MDM Observatory 2.4m Telescope Observer's Report for 2005 Sep 15

Observer(s): John Thorstensen
Institution(s): Dartmouth

Instrument: echelle CCD direct + 2in FW

Worked for 10 hours (all night)
Conditions were Photometric most of the night.
Problems were encountered, see the separate trouble report for details.

Seeing and Weather:
   Beg: Seeing 1 arcsec, Clear, Winds Light & Variable
   Mid: Seeing 1 arcsec, Clear, Winds Light & Variable
   End: Seeing 1.2 arcsec, Clear, Winds Moderate

Observing Summary:

Another fine night, with excellent photometric conditions. 
Closed a little early to go catch a plane - no morning sky 
flats!

Two problems, which I'll describe here in detail to save
time at the end of the night. 

First, the mirror A/C compressor circuit 
breaker had tripped, evidently because of the two nasty 
power glitches we had yesterday. I didn't notice this 'til 
before dinner, but fortunately tonight was significantly 
warmer than last night and the mirror temperature was ok.

Second, I noticed twice that the air bag system seemed very 
slow in responding to large changes in telescope position. 
On one occasion I went from dec = -27 up to near the zenith,
and it took almost 10 minutes for the air bags to return the
hard point loads to their nominal value.  I don't remember
it taking this long before, and I'm pretty sure I would
have noticed it.

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Submitted on 2005 Sep 16 [4:44:12]