SDSS Camera and Telescope Preparation

Everyone hopped to this morning (10/23) and began preparing the telescope and camera for mating (astronomical husbandry). Unfortunately, the weather is barely cooperating (thick cloud sitting right on top of the site, slight breeze, and cool temperatures.

French Leger/Univ. of Washington and Steve Bastian/Fermi work together to check measurements for The Template on the telescope, along with instrument and corrector latches.

Can you see Ernst, Zleto, and Angie Prosapio/Fermi through the center of the mirror?

Ernst DeHaas, Zelko Ivesick, Dan Long/APO, and Angie pitch in to move around the doghouse and make room for manuevering the camera in the enclosure.

While all the activity was happening in the enclosure, Jim Gunn, Jon Brinkmann, and Angie (she's everywhere!) worked on transforming the "pink pepto bismol pill" into a camera. Fortunately, the APO staff were able to get their first peak at the quasi-assembled camera. We're all terribly excited down here.

The current activity is John Wagner/APO making the camera carrier for the pickup truck. This will help in moving the camera between the Ops building and the two enclosures.

For additional pictures, access APO home page, 2.5m Telescope: Camera Preparation for Transportation. These pictures will remain on this site until 10/31. Pictures taken by Gretchen Van Doren/Apache Point Observatory.