MDM Trouble Report for 2004 Feb 22

Telescope: 1.3m
Observer(s): M. Bureau, M. Damen (Columbia University)
Instrument: Direct imaging with Echelle

Problem(s) Encountered:
When attempting to observe Virgo cluster objects, we were not able to
guide normally on the objects. Frequently, and sometimes almost
continuously, the telescope would suddenly move in the North-South
direction by several arcseconds. This happened first as we were
pointing about DEC=+18 and HA=-01:30. After aborting several
exposures, we decided to move to a slightly different object/position
(DEC=+14, HA=00:00). Same results. So we moved to a completely
different object/position far North (DEC=+55). The telescope guided
fine there. After a while, we attempted to reacquire our original
object/position (now DEC=+18, HA=00:30). Again, large sudden
excursions of the telescope in the North-South direction were observed
and observing was impossible. So we again moved to a Northern object,
which was fine. Finally, again later, we reacquired our original
object (now DEC=+18, HA=02:00), and for the first time of the night we
could track normally and thus observed this object.

This indicates that the telescope was unable to track properly when
physically pointing in a certain direction (roughly DEC=+13 to 18,
HA=-01:30 to at least 00:30). This problem is strangely like the one I
had during my run of last year with the same setup, which suggests
that the telescope may again be improperly balanced.

We lost about 01:30 specifically due to this problem, but most
importantly we were unable to observe our most important targets when
they were near the meridian.

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Submitted on 2004 Feb 22 [6:41:34]