Robotic Telescope Automation

Automated, Robotic Operation Couldn't Be Easier!

ObservatoryScope's proprietary Telescope Automation Made Simple (TAMS) scripts make full automation and robotic operation of the telescope extremely easy to do. TAMS supports a wide variety of data formats for the target lines and includes a large selection of directives which control how the data is obtained and how the instrumentation is controlled. ObservatoryScope also has other proprietary scripts for calibrating the telescope's drive systems, for automatically obtaining calibration frames for the CCD camera, for checking and testing that all equipment is properly hooked up, for automatically measuring and computing corrections for the telescope's polar alignment and optic tilt, and for simulating the operation of the observatory including the telescope and all auxiliary equipment.

TAMS makes it easy for you and for students, for example, to easily create a "plan file" for the following night's observations during the day. Once the plan file is passed to TAMS, the computer will wait until it is dark and then execute your plan file to autonomously obtain that night's observations. So, you ask, just how easy is it to create a plan file for an automated observing run with your ObservatoryScope? To answer this question, let's look a a few practical examples which are shown below. Let's assume you simply want to:

Turn on the camera cooler at a specific time, then open the dome at a specific time, have the telescope start taking images at a specific time, and have the telescope automatically park and close the observatory at a specific time...
Here is how you do it:
#STOP 5:30 Specifies that TAMS shall stop at 5:30am.
#START 18:30 Wait until 6:30pm local time and then continue to process the following directives.
#CHILL -30 Set the camera cooler to -30°.
#START 19:00 Wait until 7:00pm local time and then continue to process the following directives.
#DOME OPEN Open the dome, assuming that it is safe to do so depending on what the optional weather station is reporting.
#START 19:30 Wait until 7:30pm local time and then continue to process the following directives.
[target list and directives] The list of targets you wish to image, and any directives necessary to control how those targets are imaged and where they are saved on your computer. A wide variety of target list formats is supported.
#SHUTDOWN This directive, always placed at the end of your plan file, parks the telescope, closes the dome and turns off the camera cooler if desired. Thus the observatory is completely shut down either at the end of the observing run, or if the #STOP time is reached or if a shutdown signal is received from the weather station, whichever event occurs first.
Take photometric data for a particular variable star...
This is really simple to set up:
#UBVRI Specifies that we want to take photometric data for the following target. Any filters not present in the filter wheel are automatically skipped.
#INTERVAL 10 Specifies that we want to shoot the equivalent of a 10 second luminance (clear filter) exposure of the variable star. Don't worry about the exposure times through each filter — the correct settings for each filter in conjunction with your CCD camera's spectral sensitivity should already be set in TAMS's USER_Constants file. Thus an "exposure multiplier" will automatically be applied with each photometry filter to assure that a high enough signal to noise ratio is obtained.

Note that if the exposure time specified by #INTERVAL is either too short or too long, then TAMS will automatically calculate the appropriate exposure times after examining the initial images in order to obtain UBVRI images which are not over or under saturated. When doing photometry, #INTERVAL is used to hopefully get the exposure time right on the first attempt if the average magnitude of the star is not included in the star's target line.
[target] The target line including identification, the RA, the DEC and optionally the magnitude plus other data and comments. A wide variety of target list formats is supported.
Take 6 groups of LRGB luminance plus tricolor images of some targets...
Shooting full color images of a group of targets is really easy to do:
#INTERVAL 600 Specifies that we want to take 600 second (10 minute) exposures of the following targets.
#REPEAT ALL 3 Take 3 groups of images of each of the following targets.
#LRGB ALL Take LRGB images of all of the following targets. Don't worry about the exposure times for the luminance and each color filter — the correct settings for your CCD camera's spectral sensitivity and for your filters should already be set in TAMS's separate USER_Constants file. Thus an "exposure multiplier" is automatically be applied for each color filter to assure that each image, using the current filter, has adequate dynamic range.
[target list and directives] The list of targets you wish to image, and any directives necessary to control how these targets are imaged and where these images are saved on your computer. A wide variety of target list formats is supported.
#LRGB END Cancels the above #LRGB ALL directive since now we are done with taking LRGB images for the above targets.
#REPEAT END Cancels the above #REPEAT directive since now we are done with imaging the above targets 3 times each.

