MDM Trouble Report for 2008 Jun 15

Telescope: 2.4m
Observer(s): Djordjevic, Terndrup (OSU)
Instrument: TIFKAM

Problem(s) Encountered:
The north mirror cover hangs up on the center baffle.

For closing, we pointed the telescope to h.a. = 0, dec = +75, then
climed a ladder and struck the mirror cover with a moderate blow
using a fist.  It closed right away.  This was necessary to get 
the mirror A/C going.

For opening, we pointed the telescope at the same location,
climbed a ladder, then manually pushed the mirror cover to
its closed position.  Upon release, it sprang back with 
sufficient momentum to get over the hangup point.

I don't mind doing this sort of thing for the rest of the run,
but please give us some instructions about (a) whether there is
a safer way to do this, and (b) whether we might be damaging
things.

No observing time lost.

DT

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Submitted on 2008 Jun 16 [4:11:57]