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The observing log

Each time a normal observation is made (with the commands run, bias etc.), an entry is made by the system in the observing log. This entry is distilled from a sub-set of the FITS headers, and avoids the need to keep a log manually.

The data recorded automatically for each observation are those most likely to change from exposure to exposure. The entries are sorted into order of increasing run-number.

More stable information can be added manually using the command log_change (no parameters). This command starts a text editor (EVE, with EDT's keypad) in the ICL window. You can enter any text via the editor; press Cntrl-z to exit from the editor and append the text to the log. If you want to enter just a few words, supply your text as an argument to log_change:

ICL> log_change "Telescope refocused to 93.45mm."
This avoids the need to use the editor. It is best not to use log_change during an observation.

Comments on an observation can be entered during the exposure.

ICL> comment aux "Better seeing: 0.7 arcsec"
will enter the given text (up to 70 characters) as a line in the log following the observation it applies to and will also include the comment in the FITS headers. Note that the comment will not appear in the log until the end of the exposure. Using the comment command without comment text starts an editor similar to that invoked by log_change. This allows you to enter comments longer than one line of text. You may enter as many comments per observation as you have time to type, but any comments still in the editor after the CCD reads out will be lost.

The text of the log is continuously displayed in a terminal window. You can scroll around in this window using certain keys on the keyboard:

b
scrolls one line towards the start of the log;
e
scrolls to show the most recent entry;
f,<CR>
scroll one line towards the most recent entry;
q
exits from the log display;
s
scrolls to show the start of the log;
-,_
scroll towards the start of the log by one screen;
<space>
scrolls towards the most recent entry by on screen.

The log display is started for you when the system is loaded; it's the icon labelled `Log'. If you need to restart the display at any time, use the ICL command log_start.

The command log_new_day is provided to start a new log without reloading the observing system. If the previous log was started before midday, and if it is now after midday, log_new_day will open a new log file; otherwise, the existing log is continued. Regardless of whether a new log is started, log_new_day inserts column headings into the log; the command may be used to break the log into pages for printing. Log_new_day takes one parameter, the identity of the observer, which it writes in the heading.



Previous: Protecting the IPCS - shutter discipline.
Up: Using the DAS
Next: The mimic
Previous Page: Protecting the IPCS - shutter discipline.
Next Page: The mimic


Mon Oct 3 21:59:29 WET 1994