MDM Observatory 2.4m Telescope Observing Report for 2016 Jan 29

Observer(s): Nunez, Douglas
Institution(s): Columbia

Instrument: ModSpec/Echelle

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

Seeing and Weather:
   Clouds all night.
   Beg: Patchy Clouds, Winds Light & Variable
   Mid: Cirrus, Winds Light & Variable
   End: Cirrus, Winds Moderate

Observing Summary:

Aside from two problems, we had a pretty good night. There were
thin patchy clouds most of the night, but we were mostly able to 
observe through/around them. 

About halfway through the night, the telescope tracking (with or 
without guiding) started running in little squares, with some 
associated fluctuations in the mirror airbag forces. After slewing 
to zenith and carefully returning to the original location, this 
problem disappeared.

At the end of the night, we had to reopen the mirror covers to 
return the rotator to 0. The west mirror petal then refused to 
open until we slewed the telescope over and pulled the cover up 
with a rope. We then closed normally.

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Submitted on 2016 Jan 30 [6:48:24]