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 Notes - Session 661 (2019-02-09)

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Bullet Session Aims & Highlights
 - Observing Result
 - Night Summary Plot
 - Session Event Log
 
Bullet Operational Issues
  - Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (2),  Minor Issues (0),  Continuous Improvement (3)
  
Bullet Images from 2019-02-09  >>
 
2019-02-12
Bullet AstroGuard - Telescope Protection
 

Session Aims & Highlights (2019-02-09)

Main aims

  1. Scheduling. Perform first live test of new alternate schedule builder that cycles around a specific list of targets - known as a target set
    (plan comprised 5 variable star targets U Gem, RZ LMi, FU Ori, SU Tau, BL Lac from  'S661 Trial Set')
  2. Observatory. Test operation of observatory in relatively windy condition
    (wind speed 10-12 mph on observatory wind sensor, 15-17 mph at local weaher station (Dyce), conditions that would have totally ruined imaging attempts with 12" LX200 in my old roll-off roof observatory )
  3. Focusing. Investigate affect of altitude/airmass on telescope focus

 
Equipment & Software

Highlights

Lowlights

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan (2019-02-09, S661)
Image
 
Observing Result (2019-02-09, S661)
Image
   
Night Sky Summary Plot - 2019-02-09, S661
Top axis: Sky Brightness at Zenith (in ADU/s)
Lefthand axis: Local Time (hh LT). Righthand axis: Sun Altitude (degs)
Image
  
Session Event Log (2019-02-09, S661)
Time     Event Detail
20:24:21 Session Created Live Session Created (2019-02-09 S00661, ImageSaveNum: 661001)
20:25:04   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C)
20:25:52   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started
20:25:59   Services Started Observatory Services started
20:27:04   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 43s)
20:28:21   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
20:33:53       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:38:39       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focus Result Not Accepted (Profile No 1)
20:39:48       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:43:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
21:01:38       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:04:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
21:07:52 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
21:07:53 Session Pending Session pending (2019-02-09)
21:07:54 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-02-09)
21:07:55   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-02-09 V1 CYCLE PLAN, Plan ID: 273)
21:07:57   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
21:07:59   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
21:08:04   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started
21:08:05   Queue Started Observing Queue started (64 targets selected)
21:10:02     Target Started (1/64) Target started (1/64, GCVS HH And)
21:15:00     Target Completed Target completed (1/64, GCVS HH And)
21:16:00 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
21:16:04 Session Pending Session pending (2019-02-09)
21:16:05   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-02-09 V2 CYCLE PLAN, Plan ID: 274)
21:16:07   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
21:16:09   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
21:16:13   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started
21:16:14   Queue Started Observing Queue started (54 targets selected)
21:18:23     Target Started (1/54) Target started (1/54, GCVS U Gem)
21:25:13     Target Completed Target completed (1/54, GCVS U Gem)
21:27:26     Target Started (2/54) Target started (2/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
21:35:57     Target Completed Target completed (2/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
21:38:44     Target Started (3/54) Target started (3/54, GCVS FU Ori)
21:44:09     Target Completed Target completed (3/54, GCVS FU Ori)
21:46:14     Target Started (4/54) Target started (4/54, GCVS TT Ari)
21:57:01     Target Completed Target completed (4/54, GCVS TT Ari)
21:57:40     Target Started (5/54) Target started (5/54, GCVS SU Tau)
22:05:18     Target Completed Target completed (5/54, GCVS SU Tau)
22:06:46     Target Started (6/54) Target started (6/54, GCVS U Gem)
22:12:18     Target Completed Target completed (6/54, GCVS U Gem)
22:15:49     Target Started (7/54) Target started (7/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
22:17:54       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:20:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
22:27:46     Target Completed Target completed (7/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
22:34:53     Target Completed Target completed (8/54, GCVS FU Ori)
22:43:30     Target Completed Target completed (9/54, GCVS SU Tau)
22:43:43     Target Started (10/54) Target started (10/54, GCVS U Gem)
22:49:48     Target Completed Target completed (10/54, GCVS U Gem)
22:52:46     Target Started (11/54) Target started (11/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
23:02:36     Target Completed Target completed (11/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
23:04:04     Target Started (12/54) Target started (12/54, GCVS FU Ori)
23:09:16     Target Completed Target completed (12/54, GCVS FU Ori)
23:11:34     Target Started (13/54) Target started (13/54, GCVS SU Tau)
23:20:34     Target Completed Target completed (13/54, GCVS SU Tau)
23:26:23     Target Completed Target completed (14/54, GCVS U Gem)
23:29:43     Target Started (15/54) Target started (15/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
23:39:51     Target Completed Target completed (15/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
23:41:01     Target Started (16/54) Target started (16/54, GCVS FU Ori)
23:46:34     Target Completed Target completed (16/54, GCVS FU Ori)
23:48:31     Target Started (17/54) Target started (17/54, GCVS SU Tau)
23:56:53     Target Completed Target completed (17/54, GCVS SU Tau)
23:57:37     Target Started (18/54) Target started (18/54, GCVS U Gem)
00:03:31     Target Completed Target completed (18/54, GCVS U Gem)
00:06:40     Target Started (19/54) Target started (19/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
00:16:34     Target Completed Target completed (19/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
00:18:01       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:21:22       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed.
00:22:23       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:25:58       Focusing Ended Foc1 Focusing Ended
00:27:02       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:31:40       Focusing Ended Foc1 Focusing Ended
00:32:36       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:36:21       Focusing Ended Foc1 Focusing Ended
00:37:15       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:40:12       Focusing Ended Foc1 Focusing Ended
00:41:14       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:48:05       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed.
00:48:59       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:49:38       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted
00:49:58 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
00:50:02 Session Pending Session pending (2019-02-09)
00:50:03   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-02-09 V2 CYCLE PLAN, Plan ID: 274)
00:50:06   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C)
00:50:08   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
00:50:12   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started
00:50:13   Queue Started Observing Queue started (34 targets selected)
00:50:14     Target Missed (21/54) Target Missed (21/54, GCVS SU Tau)
00:54:15 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2019-02-09 S00661, ImageSaveNum: 661162)
00:54:32   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started
00:54:38   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
00:55:01   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
00:55:54 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
00:55:57 Session Pending Session pending (2019-02-09)
00:55:58   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-02-09 V2 CYCLE PLAN, Plan ID: 274)
00:56:01   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C)
00:56:03   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
00:56:07   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started
00:56:08   Queue Started Observing Queue started (32 targets selected)
00:56:09     Target Missed (23/54) Target Missed (23/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
01:01:34     Target Completed Target completed (24/54, GCVS FU Ori)
01:02:25     Target Started (25/54) Target started (25/54, GCVS SU Tau)
01:11:00     Target Completed Target completed (25/54, GCVS SU Tau)
01:11:31     Target Started (26/54) Target started (26/54, GCVS U Gem)
01:17:52     Target Completed Target completed (26/54, GCVS U Gem)
01:20:34     Target Started (27/54) Target started (27/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
01:30:09     Target Completed Target completed (27/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
01:31:52     Target Started (28/54) Target started (28/54, GCVS SU Tau)
01:41:31     Target Completed Target completed (28/54, GCVS SU Tau)
01:48:29     Target Completed Target completed (29/54, GCVS U Gem)
01:50:01     Target Started (30/54) Target started (30/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
01:59:16     Target Completed Target completed (30/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
02:01:19     Target Started (31/54) Target started (31/54, GCVS SU Tau)
02:08:41     Target Completed Target completed (31/54, GCVS SU Tau)
02:10:25     Target Started (32/54) Target started (32/54, GCVS U Gem)
02:17:04     Target Completed Target completed (32/54, GCVS U Gem)
02:19:28     Target Started (33/54) Target started (33/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
02:29:20     Target Completed Target completed (33/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
02:30:46     Target Started (34/54) Target started (34/54, GCVS U Gem)
02:36:10     Target Completed Target completed (34/54, GCVS U Gem)
02:39:49     Target Started (35/54) Target started (35/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
02:49:54     Target Completed Target completed (35/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
02:51:07     Target Started (36/54) Target started (36/54, GCVS U Gem)
02:56:50     Target Completed Target completed (36/54, GCVS U Gem)
03:00:10     Target Started (37/54) Target started (37/54, GCVS RZ LMi)
03:06:00 Computer Crash Computer unexpectedly crashed/rebooted itself
03:07:00 Observatory Shutdown Observatory Shutdown performed by AstroProtect

