Progress Report for August 2002

[Tom Droege <tdroege2@earthlink.net>]

73 data CDs were generated during August from TOM1.  I am packing the data 
better, so this is a little more by the old standard.  The stack is now 680 
high and contains over 10 Million V, I measurement pairs of over 250,000 
stars.  The data covers almost the full ribbon at +7 North.

The Batavia, IL camera systems have been modified to make use of Michael 
Richmond's idea of recirculating the dry air through the cameras.  The 
desiccant still gets pink after a while indicating that the cameras are not 
as tight as one might imagine.  But it is a big improvement.  Possibly the 
tubing allows water vapor to diffuse into the system, I will have to check 
on the type and possibly select a better tube.

ROB has left home and has arrived in Colorado.  There have been a few 
messages back indicating that the installation of ROB is making normal 
progress.

TOM2 has been taking data.  So far I have not been able to analyze it since 
I keep making errors in correcting the pointing.  But I am close to having 
it calibrated and ready to go.  All the parts are there for TOM3 to be 
running.  I just have to start trying to operate it and fix the usual 
problems.

We released the second monthly data run in August.  It covered data from 
270 to 300 degrees in RA.  It is now down to a routine but the data set is 
getting larger and larger and it takes longer to extract the selected 
set.  I just need to work out a better scheme.

Some work has been done analyzing the data.  TN-88 looked at bootstrapping 
the reference catalog.  We clearly need a better reference catalog, but 
this may be only part of the calibration problems.  We made some runs to 
check the linearity.  It looks OK measured two ways.

I have started thinking about designing a Mark V.  The idea is to just fix 
the things wrong with the Mark IV.  Mostly the Dec. drive which is pretty 
sad.  It would be a quad mount.  I would also solve the bellows problem by 
sealing the whole camera in a dark box.  I have worked out a better place 
to put the electronics so that it would mostly be enclosed.  I also have a 
better design to bring the cables out.  This would make the whole camera 
more weather proof, but one does still not want it raining on the 
lenses.  Possibly the whole thing can be done as a "do it yourself" 
kit.  Just put together the mechanical pieces.  Then remove the electronics 
boards and the cameras and lenses from the old set up and put them in the 
new.  We shall see.  A winter design project for Dan.

Tom Droege