SOSS Commands Summary

FOCAS observations (and related telescope operations) are made according to the following commands. These commands are described in the operation procedure file (here for more details).

Ask SA for POL/SPEC_POL commands

	Command name (frequently used commands are in bold/italic)	Category ($DEF_???)	*Description*	Options	*Parameters*	*Typical execution time*	Note	*Tips*
Focusing FOCAS	FocusOBE	TOOL	Focusing FOCAS camera by way of Hartmann Test			~10 min	Do CAL setup before executing this command.	Should be done once at evening. Normally made by the operator.
Focusing Telescope	FocusAGSuquence	TOOL	Telescope focusing with AG camera (including nearby bright star search)		Z: Initial guess value of the secondary mirror position (Z)	~3min	Focus offset between AG and FOCAS will be applied automatically after finding the best Z position for AG.	Focusing checks are suggested to be made at least twice a night (at evening and around midnight) during breaks between long exposures.
	FocusAG	TOOL	Telescope focusing with AG camera		Z: (see above)	~2min	Same as FocusAGSequence, but without telescope pointing.	If you are NOT satisfied with the result made with FocusAGSequence, use this command for iteration.
	FocusTelescope	IMAG	Focusing telescope directly with FOCAS		Z: (see above)	~10 min	3X7 multiple point exposures will be made, while changing telescope 2ndary mirror positions.	Normally just FocusAG gives good result.
Telescope Pointing	Setupfield	IMAG	Pointing to target. (no field check image will be taken)	AG=YES: with guiding AG=NO: without guiding	shift_sec: Pointing offset (arcsec) towards chip 1 direction. Insrot_PA: =0: Chip2 toward N, Chip 1 toward S =90: Chip 2 toward E, chip 1 toward W	1min + telescope slewing (0.5deg/sec)	shift_sec=0 -> object on the CCD gap. Set proper offset with shift_sec to avoid the gap. shift_sec: positive values for setting objects on chip 1.	No image is taken. If you need to check the image before going to long exposure, submit a short getobject command separately.
		SPEC	Target acquisition on a long slit	AG=YES: with guiding AG=NO: without guiding $FILTER_BB_?: If you need a specific filter for pointing images (2nd and 3rd steps, see note), select an appropriate filter. If the target is very faint, imaging without filter ($FILTER_NONE) gives good results. MODE=FINE: mode in case for another iteration for better accuracy.	shift_sec: (see above) ExpTime: Exposure time for object viewing without slit (sec) (2nd and 3rd steps. see note) Insrot_PA: Slit PA (N=0, E=90) in deg.	5-10min + telescope slewing (0.5deg/sec)	At least three images in an imaging mode will be taken in this single command: slit image object image with slit inserted object image with slit inserted, after applying telescope offset. Rough estimate for the exptime in case of point source: 0.3 sec for bright standard stars ~10 sec for <18 mag ~120 sec for 22 mag Spec pointing toward EL<30 is prohibited, due to mechanical limitations of the slit exchanging system.	If you want to adjust the slit PA precisely, or you do not know the accurate PA before the observation, ask SS for the detailed tips. In case of setupfield for the bright standard star, AG=NO works well.
		MOS	Target acquisition on MOS mask	MODE=FINE:(see above)	Insrot_PA: (see above)	20min + telescope slewing (0.5deg/sec)	AG should be ON, and is default. ExpTime is 30 sec by default, and is good for most cases. MOS pointing toward EL<30 is prohibited, due to mechanical limitations of the slit exchanging system. Require MOS pointing software running on ANA	See here for the detail of the MOS observation.
Get Exposures	getobject	IMAG	Image exposure		ExpTime: exposure time	Exposure time + CCD readout-time
	getobject	SPEC or MOS	Spectroscopy exposure		ExpTime: (see above)
	getstandard	IMAG or SPEC	Standard star exposure		ExpTime: (see above)
Small Telescope Move	movetelescope	TOOL	Telescope move in RA, DEC while not guiding		delta_RA,_DEC: relative offset from current position in arcsec	1-5sec
	moveguide0	TOOL	Telescope move while guiding in RA, DEC		delta_RA,_DEC:(see above)	5-10sec(depends on AG star mag)	AG probe moves according to the telescope move.	Good for larger distance move (>4") with less accuracy.
	moveguide3	TOOL	Telescope move while guiding in RA, DEC		delta_RA,_DEC:(see above)	5-10sec (depends on AG star mag)	Change of base point of the guiding. Shift values are calculated from current position.	Good for shorter distance move (<4 ") with higher accuracy.
	moveguide	TOOL	Telescope move while guiding (short distance) at any PA.		Slit_sec: Movement along slit (arcsec) Insrot_PA: Slit PA (N=0, E=90)	5-10sec(depends on AG star mag)	Slit_sec > 4 arcsec: AG proves move according to the telescope move, resulting in a slightly less pointing accuracy. Slit_sec < 4 arcsec: higher accuracy.	Positive Slit_sec value moves objects toward positive X direction on chip, or toward chip 1. Insrot_PA should be set at same angle as that of target definition.
Getting Bias	Getbias	IMAG	Taking Bias image			~CCD readout-time	Use this command even for spectroscopic observation.	Bias may not be taken frequently. Subtraction of the overscan value gives good results in many cases.
Getting ARC image (wavelength calibration)	SetupComparison	TOOL	Calibration unit setup (CAL Probe insertion)			~1min	AG will go off while taking CAL lamp. You can re-start guiding with the same star after shutdonwncomparison is applied.	Due to flexure, CCD position changes maximum 1 pix within 1 hour exposure (15deg shift of FOCAS orientation). If you require higher wavelength accuracy, take CAL every 1-1.5 hours.
	ShutdownComparison	TOOL	Calibration unit shutdown (CAL Probe retraction and CAL lamp turning OFF)			~1min	Turn off the lamp, and retract the CAL probe.	OH sky lines can be used as a good wavelength calibrator for red part of the spectrum, and can be used for correcting the wavelength drift among exposures. See here for the detail of the sky lines.
	GetComparison	SPEC	Arc spectroscopy for long slit			~CCD readout-time	See here for exposure estimation	You may skip the CAL observation if you use only OH lines.
	GetComparison	MOS	Arc spectroscopy for MOS.	Apply three multi-exposure while sweeping the CAL probe for even illumination over the entire MOS mask.		~CCD readout-time + 2 min.		To obtain three multi-exposure while changing CAL probe positions, this will take longer time than GetComparison for Spec.
	GetComparison_MASKMOVE	MOS	Arc spectroscopy for MOS.	(see above)		~CCD readout-time + 2 min.		This is only for obtaining ARC spectra for MOS at the end of night, after closing dome and telescope pointing to zenith.
Getting Dome Flat	GetDomeFlat	IMAG or SPEC	Flat imaging		VOLT: Lamp voltage Exptime: (sec)	Exposure + CCD readout-time	See here for Exposure/Voltage estimation	At evening or morning for IMAG and SPEC. Only at morning for MOS.
Getting Dark Frames	GetDark	IMAG	Dark imaging			Exposure + CCD readout-time		Dark is negligible in most cases, and you do not have take them.