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Operational Issues (2019-02-09, S661)

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Critical Issues

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Minor issues

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2019-02-12

AstroGuard - Telescope Protection (2019-02-12)

New functionality has been added to AstroGuard (v1.1) that now allows it to continously monitor the scope position. Warnings are issued when the scope passes Az 345° and Az 348°.    Should the scope be seen to move beyond Az 350°  the scope is automatically slewed back to a safe position (Az 180°) and the telescope tracking turned off.  This is to prevent a run-away situation where continued tracking causes cables to start getting wrapped around the mount/pier,  eventually causing damage to telescope or other equipment (most particularly after passing Az 360°).  This backup protection is required in case the main Observatory Control Program crashes or stops functioning in someway.

Corresponding functionality is also included in AstroMain (v3.9.1) to extend its existing scope monitoring.   Warnings are issued when scope passes Az 345°. Upon reaching Az 348° a flag is set to abort the current target (if queue is running). Most-likely this sees the scope moving back to a target in the safe region <340-345°.   However if the scope continues tracking and reaches Az 349°  the scope is automatically slewed back to a reasonably safe position (245°) .  This occurs a full degree earlier than AstroGuard.  This is by intent so that main control lies with AstroMain (with AstroGuard acting in the background as a backup only)

Daytime testing was conducted today (2019-02-12) to ensure the correct operation of the AstroMain &AstroGuard together and separately in a live environment with the POTH.Hub, TheSky6 and the LX200 telescope.

Two important and contrasting observation surfaced whilst debugging 'Wrong Tracking State' error message that first appeared when testing the new routines

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Last Updated : 2023-11-26
Site Owner : David Richards
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