MDM Trouble Report for 2006 Jul 17

Telescope: 1.3m
Observer(s): Andrew Fleming (Columbia University)
Instrument: Templeton

Problem(s) Encountered:
Around 9:30pm, when I was finally able to open the dome, the 
computer was not communicating with the utility board.  Bob helped 
re-initialize the utility board via the phone.

Around 10:30pm, after successfully taking bias frames  
and a pointing test, the tracking drive stopped working while I was 
trying to focus the telescope.  When I went into the dome, I could 
hear the tracking motor (a faint periodic squeaking) each time I 
turned on the tracking.  But the telescope did not respond in kind.
(At this point, I called Bob.)  After turning the tracking on and off several times, it did start 
to track.  So I returned to the control room to take another focus 
frame.  And the tracking ceased again.  I again went out, turned it 
on and off several times.  It again worked for about two more mintues.
The third time I could not get it start working again by turning 
it on and off.

Note: Each time I turned on the tracking, I could hear the motor, 
even though the telescope did not move with the sky.

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

Submitted on 2006 Jul 17 [23:22:59]