Subject: 2.5m obslog 19990901 (MJD 51424)
Date: Thu,  2 Sep 1999 04:11:49 -0600 (MDT)
From: hayes@apo.nmsu.edu
			Wednesday September 01, 1999
		              (MJD 51424)
                   Apache Point Observatory SDSS 2.5m
                           Observing Log
Tonight's Observing Team:
                Connie Rockosi (UC) -- PIC
		Ellyne Kinney (APO)
                Jeffrey Hayes (APO)
                David Schegel (PU)
                Francisco Castander (UC/OPM)
On tap for tonight is finishing the collimation tests that were tried
last night, and in the second half, if all goes well, spectroscopy with
plates 190 and 191 before 0200 if possible and plates 214 and 217 after
that time.
At 1600 we had rain, clouds and high humidity, with a most unfavourable
forecast, so we started the waiting game.
In the mid-afternoon, Ellyne checked out a change to the MCP code that allowed
control of the SP2 slithead door.  This seemed to work okay.  We also,
with the help of Jon Brinkmann and Craig Loomis, tried to sort out the
problems with the engineering camera seem last night.  Remarkably, or not,
the camera seemed to be able to detect real photons from the overhead lighting
in the building, through differing integration times.  Collectively we
have no idea about the problems experienced last night.
The mosaic camera was put on the telescope with French's help by 2030, and
the counterweights were set to have a voltage of 690.  Note that the 2
clamshells were put back on.
Connie worked on the plumbing for the spectrographs and Ellyne and Jeffrey
filled the 10 L dewars at 0230.  Note for the daytime folks: 12 hours from
that time, the 10 L will need to be filled again.
Most of the evening was spent waiting for the weather -- either it was too
cloudy, too humid, or both.  At 0300, the humidity hit 80% and stayed there
till 0400.  Added to the mix was variable cloudiness.  All in all, a
disappointing night.
We called it a night at 0400  MDT.
Jeffrey reporting for all