To get started using iTelescope, make sure the group leader (Professor Duston) has set up an account for you. Then, watch these three videos to get introduced to the system:
Following that, download and install two key pieces of software on a computer you have access to. Both of these are free and open source, and run on a variety of OS:
Stellarium (a planetarium program): https://stellarium.org/
AstroImageJ (a viewing program for astronomical images): https://www.astro.louisville.edu/software/astroimagej/
If you do not have access to a personal computer, contact Professor Duston, he might be able to set you up.
Now, using Stellarium, pick an object (any object!) that you want to take a picture of. Verify that this object is visible at night from the location of your choice (iTelescope has locations in New Mexico, Spain, California, and Australia, and Stellarium can be set to show you the night sky from those locations). You should also verify that the Moon is either not up or not "nearby" your chosen object in the sky. If you are having trouble picking an object, anything on the Messier list make good targets. Make a plan (following what you learned in the videos), and wait....
You will get an email message confirming that your image was taken (or not, if weather got in the way). After this is done, you want to download the image onto your computer, following the instructions here:
Once the image (which will be in a .fits format) is on your computer, verify that you can open it with AstroImageJ. [Note that the file might be downloaded in a .zip format, but most modern OS come with a built-in unzip application.] Once this is done, you are ready for whatever project you are going to contribute to!
Google docs is great for sharing documents and backing up data-Flashdrives are key for organization (Different telescopes on different memory sticks)
View your itelescope plan before adding it to your saved time to make sure the format hasnt changed when uploading it. Then finding out the next day that it didnt work.
Create itelescope viewing log on word to save money because it wont charge in between pictures. Then upload it.
If using our telescope, set up camera two hours before viewing time and set desired temperature. This helps if the temperature is set under 0 degrees celcius and ice begins to form. By the time you go to view it, it should be good.
Delay times are uneccesary inbetween photos, other then one initial one to leave the room and to avoid disturbing the telescope.
Make sure to save anything you save with name of object,binning,date,exposure time, or any information that will make it easy to organize and access. DONT GIVE IT A RANDOM NAME!! You will lose it
More data the better, even if you dont analzye it. You can always come back to it later or use it if something happens to the ones you did analayze.
itelescope has a 4 hour max booking time and each account can only make one booking a night. Try to book ahead if wanting big chuncks of time because often people will book short windows and that will screw up your large block.
Always add vphot to itelescope plans to avoid not having the coordinates and therefore making your life very hard to find your object of interest.
itelescope may have difference orientation then a picture that you printed off the internet so before you freak out, look at in different orientations. Sometimes its good to check the weather for itelescope locations in case they have major clouds, usully not a problem though.
Applying flats are key to creating an accurate image when using our telescope. Make sure to use side of the dome and adjust the light that you are shining on the dome to get best flat. Take a few pictures with varying exposure times and different differences of the light shining on the dome. Make sure the light source is stationary. Pixels should be around 32000 roughly at 1*1 binning. Use a clear filter.
Make sure you have an area to do work where you want have to move when someone else needs the room.
Record the telescope used for images, binning, exposure, lens, time, length of series...
Ethernet outlets must be checked if using computers, make sure they work before you move everything.
Ask questions if what your doing to avoid mistakes. Don't just assume the software is running the algorithm you think it is. Different algorithms will give different results and can confuse data. Also they have a unique error percentage.