MDM Observatory 1.3m Telescope Observer's Report for 2005 Aug 28

Observer(s): Jules Halpern
Institution(s): Columbia U.

Instrument: Templeton Direct

Worked for 8 hours (most of the night)
Conditions were Non-Photometric most of the night.
Problems were encountered, see the separate trouble report for details.

Seeing and Weather:
   Beg: Seeing 1.6 arcsec, Clear, Winds Light & Variable
   Mid: Seeing 1.5 arcsec, Cirrus, Winds Light & Variable
   End: Seeing 1.4 arcsec, Overcast, Winds Light & Variable

Observing Summary:

This was a very satisfying run on a several counts:

1.  As the first run after the computer upgrade,
it was possible to observe normally for the most
part. The only significant omission is that the 
information from the TCS and MIS is not being
passed to the data files.  Apparently, this is
a non-trivial problem to solve.

2.  A significant problem in the telescope guiding
seems to have been fixed, and so it should possible
to perform P.M. on this function from now on.

3.  For the  monsoon season  there were quite a few
nearly photometric nights.  Originally, I had supposed
that the main goal of this run would be to avoid getting
hit by lightning.  On the contrary . . .

4.  From a scientific point of view, there was a surfeit
of gamma-ray burst afterglows from the SWIFT satellite.
A total of four could usefully be observed on a 1.3m
for several nights in a row. 

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Submitted on 2005 Aug 29 [3:25:21]