Last night the wind was absolutely calm at the beginning of the astronomical night and stood calm all night.
The “calima” was back, denser than before.
But we were able to complete all the program established for the night.
By 18:00, the telescope was set to make the flats related to the previous night:
– 18×300 seconds for the Halpha.
Then we performed the flats for the first observation of the night:
– 18×300 seconds for the Helium II.
Next we prepared for the Delta Scorpii, to start by the Helium II:
Here is a sequence of actions taken:
1 – Calibration spectrum with the Filly bulb;
2 – Spectra in Helium II, line 4686 – 6×300 seconds;
3 – Calibration spectrum with the Filly bulb;
4 – Spectra in Helium II, line 4686 – 6×300 seconds;
5 – Calibration spectrum with the Filly bulb;
6 – Spectra in Helium II, line 4686 – 6×300 seconds;
7 – Calibration spectrum with the Filly bulb;
8- Change the domain to Mg II
9 – Calibration spectrum with the Filly bulb;
10- Spectra in Mg II, line 4481/Helium I, line 4471;
11- Calibration spectrum with the Filly bulb;
12- Change the domain to Halpha;
13- Calibration spectrum in Neon;
14- Spectra in Halpha, line 6563/Helium I, line 6678 – 15×300 seconds;
15- Calibration spectrum in Neon.
To ease the reading of this list I interrupt it with an image of the IAC80 control panel.
At this time the telescope reached the limit for Delta Scorpii and we switched to 66 Ophiuchi. And the sequence continues:
16- Calibration spectrum in Neon;
17- Spectra in Halpha, line 6563/Helium I, line 6678 – 12×300 seconds;
18- Calibration spectrum in Neon.
When this was finished, there were just 50 minutes remaining before the end of the astronomical night and the next target was Gama Cassiopaiae, a star where Anatoly Mirochnichenko and José Ribeiro have a collaboration with the Czech Republic.
And the sequence was:
19- Calibration spectrum in Neon;
20- Spectra in Halpha, line 6563/Helium I, line 6678 – 5×300 seconds;
21- Calibration spectrum in Neon.
This sequence terminated aproximately 5 minutes before the end of the astronomical night. Then came the final actions:
22- Park the telescope and close the dome, using the procedures established;
23- Backup data;
24- Switch off the science camera and the personal computers at the dome and at the control room;
25- Inspection of the dome, control room and hall to confirm that everything was in place.
At this time it was 06:00 and all of us went to sleep.
In the sunday afternoon, after lunch, we had the oportunity to visit the Solar Laboratory, in the Pyramid, where we shoot a photo side by side with a projection of the Sun.
Then we could observe the Sun in Halpha through a dedicated telescope mounted in the open air.
Nights, at this time of the year, are short and elapse very rapidly. So far, we have been lucky with the weather conditions. The major risk comes from possible strong winds, which, at this altitude, is relatively frequent.
Weather conditions seem to be changing and the wind direction is expected to rotate to northwest. The speed may increase.
We hope that it stays in the operational limits.
Alberto
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