Why Do I Do It?

Seventh 14-hour night in a row tonight.

Mercury is at a balmy 29 degrees and falling.

It’s windy.

I have to go into the freezing cold dome every ten minutes to adjust the telescope.

Why am I doing this to myself?

Here is my life for the last week:

  • Between 3pm and 4:30 pm: wake up. Check internets. If enough time, go to dome, refill liquid nitrogen tank, set up flat field calibrations. Take show, if possible.
  • 5:30 pm – dinner in cafeteria
  • 6:30 pm – Open dome. Start observing. Make occasional trips to lodge for bathroom or food through freezing winds.
  • 7:30 am – close dome. Return to lodge to relax for a short time.
  • 8:30 or 9 am – fall asleep
  • That’s a little bit exhausting. Fortunately, I’m taking lots and lots of long exposures so I have plenty of time to do other stuff while observing.

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