Dorm view

Mt. Hopkins, AZ (Feb 5, 2007)

Back from my observing run. It went quite well, I got quite a lot of data as the weather was good and the telescope, Adaptive Optic system and camera were all working at the same time, which is something not trivial. If you are wondering, Adaptive Optics is a system to correct in real time the blurring caused by the atmosphere using a large deformable mirror, providing as super-sharp sight even if we are at the bottom of an ocean of turbulent atmosphere. As soon as I was back I disappeared again, to work on my Spitzer Space Telescope proposals for the new year. The deadline was yesterday and as usual I was late, hence the last minute rush and the last night with 3 hours sleep between 6 and 9 AM. I know date of the deadline months in advance, but for some reasons I am always there finishing at the last minute. This time I submitted the last proposal (via internet) 4 minutes before the cutoff, and that is a personal record...

The photo above is the view from my dorm at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, where I was last week, overlooking the valley towards Nogales below. Telescopes are in nice places indeed.