ITAS-18

Main Menu - Telescope Control - Telescope Functions II

Telescope Functions II is the second list of ten telescope control functions that ITAS-18 can perform. A horizontal menu will appear that looks like the following:

F1-HP

F2-AV

F3-BK

F4-JP

F5-ST

F6-SOP

F7-PLT

F8-SC

F9-PC

F10-DC

The first item is a help screen, which simply translates the mnemonics of the menu into phrases that explain the functions. They are:

The hot keys for the Telescope Function menus are the function keys.

The next three items in this menu (F2 - F4) refer to the sequences of filter combinations that make up the observing program. See the section below under F6 for a complete discussion of observing programs. Advancing in the program means selecting the next filter in the sequence. Backup refers to selecting the previous filter, and jump means moving ahead three places in the observing sequence. When any of these items is selected, the operations area on the status board reflects the selection (Advance, Backup, or Jump) and the filter area will also change. Each of these program manipulation functions provides full wrap around in both directions in the observing program.

Set Time (F5) uses the same procedure described above for setting the time from either the Most Accurate Clock or manually.

Select Observing Program (F6) allows the user to select one of the built-in filter sequences or create a customized program. A window appears containing the following:

Option A is currently the default. Two types of programs are available. Options A and C are single pass programs, i.e., the steps are executed and then the user is asked to select a new group. Option B is an example of a looping program, i.e., one that repeats the same steps continuously. Option D allows the user to build a customized observing program. Character checking is done so that only valid filter codes are accepted (the validation is case sensitive). In order to make the customized program single pass, make the last filter a colon. Omit the colon for a looping program.

The last three items in the Telescope Functions II group control I/O devices. They are Screen Control (F8), Disk Control (F9), and Printer Control (F10). Each is a simple toggle controlled by pressing the appropriate key (C for screen, D for disk, or P for printer). The output to any of these devices is a listing of the file name, file type (Normal, Bias, Dark), and time of the beginning of the exposure for each exposure saved to the hard drive during the run.