MDM Observatory 2.4m Telescope Observer's Report for 2003 Apr 18

Observer(s): eve armstrong
Institution(s): columbia

Instrument: echelle

Worked for 9 hours (most of the night)
Conditions were Photometric most of the night.
No equipment or software problems were encountered.

Seeing and Weather:
   Beg: Seeing .8 arcsec, Clear, Winds Light & Variable
   Mid: Seeing 1.3 arcsec, Clear, Winds Calm
   End: Seeing 1.3 arcsec, Clear, Winds Calm

Observing Summary:

We used a nitrogen tank to keep the mirror's airbags inflated, 
after the pump failed last night.  didn't work at first, but 
then worked perfectly 1.5 hours later.  seeing was subarcsecond.
great night.  in other words,



So last night's culprit proved to be an ancient pump gone sour.
And in its place Bob aptly stuck an N2 vessel; howe'er,
At first the airbags wouldn't fill, and prospects seemed quite dour.
But luck turned kind and drove us up and running in an hour.

The passage of this night the sky this 'scope did deftly scour,
To seek out and display five-hundred-nanometer power.
The sky stayed clear, the air serene and scented as a flower,
And all I felt a-missing was a lemon whiskey sour.

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Submitted on 2003 Apr 19 [3:48:25]