Calypso Telescope Operators
Manual: Never Observe When...
You should never
observe when...
In addition to using common sense (i.e. no
observing in the rain) please use the following no observing
guidelines:
- Wind Speed Greater than
35mph - The telescope servo system
has been designed for excellent tracking in wind speeds up to 24
mph and to maintain tracking up to 35 mph (with gusts to 50 mph).
If the wind speed as recorded by the observatory anemometer
exceeds 35 mph, shut down the telescope immediately.
- Visible Lightning - If there is visible lightening within 25 miles the
telescope should be shut down. Although there may not be a danger
of lightning strike, storms can move in fast and it takes 15
minutes to shut down the telescope and close the building.
Besides, the flashes won't do much for your photometric
accuracy.
- Lightning counts greater than 2/second
- If the lightning detector reads
more than one count per second, a storm is very close.
- Snow on the roof or outside walls
- Do not open the building when
there is snow or ice on the outside of the building, it can fall
and land on the telescope as the building is opened.
- Cold Telescope and High Dewpoint
- If any of the telescope thermal
sensors indicate that the telescope temperature is below the
outside dewpoint do not open the observatory building or any of
the doors. You can enter the observatory level through the main
door but do not leave the door open.
- Air Temperature
within 5 degrees of Dewpoint - If
the air temperature is falling (in the evening) and the
temperature is within 5 degrees of the dewpoint.
- Dust is blowing or in the air
- Even when the wind is below
the limit, if there is dust in the air the telescope can
be damaged by opening. Dust storms do occur on the mountain.
At night use a flashlight to check for the presence of dust
in the air.
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Last updated: 20-Sep-02