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.