In the above examples, we highlighted the use of just a few of the many directives which are available for controlling how image data is acquired and now the telescope and the observatory is automatically controlled. We could go into the details about large list of target list formats which are supported, but this would require a few more pages of documentation. Suffice it to say that a wide variety of target list formats are supported and that custom target list formats can easily be added to TAMS at any time for your specific needs.

You might be wondering what directives for target acquisition and telescope control are currently available within TAMS. A complete list follows of the fully tested and functional directives or commands. These directives may be combined in your plan files to create powerful fully automated imaging sequences for your ObservatoryScope.

DIRECTIVES
—These are commands which you can add to your "plan file" for controlling the automated acquisition of target data by TAMS.		 Description:

The plan file may contain "directive" lines which control the image acquisition process. All directives begin with "#" followed by the directive name and any required parameters. Directives are NOT case sensitive.

NOTE: Virtually all directives which consist of more than one word can be written with spaces between the words, hyphens between the words or without either spaces or hyphens between the words. This feature makes it easier when creating your plan files since you don't have to remember the exact preferred syntax for each directive.

NOTE: Many directives require a value after the directive. It is not necessary to put a space after the directive and the directive's value, but doing so makes it easier to read your plan files. Likewise, multiple spaces may be placed between the directive and the directive's value which follows the directive.

NOTE: Any directives which are not supported by TAMS, which were incorrectly typed in or which have an incorrect value following the directive will be ignored and an appropriate message will be displayed and logged.

Here are the currently implemented directives which you may use in your plan files:
#SAY Allows you to display your own messages to ACP's console and have these messages logged in the log file. Quotes are not used around the text you want displayed and logged.

For example:

#SAY This is Thursday night's observing run.

would display and log the message "This is Thursday night's observing run.
#START Equivalent to #WAITUNTIL but with a simple time format. Tells TAMS when to start processing any target lines and directives which follow. Time is in simple 24 hour decimal or sexagesimal format based on your computer's local time.

For example:

#START 18
#START 18.0
#START 18:00
#START 18:00:00
#START 18h00m00s

tells TAMS to start at 6:00 p.m. local time.

#START can also be used later in the plan file to delay execution of the remainder of the plan file. If used later in the plan file, remember that it delays the rest of the plan file until the local time is greater than #START. TAMS does check whether the #START is later than #STOP. Scope will always park at the #STOP time, no matter what.
#STOP Equivalent to #SHUTDOWNAT but with a simple time time format. Can be placed anywhere within the plan file. Use only once. If used more than once, then the last #STOP encountered in plan file becomes the default stopping time for TAMS. Time is in simple 24 hour decimal or sexagesimal format based on your computer's local time.

For example:

#STOP 5.75
#STOP 5:45
#STOP 05:45
#STOP 5:45:00
#STOP 05:45:00
#STOP 05h45m00s

Tells TAMS to stop at 5:45 a.m. local time.
#CHILL Sets the camera cooler to the Celcius temperature specified after the #CHILL directive.

For example:

#CHILL -30

Tells TAMS to chill the camera cooler to a temperature of -30 degrees Celcius.
#DOME-OPEN
#DOME OPEN
#DOMEOPEN		 Comands the dome or enclosure to open. This directive is overridden if a weather monitoring station is installed which indicates that it currently is not safe to open the dome or the enclosure.

For example:

#DOME-OPEN
#DOME OPEN
#DOMEOPEN

Tells TAMS to open the dome or enclosure if it is safe to do so.
#DOME-CLOSE
#DOME CLOSE
#DOMECLOSE		 Comands the dome or enclosure to close. This directive will automatically park the telescope (if it is not already parked) and close the dome or enclosure.

For example:

#DOME-CLOSE
#DOME CLOSE
#DOMECLOSE

Tells TAMS to park the scope, if necessary, and close the dome.
#SYNC Sync the telescope at the declination specified after #SYNC or at the Standard Sync Position if nothing is specified after #SYNC. If the telescope does not support hard syncs, then a soft sync is performed and Sync Compensation is automatically used throughout the observing run, whether or not UseSyncCompensation is enabled. DEC is in simple decimal or sexagesimal format.

