Date:
Friday, February 23, 2024
Telescope:
CTIO Blanco 4-m
Submitter:
Points
Submitter Email:
Observer Support:
Hernan Tirado
Night Assistant:
Alberto Alvarez
Problems:
Problems with amplifier readout, TCS communication, and instrument GUI described below.
Program:
Proposal:
NEWFIRM Eng
Target of Oportunity:
No
Time Observed:
0.0
Time Engineering:
4.0
Time lost technical:
0.0
Time lost weather:
0.0
Time lost other:
0.0
Description:
NEWFIRM Eng
Primary Investigator:
Points
Email:
Institution:
CTIO
Instrument:
CTIO 4m Newfirm
Organization:
NOAO
Total Program Time:
4
Proposal:
2024A-937812
Target of Oportunity:
No
Time Observed:
3.5
Time Engineering:
0.0
Time lost technical:
1.0
Time lost weather:
0.0
Time lost other:
0.0
Description:
NEWFIRM Infrared Survey for Transients
Primary Investigator:
Charlie Kilpatrick
Email:
Institution:
Northwestern University
Instrument:
CTIO 4m Newfirm
Organization:
NOAO
Total Program Time:
4.5
| Total Times | Time Observed | Time Engineering | Time lost technical | Time lost weather | Time lost other | Total Program Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-02-23 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8.5 |
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1) We noticed amplifier issues on 13 reads of NEWFIRM out of approximately 250 images. This problem appeared worse toward the end of the night after recovery from a TCS failure (see below).
2) The instrument would sometimes begin taking exposures before the telescope had finished a dither, indicating some lag between the TCS and instrument. This immediately preceded a severe failure in the TCS that resulted in a major loss of time (see below).
3) At approximately 8:11 UTC, we started noticing that the TCS was not responding to commands from the NEWFIRM GUI. The telescope dither and TCS focus offset would not respond to commands from the instrument, although it appeared to be updating without us issuing any commands. Alberto indicated that the TCS appeared to be down and non-responsive. We completely restarted the TCS and instrument, which recovered contact between NEWFIRM and the TCS. After repointing and refocusing the telescope, we were able to get back on sky with our observing program at 9:00 UTC.