----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mauna Loa Solar Observatory Observer's Log ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fri Jan 2 17:03:13 GMT 2015 Year: 15 Doy: 002 Observer: berkey WEATHER COMMENT: berkey: Fri Jan 2 17:03:15 GMT 2015 BLIZZARD!!!!. Winds 20-30 gusting to 45+ mph from the SW, with blowing/stinging hail. ___end___ GENERAL OBSERVATORY COMMENT BY berkey: Fri Jan 2 17:29:30 GMT 2015 Main dome had blown open last night letting git of snow accumulate in the dog house. Door was locked I think the wind was just strong enough to kick it open. I tried modifying the striker in the door jam to make the door a bit more secure. Hopefully this is the last real test it gets before the contractors replace it .... ___end___ GONG COMMENT BY berkey: Fri Jan 2 17:31:54 GMT 2015 Gong turret stowed ___end___ KCOR COMMENT BY berkey: Fri Jan 2 17:32:09 GMT 2015 It wasa cold enough lasts night (now 36f outside) that the kcor modulator dropped below 35C currently 32C and current limit has been hit. ___end___ PSPT COMMENT BY berkey: Fri Jan 2 18:03:36 GMT 2015 PSPT dome az motor removed and inspected. Yep its burnt. I have ordered a replacment from Grainger. Hopefully it arrives some time late next week. I also noticed the coupling between the encoder and motor transmission had sheared a new coupling has also been ordered. I would assume the motor burnt out due to some sort of overcurrent trying not push through some sort of mechanical binding. This may infact be the case. Right now the dome appears to be slightly shifted north and tilted such that the dome bogies are not touch the track for over 1/4 of the track in the SE. It also looks like the SE secion of the track is slightly bent w.r.t the rest of the track. The is no obvious damage to the dome rack. With the dome motor removed I would have assumed I could slowly rotate the dome but pushing tangentetally along the dome wall; however I am unable to buge it. When the wind/blizzard conditions die down, we should try to recenter/inspect the track/dome further. My best guess is the broken encoder coupler has nothing to do with the problem. ___end___ GENERAL OBSERVATORY COMMENT BY berkey: Fri Jan 2 22:00:14 GMT 2015 Some folks braved the weather and came up. Gave them a tour of the obseratory and their son some posters ___end___ GENERAL OBSERVATORY COMMENT BY berkey: Fri Jan 2 22:22:31 GMT 2015 Noticing some leaking on the SW corner of the Pspt dome roof and falling on the tool box. The tool box was moved and a bucket was placed under the drips. ___end___ GENERAL OBSERVATORY COMMENT BY berkey: Fri Jan 2 22:38:05 GMT 2015 Winds increasing tempature droping. ___end___ GENERAL OBSERVATORY COMMENT BY berkey: Fri Jan 2 22:40:52 GMT 2015 Water pooling in the dog house and under the main door due to wind forcing it through gaps around the door. ___end___ GENERAL OBSERVATORY COMMENT BY berkey: Fri Jan 2 23:09:45 GMT 2015 I think the observatory is in an ok place to leave it. CoMP cameara is off and I put buckets where I found leaks. I am going heading down the next time there is a lull in the wind/hail. ___end___