Directive may be used multiple times in your plan file. A sync will be attempted up to 3 times to initially sync the scope. Failure to find matching stars results in no sync of the scope and TAMS will simply continue.

For example:

#SYNC

would sync the scope at the Standard Sync Position.

#SYNC 35
#SYNC 35.0
#SYNC 35°00'00"
#SYNC 35:00:00
#SYNC 35 00 00

would sync the scope at +35 degrees declination.
#HOME This directive tells the telescope to slew and home itself using its homing sensors.

For example:

#HOME
#AMBIENT This directive forces TAMS to use longer AutoFocus intervals during the early part of a plan file. Use this directive if you are using TAMS's Intelligent AutoFocus feature and the telescope is already cooled down to ambient temp.

For example:

#AMBIENT
#SETS Tells TAMS to run the entire plan file a given number of times. This directive is particularly useful if you wish to search for comets and asteroids. The number of sets to take is specified using an integer ranging from 2 to 999. The images within the entire plan are acquired in round-robin order. This directive should be placed at the top of the plan file, after any #START, #STOP or #SYNC directives, or unpredictable results might occur. The set number, in "-000" format, would be appended to the target name, followed by any #LOOP and #REPEAT appendages which would be added by #LOOP or #REPEAT directives encountered while processing the remainder of the plan file.

For example:

#SETS 3

would take 3 sets of every target in the plan file.

NOTE: All relevant TAMS flags are reset to their default values and all active directives are killed upon looping for the next set. Therefore, all directives relevant to image acquisition should be placed after the #SETS directive.

NOTE: Use #LOOP, #LOOP-UNTIL, #REPEAT, #REPEAT-ALL directives for individual or groups of targets within a plan file which you wish to image a number of times (see below).
#TRACK-ON
#TRACK ON
#TRACKON		 Initiates orbital tracking of solar system bodies. This directive remains in effect until cancelled by #TRACKOFF. Orbital tracking will only be done for solar system bodies, so deep space targets may be intermixed in your plan file without harm. Autoguiding is disabled if orbital tracking is active since it is highly unlikely that the autoguider will lock on to the moving target.

For example:

#TRACKON
#TRACK-ON
#TRACK ON

Tells TAMS to initiate orbital tracking.
#TRACK-OFF
#TRACK OFF
#TRACKOFF		 Cancels orbital tracking. This remains in effect until re-enabled with #TRACKON.

For example:

#TRACKOFF
#TRACK-OFF
#TRACK OFF

Tells TAMS to kill orbital tracking.
#LOOP Similar to #SETS, except that #LOOP, when combined with the #LOOP-END directive, allows multiple sets of images to be taken of a group of targets within only part of a plan file. #LOOP - #LOOP-END directives may be used multiple times within a plan file. As with the #SETS directive, images are acquired in round-robin order. The loop number, in "-000" format (the same format as #SETS to indicate round-robin image acquisition), would be appended to the target name after any #SET appendage and before any #REPEAT appendages.

For example:
#LOOP 4

tells TAMS to loop 4 times for all targets between the #LOOP and #LOOP-END directives.

NOTE: Unlike the #SETS directive, TAMS flags are NOT reset and active directives are NOT killed upon looping for the next set. This feature actually allows the you to create simpler plan files.
#LOOP-UNTIL
#LOOP UNTIL
#LOOPUNTIL		 Similar to the #LOOP directive, except that TAMS will loop until the specified time is reached. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it. Time is in simple 24 hour decimal or sexagesimal format based on your computer's local time.

NOTE: The loop until time is only checked at the beginning of each successive loop, thus assuring that the currently running loop has completely finished, even if the current loop runs past the specified loop until time.

Some examples:

#LOOP-UNTIL 1.5
#LOOP UNTIL 1:30
#LOOPUNTIL 01:30:00

tells TAMS to loop until 1:30am local time for all targets between the #LOOP-UNTIL and #LOOP-END directives.
#LOOP-END
#LOOP END
#LOOPEND		 Specifies the end location of a previous #LOOP or #LOOP-UNTIL directive in a plan file. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#LOOP-END
#LOOP END
#LOOPEND

tells TAMS that this is the endpoint of the list of targets looped by a #LOOP or #LOOP-UNTIL.

NOTE: Unlike #SETS, any active directives are not reset to their defaults at the end of a loop. Remember to kill any active directives, which you no longer wish to remain active, when finishing the loop sequence or when looping for another loop. Kill any active directives, either immediately before or after the #LOOP-END directive, as is appropriate.
#REPEAT Take X number of images of the next target, as in "repeat" until X number of images are acquired. The number of images to take is specified with an integer ranging from 1 to 999. The sequence number, in "_000" format (the "_" indicating sequential image acquisition), will be appended to the target name after any #SETS and #LOOP appendages.

For example:

#REPEAT 10

would take 10 images of the target and add a sequentially numbered extension, starting with _001, to the target name.
#REPEAT-ALL
#REPEAT ALL
#REPEATALL		 Take X number of images of subsequent targets. Hyphen is or space optional, in case you forget it. Usage and syntax similar to #REPEAT, above, except that this directive applies to all subquent targets.

For example:

#REPEAT-ALL 10
#REPEAT ALL 10
#REPEATALL 10

would take 10 images of subsequent targets and add a sequentially numbered extension, starting with _001, to each target name.
#REPEAT-END
#REPEAT END
#REPEATEND		 Kills any #REPEAT-ALL directive currently in effect. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#REPEAT-END
#REPEAT END
#REPEATEND
#DIR Change the directory into which subsequent images are to be stored. The directory is created if needed. At present, only ONE subdirecory level may be created within an within an existing directory structure.

For example:

#DIR C:\Images\TonightsWork
#DIRC:\Images\TonightsWork

will create, if necessary, the specified path and save subquent images to this path. Notice that in one of the above examples we forgot the space after the "#DIR" directive. This is acceptable.
#DIR-TEMP
#DIR TEMP
#DIRTEMP		 Temporary directory where to save subsequent images such as reshoots, comets, etc. The currently active directory, before any and all #DIR-TEMP directive(s) are encountered, is saved so that it can be restored by using #DIR-END (see below). Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#DIR-TEMP D:\Reshoots\01-Oct-2001
#DIR TEMPD:\Reshoots\01-Oct-2001
#DIRTEMP D:\Reshoots\01-Oct-2001

will create, if necessary, the specified path and save subquent images to this path on drive D. Notice that in one of the above examples we forgot the space after the "#DIR TEMP" directive. This is acceptable.

NOTE: Any drive letter substitutions you specify in your USER Constants file are NOT used with #DIR-TEMP. Make sure the drive letter specified with #DIR-TEMP actually exists. This particular functionality is specifically engineered into TAMS on purpose!
#DIR-END
#DIR END
#DIREND		 Kills a #DIR-TEMP directive currently in effect, and the previous #DIR directive is restored. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#DIR-END
#DIR END
#DIREND

would restore the imaging directory to the most recent directory before the #DIR-TEMP directive went into effect.
#INTERVAL Set the final target exposure interval in seconds for subsequent targets in the list. May be used multiple times in the plan file.

For example:
#INTERVAL 30

NOTE: You can reset to the default exposure interval by specifying #INTERVAL followed by nothing.

For example:

#INTERVAL
would reset the exposure interval to the default exposure interval as defined in ACP.
#BINNING Sets the binning for subsequent images. If the detector does not support the requested binning, the closest supported value will be used. Auto Calibration is NOT performed for values other than the value of the DefaultBinning constant, below.

For example:

#BINNING 2

NOTE: You can reset to the default binning with another #BINNING followed by nothing.

For example:

#BINNING

would reset the binning to the default binning as defined in the constants section, below.
#SUB-FRAME
#SUB FRAME
#SUBFRAME		 Sets the fraction of the chip to be used for subsequent images. Legal values range from 0.1 To 1.0 (full frame). For example, if the chip size is 1K by 1K (1024 by 1024), a SUBFRAME of 0.5 will result in using the center 512 by 512 pixels of the chip. Auto Calibration is NOT performed for subframe values other than 1.

