Some useful(?) SOSS tips

 The operations below are the tips to recover the errors that occurred in the abstract commands in the shortest possible time.


The star is offset from the set position while auto-guiding, and it does not come back to the AG origin though a finit error signal is displayed on TWS.

Ask the telescope operator to perform the following operations, or do this from Telescope Launcher of the SOSS Integ GUI.
    1. AG Off --- Stop auto-guiding.
    2. AG On --- AG re-starting

Stopped while doing the SETUPFIELD for SPEC.

Obtained slit image, but stopped at some point in the midst of taking object exposures. 

Case 1: AG is not moving, but telescope is pointing at the target.

1a: Execute AG.

COMMON/VGW/DoAG

Case 2: AG setup is finished. 

1:b  Proceed

2: Retract the slit.

3: FOCAS/IMAG/GETIMAGE

4: Enter the file names of the slit images taken at the beginning of the procedure in the memory of C1 and C2.

Exec OBS memory Instrument_name=FOCASC1=FCSA000XXXXX C2=FCSA000XXXXX

File extension name *.fits is unnecessary.

5: Enter the name of the files taken in 3 in the memory of C5 and C6.

Exec OBS memory Instrument_name=FOCASC5=FCSA000XXXXX C6=FCSA000XXXXX

File extension name *.fits is unnecessary.

6: Continue setupfield in FINE mode.

FOCAS/SPEC/SETUPFIELD MODE=FINE


Stopped while doing the SETUPFIELD for MOS.

Obtained mask image, but stopped at some point while taking an object exposure. 

Case 1: AG is not moving, but telescope is pointing the target.

1a: Execute AG.

COMMON/VGW/DoAG

Case 2: AG setup is finished. 

1:b Proceed.

2: Retract the mask.

3: FOCAS/IMAG/GETIMAGE

4: Enter the file name of the mask image (taken at the first step of the procedure) in the memory of C1 and C2.

Exec OBS memory Instrument_name=FOCASC1=FCSA000XXXXX C2=FCSA000XXXXX

File extension name *.fits is unnecessary. 

5: Enter the file of the image taken in 3 in the memory of C5 and C6.

Exec OBS memory Instrument_name=FOCASC5=FCSA000XXXXX C6=FCSA000XXXXX

File extension name *.fits is unnecessary.

6: Continue SPEC/setupfield in FINE mode.

FOCAS/SPEC/SETUPFIELD MODE=FINE


AG star is too dim, and the star disappears. Want to change the guide star.

1: Stop guiding.

2: Search for a guide star and re-start guiding.

3: Task is complete if using image mode. If inserting slit or MOS, do the followings. 


When executed AG select in "semiauto," the mode changed to manual. But the star cannot be seen, too dark, etc. Wish to change the star.

1: Select a "good" star from the guide star list on Skycat. The selected star will be marked on skycat when you double-click on the list. 

2: Note RA and DEC of the selected star.

3: Start reading AG with "Exec TSC AG Readout=ON, or ask the operator to take an AG image and send it to OBS. The live movie of the AG image shows up on VGW. 

4: Execute the following commands from SOSS. 

    Exec TSC AGSH_PROBE ra=???? dec=???? f_select=cs_opt

Set RA and DEC the coordinates of the measured star. Press Exec (Interrupt) button.

5: A star appears on AG screen (the upper screen on VGW). If not, re-select another star.

6: Select a box on skycat (the lower screen on VGW) by "manual select." Select the range within the appropriate coordinates on AG_SELECT screen since the star only appears on the upper AG screen.  

7: Ask the operator to stop the AG movie.

9: Press "set" button as normally on ManualSelect.


Want to start observation at the same position although telescope pointed in another direction once after the Setupfield was performed. 

Want to start observation at the same position after intermitting due to a bad weather and etc.

    1. Check the last position of the telescope in the header of the last frame.
    2. Execute the setupfield in Common/Tool. FOCAS/IMAG setupfield will not be used since the AG probe will be retracted. 
    3. Start reading AG with "Exec TSC AG Readout=ON."
    4. Start guiding with a launcher command when you see the star.