The CorMASS test run at the 3.5-m telescope last week was quite successful. Sample spectra were taken of many targets that had been suggested by nearly a dozen ARC astronomers. Mike Skrutskie and John Wilson, the Co-PIs for CorMASS, were able to take advantage of an easy integration to our systems, plus good skies, good seeing, and good pointing to put CorMASS through its paces on the telescope. They report that they were easily able to acquire spectra of 15th magnitude objects, and that some examples of quickly reduced spectra can be seen at http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~mfs4n/cormass_apo/ and include: dd ser --- an evolved star mr ser --- a polar cataclysmic variable ngc4151 -- AGN ngc7027 -- a planetary nebula and our spectral calibrator pluto -- a kuiper belt object sdss1624 - a methane brown dwarf wala4 -- an embedded yso These spectra represent a small fraction of the science targets for the run. Mike and John have agreed to temporarily leave the CorMASS instrument at APO, where it is being kept cold and ready to use. They have offered its use to ARC astronomers who want to use it through the summer, and possibly into the fall. Although many of you may have submitted your 3rd quarter proposals, substituting CorMASS for your present and 3rd quarter programs is a possibility you should explore with you scheduler, if you wish to take advantage of this unanticipated opportunity. Alternatively, or in addition, you may submit Director's Discretionary time requests directly to me, in the standard format. Operation of CorMASS at APO is currently only in "service" mode, or by your being present at the telescope. Data reduction guides and routines exist, and operational and data reduction expertise has been developed by the site staff. Ed Turner APO APO APO APO APO Apache Point Observatory 3.5m APO APO APO APO APO This is message 776 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