For example:

#SUBFRAME 0.5
#SUB-FRAME 0.5
#SUB FRAME 0.5

NOTE: All pointing exposures are ALWAYS performed using a full frame. The #SUBFRAME directive only applies to science exposures.

NOTE: You can reset to default the default subframe with another #SUBFRAME followed by nothing.

For example:

#SUBFRAME
#SUB-FRAME
#SUB FRAME

would reset the subframe to the default subframe.
#DARK Take a dark frame for the target using the current exposure interval, binning and subframe settings. Multiple auto-numbered dark frames can be taken by preceding the #DARK directive with a #REPEAT directive. The dark frame(s) is saved in the currently active directory.

For example:

#DARK

A sequence of dark frames will be taken only if the #DARK directive is used in combination with the #REPEAT directive; otherwise a single dark frame is taken.

For example:

#DIR-TEMP C:\My_300sec_dark_frames; save them here
#INTERVAL 300; take 300 second darks
#REPEAT 10; we want to take 10 dark frames
#DARK
#INTERVAL; reset interval to default
#DIR-END; switch back to previously active dir

would take 10 five minute darks, save them in C:\My_300sec_dark_frames, then restore the default interval and restore the previously active directory for future images.
#AUTO-FOCUS
#AUTO FOCUS
#AUTOFOCUS		 Slew to a star that is close to the zenith and perform an AutoFocus before going to the next target in the plan file. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#AUTOFOCUS
#AUTO-FOCUS
#AUTO FOCUS

NOTE: This directive is ignored, if this TAMS's Intelligent AutoFocus feature (automatic focusing intervals) is enabled. This allows older plan files to be run with TAMS, without having to remove the #AUTOFOCUS directives in the older plan files, if you are using TAMS's Intelligent AutoFocus feature.
#FOCUS
#DO-FOCUS
#DO FOCUS
#DOFOCUS		 Force an AutoFocus no matter what. Useful if using TAMS's Intelligent Autofocus feature and you want to force an AutoFocus before any specific targets or image sequences in your plan file. The hyphen, space or "DO" is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#FOCUS
#DOFOCUS
#DO-FOCUS
#DO FOCUS
#POINTING
#POINT		 Schedule a pointing update for the next target. Handy for reshoots to make sure that they are centered.

NOTE: #POINTING or #POINT is also used to cancel a #POINT-ALL directive, or to cancel the effect of a #POINT-NONE directive (see below) by restoring the defaults for pointing updates.

For example:

#POINTING
#POINT

would schedule a pointing update for the next target, or would cancel a previous #POINT-ALL or #POINT-NONE command currently in effect. A pointing update will be performed, regardless, for the next target.
#POINT-ALL
#POINT ALL
#POINTALL		 Schedule pointing updates for all subsequent targets. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#POINT-ALL
#POINT ALL
#POINTALL
#POINT-NONE
#POINT NONE
#POINTNONE		 Cancel pointing updates for all subsequent targets. Also used to kill a #POINT-ALL directive. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

NOTE: You can also check the "Disable all pointing updates" checkbox in ACP's preferences dialog to disable pointing updates for all plan files.

For example:

#POINT-NONE
#POINT NONE
#POINTNONE

would cancel pointing updates or kill a previous #POINT-ALL directive.
#FILTER Use the specified filter for subsequent images. The value can be either a number or a filter name (as configured in MaxIm DL's filter configuration window). The name is not case sensitive. If the number is out of range, or the name is not one of the configured MaxIm filter names, then the clear/empty filter (as set in ACP's preferences) is used instead. If no filter wheel is present, the directive is ignored.

TAMS expects that the clear, red, green and blue filters have names, beginning with certain characters, assigned in MaxIm and in the separate USER_Constants file. Required characters at the start of each filter name for these filters (not case sensitive) follow, along with suggested names in [ ] (again, not case sensitive).

