Zero pointing the telescope
1. Select a bright star and slew telescope to this star (there are 2 options)
A. Option: Move the telescope to the desired star
B. Option: Go to"2. Movement menu" 2 ENTER
   Select      "1. Set slew position" 1 ENTER
   Enter star coordinates
            " RA: XX XX XX.X" ENTER
            " DEC: XX XX XX"  ENTER
            " EPOCH:    X.X"  ENTER
  Select      "7.START SLEW" 7  ENTER

 

2. Center this star in the finder scope to a
   pre described position in the cross wire.

 
 

A star in the finder
 

    Center star on your detector (CCD or other instrument)
Go to  "2. Movement menu" 2 ENTER

Select "2. Set offset"    2 ENTER

Select "7. Start slew"    7 ENTER
 
 

When the object is centered, initialize the telescope. *
 

(If you operating the Photometrics CH 260, then you will
 need, for bright stars as Vega, 100 ms exposure time
 in PMIS to get an acceptable image.)
 

4. Initializing the telescope

Go to "Main menu"

Select "1. Initialization menu"    1 ENTER

Select "2. Set telescope position" 2 ENTER

Enter coordinates of the star

"MEAN R.A: XX XX XX.X" ENTER

"MEAN DEC:XX XX XX " ENTER

"EPOCH: X.X " ENTER

"ANY CHANGES ? N0 " ENTER
 
 
 

* According the mode of observation, you have to use
  the appropriate pixel scale to center the star on the CCD.

The following information will help you to center the star on your monitor.
 
 
 
CCD
Pixel size (?m)
Direct Imaging

(arcsec)/pixel
Foc. Red. Imaging

(arcsec)/pixel
I.S.A.
15
0.314
0.588
CH 260
19
0.398
0.745
CH 360
24
0.502
0.941

 
 
 
    INITIALIZE THE DOME
    Set the 6th switch on top panel in "DOME TRACK" position
2. a. Set "TRACK SWITCH" OFF (on top panel, 2nd
       switch from the left).
    Open the electrical box.

    You have to plug in the two gray cables in their "25 pins sockets".

    You have to connect the "circular black socket", nearby the "25 pins sockets" with it's cable.

    You have to uncover the plug of big fat cable and connect it to its socket.

    Then you have to connect the cable of the "encoder of the dome" in to its socket inside the top of wall behind the telescope, above the cabinet.

    At last you have to close the electrical box and turn the red main switch on (I).

3. a. Open the "shutter of the dome". (It is not necessary to follow this step)
    Position the telescope to the south and to an airmass of 1.6

    Move the telescope in the south position only. Then you start turn the dome so that the telescope has an open field through the shutter of the dome.

You must be sure that the telescope is in a direction that you can see in the center of the opened shutter of the dome.
You can do it easily only by align it with the hand paddle of the telescope.
d. Go to "MAIN MENU"

Select "1. Initialization menu" 1 ENTER

Select "3.Set dome position" 3 ENTER

Type in the "Telescope azimuth"(TCS value) ENTER

(Always try to have no difference between the telescope azimuth and the dome azimuth. Maybe it's necessary to try again the same step adding the half of the difference in order to have the same number in both values.)

    Turn on the switch "AUTO DOME" ON, on top panel of TCS.

    Turn on the switch "TRACK", on top panel.

GO TO AN OBJECT
 
 

Go to "MAIN MENU"
 
 

Select " 2. Movement Menu" 2 ENTER
 
 

Select " 1. Set slew position" 1 ENTER
 
 

Enter coordinates of the object

R.A.: XX XX XX.X" ENTER
 
 

"DEC: XX XX XX" ENTER
 
 

"EPOCH: X.X" ENTER
 
 

"ANY CHANGES? NO" ENTER
 
 

Select "7.START SLEW" 7 ENTER
 

ATTENTION:

If the telescope doesn't lock on to coordinates, stop slew.

For stop 2 options:

A. Option: Select "8.STOP" 8 ENTER

B. Option: Press the "CANCEL" button on the TCS on top front panel.

    CLOSING DOWN

    Slew telescope to zenith,

DEC 35:12:42

HA 00:00:00.0,or slew telescope to RA = siderial time

(S.T.)

(It's better before of this movement to have a picture by your eyes of

the condition in the second floor, it's better to be upstairs to move the

telescope by the hand puddle.)
 
 

    Turn off track and adjust the telescope with hand paddle
    Push "HALT MOTORS" button (red on 3rd last panel)
4. Close mirror doors

Switch on " AUX" SWITCH (2nd last panel)

Switch mirror doors switch to "close" (top panel)

When shutters closed switch off "AUX".
 
 

    "MAIN" switch off, "PUMP" switch off (on 2nd last panel).
    "DRIVES" switch off (on top panel).
7. Close dome: Sent dome to park position "DOME HOME" (Top panel)
Close shutters

Disconnect power when finished

Adjust dome position with hand paddle

Disconnect power to dome control box

Connect the 12 lightning protections
 
 

8. Turn off TCS (Main switch)
 
 

9.Insert pins if needed
 
 

ATTENTION:

DO NOT USE FORCE when the pins do not go in.

Slightly move telescope, by your hand, till you set the RA hole.

Push the knob of the RA pin inwards. Push the DEC pin in, by following the same procedure for the DEC disc.