OSU/RC Queue Observing UTC 2012 March 25
(civil date 2012 March 24/March 25 2012)
===========================================


Observers: G. De Rosa, B. Shappee, D. Berg
Observing Assistant: Steve Allanson
Support Astronomer : D. Thompson
Instrumentation:


Summary: Patchy sky at sunset. Humidity 25%.
Last third of the night we have been forced to execute low priority targets due to wind direction.


Instrument: MODS 


**UVa_BCD PROGRAM:  we have executed 2 OBs of the UVa program. The readme does not contain sufficient scientific information about the project. 
There are uncertainties in placing the slit because of the use of a narrow slit (0.6") on  an extended source with a PA misaligned to the major axis of the object.  
Uncertainties = slow down = wasted telescope time!!!**


02:24:
slew to standard pg0823 to point and collimate


02:29:
execMODS -b Dual Grating pg0823.obs
seeing ~1.0


02:52:
execMODS -b Red Grating pg0823.obs
seeing ~1.0


03:14:
acqMODS ND_WHIMgal/j0757_a.acq
seeing ~0.9
There is stray of light in the acquisition image, probably caused by a 1 Mag star a couple of degrees away from the field. 
After aligning the masks, sources are visible through the majority of the slits. 
Background level goes from 650 in dark slits to 900 in the brightest.
We decide to move on and check the first spectrum. Since first exposure was already started and integrated for a while. 


03:33:
execMODS ND_WHIMgal/j0757_a.obs
seeing ~0.75
seeing ~0.85
seeing ~0.80
We checked the first exposures after debiasing the images. Lines are visible in most of the slits.
Two slits present highest background but continuum is visible in red image.  In worse slit, background levels ~twice in the best slit and there are only two of their slits are heavily affected.  Because the program requested bright time, there is no way around this issue for the current field that they are interested in, and this is still less than a magnitude more of background we decided it was good enough for their science. 


05:05:
acqMODS ND_WHIMgal/j0757_b.acq
Same feature is visible as in j0757_a, but now the feature has changed shape.


05:22:
execMODS ND_WHIMgal/j0757_b.obs
The bright feature only affects 1 slit
seeing ~0.90
seeing ~0.95
seeing ~1.00


06:59:
acqMODS Feige34.acq


07:04:
execMODS -b Dual Grating Feige34.obs
seeing ~0.9


07:16:
acqMODS UVa_BCD/J1121_1.acq
Aligned slit with middle of object since the target section of the galaxy is not specified in the finding chart.


07:24:
execMODS UVa_BCD/J1121_1.obs
seeing 1"


08:17:
acqMODS UVa_BCD/J1121_2.acq
Aligned slit with middle of object since the target section of the galaxy is not specified in the finding chart.
seeing ~1.00


08:24:
execMODS UVa_BCD/J1121_2.obs
Sky brightness: 21.99
seeing 1.
seeing 1
seeing 0.80
seeing 0.8
seeing 0.8


09:15
acqMODS OSU_LSNe/PS1-11xl-uT09.acq
Couldn't do because of wind from the SW (close to the limit for closing)


09:20
acqMODS OSU_LSNe/CSS111230.acq
Couldn't do because of wind from the SW (close to the limit for closing),
when object is in the South


09:26:
execMODS OSU_SN2011ht_MODS.img
Strong wind from the SW (close to the limit for closing)


seeing 1.7


09:34:
execMODS OSU_SN2011ht_MODS.img
Strong wind from the SW (close to the limit for closing)
seeing 1.7


09:46:
execMODS OSU_sdssqsos_sdss1537.img
WIND is a huge problem; moving to low priority objects because they are the only ones available in the opposite direction as the wind.
seeing 1.1
seeing 1.0
 
10:21:
execMODS OSU_sdssqsos_sdss1537.img
Wind still a huge problem; taking two more exposures 
seeing 0.9


10:40:
acqMODS OSU_SN2011dh.acq
Low priority target
Near the last target in an observable direction due to the wind; only low priority targets remain


10:50:
execMODS OSU_SN2011dh.obs
Low priority target
Near the last target in an observable direction due to the wind; only low priority targets remain


11:15:
acqMODS ND_COSLSS/j1519+4404.acq
Contacted Chris Howk: ok to use parallactic angle close to transit. 
seeing 1.2


11:26:
acqEXEC ND_COSLSS/j1519+4404.obs
Contacted Chris Howk: ok to use parallactic angle close to transit. 
Error flushing out fits images so took an additional slit image.
seeing 1.0
seeing 1.1
seeing 1.2
seeing 1.4
seeing 1.6


11:50:
acqEXEC ND_COSLSS/j1519+4404.obs
To make up for seeing, took an additional 2 images
seeing is variable
seeing 1.6
seeing 1.5


12:14:
acqMODS bd332642.acq




12:17:
No standard was acquired - had to close due to high winds


12:30:
execMODS -u /home/modseng/modsScripts/Calib/grpixflats.cal
execMODS -u /home/modseng/modsScripts/Calib/grpixflats_b.cal (saturated, not use for calibration)
execMODS -u /home/modseng/modsScripts/Calib/grpixflats_r.cal
execMODS -u imflat_u.cal
execMODS -u imflats_r.cal
execMODS -u /home/modseng/modsScripts/Calib/imflats.cal (u band saturates)
execMODS -u /home/modseng/modsScripts/Calib/bias3K.cal
execMODS /home/modseng/modsScripts/Calib/bias8K.cal
execMODS -u grpixelflats_b_edit.cal (non saturated)