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Below is the basic procedure followed while on the mountain at the Kitt Peak National Observatory 0.9m WIYN telescope. There are numerous checklists and procedures built into the observing process to insure the timely retrieval of useful data as well as safety of the observers and equipment.



Upon entering the dome the S2KB camera status was checked using the ccdstat command in the command language, Image Reduction and Analysis Facility (IRAF), which controlled the CCD imaging chip to be sure that it was operating at a temperature of -109C and that all other systems were functioning normally.
The Dewar, attached to the camera, was filled with liquid nitrogen every 12 hours in order to maintain the ideal temperature of -109°C.
From the Dewar a copper ribbon ran to the CCD imaging chip, acting as a heat sink.
A routine check of the CCD imaging chip's temperature was made every 6 hours, by using the IRAF command ccdstat.
After the routine check of the CCD imaging chip was made, biases and flats were taken by imaging the white rectangle on the inside of the dome.
The dome was opened and calibrated to the position of the telescope.
IRAF was used to control the imaging process and a separate computer control panel was used point and guide the telescope and control the dome.
Images were taken in a precise order for 180 second integrations.
The images were saved to the KPNO network.
The dome was then closed and CCD imaging chip refilled with liquid nitrogen.
Reviewed images and labeled them according to the order in which they were taken.
Discarded all images that were of poor quality.
Selected valid flats and biases.
Averaged the flats and biases to produce a master bias and flat.
Subtracted the bias and divided the flat out of each image.
Inverted the images vertically.
Employed the use of Visual PinPoint in order to...