CAPS-Camera Software

News

v3.8.1 (2017-02-13)

Screen Shots and Software Documentation

Configuration Window

Observer: [edit] : observer's name

CCD/DSP: [menu] : {caps.s,caps-nogws.s}

caps.s: use shutter during guide-window readouts
caps-nogws.s: do not shutter during guide-window readouts

CCD/DSP: [menu] : {online,simulator}

simulator: for tests with no dewar
online: dewar electronics are connected and running

CCD-Host: hostname of computer that is running the 'CCDserver'

Telescope: [menu] :

None: no TCS
DuPont: duPont TCS

Telescope: [menu] : telescope status

Online: TCS (or simulator) is running
offline: do not communicate with TCS

Cass.Rotator: [menu] : {fixed,fromTCS}

fixed: fixed cassegrain rotator angle
fromTCS: read cassegrain rotator angle from TCS

Cass.Rotator: [edit] :

cassegrain rotator angle (if fixed)

CAPS-GUI

Disk: disk status (fuller of the two disks)

ExpTime: [edit] : sets the exposure time (1..8200 seconds)

Loops: [edit] : number of exposures per sequence

ReadMode: [menu] : { FF-only, GW-only, FF+GW }

EType: [menu] : { Object, Dark, Flat }

GuideExp: [edit] : guide window exposure time

GuideGeo: [edit] : guide window geomentry (x,y,w,h)

Object: OBJECT value in the FITS header

Comment: COMMENT value in the FITS header

Start: starts a loop sequence of Loops exposures

File: next file name number (prefixNNNN.fits)

The prefix may be set using the Opt-Prefix menu.

Abort: aborts the current exposure (frame will be lost)

Execute: executes the script file in the edit-box to the right of the button.

TelOff dx: [edit] : telescope offset R.A. [arcsec]

dy: [edit] : telescope offset Dec. [arcsec]

Move : [button] : move telescope by dx,dy

Dewar Status

C-1: Temperature [C], heater current [mA] and setpoint [C] of the temperature control loop run by the DSP.

C-2: Temperature [C], heater current [mA] and setpoint [C] of the temperature control loop run by the DSP.

TC-Loop: Status of the DSP temperature control loop.

Target: [edit] : target temperature [C] during cooldown.

AutoCool: [menu] : {Off,On}

If On the CAPS-GUI lowers the CCD temperature by 1 deg. [C] every minute until the Target temeperature is reached.

QuickLook Tool

Color-Map: [menu] : { Gray, BBdy, Rain, InvG }

Sets color lookup table.

Magnification: [menu] : {mag1,mag2,mag4,mag8}

Magnification factor of the Magnifier window.

Pixel: The current cursor pixel coordinate (center of the aperture and magnifier) and pixel value at the cursor position.

Radius: Sets the radius for the aperture statistics (MinMax, AveSig above).

min/max: Minimum and maxium pixel value within the aperture.

mean/dev: Average and standard deviation within the aperture.

flx,fwhm: flux and FWHM estimate

Press the 'space' key while centered on a star to calculate an estimated FWHM and flux.

Stretch: sets the dynamic range of the scaling algorithm

cuts: manual data range (edit-boxes at the top and bottom)

med3: -3..+3 sigma around the background (median of frame)

med5: -5..+3 sigma around the background

3/10: -3..+10 sigma around the background

mima: full data range

Left mouse button: moves the Magnifier window.

Right mouse button: adjusts the contrast and level of the color map (SAOimage, DS9).

Cursor keys: moves the Magnifier window by 1 pixel.

Option/Alt-c: calculates the approriate telescope offset to center the current magnifier position.

Option/Alt-g: enters the current magnifier position into the guide window geometry edit box.

Scripting

exptime #

set the exposure time to '#' seconds.

loops

set the number of exposures for the next exposure loop.

readmode { FF-only , FW-only , FF+GW }

set the readout mode.

etype { object , dark , flat }

set the exposure type.

guideexp #

set the guide window exposure time to '#' seconds.

guidegeo x y w h

set the guide window geometry.

object name

set the object record in the FITS header to 'name'.

comment text

set the comment record in the FITS header to 'text'.

start

start the next exposure loop.

move dx dy

move the telescope by 'dx,dy' arc-seconds.

coord dx dy

move the telescope by 'dx,dy' arc-seconds and the guider box by '-dx,-dy'.