1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Intended readership

This document is intended for all users of the WHT autoguider system. The document is split into two parts. The first part is intended for Telescope Operators who wish to use the Autoguider during normal observing. The second part, the Command reference is intended for engineers and programmers who wish to use the autoguider from the Utility network interface, in a non standard way, or to develop the software.

1.2. Purpose

The manual gives a description of the Autoguider system, and the VME software which is used to guide the telescope. Examples of the standard ways of using the autoguider are given.

This manual does NOT give any ICL command names. Although the normal usage for the Autoguider should be via an ICL session, only a few of the ICL commands pertaining to the autoguider have been implemented, and the rest have not yet been defined. Operation of the autoguider via ICL should be done with reference to WHT-AUTO-3, the user manual for the autoguider D-task.

1.3. How to use this document

The document is divided up into the following chapters:-

2 Overview A brief description of the software and how it

is normally used.

3 Hardware description A description of the boards in the VME system

and how to connect it to the rest of the system.

4 Application switching How to set the autoguider system up for use at different focal stations.

5 Acquisition & Guiding Reading out fields from the CCD and finding

guide stars. How to start and control guiding.

6 Autoguider Commands Those commands available for normal use

at the engineering terminal or from the ICL

prompt.

7 Reference section A detailed list of each command available,

when and how to use it.

1.4. Related documents

You may find the following documents useful.

WHT-AUTO-1 Autoguider Network Interface Specification

WHT-AUTO-3 WHT Autoguider: D-task user-guide

"CCD guidance system for the William Herschel Telescope" D J Thorne et al, SPIE Vol1235 pp400-412

WHT-CCD-1 CCD Controller User Manual

1.5. Conventions and abbreviations

1.5.1. Abbreviations

Abbreviation        Meaning                                                        
ADC                 Analogue to Digital Converter                                  
AF2                 AutoFib II  instrument ( mounted at Prime focus )              
CASS                Cassegrain focal station                                       
CCD                 Charge Coupled Device                                          
CCDC                CCD Controller                                                 
DMS                 Detector Memory System                                         
ICL                 Instrument Control Language ( on the system computer )         
PRIME               Prime focus focal station                                      
RGO                 Royal Greenwich Observatory                                    
TCS                 Telescope Control system                                       
UES                 Utrecht Echelle Spectrograph, mounted at one of the Nasmyth    
                    Focii.

Table 1. Abbreviations

1.5.2. Typographic Conventions

Throughout this document, the following conventions have been adopted:

All Autoguider commands issued from the Engineering terminal are shown in Upright Helvetica font, for example: 1 AGSTAR

All Utility Network commands will be shown in courier font , for example SEL101(1)

All output from the Autoguider will be shown in courier font , for example

Guide star at border of CCD !

1.6. Problem reporting instructions

Operational problems should be reported using the usual LPO reporting procedure i.e. in the defect data base, which will can be accessed from RGO. Once you have entered your fault in the database, please mail a copy to me at abg@mail.ast.cam.ac.uk, from the print menu. Stuart Barker is the current Autoguider Support specialist on site, and Jonathan Burch covers the system computer side of the autoguiders interactions.

Specific problems may be be reported to:-

A. B. Gentles

Technology Division

RGO Cambridge

Phone +44 223 374839

abg@mail.ast.cam.ac.uk