Update on GONG/CTIO

GONG at CTIO* continues to be down in aftermath of an exceptionally powerful winter storm system. Here is a brief update from the Observatory:

The Facilities Operations (FacOps) team were finally able to reach the summit of Tololo on Friday (July 24). 

The access road washed out in many places making it passable only for 4x4 vehicles with very experienced drivers. Work is underway to improve the road's condition so that more staff, and importantly, supplies of fuel and water can reach the site. Unfortunately, more bad weather is forecast for next week and over next weekend.

The observatory ran on generator during the storm, but fortunately, commercial electric power was restored yesterday just as we were about to run out of fuel. We now need to restock, which requires using special all-wheel drive fuel tankers. We are concerned that the commercial electric power remains fragile.

The water system on Tololo is also out of service, and we will likely need to transport water to the mountain.

Yesterday, there was only time for quick external inspections, but these suggest there has not been major damage to the telescopes, and other facilities on Tololo.

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*Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) is a complex of astronomical telescopes and instruments located approximately 500 km (310 miles) north of Santiago, and 80 km (50 miles) to the east of La Serena, Chile, at an altitude of 2200 meters (7200 feet).