David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 712 (2019-10-21)

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	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (5),  Continuous Improvement (14)
	Images from 2019-10-21  >>
	SharpCap Notes

Session Aims & Highlights (2019-10-21)

Main aims

1. Check AstroMain Program: Confirm that there were no issues following significant codes changes to introduce high level Dome and Scope objects (Dome.vb & Scope.vb) and relocation of Observatory services to a new module (Services.vb)
2. SharpCap:  Execute the first live session test involving integrated SharpCap/AstroMain imaging
    

 
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
• SharpCap 3.2
   
• AstroMain 3.15.2  Astroguard 1.2.8,   AstroPlan 1.12.8,  AstroShCap 1.2.2, AstroVOE 1.3.4, UPB 1.4.17  (AstroWeather 1.7.9, AstroAllSky 3.5)

Highlights

• AstroMain . Apart from 1 significant incident the program performed well.
   - the significant instance was where the UI (+ Obs.Manager + Obs.Worker threads) totally froze up at 20:21
• SharpCap. Integrated session including SharpCap imaging of targets using TS 80mm/f6 APO secondary scope and ZWO ASI 178MC camera worked
   - Targets specified for SharpCap imaging in AstroPlan, where loaded to AstroMain as part of the session's observing plan
   - 'Sharpcap targets' were requested for imaging in SharpCap via ShCap Server (AstroShCap) by the Job Queue and, part from the cloud conditions, successfully captured
   - Control of the ZWO ASI 178MC Camera was seeminglessly switched between SharpCap and PHD2 as required

Lowlights

• Sky conditions were very poor
• One instance where the AstroMain UI (+ Obs.Manager + Obs.Worker threads) totally froze up at 20:21 requiring the AstroMain program to be killed/restarted

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Slew/Centering Performance

Dome Slewing Performance

Sky Conditions (Locate Frames)

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

Pre-Session Weather Forecast (AstroWeather 1.7.8) Forecast showed patchy cloud up to 00:00 and then cloud thickeneing until total cloud cover at 04:00 In the event therre was a moderately clear interval between 23:00 and 00:45. Operations suspended at 23:42 and remained that way until the morning

