Checklist for Total Power schedule-based observations

Notice that actions take place in three different “locations”:

  • (1) = action to be performed in a terminal on escsRemote (.57)
  • (2) = action to be performed in a terminal on escsConsole (.54)
  • (op) = command to be given in the operatorInput panel of ESCS

Login on both (1) and (2) Connect via VNC to (1) as “observer”, then use ssh to access (2).

Launch the monitors, if necessary (1):

$ escsConsole

Initial setup (op):

> setupCCC      (or other receiver code: XXP, KKC)

Tune the local oscillator, if any (op):

> setLO=[freq]
—> e.g. setLO=4900 - start frequency of the observed band will depend on the backend

Point the antenna to a reference position (op):

> goTo=[Az]d,[El]d
—> e.g. goTo=180d,45d

Always explicitly choose the Total Power backend (XARCOS might have been left active) (op):

> chooseBackend=TotalPower

Measure the cold sky signal level (op):

> getTpi
> setAttenuation=[sect],[att]
—> iteratively adjust attenuations until the level is about 800-1000 counts

Get a Tsys (op):

> tsys

Pointing optimisation (op):

> track=name                    (choose a proper calibrator from source catalogue)
> chooseRecorder=MANAGEMENT/CalibrationTool
—> the following command on (1):
        $ calibrationtoolclient  (to display the plots)
> crossScan=HOR,0.5d,00:00:20    (set proper parameters according to your beamsize)
> azelOffsets=0d,0d              (only if wanting to reject the measured offsets!)

WARNING:

  • System offsets, such as the ones measured with a Point acquisition, sum up to the ones indicated inside schedules ONLY if they are expressed in the same coordinate frame.

This means that, if you perform observations using EQ offsets, also the fine-pointing cross-scans must be carried out in the EQ frame. The same holds for HOR scans. If there is a frame mismatch, the system offsets are automatically rejected (bug under fixing).

If needed, create a schedule (2):

Use schedulecreator (see its own guide):
$ basie –c [configfile] [out_directory]

Parse the schedule (2):

$ scheduleChecker [schedulename].scd
—> Move the schedule files to the observing machine

Launch the schedule (op):

> startSchedule=[project/][schedulename].scd,[N]

Data quick-look

  • Case A: when using MANAGEMENT/Fitszilla, launch the raw-FITS quick-look (2):

    $ idl
IDL> .r fitslook
IDL> fitslook

  • Case B: if also using MANAGEMENT/CalibrationTool, launch the quick-look (1):

    $ calibrationtoolclient MANAGEMENT/CalibrationTool
  (—> it opens only if the CalibratioTool writer is currently selected!)

Weather conditions and webcam (in a web browser)

Weather: www.med.ira.inaf.it/escs/meteo Webcam: www.med.ira.inaf.it/webcam.html

Stop the schedule (op):

> stopSchedule
Copy the data (2)
—> Get the latest subfolders written in the main data folder

Stow the antenna (op):

> antennaPark

Close the monitors, if necessary (1):

$ escsConsole —-stop   (individual panels are closed typing “exit” in their command lines)