UT’s 16-inch reflector on the roof of PMA has a computerized control system and motorized controls for opening the dome shutter, rotating the dome, and pointing the telescope. Below is the procedure you should follow for operating it.
START UP PROCEDURE
1. Plug in the telescope with the cord on the pier (fig.1). The "clunk" sound you might hear is the drive engaging and is normal.
fig. 1
2. The control box (fig. 2) is sitting on the cart on the opposite side from the dome door is used to raise the slit. You may have to plug in the box, which connects to the cable coming from the motor at the top of the dome (fig. 3). The two sections join with a ring that you give a 1/4 turn to connect/disconnect.
fig. 2 
fig. 3
Note that you need to decide whether to leave the bottom section of the slit down or to raise it up. If you want to observe objects that are low, you need to leave the section attached; if you want to observe objects that are high overhead, you will need to leave the bottom section down so the slit will open completely overhead.
To leave the bottom section down, someone must lower and hold the handle (fig. 4), while someone on the other side switches on the motor to raise the slit. To operate the control box, slide the metal plate to one direction and then push the handle in the same direction. If you don't hear the motor engage and begin to open the dome push the metal plate and handle completely to the other direction.
fig. 4
The motor will stop automatically when the slit is competely open and don't be alarmed if the motor makes loud noises while it is opening. Be sure to unscrew the control box cable (fig. 3) before you rotate the dome. Also, if the cable extends below the rim of the dome, monitor the cable as you rotate the dome so it doesn't get caught on the light fixtures, fire sprinklerhead, etc.
3. While the dome is opening, you can climb up the ladder and remove the plastic telescope cover (fig. 5).
fig. 5
4. Turn off the air conditioner with the control box (fig. 6) on the wall near the cart. In warmer weather it will take a little while for the temperature in the dome to equalize.
fig. 6
You are now ready to boot-up and initialize the telescope control computer.
