TASS Cameras and rain.

[Chris Albertson <chrisja@jps.net>]

I can never stop thinking of potential problems.  Here's one:
  
I had the idea that
I'd set up the Mk III camera I have on a tripod with no housing or
permenent setup.  Just put a garbage bag over the whole thing when not
in use. (get it operational now, improve the setup later) Well the other 
night it was clear in Redondo Beach I could
have set up the camera that way.  But, later that night it rained.  I
was
woken up by rain hitting the glass skylights.  Had the camera been set
up it would have gotten soaked.  So I guess I'll finsh the enclosure
and with luck it will rain proof the camera.

What about the Mk IV?  What is the plan with reguard to rain?

First let's concider the easy case whare the Mk IV is operated at
someones home.  If it is raining or looks like it may them I assume
you don't turn the system on that night.  But what about the above
senario?  It looks clear, you turn the system on, then while you
are sleeping an unexpected storm blows in.  The system gets soaked.

Now the harder case:  A remotely operated scope.  You need to know
the weather at the remote location before yu open the roof.

Now what does water do to a Mk IV?  Maybe nothing.  If water gets
into the optical tube assembly it will not come out on it's own.
What about the moters and control electronics?

We can't simply say "be carful" or "watch the TV Weather Chanel".
It is the nature of an automated survey instrument that it be
operated without the direct supervision of it's owner
-- 
   --Chris Albertson             home: chrisja@jps.net        
     Redondo Beach, California   work: chris@topdog.logicon.com