APACHE POINT OBSERVATORY SDSS 2.5M OBSERVING LOG Thursday August 13, 2026 (SJD 61266) ---- Observing Team ---- Kaike Pan Conor (on messager) José (fixed guider Actor) ---- Observing Plan ---- On-sky collimation, fiducial data. ---- Observing Summary ---- It was cloudy with nearby radar. Delayed open. Open at middle night, got stars near the chip center. The telescope focus is found ~ -3000 for the engineering camera. took ~100 images on three stars, but could not get very good donuts, and different stars (at different (AZ,Alt) require slightly different x-, y-tilts. It is possible that dusts on filter of the camera distort donuts, make it hard to get perfect donuts. Overall, it seems that x- and y-tilt of (-10",-10") give best donuts. I decided to move on with fiducial data at 10:30Z. will request the camera to be cleaned, and come back for optical collimation tonight. Fiducial data for rotator and altitude were collected. No fiducial cross was registered this morning while tried to collect fiducial data. Fiducial crosses near 121 were registered during afternoon checkout. Notes: 1. Please clean the engineering camera. 2. While the 25m enclosure is off, the APO weather page still show it is on. But we can slew the telescope, this likely indicates the building sensor is working. But the information doesn't propagate to the weather status page. 3. Azimuth axis doesn't register any fiducial cross this morning, it missed a lot during night but did register some. ---- Observing Log ---- Afternoon: ========== I forget APOGEE gang connector back the dense port, it is found after the Apogee evening calibration sequence started. I didn't stop the sequence nor retook the cal because we will not take any apogee science data or other calibration data tonight.The connect is moved back to dense port. BOSS bias, dark look fine. 00"45Z: Started ventilation Home/relax mirrors. Night: ====== 09:00Z Fill 10L deward. 06:00Z: open. Find the star near the center without offset. Focus the camera: 0 foc=-3025 fwhm=3.896000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0032.fits 1 foc=-3000 fwhm=3.699000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0033.fits 2 foc=-2975 fwhm=3.529000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0034.fits 3 foc=-2950 fwhm=3.518000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0035.fits 4 foc=-2925 fwhm=3.467000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0036.fits 5 foc=-2900 fwhm=3.476000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0037.fits 6 foc=-2875 fwhm=3.865000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0038.fits set focus -2925.0. The seeing is about 1.5". 3.5m telescope gets 1.0" seeing. The star is at (AZ=60, alt=63). Take donuts: at -750 (foc=-3675) #39 at +750 (foc=-2175) #40 Donuts are bottom heavy. Discussed the procedure with Conor. 7:30Z, run another focus sweep. current focus=-2175.0 0 foc=-3000 fwhm=3.710000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0041.fits 1 foc=-2975 fwhm=2.944000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0042.fits 2 foc=-2950 fwhm=3.046000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0043.fits 3 foc=-2925 fwhm=2.959000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0044.fits 4 foc=-2900 fwhm=3.342000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0045.fits 5 foc=-2875 fwhm=3.593000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0046.fits 6 foc=-2850 fwhm=4.096000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0047.fits set focus -2975.0 Let's use 2950 as the best focus. The seeing is about 1.35". Now at the star at (29,72). at foc=-2200 (+ 750), image #48 at foc=-3700 (-750) image #49 At foc=-3700 M1 tilt: 1.06, 2.03, 16.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 49 M1 tilt: 1.06, 12.03, 16.67, -410.97, -787.67 image #50. improved M1 tilt: 1.06, 12.03, 11.67, -410.97, -787.67, image #51 worser M1 tilt: 1.06, 12.03, 21.67, -410.97, -787.67, img #52 not improve M1 tilt: 1.06, 17.03, 16.67, -410.97, -787.67 image #50. improved Start over M1 tilt: 1.06, 2.03, 16.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 56 M1 tilt: 1.06, 12.03, 16.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 57 M1 tilt: 1.06, -8.03, 16.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 58 M1 tilt: 1.06, -13.03, 16.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 59 M1 tilt: 1.06, -18.03, 16.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 60 M1 tilt: 1.06, -18.03, 6.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 61 M1 tilt: 1.06, -18.03, 26.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 62 M1 tilt: 1.06, -18.03, 11.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 63 M1 tilt: 1.06, -18.03, 6.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 64 At foc=-2200 M1 tilt: 1.06, 2.03, 16.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 65 M1 tilt: 1.06, -18.03, 16.