
This exercise simulates the operation of a telescope and photon counting
multi-channel spectrometer.  Begin by selecting "Log In" on the main
menu, and fill in the requested information.  After completing the
log-in, select "Start" on the main menu.

The control panel that appears has three major parts.  The telescope
controls and readouts appear on the left, the spectrometer control
appears on the right, and the star field is displayed in the center.

Press the "Dome" button to open the dome.  In a few moments the first
star/galaxy field will appear.  Note that the stars and galaxies drift
Westward in the field as the Earth turns.  Press the "Tracking" button
to stop this motion.

The controls that move the telescope are below the "Tracking" Button.
The "Slew Rate" button selects the speed of the motion.  Try moving the
telescope around at various speeds with the N-S-E-W buttons.  (To move
the telescope, press and hold a directional button.  Releasing the
button stops the motion.)  On a long slew, the motion may momentarily
stop and the words "Slew Reset" appear in the upper left of the screen.
If you continue to hold the button, the motion will resume after a few
seconds.  If you release the button, you may press it again when the
message disappears.

The red square in the center of the Finder display shows the size of the
Instrument field of view.  Move the telescope so that a galaxy is near
the center of the red crosshairs and press the "Monitor" button.  The
Instrument display will appear with two red lines at its center
indicating the position and size of the spectrometer slit.  You may
change back and forth between the Finder and Instrument displays
whenever you like by pressing the "Monitor" button.  However,
spectrometer measurements can only be made from the Instrument display.

You are now ready to begin taking spectral data.  Switch to the
Instrument field of view (if you have not already done so), and
carefully center a galaxy on the slit.  Press the Spectrometer "Take
Reading" button and the spectrometer reading window will appear.  The
"Taking Data" Help screen describes how to record and measure the
spectrum.  When you have finished with a galaxy, return to the control
panel and move to another galaxy in the field.  Your instructor will
tell you how many galaxies in each field you should measure.  (Check the
"User" Help category for special instructions.)

When you have finished measuring the galaxies in a field press the
"Monitor" button to return to the Finder display, then select "Change
Field" from the main menu.  A list of the available fields will appear
with the highlight on the current field.  Move the highlight to another
field (by clicking the cursor on the appropriate line) and press "Ok" to
move the telescope.  (You can also move the telescope by pressing the
"Set Coordinates" button and entering the coordinates of the next field,
if you know them.)

To Quit:  When you have completed your observing run, turn off tracking,
close the dome, and select "Quit" from the main menu.

