NewCCD Software Documentation - Release Notes

Direct - Echelle - WFCCD

Location of this document: http://instrumentation.obs.carnegiescience.edu/Software/NewCCD/notes.html

Version History

v1.5 , v1.4 , v1.3 , v1.2 , v1.1 , v1.0

v1.5.3 (2019-02-25)
  • The new (macOS) Direct GUI has been installed in /Applications/LCO/
    • Please use it instead of the 'ccdgui' for the Direct-CCD instrument.
    v1.5.2 (2017-02-28)
  • The new (macOS) Echelle and WFCCD GUIs have been installed in /Applications/LCO/
    • Please use them instead of the 'ccdgui' for the Echelle and WFCCD instruments.
    v1.5.1 (2015-11-18)
  • Allow to change the binning for the Snap exposure.
    • Menu: Options--Snap
  • The TCS has been updated to allow to adjust the telescope focus via a button on the CCD-GUI (added in v1.4).
    • v1.5 (2015-06-29)
  • Allow to change Loops during an exposure loop.
  • Added a secondary data path.
    • The secondary data path is optional.
    The Disk status bar on the GUI indicates now the fuller of the two disks.

    1.4.1 (2015-02-13)
  • Removed the "TCS/Old" option from the Configuration window.
  • Intercept Window Close events from the Window Manager (CXTLib-v4.070).
  • 64-bit executable.
    • 1.4 (2014-10-07)
  • Added a button that allows to adjust the telescope focus.
    • Note: The TCS software needs to be updated to allow focus offsets from the instrument GUI.

    1.3 (2014-08-22)
  • FITS: Removed the "G-FOCUS" (gauge), "M-FOCUS" (MACS) and "T-FOCUS" (target) records and
    • introduced the new "TELFOCUS" ("%.1f") keyword.
  • Renamed the "CASSPOS" FITS record to "POSANG" (180-CassEncoder).
  • The Configuration window allows to set the Cass.Rotator angle manually.
    • This angle is necessary to allow the software to move the guider box in the proper direction.
    The position angle on the sky is '180-Cass.Angle', ie. for the standard N-up,E-left orientation this value should be set to '180'.
    The manual setting should only be used if there are problems with the encoder.
  • Added scripting capability, including dithering.
    • Example-1: linearity, takes a sequence of exposures at various exposure times.
    Example-2: square5, a script that takes 5 exposure loops in the shape of the '5' on a dice. This example does not move the guider box. Use coord instead of move to move the telescope and the guider box (coordinated offsets).

    1.2.2 (2013-12-13) Direct, Echelle, WFCCD (duPont)
  • Read the focus and cassegrain rotator from the new TCS.
    • The "M-FOCUS", "G-FOCUS" and "T-FOCUS" FITS records are now identical.
    The "CASSPOS" FITS record is '180-cass.rotator.encoder'.
    1.2.1 (2013-10-22) 4Kx4K camera (Swope)
  • Installed the new 4kx4k-4.s file on ccd12 and ccd13.
  • Disabled the Fast and Slow readout speeds and set the CDST for the Turbo speed to 80.
  • Updated the EGAIN and ENOISE values in the FITS header.
  • Disabled the 2-Amplifier mode.
  • The GUI will request the password to change the CCD-Voltages or Readout-Speed parameters every time, when not in engineering mode.
    • 1.2 (2013-10-15) 4Kx4K camera (Swope)
  • Rewired the Swope TCS and blister-box serial lines to use the network via serial-to-ethernet converters (Lantronix).
  • Added the 4Kx4K camera mode at the Swope telescope.
  • The ccdgui may execute simple script files:
    • Create a plain text file (ASCII) in $HOME using your favourite editor.
    Any parameter not given in the script will be taken from the GUI.
    Example: linearity, a script that runs Carlos' linearity test. This simple script assumes that you set the filter (v) and exposure type (dflat) via the GUI.
    Enter the filename into the edit-box to the right of the Execute button and press the Execute button.

    v1.1.2 (2013-06-11)
  • Added writing the instrument configuration to the logfile.
  • Tested as 64-bit binary (we are still running 32-bit, but I want to be prepared).
    • v1.1.1 (2013-05-08)
  • Fixed a bug in the order of "WF4K-1" and "WF4K-2" options on the Configuration window.
    • v1.1 (2013-04-26)
  • Updated the TCS interface to use either the new (Linux) TCS or the old (DOS/MACS) TCS.
    • Note: Please select ON/new unless there is a problem with the new TCS.

    v1.0.3 (2012-05-29)
  • Increase the delay between the end of the exposure and the start of the readout to 1 second (was 0.2 seconds).
  • Warn the user if there is an active edit window (no 'enter') on the GUI when the 'Start' button is pressed.
    • v1.0.2 (2010-08-16)
  • New alias for 'dupont-tcs'.
  • MacOS-X port.
    • v1.0.1 (2010-06-02)
  • Verify telescope coordinates.
  • Fixed the title bar when using the Echelle instrument.
    • v1.0 (2009-12-04)
  • WF4K- and SITe2K-dewar installation.

    • Christoph C. Birk, Carnegie Observatories