MDM Trouble Report for 2006 Nov 6

Telescope: 2.4m
Observer(s): L. Watson (OSU)
Instrument: CCDS

Problem(s) Encountered:
At about 12:30am, I noticed that the CCDS images had high 
background and some star-like features that shouldn't have been
there.  This was because the detector had warmed to -45.1 
degrees.  From about 9:15pm until 12:30am, I had been using 
Retrocam, but in the last exposures I had taken with CCDS (around 
9pm), the star-like features were not present.  Unfortunately, 
I filled the dewar upon realizing this.  I now know that this 
can cause a  gunk  build up on the CCD.  It cooled down (at 
least to -89) but as I should have expected, it has warmed back 
up again in a short amount of time (it's now 6am and the 
temperature is about -65).  I won't fill the dewar again.  I 
apologize for not referring to the manual before I filled the 
dewar once it was warm.

If I accidentally fall asleep before anyone gets here, just 
wake me up to get more information about this.

I am certain I filled the dewar this evening.  I am almost 
certain that I filled the dewar twice a day since I've been 
here too (I'm only doubting myself now because my forgetting 
to fill it is the only reason I can think of for the detector 
to warm up).  I am very sorry if I did forget.  Another option 
is that I did not fill it correctly or completely.  I don't 
think this is the case either, but I'm not sure.

The focus buttons on the hand paddle quit working twice during
the night.  This was accompanied by the warning on the TCS:  RA
and Dec Encoders Not Responding.   It eventually worked itself
out once I slewed the telescope and I see in the manual that 
this was probably because the telescope did not complete it's 
move to my next object and was hung up.  Simply clicking on 
STOP would have solved the problem quicker.  Good to know.

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Submitted on 2006 Nov 6 [6:28:32]