StanCam and NOTCam together

The StanCam web page

StanCam is in principle always prepared when NOTCam is mounted, but if you plan to use it, please, state so explicitly in your NIRF . StanCam is per default equipped with standard UBVRI and H-alpha filters.

• Open another desktop on the lisa terminal where you are already logged in on marissa and running NOTCam. Open an xterm window and login on tessa with ssh -l obs tessa, the password being provided by staff.
  
  
• Change directory with cd stancam and start there the StanCam BIAS software by typing startbs. Three windows will pop up, one DS9 display, one CCD status window and one command window.
  
  
• In the command window you have to enter the TCS access code. This code is found on the TCS in status page 1 which you get by typing sh 1 on the TCS command line. The code is shown on the top part of the screen as: Access Code xxxxxxxxxxx.
  
  
• If you want you may start the electronic observation log: In an xterm type cd /data/stancam/ followed by obslog-stancam STnnmm\*.fits where "nnmm" is the image prefix of the night.
  
  
• On the TCS do the following:
  • instr-name stancam (this sets the correct field orientation and makes sure the correct guide area is used)
  • put the CCD in position by typing c-probe-CCD
  • select filter by typing CCD-fil and the number corresponding to the filter you want (U=1,B=2,V=3,R=4,I=5,Ha=6)
  • foc-del -380 if you have focused NOTCam
  • tv-foc 415 should be close to the right guide TV focus
  
  
  
• How to focus the telescope and the guide camera:
  
  
  • If default focus is good enough then use foc-del on the TCS as indicated above. The focus offset between NOTCam WF-cam K-band and the StanCam R-band filter is 380 units, in the sense that going from NOTCam to StanCam you apply foc-del -380.
    
    
  • If the optimum StanCam focus is required then use a focus star close to zenith (e.g. from the blanks catalog) and start a focus sequence with the BIAS command focus (start value) (focus step-size) (exptime) (e.g. focus 22920 80 12) **do not autoguide**. The resulting image gives a number of exposures at different focus values (the last one is offset by two steps), and you can evaluate which is the best focus. If necessary, iterate. Check Focusing StanCam - quick help .
    
    
  • Finally, correct the focus on the guide TV if autoguiding is needed. Start with tv-foc 415 and adjust with steps of 10.
    
    
• Make an exposure by typing exp followed by the time in seconds.
  
  
• When finished with StanCam go back to NOTCam by the following commands on the TCS terminal:
  
  instr-name notcam
  c-probe-park
  foc-del 0
  
  When you want to exit from the StanCam aquisition program, which should be done before you restart BIAS every new night, type exit in the BIAS command window.