MDM Observatory 1.3m Telescope Observing Report for 2012 Jan 30

Observer(s): Coker and Antognini
Institution(s): OSU

Instrument: CCDS

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

Seeing and Weather:
   Clouds from 12 AM until 6 AM.
   Beg: Seeing 1.3 arcsec, Clear, Winds Light & Variable
   Mid: Seeing 1.1 arcsec, Overcast, Winds Light & Variable
   End: Seeing 1.2 arcsec, Patchy Clouds, Winds Moderate

Observing Summary:

The first half of the night went very well; the sky was clear and the
seeing was fairly good.  However, around midnight, the clouds came in
and partially frustrated further observing.  They cleared enough to
permit observing after about 2 AM, but continued to linger.

We also encountered a strange problem when attempting to observe
NGC 3227.  After pointing the telescope, it would spontaneously move
a few arcseconds one way, and then go back.  Turning on guiding lessened
this behavior, but did not eliminate it, and we were unable to take any
data of 3227.  This problem did not occur for any other target.

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Submitted on 2012 Jan 31 [6:46:58]