MDM Trouble Report for 2001 Mar 17

Telescope: 2.4m
Observer(s): Jason Pinkney (U. Michigan)
Instrument: MODSPEC

Problem(s) Encountered:
I had trouble with a disappearing slit.  (This is also
described in my Observer's report.)
I observed an object at Dec=-24, HA~0.  I was able to
acquire the nearest bright star and to focus on that
star.  The Rotator was at -5.0 deg at the time.  Then
I rotated to -17 (mistake) and then to 73 deg (the 
major axis of my galaxy).  Then I acquired the galaxy
and tried to set up on it.  I couldn't see the slit 
opening anywhere!  I was able to see the diagonal line drawn
on the slit and other flaws, but not the slit opening.
I played around with the slit width and the positions of
the guider and finder.  At one point, there seemed to be
a very large opening at the bottom of the slit view, but
this wasn't the slit because it didn't go away when I
closed the slit.  
	When I moved to a new position at Dec=+67, I was
able to find the slit opening again.
	I suspect that something was physically out of
place in there, but I don't know what.	

	I also had trouble with the tilt meters at the beginning
of the night.  This is described in the Observers Report.


------------------------------

Submitted on 2001 Mar 18 [16:53:47]