MDM Trouble Report for 2003 Apr 1

Telescope: 1.3m
Observer(s): Martin Bureau, Davor Krajnovic (Columbia, Leiden)
Instrument: Echelle

Problem(s) Encountered:
We again experienced many episodes of  wild slewing  of
the telescope, as reported in previous nights. This always happens when pointing around 0-10 deg in DEC and west of the meridian. The excursions are always in the N-S direction, the telescope typically moving first towards the South.

As the problem was reported previously, we now simply abort the exposure and either try again or, most likely to solve the problem, we move to a different position. Note that the problem still occurs when guiding is turned off, and the relays are silent.

Image /data/tambora/visitor/BUREAU/030331/030331_041 is the only one we recorded which shows the effect. Look at the trace left by bright stars.

No other problem to report except the strong PSF gradient across the field, which is still very much present.

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Submitted on 2003 Apr 1 [5:17:11]