First tip-tilt correction with the Palomar 200-in. adaptive optics system

During the nights of 18-22 March 1998, the Palomar 200 adaptive optics (AO) breathed its first breathe of life, closing lock on a natural guide star for the first time. We present telescope result obtained during the initial closed- loop tip/tilt test of the AO system at the 5m Hale Telescope on Palomar Mountain. (PHARO). Early tip/tilt correction result demonstrate a factor of approximately 1.3 improvement in peak IR irradiance for several second exposures. The facility AO and PHARO systems are scheduled for a series of engineering runs throughout 1998. Initial closure of the 241 actuator high order natural guide star adaptive loop is expected this summer.