User's Guide to the Lick 36" Refracting Telescope


Introduction
Dome
General
Floor
Slit (shutter)
Windscreen
Rotation
Lighting
Telescope
General
Balance
Lens Cover
Motion
Position Indicators
Finderscope
Tangent Arm
Reversal
Access Ports
Control Desk
Console
Contents
Limits
Pointing
Weather
Safety
Observing Hits
Checklist
Trouble Shooting

Mt. Hamilton Homepage

Checklist

This in dome checklist is designed for a typical public night (tour, less that 40 people) using the eyepiece in fair weather.

  • Turn on main power
  • Set the light to an appropriate level (make sure exit lights are on and all red lights)
  • Check railings and other safety equipment
  • Unlock doors and let guests in
  • Guide guests to their seats
  • Give safety talk (history, etc)
  • Call 3m and get weather and current LST or use our LST Webclock
  • Set Sidereal Clock
  • Turn Position Dials' light on
  • Unclamp RA and Dec
  • Move telescope to 0HA(it should already be at 0hr)
  • Lock RA and Dec
  • Check/set RA to LST
  • Open Dome (and windows if it is nice out)
  • Open Lens Cover
  • Open Finder
  • Turn on Finder Light
  • Select first object (something easy so that you can verify pointing easy and get the guest looking at something quickly)
  • Announce move (at least floor movements)
  • Verify safe to move
  • Turn lights down
  • Move telescope to first target and lock clamps
  • Check pointing and adjust RA dial as necessary
  • Focus telescope
  • Explain observing technique and object
  • Bring first guests down (~8 at a time)
  • Guide guest down ladders/steps
  • Ensure all guest have seen the object
  • Close all gates, move ladders etc.
  • Select next object, announce move, and move
  • repeat
  • Select final object and repeat
  • Park telescope (locked, 0hrs, -18dec, tracking off, clock drive off)
  • Rotate dome to park position
  • Close lens covers (finder and 36")
  • Close dome (and windows if open)
  • Lock the upper door
  • Lower floor
  • Log: Date/Group/Objects/Seeing/Problems/Initials
  • Call 3m and give them report
  • Shut off lights
  • Shut off main power
  • Exit lower door, turning off exit and under floor lights as you leave
  • Check door locks (all including main building) and turn off any light in the main building (leaving just the one in front of the clock on)


Last modified: May 2011