0.5m Telescope Instructions

MENU OUTLINES

  1. Initialization
    1. Set date and time - to set date and UT (UT is 5 hr ahead of EST [4 hr of EDT]; date is UT date)
    2. Set telescope position - to fix the RA and dec the telescope is pointing to if they are wrong
    3. Set dome position - to enter azimuth of the dome
    4. Set rotator position - (currently unused)
    5. Set focus position - to set the number at this focus (does not change the focus!)
    6. Open data file - for pointing map - authorized personel only!
    7. Close data file - for pointing map - authorized personel only!
  2. Movement
    1. Set slew position - to enter RA and dec to slew to
    2. Set offset - to offset in RA and dec from current position
    3. Select library object - choose library object to slew to
    4. Select table entry - choose table object to slew to
    5. Set zenith position - sends telescope to zenith
    6. Start trail
    7. Start slew - starts slew motion
    8. Stop - interrupts and stops telescope slew
    9. Write data to file - for pointing map - authorized personel only!
  3. Rates
    1. Set track rates - sets track rates (normally 15 arcsec/sec in RA, 0 in dec)
    2. Set handpaddle rates - sets set and guide rates (normally 100 and 5)
    3. Set trail rates
  4. Miscellaneous
    1. Set switches
      • cos dec (yes/no) - YES only if near Pole
      • rate corr (yes/no) - YES only if at large zenith angle
      • dome (yes/no)
      • dome home (yes/no)
    2. Set display epoch - sets epoch for coordinate display on screen; most catalogs are 2000
    3. Set table entries - to enter coords of special objects, e.g. planets
    4. Move focus position - to change the telescope focus

hitting the ESC key aborts any command

COMMON OPERATING PROCEDURES

going to object in library

  1. in main menu, select MOVEMENT menu (2)
  2. in movement menu, select LIBRARY OBJECT (3) and specify object number
  3. in movement menu, select START SLEW (7)

correcting telescope's coordinates

  1. go to a bright star in the libary
  2. center the star using the hand paddle
  3. in the main menu, select INITIALIZATION menu (1)
  4. in initialization menu, select TELESCOPE POSITION (2)
  5. enter 0 for RA, dec, and epoch (this enters the current position)

to create your own table of objects (such as planets)

  1. go to object with telescope using hand paddle
  2. in the main menu, select MISCELLANEOUS (4)
  3. in miscellaneous menu, select SET TABLE (3)
  4. enter an index number
  5. enter 0 for RA, dec, and epoch (this enters the current position)

to use your own table of objects (such as planets)

  1. in the main menu, select MOVEMENT (2)
  2. in the movement menu, select TABLE ENTRY (4)
  3. enter index number of desired object
  4. in the movement menu, select START SLEW (7)

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