User's Guide to the Hamilton Spectrograph


Table of Contents


Introduction
Quick Reference
Hardware
CCD Characteristics
Apertures
Grating Tilt & Dewar Height
Filter Wheel & Shutter
Calibration Sources
Photon Integrator
Image Rotator
Iodine Cell & Slit Room Controller
Guide Camera & Filter Wheel
Software
Data Taking System
Hamilton Motor Controller
Showmidpoint
Eventsounds
Hamilton Focus
More Info:
Spectral Format
Navigating the Spectrum
Table of Orders
Setup Procedures
Checklists
Observing Hints
Throughput

Data Archive
Mt. Hamilton Homepage

Showmidpoint

Showmidpoint is software used with the photon integrator to graphically display the number of counts detected by the integrator during the course of the exposure and display the photon weighted midpoint time of the exposure.

There are two versions of the software, the original Showmidpt and the newer version, Showmidpt2, which has some additional features..

Showmidpt

The software is started from catpc or middie computers with the command showmidpt. This brings up the GUI shown in Figure 1.


Figure 1: Showmidpoint GUI

The top section of the GUI displays a graph of the number of counts detected by the integrator as a function of time, as well as the total number of counts.

The lower section of the GUI displays the observation number along with the exposure start, photon weighted midpoint, and exposure end times. The total number of counts and missed samples are also displayed for each exposure. These figures will be displayed at the time the shutter closes and are recorded in the FITS header of the data.

Showmidpt2

The software is started from catpc or middie computers with the command showmidpt2. This brings up the GUI shown in Figure 2.


Figure 2: Showmidpoint2 GUI

The top section of the GUI displays a graph of the number of counts detected by the integrator as a function of time, as well as the total number of counts.

The middle section of the GUI displays the observation number along with the exposure start, photon weighted midpoint, and exposure end times. The total number of counts and missed samples are also displayed for each exposure. These figures will be displayed at the time the shutter closes and are recorded in the FITS header of the data.

If the yellow message bar says something other than that it is connected to the notifier, contact a support astronomer for assistance. If all is well, you may click the OK button to dismiss the message.

The bottom section allows you enter a count number at which the spectrum will have the required signal and the exposure will stop and readout. When you enable the stop and readout function by clicking the Enable button, the bottom section will become green indicating it is in use, until Disable is clicked (see Figure 3).


Figure 3: Showmidpoint2 GUI


Support Astronomers (sa@ucolick.org)
Last modified: Thu Aug 6 13:53:54 PDT 2020