PhotoLab

  In this application you will be taking pictures of the distant star cluster, "Pleiades" . It is 400 light years away and visible with the naked eye.  It is also known as "the seven sisters"  and "subaru", hence the car company's symbol.

  I. Open the "Pleiades Photometry" file in your "physics" folder.

II. Click on "File", "Login" and type in your name.

III. Next go to "File", "Run"

After a moment, you will have control of the 16" (.4m) telescope.

  To take the pictures, you must:

Open the dome doors.

Turn on "Tracking", which makes the telescope follow the stars at which you have aimed. Slew rate should be 2.

Point the telescope at Pleiades, by choosing "Set Coordinates" and making sure you are pointed in the right place, RA 3hr, 44m, 33s. Dec 23d 56' 00". Even if it SAYS it is pointed, set the coordinates again anyway.

Change View from "Finder" to "Instrument".  You are ready to take your reading! Click "Take reading!"

Set ONE integration, 100seconds long, with the V filter, and take your exposure by clicking "start count". Be careful not to turn on any lights or open any windows! We don't want light pollution!

Save your picture by clicking "Record Reading".  Call it "Vf100sPleiades"

Repeat for B and U filters, changing the names accordingly.

Click "Return" and save your work with "File" "Data" "Save". It should save under your name.

MaxIm DL

   Next we will combine the pictures “we” created to make a color image. Unfortunately, Pleiades wasn’t visible while I was at WIRO, so we will have to use a different object.  The three pictures you will use are of the Whirlpool Galaxy, M51, a spiral galaxy 37 million light years away.  They were taken with B, V and R filters.  Here’s how to combine them:

  Open "MaxIm DL" from the Physics folder.

Open all three images (ImageB, ImageV, ImageR)

Click on "Color" , "Combine Color"

Chose the appropriate image for each color (R=ImageR, G=ImageV, B=ImageB).

Zoom out (Zoom-) as far as possible.

Click "Align"

Align Mode should be "Auto: Star Matching"

Click "Overlay all images"

Choose "OK"

You should now see a small version of your picture.  Tweak the RG&B as necessary by playing with the ratios to create what you think is an appropriate image.

Crop the image by dragging a box around the best portion and selecting "Edit: Crop"  

You now have your picture of the galaxy!

Save the file under your group's name.