MagAO-eXtreme Posts

The Picard Principle states: “It is possible to commit no mistakes, and still lose.” https://youtu.be/1TCX90yALsI?si=dY8dZX1d97iGYAr0 That is life. My wrap-up posts have always been somewhat triumphant. But not this time, ‘cuz that just sucked. To be clear the MagAO-X team did what they always do, and the instrument was ready to rock like we always keep it. ...

Last time, on extreme.ao: We were still having weather. Your AO operator valiantly tried to lock the loop on a 10th magnitude star through patchy cirrus before our observers took pity and let us switch to something brighter. But finally TO Hernán got the call, stepped outside for some professional cloud watching, and the dome ...

Hi! I’m Jensen, a PhD student at MIT and one of this run’s guest observers. This was my first time at Las Campanas Observatory (or any observatory, for that matter), so naturally the universe bestowed upon us the cloudiest, windiest, rainiest, and snowiest May week at LCO in recent memory. The usually featureless “Metro”blue forecasts ...

Does it dry up like puddles in a dome floor?Or fester like astronomers on night schedules with nothing to do?Does it stink like the Atacama desert in the rain?Or crust and sugar over like flan in the LCO dining room fridge?Maybe it just sags like Gabriele’s shoulders?Or does it explode? The rain has stopped and the ...

This is my seventh trip to Las Campanas Observatory (I think?) and the first time I’ve seen actual, bona-fide precipitation in the Atacama desert. I woke up at 2pm to the gentle patter of rain on my windows, and emerged blinking into daylight. I did try to document it with my phone, but in my ...

I was home in Tucson for about 5 minutes after the last run. So I only managed to get all of my laundry done all at once just in time to pack for this trip. Upon doing so, I discovered that I was missing some socks. This happens to all of us, ...

There were new faces this time so I am going to introduce myself. I am Carla the youngest Magellan operator eh eh. For now at least. My week with you guys started on Monday, when I realized you are at the mountain and thinking about the treat I am going to get you this time. ...

This week could have gone better: Delayed and missed flights, fog, clouds, bad seeing, and I got a head cold. New at LCO this trip: no Covid test on arrival. In case you’re wondering, I brought my own, and I don’t have Covid. Last night, I turned the super fancy MagAO-X system with its three ...

Thank you for tuning in for “Eden’s screenshots of the firewalled LCO weather page.” Bright eyed enthusiam coming to you straight from the AO operator desk. I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is that we are open! The bad news? The seeing is just on the edge of usable. ...

And there was light. After 3 tortuous days with nothing to look at but an internal source, we *finally* opened for business. However, as a member of the 2nd observing shift, I was MIA during this time. The below meme described my state of mind in the hours leading up to my shift: A mood. While I ...