Subject: CFHT_Observing_Report
From: Web User (www@cfht.hawaii.edu)
Date: Wed Jun 18 2003 - 11:41:44 HST
CFHT OBSERVING REPORT
RunID: 03AC15
Name: David Bohlender
Email Address: david.bohlender@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Support Astronomer: Manset
Observing Assistant #1: Wells
Observing Assistant #2: Woodworth
Instrument: GECKO
Detector: EEV1
Number of nights: 3 (9 shared)
# of hours lost to weather: 0
# of hours lost to CFHT: 1
# of hours lost to setup: 0
# of hours lost to other reasons: 0
Results obtained: From about 7:30PM until 10:30 PM for nine consecutive nights I
observed the long-period heliumm-variable star a Cen at 4 different
wavelengths. Data for several He I lines as well as Halpha should
let me map the 3-dimensional helium-3 and helium-4 abundance
distribution in the star's atmosphere. This object has the largest
helium line strength variaions known for any Ap star.
Spectra look superb (although Gordon Walker kept me too busy
reducing his data to look closely at my own!). Unfortunately it looks
like the phase of minimum helium line strength (when some of the
lines almost disappear) occurred took place on the first night when I
was unable to obtain spectra at two of my wavelengths. Shouldn't
seriously impact the analysis, however, and I shouldn't complain
about getting ONLY 34 out of 36 hoped-for spectra!
Scientific Success: excellent
Recommendations: Both OA's were very efficient at getting us
started shortly after sunset, letting me release
the telescope to the next observer at 10:30PM
rather than the originally anticipated 11PM.
Don't think I have ever had 9 consecutive nights
as good as these (but I think I've only been
involved in 1 or 2 previous runs this long).
Would be nice to get the printer at HP working
again.
Rather belatedly, I should have asked if this
early evening program could have been executed
remotely from Waimea. 2-man rule constraint I
realize...
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b27 : Wed Jun 18 2003 - 11:42:00 HST