to manual and push the ON button).

Basement

Check oil temp set point (61°F)

Basement

Check oil temp actual (should rise immediately after recirculation pump starts, then settle at or very slightly above set point)

Basement

Check oil level light “OK” (if it's going to go out because of low oil level, it will do so after recirculation pump and/or pressure pumps have been started. May come back on after more running, as oil returns from azimuth bearing)

Basement

STEP TWO (labeled as such): Rotate pumps switch clockwise to “ON”

Basement

Check low side (feed pump) pressure rising

Basement

WAIT FOR HIGH PRESSURE PUMP TO START

Basement

Check high pressure side: pressure and flow “OK” after running awhile

Basement

Hydrostatic-bearing oil system active

Basement procedure complete

Silo 2nd lvl

NESLAB: First night of the run check coolant level; not necessary on following nights, unless there is a visible leak. [Access hatch is on the top of the cabinet, at the far left. Under the hatch is the hatch into the coolant reservoir, removable with two captured thumbscrews. Coolant should cover the visible, coiled pipes. DO NOT ADD COOLANT WITHOUT CONSULTING THE DAY CREW (Gary Gray): it is better to run with the coolant slightly low (i.e., ~1/4 of the diameter of the top, coiled pipe exposed) than to put the wrong coolant mixture into the reservoir.]

Silo 2nd lvl

Turn NESLAB on only if VATTtel is already booted so that you can turn cell fans and thermal control on without undue delay

Silo 2nd lvl

NESLAB: Simultaneously toggle front panel ON/OFF switch to “ON” & slowly raise manual valve lever (to minimize vibration)

Silo 2nd lvl

NESLAB: Also simultaneously: watch pneumatic-actuated valves “OPEN”

Silo 2nd lvl

NESLAB: Check pressure gauge (usually well above the nominal 56 psi)

Turn on M1 cell fans: Legacy TCS glue does not control the cell fans anymore. When in doubt, send co-observer to listen in the Dome to make sure that the cell fans will be turned on correctly because the only confirmation available will be their sound. Listening at the East fork is best.

TCS room

Flip the switch on the quad to turn M1 cell fans on. A night light connected in parallel will light up to indicate that M1 cell fans are now powered up.

TCS room

M2 PI Controller: make sure it is on by checking the status LEDs

TCS room

Check both toggle switches on clear panel under VATTtel keyboard are toggled down

TCS room

Turn on VATTtel monitor and check for error messages

TCS room

Toggle power switches ON: AZ, EL & DEROTATOR amplifiers (should see some values on dome current (ampere) readout; the rest are dead) DO NOT POWER UP COUNTERWEIGHTS AMPLIFIER

TCS room

Turn off light

TCS room

Make sure bellows door is fully open after leaving the room

2nd lvl lobby

Close doors to silo and to the instrument room (air flow management)

Control room

Turn on the intercom

Control room

Turn on dome flood light (left of the SW balcony door)

Control room

Turn on the main dome fan (green button on a strip to the right of the SW balcony door); adjust the speed to 8 by turning the knob on the top of the strip counter-clockwise to the limit (yes, 0 = the highest speed); listen to sound of proper operation over the intercom

Control room

MOUNT CONTROL tab: Wait for “NESLAB is On” to appear

Control room

THERMAL tab: note temperature differential (strut & mirror)

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THERMAL tab: radio button “ON” (do not use setpoint; setpoint to be used EXCLUSIVELY to change mirror temperature fast in time-critical situations ⇒ CLOSE SUPERVISION REQUIRED)

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TURN ON VIDEO MONITORS for the old FinderScope and Porch Sky Camera

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Mandatory for remote operation: check that Skype is running on the Samsung Galaxy Tablet A using the Skype username and password listed on the intercom unit

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PEPSI only: At the easternmost xterm, log in to vattarchive as vattobs

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PEPSI only: Open an xterm and start the VNC viewer using this command: vncviewer –via ajarvinen@ssh.lbto.org –shared –viewonly 192.168.164.19:1 (pressing the “Up” arrow at the command prompt should load this stored command). Enter password (posted on the bottom of the xterm monitor) when prompted.

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PEPSI only: At the xterm closest to the old printer, log in to vattarchive as vattobs (OK to have two logins of same operator on this machine). In menu bar at top of vattarchive desktop start Firefox, hover near the top of the display to lower the title/URL bar enough to access, and use address bar drop-down history to open http://10.0.2.11/local/viewer/axisvid.html; click on All Sky window, then make Firefox full-screen by pressing F11 (not necessary if Firefox was left in full screen mode when last shut down).

