Observing in higher humidity

Eben P. Wiid; Keith Browne; Jonathan J. Love; J. Christiaan Coetzee; Thabelo Makananise; Paul Rabe; Etienne Simon; Johan Hendricks

doi:10.1117/12.2312481

10 July 2018 Observing in higher humidity

Eben P. Wiid, Keith Browne, Jonathan J. Love, J. Christiaan Coetzee, Thabelo Makananise, Paul Rabe, Etienne Simon, Johan Hendricks

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10704, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems VII; 1070429 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312481
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2018, Austin, Texas, United States

Abstract

A threat to all telescopes is possible condensation on its instruments and primary mirror during high humidity conditions. Using too conservative delta dew-point control limits for telescope closure can reduce valuable observing time. SALT recently changed its operational procedure in high humidity conditions to gain as much additional observing time as possible, without subjecting the telescope and its instruments, to the harmful effects of condensation. This paper will describe how the SALT Operations team managed to safely reduce the delta dew-point control limit and thereby gaining valuable observation time without investing significant amounts of money.

Citation Download Citation

Eben P. Wiid, Keith Browne, Jonathan J. Love, J. Christiaan Coetzee, Thabelo Makananise, Paul Rabe, Etienne Simon, and Johan Hendricks "Observing in higher humidity", Proc. SPIE 10704, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems VII, 1070429 (10 July 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312481

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