KELT Scripting Documentation

Before dark the telescope continuously runs the weather extraction script to read data from SALT or SuperWASP feeds. At 1 hour before 18 degree (astronomical) twilight, the preparation script is executed. Flats and biases are taken, and weather is checked. If all looks good, the opening script is executed, and then the observation script is executed. If weather is not good, standby script is executed. Observation script runs through the night. At astronomical dawn, the closing script is executed. After closing, the documentation script is run.

Preparation Script    (Executed once at astronomical twilight)

• Check status of camera and mount: communication, CCD temperature
• slew to watch flatfield
• turn on flatfield lights
• take 5 flats and 5 biases, interspersed
• turn off flatfield lights
• check that flats and biases are reasonable quality, save quality info
• check weather file, make sure is current
• call opening script

Opening Script   (executed at beginning of the night of observing)

• check PLC status, make sure all OK
• open roof
• check roof successfully opened
• call Observation Script

Observation Script    (executed continuously through the night of observing)

Standby Script     (executed continuously through the night of observing when in standby mode)

• check weather status, call Observation Script if weather turns good

Closing Script      (executed once at the end of a night of observing)

• Slew telescope to park position (to avoid getting dust or water on lens during roof closing)
• Slew telescope to point at flatfield
• take 5 flats and 5 biases, interspersed
• park telescope

Documentation Script      (executed once at the end of a night of observing, after the Closing Script)

• Select quality images, 3 full images and 30 subframes
• Transfer quality images to Vanderbilt
• Copy weather and observing logfiles to Vanderbilt
• Copy full data set from drive 1 to drive 2