FourStar Quick-Start Manual

The Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science (Carnegie Observatories), Pasadena, CA

2011-08-25

Christoph C. Birk (birk AT obs DOT carnegiescience DOT edu)

Location of this document: http://instrumentation.obs.carnegiescience.edu/Software/FourStar/quick.html

  • Before the Observering Run
  • After the Observering Run

    FourStar Software Documentation

    Before the Observering Run

    1. Inside the electronics racks on the Nasmyth platform: Check the power to the JADEs (2), PCs (4) and motor controller; turn them on in that order if they are off.
    2. Login into 'llama' as user 'fourstar'.
    3. Start a VNC session to the 'Control-Mac'.
    4. If the power to the JADEs/PCs/MC had been off then close the FourStar software and re-open it by double-clicking the FourStar icon on the 'Control-Mac' desktop. The Setup window should look like this:

      Press the OK button and wait until all windows have opend: CamGUI, TeleGUI, TempControl(2), TempMonitor(2) and LN2-Sensors. It is recommended to move the CamGUI and TeleGUI windows to the 2nd desktop (Spaces) before continuing to separate the user GUIs from the status monitoring.

    5. Set the DetectorTempController: Target=80, Range=0.5

      It takes about an hour for the temperature to stabilze at 80 K.
      The OpticsTempController should always be at Target=200, Range=25.

    6. Set the data paths by seleting the Camera-SetDatapaths menu item and use the Default buttons to set the data path. Please note that FourStar's data directory naming convention uses the 'beginning of the night' UT date.

    7. Open the QuickLook display (Camera-ShowQltool) and you are ready to Go.

    After the Observering Run

    1. Turn off the detector heater by seleting 'Range=Off' on the DetectorTempController.
    2. Please consult with the FourStar team if you should turn-off the JADEs, PCs and motor controller inside the electronics racks. If the next FourStar run is just a few days away, it is probably better to leave everything on.
    3. Close the VNC session and logout of the 'fourstar' account on llama.

      Please leave the FourStar sofware running at all times.

    2011-08-25, Christoph C. Birk, Carnegie Observatories