update checklist.md

Author: ojf

_pages/checklist.md

@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ nav: true
 nav_order: 3
 ---
 
-Last Updated: June 28, 2025
+Last Updated: July 2, 2025
 
-This is a brief summary of the procedures you need to follow when observing at MRO. Observers should contact MRO staff prior to use of the telescope for the very latest information . If you are reading a printed copy, please check the revision date at the top against the latest version at [https://uwmro.github.io/checklist/](https://uwmro.github.io/checklist/).
+This is a brief summary of the procedures you need to follow when observing at MRO. Observers should contact MRO staff prior to use of the telescope for the very latest information.
 
 ### Arrival Checklist
 
@@ -34,25 +34,28 @@ Humidity in excess of 95%;
 
 Weather data for wind speed and humidity are available from the wireless station located to the left of the control room monitors. Data for (Temperature - Dewpoint) are available from the same station. If sustained wind speeds exceed 20MPH, or you are experiencing gusts in excess of 35MPH, you should work with the telescope dome opening pointed downwind (away from the direction that the wind is blowing from).
 
-1. **Prepare the camera.** On the left-hand control room computer, click the MRO Camera Controls bookmark in Firefox (you can also navigate to [http://72.233.250.83/](http://72.233.250.83/) from any machine on the network). Initialize the camera, set it's temperature to -82 degrees, and press *Set*. It should take approximately ten minutes for the camera to indicate this temperature, but possibly half an hour till it's stable. 
+1. **Prepare the camera.** On the left-hand control room computer, click the MRO Camera Controls bookmark in Firefox (you can also navigate to [http://72.233.250.83/](http://72.233.250.83/) from any machine on the network). Initialize the camera, set it's temperature to -82 degrees, and press *Set*. It should take approximately ten minutes for the camera to indicate this temperature, but possibly longer until it's stable. 
 
-2. **Setup the filter wheel.**  Under *Filters*, press *Home* to prepare the filter wheel for use. 
+2. **Setup the filter wheel.**  Under *Filters*, press *Home* to prepare the filter wheel for use.
+
+3. **Prepare the telescope control computer**  If necessary, open a remote desktop connection by starting Remmina on the right-hand computer, then double-clicking to connect to the F1 computer. Once connected, a shortcut to *SiTech.exe* is on the desktop, and *SkyView* is opened from there.
 
 4. **Open the dome around sunset.**   From the power unit in the northeast corner of the dome, plug the upper shutter power cable (round end) into the appropriate socket located below the dome motor; you will need to rotate the plug, as well as rotate its locking ring to fully seal it into position. Once it is connected, push and hold the upper shutter control switch to open the upper door. After the upper shutter has moved a few inches, you can open the lower shutter by plugging in its (standard 3-prong) power cord and pushing on the lower shutter power switch located on the righthand side of the dome motor until the lower shutter is fully deployed. Unplug the 3-prong power cord when the lower half is fully deployed. The upper shutter will stop automatically, at which point you can unplug its power cord. Restow the cables using the carabiners attached to each power cord. Each of the carabiners should snap onto the U bracket which is mounted above the dome shutter motor -- make sure the plugs don't hang down, otherwise they might get caught as the dome rotates.
 
-3. **Turn on the telescope.**  Turn on power to the telescope's motors with the key on the RA skirt. You will hear the *clunk* of a relay and see green power lights on the Digiplan Stepping Motor Drive and the Xbox receiver. On the right-hand control room computer, start Remmina and double-click to connect to the F1 Computer. If necessary, open *SiTech.exe* and click *SkyView*.
+5. **Turn on the telescope.**  Turn on power to the telescope's motors with the key on the RA skirt. You will hear the *clunk* of a relay and see green power lights on the Digiplan Stepping Motor Drive and the Xbox receiver. 
 
