Collimate a research telescope before a night

Practice the sequence you already learned for “Collimate a research telescope before a night” until the order feels automatic. Drill observatory-operations order. Science frames are not started until weather/interlock, pointing, collimation, and a focus star have passed.

1. Confirm the weather is within operating limits.
2. Confirm the dome interlock is clear.
3. Open the dome.
4. Home the mount and check pointing on a known star.
5. Collimate using the taught extrafocal or wavefront method.
6. Focus on a star at the observing wavelength.
7. Take a confirmation frame and inspect the PSF.
8. Do not begin the science sequence on a defocused or de-collimated beam.