Planning, Setup, Acquisition

Plan the imaging session

1. Check weather condition forecast (i.e. Clouds, Transparency, Wind, Scintillation, Humidity)
2. Check moon phase (rise/set time)
3. Check Astronomical Dusk time
4. Select an available target based on:
   • • What objects are visible between North-East and South-East  (i.e. based on the observatory location and available sky area)
     • What objects are above 45° at dusk
5. Select equipment to use (e.g. wide-field, vs. long focal length) based on size and brightness of target
6. Based on target and equipment selected, determine exposure requirements for (Lights, Darks, Bias and Flats):
   • Total integration time
   • Single or multiple nights
   • Start/Stop time for each night
   • Number of sub-exposures
   • Duration of sub-exposures
   • Binning
   • Camera temperature
   • Filters

 Setup the equipment

1. Setup acquisition sequence in Sequence Generator Pro
2. Unlock observatory
3. Remove dusk caps from imaging and guiding scope and install dew-shield(s)
4. Boot computer and confirm network connection is running
5. Ensure the observatory monitor is turned off and ensure there is no residual lights from LEDs
6. Turn off surveillance camera (i.e. Infrared lights)
7. Close and lock observatory door
8. Turn off surveillance camera (i.e. Infrared lights)
9. Connect to observatory computer via Windows remote desktop from house
10. Connect to ethernet Power Controller (i.e. IP Power bar) and switch on all outlets
11. Connect all equipment in Sequence Generator Pro and PHD Guiding
12. Open Observatory Roof
13. Validate sequence configuration
14. Launch the sequence Generator Pro sequence

Acquisition

Sequence Generator Pro Sequence

1. Wait for start time
2. Goto and center target (i.e. plate solve the area and synch the mount)
3. Focus camera
4. Start and stabilize autoguiding
5. Capture lights through LRGB filters
   • Focus between each filters (stop guiding while focusing then restart)
   • Flip Meridian when needed
6. Park Telescope
7. Close Roof
8. Turn flat panel on, take Flats though each filters and turn flat panel off
9. Take Darks (if required)
10. Take Bias (if required)
11. End of sequence

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