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 67 better than 65 M1 tilt: 1.06, -18.03, 6.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 68 M1 tilt: 1.06, -18.03, 1.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 69 M1 tilt: 1.06, -18.03, 11.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 70 M1 tilt: 1.06, -18.03, -4.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 71 M1 tilt: 1.06, -18.03, -9.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 72 M1 tilt: 1.06, -13.03, -9.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 73 M1 tilt: 1.06, -8.03, -9.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 74 It seems xtilt=-8 ytitle=-9 gives good donuts Go to another star to check Star at Az=116, alt=51 Run a focus sweep 0 foc=-3025 fwhm=4.115000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0075.fits 1 foc=-3000 fwhm=4.086000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0076.fits 2 foc=-2975 fwhm=4.134000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0077.fits 3 foc=-2950 fwhm=3.799000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0078.fits 4 foc=-2925 fwhm=3.505000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0079.fits 5 foc=-2900 fwhm=3.902000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0080.fits 6 foc=-2875 fwhm=4.074000 /data/ecam/61266/gimg-0081.fits set focus -2925.0 at foc=-2175 (-750) M1 tilt: 1.06, 2.03, 16.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 84 M1 tilt: 1.06, -8.03, -9.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 85 M1 tilt: 1.06, -13.03, -9.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 86 M1 tilt: 1.06, -13.03, 1.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 87 M1 tilt: 1.06, -13.03, 11.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 88 M1 tilt: 1.06, 2.03, 1.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 89 M1 tilt: 1.06, -8.03, 16.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 90 M1 tilt: 1.06, -8.03, 26.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 91 M1 tilt: 1.06, -8.03, -20.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 92 M1 tilt: 1.06, -8.03, -5.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 93 at foc=-3675 (+750) M1 tilt: 1.06, 2.03, 16.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 96 M1 tilt: 1.06, -2.03, 16.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 95 M1 tilt: 1.06, -8.03, 16.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 96 M1 tilt: 1.06, 2.03, -5.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 97 M1 tilt: 1.06, -10.03, -5.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 99 M1 tilt: 1.06, -10.03, -10.67, -410.97, -787.67 image # 100 It seems better donuts are obtained at x-, y-tilt of (-10,-10). ---- Mirror Numbers ---- PRIMARY: -------- Scale: 1.000000 MIGS TONIGHT NOMINAL Axial A: -5.2110 0.0080 Axial B: -5.0250 -0.0250 Axial C: -5.5000 -0.0210 Trans D: -0.6150 0.0030 Lateral E: 0.3395 0.3405 Lateral F: 0.5455 0.5475 GALILS Commanded: 8450 -1050 8800 22100 -2000 -1700 Actual: 8450 -1050 8800 22100 -2000 -1700 SETMIR VALUES PrimDesOrient: 1.06 2.03 16.67 -410.97 -787.67 PrimOrient: 1.06 2.03 16.67 -410.97 -787.67 SECONDARY: ---------- Focus: 0.0000 Air temp: 0.00 Altitude: 30.0 MIGS TONIGHT NOMINAL Axial A: -8.3590 -7.6450 Axial B: -6.5020 0.1090 Axial C: -6.4760 -7.5340 Trans D: 0.1980 -0.0120 GALILS Commanded: 853000 869450 836000 -1500 1800 Actual: 824955 853232 803065 -1500 1800 SETMIR VALUES SecDesOrient: 657.0 14.2 5.9 -72.0 -12.76 SecOrient: 656.44 14.09 5.97 -72.45 -12.59 ---- Telescope Status ---- 00:45Z Started ventilation 12:00Z encl25m : open 12:40Z encl25m : closed No interlocks bypassed Status at: 12:50Z Telescope stowed at: 121.0, 30.0, 0.0 mount Instrument mounted: engCam Counterweights at: LN2 autofill systems: Connected and turned on 180L LN2 dewar scales: SP1 281 lbs, 20.5 psi ---- Software Used ---- -- STUI software: STUI : 1.7.21 alerts : 2.3.0 boss : 6.0.5a1 -boss.specMec : 3.0.4 apo : 4.1.0 fliswarm : 0.6.1 jaeger : 1.11.2a1 kaiju : 1.4.1 coordio : 1.18.1 fps_calibrati : 2025.12.04 cherno : 1.2.2 astrometrynet : 0.93 hal : 1.4.1 hartmann : 3.1.0 hub : 5.0.1a0 mcp : 2.3.1 -mcp.plc : 35 -mcp.azFiduci : v1_153 -mcp.altFiduc : v1_153 -mcp.rotFiduc : v1_153 tcc : 1.4.0 apogee : not availble apogeecal : not availble apogeeql : 2.0.0a0 STUIAdditions : FAILED Boson : 0.6.1 ---- Time Tracking ---- *=*=*= Observatory: APO *=*=*= MJD: 61266 Fill night time in Hours below *=*=*= Total bright time : 1.2 *=*=*= Bright time, queued observations : 0 *=*=*= Bright time, commissioning/engineering: 0.6 *=*=*= Bright time lost to weather : 0.6 *=*=*= Bright time lost to technical issues : 0 *=*=*= Total dark time : 8.2 *=*=*= Dark time, queued observations : 0 *=*=*= Dark time, commissioning/engineering : 5.0 *=*=*= Dark time lost to weather : 3.2 *=*=*= Dark time lost to technical issues : 0