| | 253 | == 14. Focus frames are causing timeouts == |
| | 254 | |
| | 255 | Symptoms:: |
| | 256 | The focus frames tend to cause timeouts of the instrument. |
| | 257 | |
| | 258 | Frequency:: |
| | 259 | Can be as large as 3/4 focus frames encounter this problem. |
| | 260 | |
| | 261 | Fix:: |
| | 262 | We do not yet know the cause of this problem (it is a relatively new “feature”, as of the start of the 2017B observing semester). For now, please set up focus scripts with only 5 steps, which for some reason tends to increase the probability that they will complete. Run the first sequence with a pedestal focus step size of 125 units, and then run a second focus sequence with a smaller step size of 75 units once you have a good first-guess for the focus. The problem with the focus frames also means that we should minimize the number of focus frames we run through the night - it is better to just try and “eyeball” the focus based on the contour plots of the PSF and estimates based on the temperature variations of the telescope truss. |
| | 263 | |
| | 264 | == 15. XQuartz-related windows on mayall-7 freeze up == |
| | 265 | |
| | 266 | We have had recent (Aug 2017) issues with the X-windows on mayall-7 freezing up. When this happens, the observing appears to continue without interruption, but all windows that use XQuartz (like the NMSL and NGUI guis, NOCS xterms, MCCD gui from which you can change the focus, etc.) all freeze up. You can keep observing in this mode even with these windows frozen; you just have to ask the OA when you want to change focus, etc. In this mode, the “Terminal” command on the mac system still works and launches windows, so you can use this to ssh mosaic3 and execute any commands needed to interact with the exposure queue (e.g., put in a “touch forcepass3" command, or "touch quit”). If you really need to restart x-windows, you will have to stop the mosaic software - in this case, follow this procedure: |
| | 267 | (a) open a Terminal window[[BR]] |
| | 268 | (b) ssh mosaic3[[BR]] |
| | 269 | (c) cd exec/mosbot/ [[BR]] |
| | 270 | (d) touch quit [[BR]] |
| | 271 | (e) wait for the exposure to stop, the tonight.sh script to stop, and the exposure to display in the ximtoo window [[BR]] |
| | 272 | (f) type “nocs stop all”; once this is done, type “nocs nuke pana” and “nocs nuke dhs” [[BR]] |
| | 273 | (g) Go to the top menu bar and kill XQuartz - this will also kill a bunch of other windows and menus [[BR]] |
| | 274 | (h) Restart Xquartz by clicking on the “Mosaic3” icon on the right hand side of the bottom left screen on Mayall-7 [[BR]] |
| | 275 | (i) Restart mosaic by using the “Star Mosaic” button [[BR]] |
| | 276 | |
| | 277 | |
| | 278 | == 16. Sudden drop in transparency == |
| | 279 | |
| | 280 | Symptom:: |
| | 281 | Sudden drop in transparency when the skies are clear. If this is caused by occultation of the telescope pupil, the pupil ghost image will show distortions (see image) |
| | 282 | |
| | 283 | Fix:: |
| | 284 | Tell the OA and have her/him fix it. In the past the pupil has been occulted by the mirror covers not retracting fully, or the dome drives tripping and resulting in occulting the telescope (check the dome drive error angle on the black VDU monitor), or the lower shutter being |
| | 285 | in the way. |
| | 286 | |
| | 287 | [[Image(pupilghost_obscura_137456.jpg,400)]] |
| | 288 | |
| | 289 | |
| | 290 | |
