Error Checker

The error checker is available in the newest version of the Observing Tool for all instruments. However, this particular feature is still in BETA. Please take all warnings and errors into consideration, but use with caution and contact your support astronomer with any questions.

The checker has two types of messages, Errors and Warnings, each requiring different actions from the user.

Warnings

Warnings are most often triggered when users 1) configures the instrument in a non-canonical way 2) make a strategic error related to the site or weather conditions or 3) choose guide stars and filter combinations that limit the effectiveness of guiding. Warnings are displayed as yellow “yield” boxes that appear in the “Problems” section of the OT, located at the far right.

Errors

Errors are most often triggered when users 1) configure the instrument incorrectly; i.e. in ways that the instrument will not accept or parse 2) choose guide star and telescope mode settings that are in conflict or 3) create sequences and dithers that will produce invalid scripts. Errors are displayed as red “X” boxes that appear in the “Problems” section of the OT, located at the far right.

PIs should view errors as places in the observation that will require action from the use. Currently, observations with error/s will still produce scripts, but in future releases, observations with errors will NOT generate output to prevent time loss during the night.

Currently, Errors will NOT prevent the creation of scripts unless specifically stated.