MDM Observatory 2.4m Telescope Observer's Report for 2000 Dec 17

Observer(s): Mark Lacy
Institution(s): LLNL/UC Davis

Instrument: Echelle CCD camera

Worked for 8 hours (all night)
Conditions were Mixed most of the night.
Problems were encountered, see the summary for details.

Seeing and Weather:
   Beg: Seeing 0.9 arcsec, Patchy Clouds, Winds Light & Variable
   Mid: Seeing 1.5 arcsec, Clear, Winds Light & Variable
   End: Seeing 3 arcsec, Cirrus, Winds Light & Variable

Observing Summary:

I did a variety of backup projects as I had hoped to use the 8k 
camera. 

I had to re-fill the dewar about once every four hours to 
prevent the chip warming up -- I thought the hold time
was supposed to be longer. Also it seemed very 
hard to adjust the valve to get a flow that was significant, 
but not so high it forced LN2 out of the dewar -- was this 
because it had been pressurised higher than usual for use 
with the 8k camera? 

It would be useful to have a continuous readout of the CCD 
temperature so observers could notice when it warms up, rather 
than having to remember to type  util  between exposures. 

Something else it would be nice to have is a thermal sensor
attached to the telescope structure with a readout in the 
control room, together with a rough indication of how much the 
focus changes per degree rise/fall in temperature.

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Submitted on 2000 Dec 18 [6:36:58]