MDM Observatory 2.4m Telescope Observer's Report for 2005 Dec 17

Observer(s): Steiner, Frascino, McNamara
Institution(s): Ohio University

Instrument: TIFKAM

Worked for 11.5 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:
   High Humidity from 3:00 until 5:00.
   Beg: Seeing 1.5 arcsec, Overcast, Winds Light & Variable
   Mid: Seeing 2.0 arcsec, Clear, Winds Moderate
   End: Seeing 2.0 arcsec, Cirrus, Winds Light & Variable

Observing Summary:

The weather patterns changed frequently, with varying winds up to ~15 mph.
The pressure changed throughout the night, and humidity spiked several times.
We closed down early due to a particularly large jump in humidity around 5am.
Seeing was fairly poor throughout the night, between 2-3 .  We encountered
several problems over the course of the night.  Several times the telescope
began to wander away from the target without any command and at seemingly random
times.  By prompting the telescope to go to a target, the drifting would stop.
Also, several times throughout the night, the RA would stick and loop without 
reaching its destination, typically within a minute of the goal.  This was solved
by moving the telescope away from the sticky point and then past it, and then
ultimately to the original destination.  The only other problem encountered was 
Prospero seemed to override the telescope motion controls and hand controls.  The
telescope wouldn't respond to paddle until some commands ran in Prospero.

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Submitted on 2005 Dec 18 [5:16:41]