Automating Astronomical Instrument Setup Eric J. Dela Rosa Hawaii Island Akamai Internship Canada France Hawaii Telescope Mentor : Gregory Barrick Advisor: Sarah Gajadhar Home Institution: Hawaii Community College Funding provided through the Center for Adaptive Optics, a National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center (STC), AST

Overview ESPaDOnS ESPaDOnS Setup Process Setup Process Problem Problem Solution Solution Conclusion Conclusion © Photo Credit: Sarah Anderson

ESPaDOnS – Eschelle SpectroPolarimetric Device for the Observation of Stars Spectropolarimeter: Measures the magnetic polarization of stars through a full spectrum. Two Different Components The Cassegrain Unit – The Polarimeter The Cassegrain Unit – The Polarimeter The Spectrograph The Spectrograph

The Cassegrain Unit

The Spectrograph

Setup Process Physical Setup – Takes 1 to 1.5 hrs to complete Physical Setup – Takes 1 to 1.5 hrs to complete Computer – Based Setup through the Unix Command Line – takes 3 to 4 hrs of user interaction to complete. Computer – Based Setup through the Unix Command Line – takes 3 to 4 hrs of user interaction to complete.

Physical Setup Computer-Based Setup Data Entry Data Record Mechanical Checks for Cass & Spectro Guider Alignment Calibration Detector Noise Test Focus and Alignment of CCD Data Record And Entry Calibrate Geometry And Wavelength Environmental Checks for Cass & Spectro

Problem with the Computer-Based setup process Has to be done manually Has to be done manually Not time efficient Not time efficient Operator error likely to occur Operator error likely to occur Data must be recorded by hand Data must be recorded by hand Data must be logged in and formatted on CFHT website Data must be logged in and formatted on CFHT website

The Solution Automating the instrument setup Automating the instrument setup Cuts down time Cuts down time Error free – Operator less likely to make errors Error free – Operator less likely to make errors Organized Organized Easy to Use Easy to Use

User Interface Tcl/Tk – scripting language Tcl/Tk – scripting language Tcl – Tool Command Line Tcl – Tool Command Line Code /syntax of the program Code /syntax of the program Tk – Tool Kit Tk – Tool Kit GUI – Graphical User Interface GUI – Graphical User Interface Also uses code to create the interfaces. Also uses code to create the interfaces.

Tcl/Tk – ESPaDOnS Code

Old ESPaDOnS Setup

ESPaDOnS User Interface

Results/Conclusion Reduced time for instrument setup Reduced time for instrument setup 10 – 15 minutes user interaction 10 – 15 minutes user interaction Easy to use interface Easy to use interface Prints and saves a report Prints and saves a report Logs data into CFHT website Logs data into CFHT website

Much Thanks to

Sarah Anderson Hilary O’Bryan Scott Seagroves © Photo Credit: Sarah Anderson

Gregory Barrick Sarah Gajadhar

Grant Matsushige Tom Benedict William Cruise Kevin Ho

The Entire CFHT Ohana