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The 10 Micron Camera Goes on the Road (1Sep93)
(from KPNO, NOAO Newsletter No. 35, 1 September 1993)

In the March 1993 issue of the Newsletter, we described the 10 micron
camera that NOAO purchased to help us identify heat sources in the
domes as part of our program to reduce dome seeing effects. The camera
provides a real-time temperature image that can be saved on standard
VHS video tape or IBM format 3.5" floppy diskettes.

The camera visited CTIO in March 1993 to survey the 4-m, 1.5-m, 1-m,
and 0.9-m telescopes. Below is a picture of the CTIO 4-m demonstrating
that the recent work to cool the oil bearings was successful.  (Compare
this picture to the KPNO 4-m image in the March Newsletter to see
several amazing differences which we leave to the reader to spot!) It
is from pictures like this that we learn where to concentrate our
efforts. Consequently, KPNO has installed oil cooling equipment which
should be operational by the time you read this.

                         [figure not included]

We are now comfortable with transporting the camera to other
observatories that are interested in improving their thermal
environment. Contact us for information on making arrangements for a
thermal camera visit.
                                                                                George Jacoby, Dave Silva

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