TELESCOPE OPERATIONS

BASIC ENABLING PROCEDURES

General

This procedure covers basic steps for operating the 43 Meter Telescope.

Info

The 43 Meter Antenna Main Console window is used to monitor/control the telescope for manual moves and automated observing.

The MIT-Lincoln Labs-NRAO Bi-static Radar Monitor is a web page used to monitor observing status. It's updated automatically every 8 seconds.

Specific Antenna Stowing Positions

POSITION	HA (Degrees)	DEC (Degrees)
Stow/Survival	0.0	38.438
Service Position	-106.204	-14.553
Stow East	-100 Deg	-10
Stow West	100 Deg	-10

CITECT Main Console Control Buttons

BUTTON	ACTION
Remote Control	Disables the local console and enables the CITECT GUI R virtual buttons. You must be in REMOTE CONTROL to operate with computer control.
Local Control	Enables the local console. All computer control is disabled.
System Idle	Commands the PLC to take the system to the System Idle mode. System Idle is defined to be when the system pre-charge is on, the declination and polar drive motors are running, the stow brakes are set, and the hydraulics are set to bleed.
System Ready	Commands the PLC to take the system to the Ready mode. System Ready is defined to be the same as System Idle, except the stow brakes for both axes are released.
Manual	Basically the Operator’s "Take Control" button. This mode allows the Operator to manually move the antenna.
Auto	Allows the Observer’s program to "Get Control" of the antenna and run observing commands. This button can only be pressed when the system is in the Ready mode.
Halt	Commands the system to go from the Active state to the Ready state. Also causes the system to go to Manual mode. If the system is already in the Ready or Idle state, then nothing happens.
Idle
Stow	Commands the antenna to HA = 0.0; Dec = 38.438 . This button is active only when in Manual mode, System Ready, and the axes are disabled.
Snow East	Commands the antenna to HA = -100 Deg; Dec = -10 . This button is active only when in Manual mode, System Ready, and the axes are disabled.
Snow West	Commands the antenna to HA = 100 Deg; Dec = -10 . This button is active only when in Manual mode, System Ready, and the axes are disabled.
Service Position	Commands the antenna to HA = -106.204; Dec = -14.553 . This button is active only when in Manual mode, System Ready, and the axes are disabled.
Low Rate	Sets rate as 10 deg/min max
High rate	Sets rate as 25 deg/min)

Antenna Control Via 43 Meter Antenna Control Screens

Starting the Citect Main Console

STEP	ACTION
1	To launch, click on the Citect RunTime? button on the windows desktop (launches the Main Console and Alarms panel).
2	Resize the windows to a desired size.
3	To quit the 43 Meter Citect Main Console, press the Citect Shutdown button at the top of the Main Console window.

Starting the Antenna Control Screen

STEP	ACTION
1	To launch, start PuTTY and SSH to host prospero; Log in as gbtops; Type rscreen deimos. The main shell for the antenna control screen will appear.
2	Launch ACU 43M module: ACU (enter), ACU (enter). Verify the A/M mode is set to Auto.
3	Launch Station Clock module: CLOCK (enter)
4	Launch Dispatch Commands module: DISPATCH (enter), COMMANDS (enter)
NOTE	Resize the entire window to a desired size then hit CTRL-R to refresh the modules for fit.
NOTE	To quit the 43 Meter Antenna Control Screen, press CTRL-C then type a to abort the session. Exit from prospero to close the window/connection.

Starting the 43 Meter GUI Display

STEP	ACTION
1	To launch, start PuTTY and SSH to host prospero; Log in as gbtops; Type 43mgui. The graphical antenna position display will appear.
2	To close, press CTRL-C then type a to abort the session. Exit from prospero to close the window/connection.

Checking/Viewing Command Files

NOTE	These are the files used to run observing sessions and will end with *.cmd* .
1	From a Linux workstation, go to the mlln directory: cd ^ home/ovlbi1/mlln/in
2	Use the ls command to view the directory.
3	Use the *more* command to view the files.

MIT-Lincoln Labs-NRAO Bi-static Radar Monitor

NOTE	This monitor is an auto updating web page. To view it, simply open a web browser then go to: *www.gb.nrao.edu/mlln/operate/

-- DavidRose - 12 Feb 2008

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