### OBSDATE ###
20110330

### LOGDATE ###
110330

### OBSERVERS ###
BAW (at home)

### WEATHER ###
A bit hazy at first, but increasingly clear and dry.

### LOCATION ###
REMOTE

### PROGRAM ###
M giants

### SIDEROSTATS ###
 n3  s1   

### TARGETS ###
Nothing really.

### PROBLEMS ###
On start-up, a magnitude 4 star was immediately acquired on pavo. I was not,
however, able to find fringes. I discovered that slewing back to the zeroset
left the cart several metres (!) from zero. I suspected the stability of the south metrology laser, so I did a reset. I was still not able to find
fringes, but at least the cart stopped losing its position (note that I
think the laser reset is a red herring). Finally, I tried Canopus in order
to prove that I could find fringes, and I found fringes at 90 um. Before
going back to my original star, I decided to re-acquire Canopus and take
"calibration" data as taskmaster had gotten confused the first time around.
I could not then find fringes. Further testing showed the cart was losing
its position again. Another laser reset did not help (not that I thought it
would at this point). After some more testing, I finally witnessed what I
believed to be the problem. The tracks are so far out of alignment that what
is a strong metrology signal at 0 OPD disappears completely around 15-16m
OPD. I suppose a truly dedicated observer would stop the cart at 13m,
re-align the metrology, and continue. Maybe tomorrow.

Moral of the story:

1) Tracks desperately need alignment.

2) North metrology laser still refuses to stabilize, but at least "south
laser only" mode is confirmed to work (at least once).