Progress

[Thomas Droege <tdroege2@earthlink.net>]

Work continues on the Bird House.  The roof was jamming and we had to take
it apart and countersink some screws.  

When not actually working we fantasize what we can do.  I am thinking of
using the clear sky monitor to open and close the roof.  Then we will have
a Blue rotating light and a klaxon.  Last a voice will say "Thank you for
observing all safety precautions".  Some of you will recognize the quote.  

Actually, it is practical here to control the roof and the dome from the
"clear sky monitor".  It is a pretty reliable indicator of sky that is
clear enough to see stars and which does not have enough cloud thickness to
produce rain.  Further the clouds here come pretty reliably from theWest so
I know where to point the clear sky detector to close the roof before it
rains.  

Since the clear sky detector also measures daylight, it is practical to
just turn on and run taking data whenever possible.  

I am serious about using Rob's linux program now.  The long range plan is
to operate all five TOMs from one control computer.  Then I can use the
clear sky detector to control everything.  Next to work on the program that
writes the papers.

Tom Droege


Tom  Droege Jennifer Malpass
tdroege2@earthlink.net