MDM Observatory 1.3m Telescope Observing Report for 2015 Sep 23

Observer(s): Baldassare, Hodges-Kluck, Foord
Institution(s): University of Michigan

Instrument: Templeton

Worked for 8 hours (all night)
Conditions were Photometric most of the night.
No equipment or software problems were encountered.

Seeing and Weather:
   Beg: Seeing <1 arcsec, Clear, Winds Calm
   Mid: Seeing <1 arcsec, Clear, Winds Calm
   End: Seeing <1 arcsec, Clear, Winds Calm

Observing Summary:

Had difficulty pointing the telescope and lost ~2 hours of observing. 
Tried several strategies, including using the zero command after using the paddle to get to zenith, and zero-ing on a very bright star.
However, when we would switch to a new target, it would no longer be centered. 
It turned out that the issue was with a subarray. The CCD was using a 512x512 subarray which was located at the edge of the 1024x1024 array rather than in the center.
This meant that even if we centered something, as soon as we selected a new target and the telescope rolled, the pointing would appear to be off again.

We fixed the subarray problem by using the full 1024x1024 array, and had a very successful remainder of the night. Conditions were very good. 

Encountered several mice on the desk during the course of the night.

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Submitted on 2015 Sep 24 [5:29:26]