What CTIO Does for You...

Observer Support for the Echelle Spectrograph

The only things on the spectrograph which are remotely controlled are the shutter and the comparison lamp... everything else must be changed manually. We don't expect (or want) you to do that; your friendly observer support specialist will do it for you. In fact, they will carry out all of the following tasks for you:

• Install gratings, optics, filters as specified on your Observer Support Questionnaire.

• Focus the spectrograph.

• Rotate the dewar so that the arc lines are aligned with the CCD columns at the center of the CCD.

• Set grating tilts to obtain approximately the wavelength coverage you have specified. But...YOU HAVE THE FINAL RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK THAT THE WAVELENGTH COVERAGE IS CORRECT. If you want it fine-tuned, your friendly observer support specialist will make the changes while you shout commands at him from the console room.

• Block off light leaks into the spectrograph (a never-ending problem with this spectrograph).

• Help you to set the CCD parameters correctly. These include gain, binning, area on chip to be read out, which amplifiers to use.

• Help you to get flat field and arc lamp exposures in the afternoons.

• Fill the CCD dewar for you.

• Generally get you out of trouble. The observer support specialist is your primary contact at times when a telescope operator is not present. Call him if you need help.