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Overview

There are several different systems which the observer needs to know about and operate, as summarized below. In general these are the same as for observing with any other instrument such as ISIS but with the addition of the LEXT software package running on a separate computer. More detailed descriptions are presented in the relevant sections, and there are also separate manuals for the systems not specific to LDSS-2,

Instrument Control System: This is the control system for the instruments and related sub-systems. It consists of a number of ADAM D-Tasks which handle communications with the instrument sub-systems and a user interface running ICL which accepts simple commands. The observer interacts with the system via a VAXstation which also runs a multipage MIMIC display to show the status of the telescope and instrumentation. The following functions may be controlled:

• Instrument control (see Section 3.2 for LDSS-2)
• Data acquisition and detector configuration.
• Acquisition and Guidance unit (comparison lamps/filters and autoguider probe positioning)

Detector Memory System (DMS): This controls the detector system and is run from a window on a Sparcstation in the console area. It is operated by the observers. The main functions are:

• Monitoring of the CCD
• Inspection of the raw CCD data through interaction with an image display
• Hartmann tests for focus/tilt and rotation checks (see Section 4.6)

LEXT software: This runs on a dedicated VAXstation in the control room. The system is operated by the observers and runs in an account called LEXTOBS. See Section 2 for further information.

Telescope Control System (TCS): This system is used to control the telescope and associated sub-systems. It is run through a VMS-style user interface by the Telescope Operator.

Acquisition TV system: This is a Forth-based system controlled by the Telescope Operator.

Autoguider Control System: The CCD autoguider is run by a FORTH based system which is controlled either by commands from the ICL interface, or through a terminal interface to the system, usually used by the Telescope Operator. The operation of the CCD autoguider, and the commands available from both interfaces, are described in more detail in the ISIS User's manual. Control of the Autoguider probe positions is through the ICL interface,

Data Archiving: Data are formatted and saved to disk on the system computer by the Data Acquisition system. Data are recorded on disk in .NDF format, and should be archived to tape (usually on a Digital Audio Tape), using the procedures FITSINIT and WRITE_FITS.