MDM Observatory 2.4m Telescope Observing Report for 2008 Nov 30

Observer(s): Jules Halpern
Institution(s): Columbia University

Instrument: CCDS

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

Seeing and Weather:
   Beg: Seeing 3 arcsec, Clear, Winds Moderate
   Mid: Seeing 2.4 arcsec, Clear, Winds Moderate
   End: Seeing 1.6 arcsec, Clear, Winds Moderate

Observing Summary:

This afternoon Mark Wagner came to MDM, and together we put the
CCDS slit assembly back together.  We figured out that contrary 
to my previous impression, no ball bearings were missing, so no
new parts were needed.  We then verified that the slit width was
being correctly adjusted by looking at it on the acquisition 
camera.  Then, we checked the spectral focus using two gratings,
the 150 line and 1800 line, and found then both to be very good.
Poor spectral resolution last week was evidently due to a spring
being disconnected from one of the slit jaws, which did not allow
the slit to close to the normal values.
   This work still left time for 9 hours of observing with the 
1800 line grating, which now also yields spatial resolution 
omparable to the seeing (albeit poor this night), following
Mark's previous adjustment of the spectrograph camera.
   Mark saved this observing run, and possibly several
upcoming CCDS runs.  I would like to point out that, in
recent semesters, the CCDS has been the most frequently
scheduled of MDM's spectrographs, and I expect that trend
to continue.  More details of the repair and adjustment
procedures will be written up, and can be kept on file
here.  
   Request to staff:  Please make sure that the 4K dewar
is filled this morning, as I don't know if/when the
observers did it.

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Submitted on 2008 Dec 1 [6:37:10]