Tass site codes/Progres report.

[Chris Albertson <chris@topdog.pas1.logicon.com>]

One question?  Who is the keeper of the TASS site letter codes?
TN30 lists them ending at "H" for Tom.  I'll grab "I" as the next
available letter if no one objects.  (Some people don't like 
using "I", "L" "O" or "X" letter codes.)
 
I have a Mk III system that I may get pointed at the sky
if if ever clears up.  We are having very un-California like
weather this year

The camera is mounted inside what looks like a standard wooden
shipping crate.  It is not quite finished. I need to cut some
holes and paint it.  The system works and collects dark frames.
I have added a water temp. thermistor.  It also works.
Mounting will be simple but I hope allow
fine adjustment.  The camera will look like the classic rabbit
trap.  A box 18" x 40" x 9'.  One end sets on the ground (or roof)
the other end is propped up by a stick.  Yank the stick and the
box falls.  Now the box does not actually set on the roof.  It is
attached via a very simple az/el mount made out of galvanized plumbing
fittings and teflon tape.  The "stick" is another galvanized pipe with
a large bolt in one end so that it's length can be adjusted like a table
leg leveler.  After having some lawn furniture blown around a couple 
weeks a go I'll secure the whole thing with a couple guy wires and turn 
buckles.

On the software front, I made to many changes all at once and broke
the database merge software.  Working on making it functional again
and some code clean up.  I do have an install procedure that is pretty
simple but still could be more simple.  I'll post a snapshot as soon 
as I get it to run again.  The target feature set for version one is
still the same.  But the snapshot will contain only a) databases >2GB, 
b) decent install procedure, c) catalog seeded with TASS16M list.
d) database tables restructured to handle error bars differently. e) use
consistent units. 

-- 
--Chris Albertson

  chris@topdog.logicon.com                Voice:  626-351-0089  X127
  Logicon RDA, Pasadena California          Fax:  626-351-0699