MDM Trouble Report for 2013 Sep 30

Telescope: 1.3m
Observer(s): Schiminovich, Hamden, Gordon (Columbia)
Instrument: Proto-Chas

Problem(s) Encountered:
We had been having a few problems with the finder mirror as I mentioned last night.  Earlier in the night, we did have some issues getting it to move correctly.  Around 1AM the finder totally stopped moving after we did some calibration images.  It is stuck in the optical path so we can't observe.  We tried moving it in and then out and it's basically stuck.  When we investigated, it looks like the belt was trying to move (vibrating a lot), but was unable to make contact with the right gears and so was just vibrating very loudly.  This happened regardless of if we pushed IN or OUT on the MIS control, although the direction and tone changed.  

We basically can't do anything, so just like the government, we shut it down.  We did pull the plug on the Finder Mirror box in the control room to at least stop it from running all night.  That's how we will leave it (otherwise it starts to smell like burning which is not good).  


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Submitted on 2013 Oct 1 [2:00:34]