MDM Observatory 1.3m Telescope Observing Report for 2008 Dec 01

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

Instrument: 4K

Worked for 12 hours (all night)
Conditions were Photometric most of the night.
Problems were encountered, see the separate trouble report for details.

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

Observing Summary:

Trying out the 4K for the first time, and getting used to the
new TCS.  Pattern noise on 4K described in trouble report.

A TCS issue is that the dome doesn't always follow the
telescope automatically.  Observing in the north-east, I found
that the dome didn't move for a couple of hours.  When I hit
the center dome button, it knew where to go.  But by then,
it was off by 45 degrees and occulting the telescope.
I wonder if the TCS falls asleep, just like me, when it has
too little work to do.

Finally, after all these years, I still can't understand how
the telescope occasionally produces a clean double image
without showing anything on the guide camera.

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Submitted on 2008 Dec 2 [6:30:51]