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uc:uc20240903_september_3_2024

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uc:uc20240903_september_3_2024 [2024/10/01 02:02]
nchanove 		uc:uc20240903_september_3_2024 [2024/10/01 02:16] (current)
nchanove
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 === Additional site, telescope and instrument discussion ===  === Additional site, telescope and instrument discussion === 
  
-The weather pattern continued to be monsoonal throughout August. The 3.5m returned to science nicely on 8/27/24 after the summer shutdown. The shutdown provided lots of training opportunities for our newest 3.5m staff members (Cary Smith and Torrie Sutherland). We are currently experiencing an issue with the tip-tilt mechanism on the tertiary mirror. This seems to happen yearly (perhaps due to noise on the lines?). The system was power cycled and rehomed twice in past week and we are continuing to monitor it. Nancy asked what this issue would look like from an observer's perspective. The tertiary error message would come through on the TUI logs and should be spotted by the obs-spec on duty.  An observer might notice pointing or focus issues, especially after changing ports from NA2 to the echelle. If the recovery process is straightforward it takes 15-30 minutes.+The weather pattern continued to be monsoonal throughout August. The 3.5m returned to science nicely on 8/27/24 after the summer shutdown. The shutdown provided lots of training opportunities for our newest 3.5m staff members (Cary Smith and Torrie Sutherland). We are currently experiencing an issue with the tip-tilt mechanism on the tertiary mirror. This seems to happen yearly (perhaps due to noise on the lines?). The system was power cycled and rehomed twice in the past week and we are continuing to monitor it. Nancy asked what this issue would look like from an observer's perspective. The tertiary error message would come through on the TUI logs and should be spotted by the obs-spec on duty.  An observer might notice pointing or focus issues, especially after changing ports from NA2 to the echelle. If the recovery process is straightforward it takes 15-30 minutes.
  
 For ARCSAT the FlareCam cooling fans were replaced and the instrument is now back on the telescope. For ARCSAT the FlareCam cooling fans were replaced and the instrument is now back on the telescope.
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 The Agile failure has been diagnosed as a failure of the thermoelectric cooler (TEC), and an outside vendor is working on the repair now. We currently have no estimate for its return date yet. The Agile failure has been diagnosed as a failure of the thermoelectric cooler (TEC), and an outside vendor is working on the repair now. We currently have no estimate for its return date yet.
  
-ARCES was problematic last month. There was a disk drive failure of the software RAID array on 2 disks. We haven't seen any disk errors since a new one was installed. This would manifest as slowing down of instrument operations; lots of instrument-specific info is constantly scrolling by in the TUI log window and the instrument log would start filling up. ARCES also has exhibited intermittent failures due to a failing power supply in the computer. We are currently using a temporary desktop for a solution and there is a new drop-in power supply on order. The echelle's inter-order light is nominal. +ARCES was problematic last month. There was a disk drive failure of the software RAID array on 2 disks. We haven't seen any disk errors since a new one was installed. This would manifest as slowing down of instrument operations; lots of instrument-specific info is constantly scrolling by in the TUI log window and the instrument log would start filling up. ARCES also has exhibited intermittent failures due to a failing power supply in the computer. We are currently using a temporary desktop one for a stop-gap solution and there is a new drop-in power supply on order. The echelle's inter-order light is nominal. 
  
 The DIS red channel experienced an electronics issue right before shutdown. In this failure mode it has constant pixel values. Bill rebooted it and the issue went away. Vacuum servicing of DIS is likely to happen in Q4. The DIS red channel experienced an electronics issue right before shutdown. In this failure mode it has constant pixel values. Bill rebooted it and the issue went away. Vacuum servicing of DIS is likely to happen in Q4.
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 For TripleSpec, both Tcam and Tspec are operational. For TripleSpec, both Tcam and Tspec are operational.
  
-Nancy expressed her sincere thanks to the 3.5m staff for doing such a great job with the summer shutdown and the training activities for the newer staff members.  +**Nancy expressed her sincere thanks to the 3.5m staff for doing such a great job with the summer shutdown and the training activities for the newer staff members.  
 +**
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 === 2024 Q3 3.5m scheduling === === 2024 Q3 3.5m scheduling ===
  
-We have one remaining unassigned half night in Q3 (Sep 14B). Users should look at the schedule and follow the usual channels for requesting this time (i.e. email Russet, Amanda, Ben, Nancy and their institutional scheduler when submitting requests, and provide a proposal cover page if you don't already have a program scheduled for the current quarter).+We have one remaining unassigned half night in Q3 (Sep 14B). Users should look at the schedule and follow the usual channels for requesting this time (i.e. email Russet, Amanda, Ben, Nancy and their institutional scheduler when submitting requests, and provide a proposal cover page if you don't already have a program scheduled for the current quarter). [Note added in proof: there is no more unassigned time remaining in Q3.]
  
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 === Time Domain Astronomy Opportunity === === Time Domain Astronomy Opportunity ===
  
-Nancy collected input from the UC members about their departments' interest levels in hosting a robotic spectrograph for rapid classification of newly discovered transients. She will assimilate the information into a single summary document then respond to the instrument PI with a decision.+Nancy collected input from the UC members about their departments' interest levels in having the 3.5m host a robotic spectrograph for rapid classification of newly discovered transients. She will assemble the information into a single summary document then respond to the instrument PI with a decision. //Thank you to all users who provided feedback.//
  
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 Open action items from previous meetings: Open action items from previous meetings:
   * Nancy: get ROM costs for new KOSMOS grisms. Sarah reported that she has a finalized quote from one vendor. These are more expensive than we expected so we need to explore potential funding sources. STATUS: OPEN.   * Nancy: get ROM costs for new KOSMOS grisms. Sarah reported that she has a finalized quote from one vendor. These are more expensive than we expected so we need to explore potential funding sources. STATUS: OPEN.
-  * UC reps: ask your users to review the alpha version of the new web site to determine whether the content they are used to finding on the web site is still there and easy to find. All feedback should be provided through the Google sheet given above. STATUS: CLOSED.+  * UC reps: ask your users to review the alpha version of the new web site to determine whether the content they are used to finding on the web site is still there and easy to find. All feedback should be provided through the Google sheet (link given in the August Users Committee meeting minutes). STATUS: CLOSED.
   * Nancy: Ensure that a short description of the impact of satellites be posted on the APO website somewhere and updated every 6 months or so. STATUS: OPEN. Waiting for new web site deployment may not be the best approach. Nancy will get examples of this issue from Anne Verbiscer and get something added to the current web site before the next meeting.   * Nancy: Ensure that a short description of the impact of satellites be posted on the APO website somewhere and updated every 6 months or so. STATUS: OPEN. Waiting for new web site deployment may not be the best approach. Nancy will get examples of this issue from Anne Verbiscer and get something added to the current web site before the next meeting.
   * UC reps: remind your users to review the Q3 schedule and request OPEN/DD time if they can make a good case for it. Status: CLOSED.   * UC reps: remind your users to review the Q3 schedule and request OPEN/DD time if they can make a good case for it. Status: CLOSED.
uc/uc20240903_september_3_2024.1727748158.txt.gz · Last modified: 2024/10/01 02:02 by nchanove

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