The ORAC project was set up to improve the efficiency and easy of observing at UKIRT by providing : a modern pre-observing preparation tool, an Observatory Control system, and on-line pipelined data reduction. The software was developed as a collaboration between the UK-ATC and UKIRT. Observers can now pre-prepare their observations in detail, including target co-ordinates, guide stars, instrument setup, choice of data reduction recipe and the required sequence of telescope offsets and data taking. An over-view of how ORAC works can be found in Introduction to ORAC observing , and the publications referenced below. Briefly : Pre-prepared observations are stored in a database at UKIRT and during observing a simple tool allows the user to select which one they would like to carry out next. The selected observation is translated into commands which are excuted by the system until the observation is completed or the user requests a stop. ORAC-DR detects the arrival of data on disk and reduces it by applying the steps in your chosen data reduction recipe. The ORAC software thus consists of linked modules for each stage of the observing process, and there is a separate user guide for each.
| Introduction | This document provides an introduction to how ORAC is used for observing, and outlines features of the new system which differ from previous practice at UKIRT. |
| ORAC-OT | The ORAC Observing Tool (ORAC-OT) allows you to specify your observing programme "at home" and submit it to a database at UKIRT. It is based on the Gemini Observing Tool. Initially the tool will be used by observers in Hilo, and will be distributed to the community after UKIRT has gained some experience with it. The ORAC-OT userguide describes how to use it to prepare observations and general features you should be aware of. |
| ORAC-OM | The ORAC Observing Manager (ORAC-OM) is run at the telescope to control the observing process. It retrieves your programme from the database and allows you to select which observation to do next. It also provides a control interface to the ORAC Observation Sequencer which executes the observation allowing you to control the progress of the observing (e.g. to pause or stop). |
| ORAC-DR | The ORAC Data Reduction (ORAC-DR) provides pipeline reduction of the data as it is obtained using the reduction recipe specified with your observing programme. ORAC-DR, with recipies for UFTI and IRCAM data, was released on the spring 2000 Starlink CD. ORAC-DR replaces CGS4DR for automated spectroscopy reduction. The spectroscopy recipes for CGS4 and other updates are available from UKIRT and will be available soon through Starlink soon. |
| Running ORAC | This document describes the runup and rundown procedures for using ORAC at UKIRT. |
The userguides for the Observing Tool and the Observing Manager are also available through their on-line help systems. To access the userguides while running the software click on the help button. The on-line help system is not yet fully functional, and only a few of the documents are installed.
There is also a general trouble shooting guide This gives some information about troubleshooting problems, lists the problems and major bugs that we found on the commissioning runs, and gives some advice about work-arounds. (Eventually this may get split into troubleshooting for each module).
There are also some more technical guides to ORAC :
Finally, here are some publications about ORAC if you wish to read or reference them :
Original : 2000/02/24, Last Modification Date 2000/05/11 - Last Modification Author:Gillian Wright