PT log

Overall layout

The PT log entry window looks like this:

The PT log window is a simple tk editor for editing the manual PT logfile (as opposed to the mdReport file). This log file is kept in /data/mt/$mjd/manualLogfile.txt. If this file exists when the PT log window is started, a query box will appear asking if you wish to load it. Unless you intend to edit the log file of a different date, you do.

The PT log window is divided into three major sections:

1. A row of buttons for doing a variety of things with the log.
2. A series of entry boxes for summaries of various properties of the nights observing.
3. A log entry window, for exposure entries and more lengthy discussion.

The contents of the log window is saved automatically in /data/mt/$mjd/manualLogfile.txt under a variety of circumstances, limiting the data lost in case of software problems. It is still a good idea, however, to save what you have written regularly (using the "save" button).

Control buttons

At the top of the PT log window is a row of control buttons. These are:

clear

After confirmation by the user, this button clears the contents of the log. When next saved (often done automatically), the previous contents of the log will be lost. This is dangerous if you do not know what you are doing.

save

This button forces a save to /data/mt/$mjd/manualLogfile.txt. Note that $mjd is the value in the first entry field, labeled MJD. Note that if the directory /data/mt/$mjd does not already exist, the save will fail.

load

After asking for confirmation from the user, this button causes the log to be loaded from disk. Note that the log for a night other than the current night may be loaded by entering the MJD of the desired night in the top entry window, labeled MJD, and hitting the load button.

mail

After asking for confirmation from the user, this button causes the log to be mailed to the PT log mailing list, sdss-ptlog@astro.princeton.edu, with an appropriate subject line.

display selected image

This button provides an easy way to start and fSAOimage with a desired PT image loaded. To use it, one selects the image number in the "Log entries" editor and hits this button. The image number may be selected by double clicking on the number with the left mouse button, or by dragging the mouse over the number with the left mouse button held down. Be careful not to include extra characters (such as neighboring spaces) in the selected region. A "quick and dirty" debias is done on the image before display.

This button is the GUI equivalent of

mt> set im [regNew]

mt> quickDisplay $exposureNumber $im -mjd $mjd -debais

Where $exposureNumber is the number of the desired exposure, and $mjd is the mjd on which the exposure was taken.

This button does not really belong here, but there doesn't seem to be a better place to put it.

Summary entry windows

After the control buttons are a series of entry boxes. These entries are generally scanned for problems, so they should be short enough to be easily scanned, but should mention any problems so that those concerned will notice them and look in the entries section for details. A good example of a night where all these fields had appropriate entries is the log for MJD 52076. The entry boxes are:

MJD

The MJD of the night in question, defaulting to the current MJD. Do not put text comments here; it may cause problems if the value is not a positive integer.

Date

The date of observation, defaulting to the current date.

Observer

You should enter a list of those who observed with the PT for the night in question.

Conditions

A brief description of the weather conditions for the night should go here.

Observed

A list of the targets observed (not generally including Primary fields) should be listed here.

Hardware

If there were any hardware problems, note them here. A more complete description should go in the log entries window below.

Software

If there were any software problems, note them here. A more complete description should go in the log entries window below.

Comments

Any other comments on the night should go here.

Other

If you have something you want folks scanning the PT log to see, but doesn't fit anywhere else, put it here.

Log entries

Entries for what exposures are taken when, together with any lengthly commentary on the night, go here. Most exposure entries are added automatically by the process that takes the exposure.

The columns of the automatically entered lines are, usually,

1. Time of exposure, in HHMM local time
2. Exposure number
3. Target name
4. RA of the field (HH:MM:SS.SS, in J2000)
5. Dec of the field (DD:MM:SS.SS, in J2000)
6. Exposure time
7. Filter
8. Focus value
9. Airmass

After the entries for twilight frames, a line giving the count level near the middle of the CCD is added.

When focus frames are taken, columns 4 though 9 are replaces by a note saying what the starting (maximum) focus value tested was.

Last modified 6/21/2001 by E. H. Neilsen, Jr.