MDM Trouble Report for 2011 Mar 30

Telescope: 2.4m
Observer(s): Terndrup, Karnath (NSF, OSU)
Instrument: CCD/Templeton

Problem(s) Encountered:
1) During observations of our first target, we experienced the N/S
oscillations and N/S jumping that bothered us previously and was a
major problem in previous years.  About 10% of the frames were
affected during the worst of it.  Dec = +66, ha = 2:00 West

2) About 1:00 a.m. we began to have trouble with the pointing. 
We were doing unguided images, with occasional use of the hand 
paddle to nudge the telescope a little.  The paddle gain was set
to 0.1.

The paddle was responsive in the E/W directions, but not responsive
in N/S.  Then holding down the N or S paddle buttons would cause 
the telescope tracking to stop.  We could start the tracking again,
and restore the telescope position by repointing.  Shortly after,
the telescope became completely unresponsive in the N/S directions,
either to the paddle or to 'point' or 'offset' commands on the
control panel.

We were utterly unable to move the telescope in the N/S direction.
The telescope is now parked at h.a. = 00:00 and dec = -1:50.  We
closed at 3:00 a.m.  

During all this there were various error messages about the
pointing not converging.

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Submitted on 2011 Mar 30 [3:02:11]