MDM Observatory 2.4m Telescope Observer's Report for 2006 Feb 15

Observer(s): Statler, Watanabe, Haas
Institution(s): Ohio University

Instrument: Echelle

Worked for 8 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:
   Clouds from 6pm until 10pm.
   Beg: Clear, Winds Calm
   Mid: Seeing 1.58 arcsec, Clear, Winds Light & Variable
   End: Seeing 1.99 arcsec, Clear, Winds Calm

Observing Summary:

Problem with TCS and encoders occurred again around 1:45 AM. The
autoguider was not moving the telescope. TCS reported  RA or Dec
encoders not responding.  It was impossible to move the telescope
in any direction with the paddle. After a few minutes, this
somehow resolved itself, the TCS error message disappeared, and
we were able to slew the telescope back to the stow position
and reset the encoders. However, both at the start of the night
and after this reset, the pointing was off by up to 50s in RA.

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Submitted on 2006 Feb 16 [7:01:10]