This week saw the return of the LRS2 but in its full glory, ie. both the B and R components. The instrument cooled down quickly and we were ahead of schedule by the third day. We did have a few problems with calibrations lamps, communications with the TCS, and inexperienced operators but all of that is expected when you get FIRST LIGHT with a science instrument on an effectively brand new telescope.

One of the highlights of the observing was moving back and forth between LRS2-B and LRS2-R, an observing mode we hoped to achieve eventually but were able to take advantage of in this first official commissioning run. The Austin team will be back in the beginning of March. In the mean time the LRS2 instruments remain at the telescope pumped down and cold to test the stability of the cryogenic system.