Harvard University Astronomy Lab and Clay Telescope

CCD Startup and Shutdown Procedure

CCD Startup

• Turn on power strip at the base of the telescope (you should hear fans turn on – if not, power may need to be reset or wrong cord is plugged in)
• Open Slide Mirror application (double click icon on Desktop)
• Click Stow to allow light to fall on CCD
• Open Filter Wheel application (double click icon on Desktop)
• Click on filter you would like. You should hear the filter change.
• In yellow TCS window, change focus to CCD focus (see focus tab)
• Open MaximDL 5 (double click icon on Desktop)
• Click View -> Camera Control Window -> Under setup tab
• To use Imaging CCD ONLY
• Camera 1-> setup camera is set to Camera Model – Apogee USB/Net
• Camera 2 -> setup camera is set to Camera Model - NONE
• To use Imaging CCD AND external guider camera
• Camera 1 -> setup camera is set to Camera Model – Apogee USB/Net
• Camera 2 -> setup camera is set to Camera Model – SBIG Universal
• Click Connect
• Click Coolers ON
• If you want RA/DEC in header - Click View -> Observatory Control Window
• Under setup tab -> Telescope Click connect (close that window)
• In TCS -> telescope -> rates make sure RA rate is set to 15 and click apply
• Under Expose tab, take images (see MaximDL help). Don’t forget to get best results, wait for cooler temp to reach -20 C and turn off all lights!!

CCD Shutdown