Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2008 12:49:11 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: 3.5m Night Log 20080321
From: "Gabrelle Saurage"
                        Apache Point Observatory
                        3.5m Telescope Night Log
                        Friday, March 21, 2008
                                                         ACTUAL
 ASTRONOMER      OBSERVER(S)             INSTRUMENT    START  FINISH
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 J.Wilson       R.McMillan, J.Wilson,    Triplespec   19:40  06:55
                M.Skrutskie, M.Nelson,
                S.Schmidt, G.Saurage
   INST     SCHED(TWILIGHT) WEATH     EQUIP      OBS     DAY  NOT USED
 I/ROW/DN   START  FINISH   D    B    D    B    D    B   USE   D    B
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 EN02/O     20:09  06:10    0    0    0    0    0  10.0   0    0    0
  note: scheduled times listed include instrument change time
                ------------- ACTIVITY LOG --------------
 Observing Specialist: G.Saurage
We checked the instrument block for TripleSpec that was done yesterday. It
was found to be fine. Then we began on-sky TripleSpec engineering. Several
software problems were found and PR’d as we collected science data with
TripleSpec the rest of the night.
At this point operating with TripleSpec is still rather labor-intensive:
Since guiding is not working on the TripleSpec guider manual guiding is
required (‘manual’ mode on the guider is not working either, so constant
updating of exposures is actually needed along with offsetting). Along
with manual guiding, manual focusing is also required (aka focusing on the
fly all night).
Lots of good Tspec data collected tonight! The seeing was decent, becoming
variable for a few hours second half when temperature fluctuations were
rapid. Sky was mostly clear but a bit hazy most of the night.
                       ------- FAILURE LOG -------
  PROG   INST   FAILURE MODE     TIME
      (SAEDFNVOG)   TI/SHU    START  FINISH  DESCRIPTION
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
               ---------------- FOCUS LOG ---------------
Time  Instrument  Focus     Az  El  Temp Strc Prim  Sec  Air  filt FWHM
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                ------------- WEATHER LOG ----------------
                                   Wind                      Precip.or
     Time   Temp F Dewp F  MPH  Direction    Dust    Sky    Conditions
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     16:00    52     6     11   251  (WSW)   1452 mstly clr    none
     17:00    50     4     15   252  (WSW)   1374 mstly clr    none
     18:00    48     4      9   275    (W)   1974 mstly clr    none
     19:00    46     2      8   274    (W)   2580 mstly clr    none
     20:00    44     0      7   285  (WNW)   2436 mstly clr    none
     21:00    44     1      9   226   (SW)   1750 mstly clr    none
     22:00    44     1      9   231   (SW)   1564    clear     none
     23:00    44     2     10   211  (SSW)   1578    clear     none
     00:00    44     1     12   231   (SW)   1573    clear     none
     01:00    43     0     12   218   (SW)   1464    clear     none
     02:00    43     1      9   192  (SSW)   1553    clear     none
     03:00    39     1      8   169    (S)   1234    clear     none
     04:00    42     0      8   186    (S)   1436    clear     none
     05:00    41    -3      7   176    (S)   1795    clear     none
     06:00    41    -3      5   182    (S)   1785    clear     none
     Note: the wind was coming from the azimuth listed.
     The convention used is north=0 degrees, east=90 degrees.
     The dust count is particles > 1u per 0.1 cubic feet.
                              TELESCOPE STATUS
      Telescope drives operational. Current TCC version: 2.9.1
      Current TUI version: TUI 1.4.5