See apo35-general archive message #390 for background info. A plan to modify the mounting and motion mechanisms for the 3.5-meter secondary and tertiary mirror, in a manner which will allow operation without undue risk to the glass and with the goal of getting back on the sky and into science operations again as quickly as possible, has now been developed and is being executed. Since we were already engaged in a long term project to replace/upgrade the top end of the telescope, including the secondary mounting, this "solution" will be only a temporary one. The new top end, among other things, will implement a permanent fix. The best presently available estimate of the time required to make the aforesaid modifications and recommision the telescope on the sky has science operations commencing on November 25 (Thanksgiving!). Ed Turner APO APO APO APO APO Apache Point Observatory 3.5m APO APO APO APO APO This is message 391 in the apo35-general archive. You can find APO the archive on http://www.astro.princeton.edu/APO/apo35-general/INDEX.html APO To join/leave the list, send mail to apo35-request@astro.princeton.edu APO To post a message, mail it to apo35-general@astro.princeton.edu APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO