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APO 3.5-m Users Committee Meeting, 5/07/2024
Attending: Jamey Eriksen (APO), Kevin Schlaufman (JHU), Aleksandr Mosenkov (BYU), Moire Prescott (NMSU), Mukremin Kilic, (OU), Ben Williams (UW), Adam Kowalski (CU), Eric Bellm (UW), Anne Verbiscer (UVa), Derek Buzasi (FGCU), Misty Bentz (GSU), Bill Ketzeback (APO), Russet McMillan (APO)
Introduction of new 3.5m Observatory Instrument Specialist
User feedback and comments from institutional representatives
- UVa - nothing to report
- NMSU - nothing to report
- BYU - nothing to report
- FGCU - nothing to report
- Wyoming - nothing to report
- Washington - nothing to report
- Colorado - nothing to report
- JHU - nothing to report (sent by email)
- Seattle - nothing to report
- Oklahoma - nothing to report
- Georgia State - nothing to report
- NAPG - nothing to report
Telescope and Instruments Report
The detailed site report is included below, followed by additional information discussed during today's meeting.
3.5-m Telescope and Instruments Highlights, 4/03/2024 – 5/06/2024
1) Overview
April has seen generally improving weather at APO. The telescope also has continued to work well.
April began with a student group visit from OU. We also hosted a visiting team for APOLLO work at the end of April/beginning of May.
A brush/forest fire started around noon MDT on May 3. It is located in Timberon, approximately 12.7miles South East of APO. It was estimated at 100 acres in size late on May 3. APO will continue to monitor the situation until the fire is contained/out. Smoke and ash may impact observing over the next few days at APO.
2) Operations
3.5m Telescope: Telescope is working well, motion errors seem to be of the seasonal type.
0.5m Telescope: Telescope and cameras are working well except for some minor hiccups.
KOSMOS: the new slit set of 1.25” is due to arrive in early May.
ARCTIC diffuser’s rotator service is being planned for Q2/Q3 when time permits between observing runs.
Agile Instrument TEC controls failed. Attempted repairs have so far been unsuccessful.
Echelle IOL has continued to exhibit a slow decline in blue, red is stable. Still considered excellent currently for use.
TripleSpec is operating with no issues.
DIS is functioning with nothing to report.
3) Other
Additional telescope and instrument discussion
xxxx
Summer shutdown schedule
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2024 Q2 3.5m scheduling
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2024 Q3 3.5m scheduling
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2024 Q2 0.5 scheduling
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Publications update request
xxx
ACTION ITEMS
Open action items from previous meetings:
- Nancy: get ROM costs for new KOSMOS grisms. UPDATE: We are in the process of putting together some quotes and working with vendors, and will make decisions from there. We will use examples that had been requested by users previously in order to get quotes so we have some idea of what will be possible. STATUS: OPEN
- UC reps: remind your users that observers must respond to reminder emails at least 24 hours in advance.
All Other Business
xxx
Next meeting
The next meeting will be on June 4 at 10:30 MDT.
