MDM Observatory 2.4m Telescope Observer's Report for 2001 Feb 15

Observer(s): Jacob Noel-Storr
Institution(s): Columbia

Instrument: CCDS

Worked for 4 hours (last half of the night)
Conditions were Mixed most of the night.
Problems were encountered, see the summary for details.

Seeing and Weather:
   High Humidity from 18:00 until 0:45.
   Beg: Patchy Clouds, Winds Light & Variable, DOME HUMID >85%
   Mid: Seeing 1.8 arcsec, Clear, Winds Light & Variable
   End: Cirrus, Winds Light & Variable, Haze then Cloudy

Observing Summary:

*1st half of night:
Dome humidity remained high, outside humidity variable.
At some times WIYN and 4m reported lower humidity, but the dome
sensor did not fall below 85% for more than a few minutes so did
not open. Oudside sensor (on weather station) got as low as 70%,
but then rose again above limit at about 10:30pm. Remained Closed.

*2nd half of night:
Eventually the humidity dropped and I got some observing in!
There is a bit of cirrus lit up now the moon has risen. Sky
quality continued to worsen though the early am. 

By 4:45 it is not possible to find any of my targets any more 
through the soup. Got progressively cloudier.

***Trouble: THE MIRROR COVERS did not open (I closed them while 
closing the dome to do some dome flats, then when I tried to 
re-open them only one side opened... The instrument rotator was 
not at zero either - I then left it where it was so as not to 
rotate it with the still closed cover). -> Trouble report 
submitted!

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Submitted on 2001 Feb 16 [6:26:11]