Previous Article
Next Article
Table of Contents

Summer Projects at Kitt Peak (1Dec93)
(from KPNO, NOAO Newsletter No. 36, 1 December 1993)

The summer months were extremely busy ones at Kitt Peak. While the
observers took a break from the poor observing weather, our mountain,
engineering, and scientific staff have been hard at work getting ready
for the new observing semester, just getting back into full-swing at
the time of this writing. While most of the following activities are
described in more detail in accompanying articles, they are summarized
here to show the broad range of activity involved in supporting and
maintaining Kitt Peak.

The major project during this summer's shutdown was the first year of a
multi-year program to renovate the 4-m telescope. A new telescope
control system was installed, including new drive servos and encoders,
new telescope and instrument control software, and a new graphical user
interface. The 4-m has reopened on schedule, and observers are taking
advantage of the improved operations. We also implemented our
"save-the- bits" program, and are now routinely archiving all CCD data
images obtained on Kitt Peak.  Computers in all Kitt Peak domes were
also upgraded. During the summer we also carried out the observing
phase for our first queue scheduling experiment, obtaining data for
approved programs on the 2.1-m with GoldCam spectrograph on the Coude
Feed spectrograph, and on the 0.9-m with a wide-field imager, with the
capable help of our mountain observing technicians.

The project to modify the Hydra fiber positioner for the WIYN telescope
proceeded with fabrication work on the focal surface assembly, the
focal plate access hinge, and new red fiber cable. Hardware for the new
HARCON CCD controllers was also completed, and the implementation of
the new controllers is awaiting completion of the software.
Significant progress was made on the design of the dewar, filter
assembly, and guiding mechanism for mosaic imager, and a preliminary
design review was held. Testing and evaluation of the Loral mini-mosaic
and 1K x 3K chips continued, and a new detector was installed in
GoldCam. Finally, the new 0.9-m image corrector was installed, tested,
and put into use.

Our infrared effort focused on upgrading infrared instruments on the
mountain to run under the new WildFIRE IR array controller. IRIM and
SQIID are complete; CRSP should be complete by November and COB by next
semester. The contract with SBRC and the Naval Observatory to develop a
1024 x 1024 InSb array was signed recently, and work has begun. The
first test devices are expected next year.

Caty Pilachowski

Previous Article
Next Article
Table of Contents