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          Mauna Loa Solar Observatory Observer's Log 
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       Thu Dec 17 17:20:39 GMT 2020
Year: 20  Doy: 352
Observer: mlso
WEATHER COMMENT: mcotter: Thu Dec 17 17:26:14 GMT 2020
Temp: 36.6f, Humidity: 66%, Pressure: 28.73in, Wind: 7mph from 148degs, Skies: Clear skies overhead but very heavy cloud coverage on eastern horizon. Inversion layer visible on horizon at level of Maunakea or above. Very slippery roads this morning. Roads covered in ice and frost from 10,000' level and above. Layer of frost covering NOAA facility.
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GENERAL COMMENT BY mcotter: Thu Dec 17 17:36:30 GMT 2020
Opened windows upstairs
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GENERAL COMMENT BY mcotter: Thu Dec 17 17:36:37 GMT 2020
PM Blew off Kcor O1
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GENERAL COMMENT BY mcotter: Thu Dec 17 17:37:32 GMT 2020
The Sun is coming up over the thick cloud coverage that is on the eastern horizon.
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GENERAL COMMENT BY mcotter: Thu Dec 17 18:07:03 GMT 2020
Running Focus routine but the sky is very bright. Artifacts are visible in the Focus routine image. I have tried twice more blowing off Kcor 01 but the artifacts are still present. I am holding off on running Kcor at this time because the sky is too bright.
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WEATHER COMMENT: mcotter: Thu Dec 17 18:08:27 GMT 2020
Temp: 39.5f, Humidity: 72%, Pressure: 28.752in, Wind: 6mph from 151degs, Skies: Cirrus clouds are forming on the southern and south eastern horizon.
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Thu Dec 17 18:09:29 GMT 2020 Kcor Focus/alignment program exited
Thu Dec 17 18:33:02 GMT 2020 Kcor Focus/alignment program exited
GENERAL COMMENT BY mcotter: Thu Dec 17 18:37:47 GMT 2020
Sky is still a bit bright but Kcor is running. I put the Polarizer in the beam and images are fine: Mid, Bright, Dark, Mid.
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WEATHER COMMENT: mcotter: Thu Dec 17 18:41:06 GMT 2020
Temp: 43.1f, Humidity: 62%, Pressure: 28.754in, Wind: 3mph from 107degs, Skies: Cirrus clouds are forming to the west and northwest.
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Thu Dec 17 19:23:11 GMT 2020 Kcor Focus/alignment program exited
GENERAL COMMENT BY mcotter: Thu Dec 17 19:27:48 GMT 2020
Kcor image showed the background sky darkening after observing for a while. I shut down Kcor and re-ran the Focus routine. A very good parabola was finally obtained after several attempts. Kcor running.
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GENERAL COMMENT BY mcotter: Thu Dec 17 19:28:29 GMT 2020
Checked Polarization and it checked good: Mid, Bright, Dark, Mid.
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GENERAL COMMENT BY mcotter: Thu Dec 17 20:24:09 GMT 2020
High altitude Cirrocumulus and Cirrostratus clouds increasing and approaching from the east and forming to the south and over the observatory. Pausing Kcor at this time.
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Thu Dec 17 20:29:04 GMT 2020 Kcor Focus/alignment program exited
Thu Dec 17 20:45:58 GMT 2020 Kcor Focus/alignment program exited
GENERAL COMMENT BY mcotter: Thu Dec 17 20:55:58 GMT 2020
Clouds are staying in the viewing area, but after a few attempts I am able to restart the Focus routine and get a good parabola. Kcor again running.
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GENERAL COMMENT BY mcotter: Thu Dec 17 21:12:51 GMT 2020
Clouds again have formed and are obstructing viewing. Kcor is stopped for now.
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Thu Dec 17 21:18:38 GMT 2020 Kcor Focus/alignment program exited
GPS COMMENT by MLSO: Thu Dec 17 21:45:11 GMT 2020
Successfully logged in to system
Good disk mount
GPS software running
Last 5 GPS data files are:
/mnt/usb/dataoutiq_2020_347_2338.bin  2147483647
/mnt/usb/dataoutiq_2020_348_2338.bin  2147483647
/mnt/usb/dataoutiq_2020_349_2338.bin  2147483647
/mnt/usb/dataoutiq_2020_350_2338.bin  2147483647
/mnt/usb/dataoutiq_2020_351_2338.bin  2147483647
Disk usage: /dev/sda1               916.9G    284.2G    586.1G  33% /mnt/usb
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GENERAL COMMENT BY mcotter: Thu Dec 17 21:55:28 GMT 2020
I was able to restart Kcor and run for a while but clouds are again forming over the observatory and obstructing viewing. Orthographic clouds are forming on the northwest and western slope of Maunaloa and are rapidly moving into view and covering the summit.Kcor again stopped.
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GENERAL COMMENT BY mcotter: Thu Dec 17 22:20:22 GMT 2020
Summit is mostly cloud covered. I have closed the dome shutter doors and windows.
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GENERAL COMMENT BY mcotter: Fri Dec 18 02:08:51 GMT 2020
Clouds obscured viewing in late morning. Fog, rain and sleet was sporadic from late morning through the afternoon.
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ONSITE STAFF:  mcotter