Tricolor filter letters and names:

clear/empty filter = C or L, [Clear or Luminance]
red filter = R [Red]
green filter = G [Green]
blue filter = B [Blue]

Photometric filter letters and names:

ultraviolet filter = U [U]
blue filter = B [B or Bu]
visual filter = V [V]
red filter = R [R or Rc]
near infrared filter = I [I or Is or Iz or Ic]

The letter representing the filter color will be appended to the filename using a "_" and the letter representing the filter color. The filter letter is appended after the filename and again after any #SETS or #REPEAT appendages. This allows for both sorting by image name and color in Explorer, and for automatic color combining in MaxIm. MaxIm looks for the letters R, G, B, and L at the end of the file names when combining images into color.

For example, if filter #6 is the blue filter:

#FILTER 6
#FILTER Blue

would append _B to the target name and append _B after any #SETS or #REPEAT appendages.

NOTE: If the clear/empty filter is specified, then the clear filter name normally is not appended to the target name. The #LRGB, #RGB, #LRGB-ALL and #RGB-ALL directives do append the clear/empty filter name so you can easily sort and combine your tricolor shots.

NOTE: As mentioned, #FILTER applies to subsequent images. If tricolor (#LRGB, #RGB, #LRGB-ALL or #RGB-ALL) directives follow a #FILTER directive, the filter color specified by the #FILTER directive will still be active after finishing each tricolor directive or tricolor cancel directive (#LRGB-END or #RGB-END).

NOTE: You can reset the filter wheel to the clear or empty slot by using the #FILTER directive followed by nothing.

For example:

#FILTER

would reset the filter to the clear/empty filter.
#RGB Take an RGB color image of the next target only. The letter representing the filter used will be appended to the filename in the same fashion as the #FILTER directive.

For example,

#RGB

would take tricolor images of the target and append "_" followed by the filter color letter to the filename for each color.
#RGB-ALL
#RGB ALL
#RGBALL		 Takes RGB color images of all subsequent targets. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#RGB-ALL
#RGB ALL
#RGBALL
#RGB-END
#RGB END
#RGBEND		 Kills any #RGB-ALL directive currently in effect. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#RGB-END
#RGB END
#RGBEND
#LRGB Take an LRGB color image of the next target only. Similar to the #RGB directive, except that a luminance image is taken first, followed by the RGB image sequence.

For example:

#LRGB
#LRGB-ALL
#LRGB ALL
#LRGBALL		 Take LRGB color images of all subsequent targets. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#LRGB-ALL
#LRGB ALL
#LRGBALL
#LRGB-END
#LRGB END
#LRGBEND		 Kills any #LRGB-ALL directive currently in effect. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#LRGB-END
#LRGB END
#LRGBEND
#UBVRI Take UBVRI photometric data for the next target only. Each filter color is used only if that filter color is enabled in the user constants section. The letter representing the filter used will be appended to the filename in the same fashion as the #FILTER directive.


NOTE: Filter letters which are not configured in the USER Constants file, either because you do not have them or wish to use them, will be skipped.

For example:

#UBVRI
#UBVRI-ALL
#UBVRI ALL
#UBVRIALL		 Take UBVRI photometric data for all subsequent targets. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#UBVRI-ALL
#UBVRI ALL
#UBVRIALL
#UBVRI-END
#UBVRI END
#UBVRIEND		 Kills any #UBVRI-ALL directive currently in effect. Hyphen is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#UBVRI-END
#UBVRI END
#UBVRIEND
#CENTER Allow USER centering of the next target only. When the telescope has reached the target, TAMS will pause, allowing you to use ACP's nudge buttons or TheSky's buttons to compose the target. TAMS will alert, asking you to continue once you have composed (centered) the target to your liking. The scope position is recorded when you resume TAMS. The telescope will automatically return to this position, even after an autofocus, during a long tricolor image sequence.