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MOUNT CONTROL tab: Press “Open Slit” button and make sure dome shutters (slit) open (visual inspection via Dome camera), listening for sound of proper operation over the intercom.

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MOUNT CONTROL tab: Open mirror cover, listening for sound of proper operation over the intercom

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MOUNT CONTROL tab: Enable drives (automatically releases brake: listen over intercom)

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TCSglue main window: Enable Derotator tracking if disabled: click on the derotator position field, opening a small dialog box, and toggle the tracking there, then close dialog box

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DO NOT “Calibrate”

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PEPSI only: TCSglue main window: during PEPSI runs, disable derotator tracking

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If applicable, right mouse click on the dome-position field opens offset input dialog box. Enter inputs and watch dome movement (floodlight on). Kill dialog box.

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Start INDI server (double click desktop icon): a terminal appears; you may minimize it. The INDI server must be running in order to communicate with vatttel, i.e., it must be running before you start azcam, xephem, PHD2, etc.

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Start “Secondary and Guidebox” GUI. A window opens: select VATT4k or VATTSpec. Another window opens. The top controls the M2 PI hexapod and the bottom controls various motors in and on the Guide box. The GUI is a browser window. The diagram and the text output box scale with CTRL+/- (or CTRL and mouse scroll wheel). Other elements scale when the window is resized.

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Start autocollimation (more detailed instructions are in a separate document): Press Connect button; field surrounding button should turn green; press Reference button; field surrounding it turns yellow(ish); wait for it to turn green; press Auto Collimate button; hit enter in Focus, TipX, and TipY boxes, to move secondary to previous night's final positions

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Connect the Guidebox part of the GUI to the hardware by pressing the Connect button. After any loss of power to the Guidebox you must click Reference (the procedure takes several minutes). Use the Initialize button if one of the axes becomes unresponsive (e.g., stuck in a limit).

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Start PHD2 (double click desktop icon): your main reference should be a separate dedicated document; instructions that follow here are simplified

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PHD2: Main tool bar, click icon that looks like a USB male connector: connect equipment window appears

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PHD2: connect equipment, in the camera row, click on the icon that looks like a screwdriver and wrench in an “X”: INDI Configuration window should appear

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PHD2: INDI Configuration window: click the INDI button near the bottom of the window: INDI options window appear

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PHD2: INDI Options window: select Apogee CCD tab (there are many tabs, and Apogee CCD is the right-most one; depending on the dimensions of the window, you may not see it at first; just scroll the tabs until you see it), and click the connect button in the Connection field: after a few seconds, a bunch of new fields and tabs appears. (The message “[ERROR] Model is not supported by the INDI Apogee driver” may mean that the camera is not powered up.) Check that the cooling system is on. Set binning to 8×8.

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PHD2: Close the two INDI-related windows. Back in the Connect Equipment window click the Connect buttons for Camera and Mount. Ignore error message, “Bad-pixel map does not match camera…” If the Mount does not connect the first time (there may be an error message), try clicking the “Connect” again.

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Start XEPHEM (double click desktop icon)

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XEPHEM: main window: click “Now” on top right and “Update” in bottom bar, then toggle the small “RT” button to the right of Looping ⁴⁾; check that the bottom bar says Stop

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XEPHEM: If applicable, “Data” menu: Load/delete local files

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XEPHEM: If applicable, dialog box/“filter” field: ENTER PATH TO USER FILES

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XEPHEM: Make sure that XEPHEM communicates with the telescope: In the “Telescope” pull-down menu, select “INDI Panel”, which opens, and then toggle “Connect” at the panel's bottom. Check that there is a graphical representation of the telescope's position (bull's eye) in the SKY VIEW chart.

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XEPHEM: SKY VIEW window: We used to click grid control (under Images menu) twice, turning RA–DEC grid off and then Alt–Az grid on. This does not seem to work anymore. In the “Control” pull-down menu select “Options”, which opens a new window, and toggle “Alt-Az” at the top left of the window.

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First initialization of coordinates can be performed shortly after sunset, using a bright star (<2mag) near the meridian.

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XEPHEM: SKY VIEW window: Find a bright star near the meridian, at Elevation 30°-60°; based on RA and DEC, picture 1st move in ALT–AZ telescope will make; after selecting star in Sky View window, hit “Telescope GoTo”; WATCH telescope to see whether it is moving as envisaged. BE READY with software stop (hover mouse over “STOP” button); Watch for target star on the finder telescope monitor.⁵⁾

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Watch the telescope behavior immediately after commanding the motion, to make sure the motion seems to be appropriate and that the telescope is not accelerating to slew-speed, non-commanded co-ordinates (i.e., “running away”).

