Author: Jared Males

CCD Cooling Build

Jason finished assembling our new CCD (and shutter) cooling system in the mirror lab yesterday. After several tries, and finally replacing the threaded cap that wouldn’t hold pressure, the system passed a pressure and operational test. It’s on its way to Pasadena, and from there to Chile.

Here Jason is installing the drain valve on the tank outlet.
These are our CCD cold plates, and the famous shutter, with coolant flowing through them.
Just after pressurizing the system.
And after about 10 minutes, with the pump running.

Getting Ready

We have settled on dates for our upcoming “NAS Fitcheck” run. We’ll be back at LCO for the last 2 weeks of August, and during the last few days we plan to bolt the NAS on the telescope and test as many things as possible.

Jason and I are working on assembling and testing a new cooling system for the W-Unit here at the Mirror Lab, and plan to have it ready to be installed with the NAS next month.

Jason Lewis stands next to our new cooling system's tank and pump.

MagAO Does Amsterdam

Several members of the MagAO team are in Amsterdam for the SPIE astronomy conference. In addition to presenting several posters and giving some talks, we are also conducting the Clio2 pre-ship review on Wednesday. A busy week.

The Amsterdam RAI conference center is hosting us. The first person to stop by Jared's poster on Monday night and say the word Vizcacha wins a prize.

Unpacking Day 16: The Vizcacha At Last

We said goodbye to Armando and Marco this morning. Thanks for the hard work guys. See you in November.

After they left, Laird and Jared spent the rest of the day covering optics, organizing the cleanroom, backing up disk drives, and generally getting everything presentable. Not quite the way we found it, but presentable. We’re heading down to La Serena on the 1130 transport tomorrow.

I know you’re just here for the animals, so here you go:

On my way to bed last night I suddenly found myself in the middle of the horse herd. This was the best photo I could get by moonlight.
The herd was just outside the ASB this morning. As we were walking down for lunch this one took off after his buddies.
Once he caught up there was some rough housing.

The big accomplishment of the day was finally catching our own glimpse of the famous vizcacha who lives over our clean room.

The cleanroom vizcacha soaking up some sun.
He or she kept a close eye on us. Quite a glare actually. Click for full resolution.

Today’s quotes:

“I could really go for a beer.” (Laird Close)

“Yeah.” (Jared Males)

Next time, this is where we work.