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2016B Day 7: Livin’ on the Edge

Were we all on edge today? Nah – not really.

As scientists and engineers, do we all have a hip and edgy sense of fashion? Well obviously.

But more than that, edges seemed to show up everywhere today.

Inside the observatory:

You see the outer edge of the pupil in this interferometric image of the adaptive secondary mirror? Yeah – well you couldn’t yesterday! This beautiful, fringe-filled, full image of the ASM is courtesy of the intrepid mirror-whispers Runa, Marco, and Fernando.

Promising fringes

Outside the observatory:

This guanaco likes to live life on the edge. He’s been swinging by this week frequently to show off for the astro-paparazzi who, without fail, come bounding outside at even the faintest cry of “GUANACO!!!”

Surveying his kingdom

Watching the edge of the horizon for the green flash. Do you see it?? We didn’t either. Still a gorgeous sunset though.

No green flash, but still…

And now for your song of the day:

2016B Day 6: Low Latency Guanaco

Another busy day on Cerro Manqui.

Clio came up to start getting ready. Katie will begin drawing a vacuum and start the cool down process tomorrow.

Clio made its first appearance this run.

Most of today was spent shaking out our new 2000 Hz capability. As of tonight, thanks to Mario and Alfio, we have successfully closed the loop (with 0 gain) at 2000 Hz! It’s on.

Mario working hard on the switch BCU
Alfio supervising a test at 1800 Hz. Later in the day we got all the way to 2000 Hz!

To do the zero-gain closed-loop testing we had to string a temporary network fiber between buildings, since sine parts of MagAO are not yet on the telescope. This necessitated some improvised safety management (fibers are delicate).

Safety never takes a vacation.

Vizzy spent the day doing Vizcacha things.

Vizzy was just hanging out this afternoon.

Kelsey saw a Guanaco up close and took these great pics.

The majestic Guanaco.
I feel like he’s talking with his mouth full.

2016B Day 5: Alora Alignment

Ok Alora! Lots of aligning optics today. Kelsey and Lauren are figuring out the ropes, and Fernando arrived this evening.

Do you see the green laser dot on the graph paper strip taped down in the middle? This is how Enrico aligned the new tip/tilt stage yesterday. Today it was the new camera lens in the PyWFS.
Lauren, Alfio, and Enrico in the Aux working on PyWFS alignment.
These black and yellow birds are flitting around these fragrant yellow flowers
Vizzy was waiting for us
!!!Guanacos!!!

2016B Day 4: Tipping 2000 Hz

After the secondary was installed yesterday, we ended up going to bed with a bad fiber running to the secondary. So the first order of business was to fix that this morning. All Done.

Katie pulls the ASM cover before installation yesterday.
Laird and Pato installing the calibration return optic (CRO)
Runa and Marco installed the interferometer we will use to calibrate the ASM.
Meanwhile, Enrico installed our new tip-tilt stage, which can go 2000 Hz.
A wild vizcacha came out to watch the sunset.
This is what we watched. No flash.

Take it away Otis: