Instrument Qualification

The committee is responsible for training and qualifying members on the operation of the observatory’s two telescopes. Qualification on the 24-inch telescope is done through the Qualified Observer’s course, which is a ten-week classroom and hands-on course. The committee assigns qualified members to one of five teams that rotate duty on Friday nights. Go to Dome Duty to see a current duty schedule.

PLEASE NOTE: In the past few months, the coarse focusing tube of the ten-inch refractor at Sperry Observatory has been jammed repeatedly. Someone has been over-tightening it in place.

I cannot emphasize the importance of NOT jamming the coarse focus tube into the locked position!!! Just a VERY light touch should be needed to unlock and lock that tube. Someone has been over-tightening it. PLEASE be careful!! It should not be necessary to adjust it for any reason during the Friday evenings at Sperry. If it seems to be necessary to move it, please call Al Witzgall or your team leader that night for help. Make a note of the change in the ten-inch dome room log book as well.

Committee Chair: Al Witzgall

If you can’t make your duty night, contact your team leader or Al Witzgall.

TEAM LEADERS

• TEAM A – Wayne Augenstein
• TEAM B – Aaron Zuckerman
• TEAM C – Jeff Kuzma
• TEAM D – John Lowe
• TEAM E – Al Witzgall

Dome Duty Schedule