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If the telescope runs away (an exceedingly rare phenomenon), immediately click the red Stop button at the top of the TCS Information Window. If the telescope still continues to accelerate, hit the red Emergency Stop button on the console, to your right, above the phone.

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Paddle: push telescope until object is in grease pencil cross-hairs circle

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TCSglue main window: Left-click the Init. coords. button (this can be done at any point, and more than once)

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Turn up the main dome fan to speed 6 (strip to the right of the SW balcony door)

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turn intercom down

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Start Trouble Report (TRVATT): In menu bar at top of vattcontrol desktop, start Firefox; Trouble Report page will open (https://cbtest.as.arizona.edu/mtnops-trouble-report/). Open new tab in Firefox, and open VATT Weather Dashboard from Bookmarks bar. Click 3 Hours tab. Fill in pertinent fields along top (Observer(s), Instrument, Operator(s), etc.).

TELESCOPE “Go Live” SEQUENCE COMPLETE

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It is highly advisable to collimate the telescope using a star in the vicinity of your science target field.

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If applicable, WATCH telescope to see whether it is moving as envisaged. BE READY with software stop (hover mouse over “STOP” button).

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XEPHEM SKY VIEW WINDOW: Identify a collimation object (magnitude < 7). Use XEPHEM GoTo function.

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Paddle: Jog selected object into finder telescope monitor cross hairs

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TCSglue main window: Init co-ords (do this again because it will improve localized pointing: collimation object is in the vicinity of the science target)

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Check/optimize telescope focus with science instrument prior to collimation

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“Autocollimation” must be running throughout the collimation & focusing procedure!

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Adjust focus with Secondary GUI, taking an exposure with the science camera, and when using the 4k CCD Imager, evaluate the distribution curve fit in IRAF xgterm

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Guidebox GUI: insert Center field pickoff mirror

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Use PHD2 to observe the object. If the image is noisy, you may need to check whether PHD2 is correctly processing the image. Open the Darks pull-down menu and select Use dark library. A tick-mark appears to the left. Refer to PHD2's help files.

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Paddle: push collimation object to center of guider monitor @ rate of 5 sec/sec. DO NOT USE GUIDER STAGES TO CENTER OBJECT.

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Guidebox GUI: defocus to obtain “donut” (offset -30)

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Secondary GUI: adjust TipX, TipY to even out light distribution in “donut”, re-centering object with paddle

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Guidebox GUI: refocus (eliminate/adjust offset; it will be a value close to 0)

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Guidebox GUI: select U-mirror

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Check/optimize telescope focus with science instrument (after collimation)

Collimation & focusing completed

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Select target and use XEPHEM GoTo function. Monitor the telescope motion during slewing.

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Use Paddle to center target in the Finder

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VATT 4k CCD Imager only: Take image with main science camera to check the field; use paddle to adjust; re-initialize coordinates as required

Target acquired

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Instructions for guiding are provided in a separate document. Briefly, once you have a guide star, click on it. A yellowish frame appears. Open the Tools pull-down menu, select Modify calibration > Clear calibration data, answer in the affirmative when asked whether you know what you are doing, and click on the green Guide icon in the main tool bar. PHD2 will perform a calibration of the corrective motions and start guiding.

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IRAF In order to work with multi-extension fits files in IRAF, load mscred in IRAF (typing mscred), and use mscexam command to interact with ds9 (rather than imexam).

¹⁾

Use the Internet Explorer browser on a Windows machine, connected to network via ethernet or via wifi (SSID=“VATT” not “VATT_Guest”) and go to 10.0.2.30 with the standard VATT Observer user and password combination, or use the smart phone app Hik-Connect from HikVision HQ; also available on the Samsung Galaxy Tablet A.

²⁾

See the footnote above but IP=10.0.2.29.

³⁾

See the footnote above but IP=10.0.2.28, and you obviously cannot use HikVision software: just use a browser or the “IP Cam Viewer Lite” on Samsung Galaxy Tablet A.

⁴⁾

These steps were unnecessary at one stage of software development.

⁵⁾

FIRST POINTING: The star will be in the new Finder Scope's field. Place the target to the right of the tiny orange arrow using the MOUNT CONTROL tab: Open paddle, select 100 arcsec/sec rate, and push telescope (usually NORTH) until object is near the mark on the monitor. Pick a slow speed (1“/sec or 5”/sec) and then use paddle to center it, first by the mark in the Finder Scope and then also on the Offset Guider Andor Apogee camera monitored via PHD2.