-5. **Initialize telescope to zenith.**  If the telescope has been properly parked, it will be pointed at zenith. If you're not sure, use the bubble level and the hand paddle to bring to telescope to zenith. Resist the urge to make small adjustments--if the telescope appears to be very near zenith, it was almost certainly properly parked! After you have confirmed that the telescope is pointed at zenith, update the telescope's coordinates by clicking *Initialize to Zenith* in *Telescope Controls* on the left-hand computer (it's okay to click OK in the dialog box that will appear on the right hand computer). The telescope will start tracking, so unless you're about to slew to a star, click STOP. **At this point the telescope can move. ALWAYS announce your slews and watch the lines when moving the telescope!!!** 
+6. **Initialize telescope to zenith.**  Only initialize the telescope when it is parked*, pointed to zenith. On the left-hand computer, click *Initialize to Zenith* in *Telescope Controls* (it's okay to click OK in the dialog box that will appear on the right hand computer). The RA and Dec should change to the LST and MRO's latitude. The telescope will start tracking, so unless you're about to slew to a star, click STOP. **At this point the telescope can move. ALWAYS announce slews and watch the telescope while it is moving!!!** , 
+- * Manually park the telescope by using the bubble level and the hand paddle to bring it to zenith. Resist the urge to make small adjustments--if the telescope appears to be very near zenith, it was almost certainly properly parked!
 
-6. **Remove the telescope covers.** Move the telescope to cover position with the *Slew to Cover Position* button. Use the ladder on the southeast end of the dome floor to remove the cover to the main telescope, as well as the 6" finder on the east side of the telescope. Store both covers on the table south of the telescope pier.
+7. **Remove the telescope covers.** Move the telescope to cover position with the *Slew to Cover Position* button. Use the ladder on the southeast end of the dome floor to remove the cover to the main telescope, as well as the 6" finder on the east side of the telescope. Store both covers on the table south of the telescope pier.
 
-7. **Take bias exposures.**  A bias exposure at this time will verify that the camera has cooled down and is functioning properly. If all is well, continue.
+8. **Take bias exposures.**  A bias exposure at this time will verify that the camera has cooled down and is functioning properly. If all is well, continue.
 
-8. **Take flats.** Take sky flats pointed approximately 20 degrees east of the zenith (west for morning flats). Take dome flats in Cover Position using the incandescent desk lamp pointed down to the floor. 
+9. **Take flats.** Take sky flats pointed approximately 20 degrees east of the zenith (west for morning flats). Take dome flats in Cover Position using the incandescent desk lamp pointed down to the floor. 
 
-9. **Fine tune the telescope pointing on a bright star.** Vega is a fine target for much of the summer. Select your target in *SkyView* (Ctrl-f), and slew by (left-) clicking and choosing GoTo. It's likely that your target will not appear in the ccd's field of view (But did you remember to zoom out?), in which case you should change the paddle's speed to *Pan* (yellow light on F1), and use the finder to center the star. Once the star appears in the ccd, use SiTech.exe to center and update the telescope's pointing by selecting it again, but this time choose Sync.
+10. **Fine tune the telescope pointing with a bright star.** Vega is a fine target for much of the summer. Select your target in *SkyView* (Ctrl-f), and slew by (left-) clicking and choosing GoTo. It's likely that your target will not appear in the ccd's field of view (But did you remember to zoom out?), in which case you should change the paddle's speed to *Pan* (yellow light on F1), and use the finder to center the star. Once the star appears in the ccd, use SiTech.exe to center and update the telescope's pointing by selecting it again, but this time choose Sync.
 
-10. **Focus the telescope on a faint star.**  Move the telescope to a dimmer star in the finder, then take images and adjust focus to minimize the PSF. 9000 is a reasonable move for donuts, 3000 is best when you can see stars. 1500 is the smallest reasonable move, only for fine tuning. Note that the focus position will change as the temperature changes over the course of the night, which may necessitate refocusing.
+11. **Focus the telescope on a faint star.**  Move the telescope to a dimmer star in the finder, then take images and adjust focus to minimize the PSF. 9000 is a reasonable move for donuts, 3000 is best when you can see stars. 1500 is the smallest reasonable move, only for fine tuning. Note that the focus position will change as the temperature changes over the course of the night, which may necessitate refocusing.
 
 21. **Take your images.**  Remember to watch the lines when slewing, and go outside and check the sky on a regular basis.