For example:

#CENTER
#CENTER-ALL
#CENTER ALL
#CENTERALL		 Allow USER centering of all subsequent targets. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#CENTER-ALL
#CENTER ALL
#CENTERALL
#CENTER-END
#CENTER END
#CENTEREND		 Kill any #CENTER-ALL directive currently in effect. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#CENTER-END
#CENTER END
#CENTEREND
#WAIT-FOR
#WAIT FOR
#WAITFOR		 Pause for the given number of seconds before continuing to process the lines which follow in the plan file. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#WAITFOR 30
#WAIT-FOR 30
#WAIT FOR 30
#WAIT-UNTIL
#WAIT UNTIL
#WAITUNTIL		 Pause until the given UTC date/time if taking the given set. If the given time has passed, of taking a different set, the directive is ignored. The complete UTC date and time MUST be given! Note the comma separating the set number and the wait-until time. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#WAITUNTIL 1, 21-Apr-2001 08:02:00
#WAIT-UNTIL 2, 21-Apr-2001 08:32:00
#WAIT UNTIL 3, 21-Apr-2001 09:02:00

The above would wait till the given times in each image set. This could be used to force a minimum interval between sets when acquiring images for asteroid hunting. The date and time format is flexible, and follows the standard formats for your PC's language and locale. For US English, acceptable formats include:

7/1/01 08:22
07/01/2001 18:34:24
07-July-2001 06:34 PM
#QUIT-AT
#QUIT AT
#QUITAT		 Set a "quitting time" at which TAMS will stop acquiring images. Directive should be placed at the top of plan file before any targets. The quitting time is in UTC format as above. Note that the scope is not parked and the camera is not shut down, as with the #SHUTDOWNAT directive described below. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#QUITAT 7/1/01 08:22
#QUIT-AT 7/1/01 08:22
#QUIT AT 7/1/01 08:22

The UTC date/time format is flexible as described above. If TAMS completes acquiring images before the quit time is reached, it exits as usual.
#SHUT-DOWN-AT
#SHUT DOWN-AT
#SHUT-DOWN AT
#SHUT DOWN AT
#SHUT-DOWNAT
#SHUTDOWN-AT
#SHUT DOWNAT
#SHUTDOWN AT
#SHUTDOWNAT		 Same as #QUITAT, except the scope is parked and the camera is shut down at the quitting time, OR AT NORMAL EXIT of TAMS. Time is in UTC format. Hyphens or spaces are optional, in case you forget them.

For example:

#SHUTDOWNAT 7/1/01 08:22
#SHUT-DOWNAT 7/1/01 08:22
#SHUT DOWNAT 7/1/01 08:22
#SHUTDOWN-AT 7/1/01 08:22
#SHUTDOWN AT 7/1/01 08:22
#SHUT-DOWN-AT 7/1/01 08:22
#SHUT-DOWN AT 7/1/01 08:22
#SHUT DOWN-AT 7/1/01 08:22
#SHUT DOWN AT 7/1/01 08:22
#PARK
#STOW		 May be placed anywhere in your plan file. This command tells TAMS to park the telescope at the end of the run. Note that the camera cooler is NOT turned off. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#PARK
#STOW
#SHUT-DOWN
#SHUT DOWN
#SHUTDOWN		 May be placed anywhere in your plan file. This command tells TAMS to park the telescope, close the observatory and turn off the camera cooler at the end of the run. Hyphen or space is optional, in case you forget it.

For example:

#SHUTDOWN
#SHUT-DOWN
#SHUT DOWN

Implemented in TAMS.
#CHAIN Use this directive to chain together plan files. If TAMS is currently doing the last set when this directive is encountered, then TAMS stops reading image acquisition lines from the current plan file, opens the new plan file, resets the set counter, and begins reading from the new plan file. If TAMS is NOT doing the last set, then TAMS will wait until it is finished with the last set before executing this directive.

For example:

#CHAIN C:\Program Files\ACP2\Plans\LateNight.txt

NOTE: This directive should be placed at the end of the plan file's target list.

NOTE: The #DIR, #START, #STOP, #QUITAT, and #SHUTDOWNAT directives are retained from the previous plan file unless new #DIR, #START, #STOP, #QUITAT or #SHUTDOWNAT directives are encountered in the new plan file. ALL other active directives are immediately killed upon chaining to the new plan file.
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