General steps for observing with the Solar Patrol Telescope

Activation of the Telescope

Open the Telescope Dome

The dome should be ventilated until the temperature is equivalent to the outside temperature. This procedure takes from 20 to 40 minutes. Therefore the dome should be opened approximately an hour before observation in winter and half an hour before in summer to avoid thermal turbulences.

  • Only open the dome in good weather conditions.
  • Release the latch mechanism to unlock the dome.
  • Use the wheel to open the dome slit carefully.

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Prepare the System

  • Ensure all switches on the control panel are in the off position.
  • Visually inspect the telescope. Check that all control elements are in their proper positions, ensure there are no obstructions that could interfere with the telescope’s movement, and confirm that no components are at risk of damage.

Turn on central Power

First, turn on the power switch located on the wall near the staircase.

central power switch

Activate Telescope Components

  • After inspecting the telescope Switch on Electronics and Motor Power on the control panel. Both switches should be activated quickly, one after another (from left to right).
  • Wait for the 5V, 12V, and CPU indicators to light up.
  • Allow the system to initialize. This process includes movements for automatic mount calibration, which may take a few minutes. The movements are quite noisy.

Electronics_power

Setting Up the Telescope for Observation

Align the Telescope Dome

  • Use the wired remote controller to rotate the dome.
  • Press the < or > buttons to align the dome slit with the Sun.
  • During any movement, it is essential to ensure that there are no obstructions and the dome can rotate freely.

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Adjust Telescope Mount

  • Utilize the RA (Right Ascension) and DEC (Declination) controls on the remote.
  • Center the Sun in the telescope’s field of view by pressing the corresponding directional buttons.

Tune the image quality

  • Adjust focus using the FOCUS+ and FOCUS- buttons on the remote controller.
  • Regulate the light intensity with the CLONA+ and CLONA- buttons.

Observing the Sun

  • Enable the time axis tracking using the remote or web interface
  • Verify that the telescope follows the Sun’s movement across the sky
  • Continue by using the guide for specific Sun observation.

Deactivation of the Telescope

Disable Tracking

  • Turn off the time axis tracking via the interface or wired controller.

Shut Down the System

  • Ensure the system has fully powered down. Confirm that the CPU LED on the control panel is not blinking (wait at least 5 seconds).
  • Switch off the Motor Power and Electronics switches.
  • Turn off the main power switch to cut electricity to the system.

Close the Dome

  • Place the telescope in a parking position to ensure it is not exposed to rain through the dome’s ventilation opening.
  • Ensure the dome is fully closed and secured with the latch mechanism

Additional Remarks

  • During observation monitor the system for any irregularities during operation.
  • For further assistance, refer to the troubleshooting guide.