David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 658 (2019-02-05)

Notes (S657)

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Notes (S659)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (2),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2019-02-05  >>
	Pegasus PowerBox - Software & Firmware Update, 1.4.11 / 1.5
	2019-02-06
	AstroProtect - Telescope Protection

Session Aims & Highlights (2019-02-05)

Main aims

1. Targets. Take the opportunity of using the last hour of night time to acquire a couple of targets or so.

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
•  80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
•  CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2,  POTH Hub
•  Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
   
  
•  AstroMain 3.8.7,  AstroPlan 1.6.2

Highlights

• Images.  2 out of 2 targets were successfully imaged

Lowlights

• Targets Database. The most recent AstroDatabase was unfortunately not uploaded to Observatory prior to the start of the session
  (This caused additional administrative chores in order preserve data from some user modifications to previous Session log)

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan (2019-02-05, S658)

Observing Result (2019-02-05, S658)

Night Sky Summary Plot - 2019-02-05, S658 Top axis: Sky Brightness at Zenith (in ADU/s) Lefthand axis: Local Time (hh LT). Righthand axis: Sun Altitude (degs)

Session Event Log (2019-02-05, S658)

Time   Event Detail 06:04 Session Created Live Session Created (2019-02-05 S00658, ImageSaveNum: 658001) 06:05   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 06:06 Services Started Observatory Services started 06:06 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 06:06 Session Pending Session pending (2019-02-05) 06:06   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan () 06:07   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-02-05 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 270) 06:07   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 06:07   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 06:08 Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 06:08 Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 06:08   Queue Started Observing Queue started (2 targets selected) 06:09     Target Started (1/2) Target started (1/2, UGC 10310) 06:29     Target Completed Target completed (1/2, UGC 10310) 06:31     Target Started (2/2) Target started (2/2, IC 1222) 06:50     Target Completed Target completed (2/2, IC 1222) 06:50 Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:50 Session Closing Session closing 06:51 Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 49s) 06:53 Session Finished Session Finished

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Operational Issues (2019-02-05, S658)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor issues (2)
• Continuous Improvement (1)

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Critical Issues

• None
  

Major Issues

• None

Minor issues

• Most recent version of AstroDatabase not used for the session.  Resolved in May 2020 when a new way of automatically recording time/date that Database was transfered to Obsrevatory Computer was devised and use to inform the user when attempting to start a new session.
  Resolved 2020-05-19(AstroMove and AstroMain)
   
  
• Weather Forecast was not checked the evening before.  If it had been check it may have been noticed that rain/cloud in first part of night was set to give way to good clear conditions in the second half of the night, and arrangements could have been made to conduct a longer observing session. The break in the weather came at 01:00 which meant that 5 hours of good observing time was lost on this occasion.  In due course the Observatory Plan will enable automatic weather forecast checking and always on Automated Observatory Mode that will enable observing on nights such as this. New AutoStart mode of operation (Aug 2020) allows session to be started if and only if conditions are suitable for opening the dome.
  Closed 2020 (Session / AstroMain)
  

Continuous Improvement

• Redo IC 1222 under darker sky. The target was shot under morning twilight conditions and could consequently benefit from being re-acquired under dark sky conditions.
  Done (IC 1222 was re-imaged on 2019-02-23, S667 )

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Pegasus UPB - Software & Firmware Updates (1.4.11 / 1.5)

Prior to the session software for Pegasus UPB was updated from 1.4.10 to 1.4.11. 

As part of the installation the firmware in the UPB Box was updated from 1.4 to 1.5

(The New ASCOM Switch driver to enable permit full automated access to the UPB Box will is anticipated to become available from Pegasus Astro in 2 weeks time)

UPB Software & Firmware Updates (2019-02-05)

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2019-02-06

AstroProtect - Telescope Protection

In the event that the Observatory Computer crashes then after automatic reboot the AstroProtect program is automatically run to check the status of the Observatory and make it safe if necessary.   Previously the protection applied only to the Dome (ensuring that shutter was closed and dome was parked and at its recharging point) .    However due to a couple of instances where the computer has crashed during a live session leaving the telescope still tracking and at risk of wrapping cables around the mount if telescope moves beyond the north position (which would eventually cause costly equipment damage) it is clear that some protection is also needed for the telescope to stop this happening

The capabilities of  AstroProtect 1.2 have therefore been widened to include protection for the telescope by ensuring that it is safely parked.

Functionality of the AstroProtect System was tested in a set of day-time tests

AstroProtect Log - Daytime Test (2019-02-06)

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