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 19:23:53 Session Created Live Session Created (2019-10-21 S00712, ImageSaveNum: 712001) 19:24:43   Scope Switched On Scope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 19:26:17   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 19:26:19   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 19:26:23   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:26:45 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:26:48 Session Pending Session pending (2019-10-21) 19:26:50 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-10-21) 19:26:52   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.12.8) 19:27:18   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-10-21 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 394) 19:27:31   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 19:27:36   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 19:27:50 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 19:28:35   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 46s) 19:28:38   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 19:32:50   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (4.2 mins total) 19:32:52 Session Running Session running 19:32:54   Queue Started Observing Queue started (4 targets selected) 19:33:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:36:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:36:55     Target Started (1/4) Target started (1/4, IC 5067). Using SharpCap 19:40:00   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 19:40:34   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 19:41:10 Program Closed Program closed by User 19:43:02 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2019-10-21 S00712, ImageSaveNum: 712002) 19:44:11   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 19:44:13   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 19:44:18   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:44:29 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:44:32 Session Pending Session pending (2019-10-21) 19:44:34 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-10-21) 19:44:36   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.12.8) 19:45:43   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-10-21 V2 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 395) 19:45:47   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 19:45:51   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 19:46:04 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 19:46:07   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 19:46:09   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 19:46:11 Session Running Session running 19:46:13   Queue Started Observing Queue started (13 targets selected) 19:46:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:48:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 19:48:54     Target Started (1/13) Target started (1/13, IC 5067). Using SharpCap 19:59:15     Target Completed Target completed (1/13, IC 5067) 20:04:14     Target Started (2/13) Target started (2/13, IC 5067). Using SharpCap 20:13:37     Target Completed Target completed (2/13, IC 5067) 20:16:52   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 20:19:57 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:20:02 Session Pending Session pending (2019-10-21) 20:20:04 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-10-21) 20:20:06   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.12.8) 20:21:12   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-10-21 V3 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 396) 20:21:16   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 20:21:19 Program Hung AstroMain program' UI hung whilst starting observatory services 20:29:40 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2019-10-21 S00712, ImageSaveNum: 712004) 20:31:03   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 20:31:05   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 20:31:09   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:31:55 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:31:59 Session Pending Session pending (2019-10-21) 20:32:01 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-10-21) 20:32:03   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-10-21 V3 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 396) 20:32:13   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 20:32:18   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 20:32:30 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 20:32:33   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 20:32:35   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 20:32:37 Session Running Session running 20:32:39   Queue Started Observing Queue started (18 targets selected) 20:33:32       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 20:33:34     Target Started (1/18) Target started (1/18, M39). Using SharpCap 20:40:05     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/18, M39) 20:40:07     Target Started (2/18) Target started (2/18, GCVS HH And) 20:42:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:44:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 20:46:10     Target Completed Target completed (2/18, GCVS HH And) 20:46:12     Target Started (3/18) Target started (3/18, 61 Cyg) 20:49:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:51:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 20:53:04     Target Completed Target completed (3/18, 61 Cyg) 20:53:06     Target Started (4/18) Target started (4/18, NGC 7243). Using SharpCap 20:59:53     Target Completed Target completed (4/18, NGC 7243) 21:02:15     Target Started (5/18) Target started (5/18, WDS GRB 34) 21:04:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:06:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:08:17     Target Completed Target completed (5/18, WDS GRB 34) 21:09:40     Target Started (6/18) Target started (6/18, NGC 532) 21:13:10       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 21:29:41     Target Completed Target completed (6/18, NGC 532) 21:31:32     Target Started (7/18) Target started (7/18, NGC 7814). Using SharpCap 21:41:54     Target Completed Target completed (7/18, NGC 7814) 21:48:14     Target Started (8/18) Target started (8/18, NGC 525) 21:51:30       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:07:57     Target Completed Target completed (8/18, NGC 525) 22:10:06     Target Started (9/18) Target started (9/18, NGC 502) 22:13:25       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 22:18:34 User Intervention User request to close and finish session 22:18:38     Target Completed Target partially completed (9/18, NGC 502) 22:18:40   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 22:18:43 Session Closing Session closing 22:19:39   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 50s) 22:20:04   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 25s) 22:20:39   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 33s) 22:21:24 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 22:21:33 Session Finished Session Finished

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Operational Issues (2019-10-21, S712)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (1)
• Minor Issues (5)
  
• Continuous Improvement (14)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• AstroMain's UI  froze at 20:21 whilst in Session State 'Starting'.  Program UI froze (+ Obs.Manager + Obs.Worker threads) totally froze requiring the program to be killed and Observatory Software to be restarted (including Parking and restarting the LX200 scope as a precaution).   The freeze seemed to happened when the Program was Main Form (sitting behind other program windows) was clicked on to bring to it the front.   At the time of the freeze the Session was in the 'Starting State' (to reload a new Plan),  and had finished connecting the camera, but had not produced any report or log messages associated with connecting the telescope.  Issue closed on 2021-01-04 following a review that showed that the AstroMain was essentially stable (following a series of improvements and fixes), with an absence of any unexplained program hangs or crashes during the 35 sessions between  2020-09-18 & 2021-01-03.
  Closed 2021-01-04 (AstroMain 3.33)
  

Minor Issues

• Message reporting Park Telescope time is out of order.  Message was mixed in with messages from Camera Shutdown routine.
  Fixed 2019-10-23 (AstroMain 3.15.4)
   
• AstroMain's "SharpCap Browser/Summary Builder" not showing SharpCap folders and files from the Session.  This was due to a bug in a hard-coded file path to SharpCap Capture Folder
  Fixed 2019-10-22 (AstroMain 3.15.3)
   
• PHD2 flag is not getting reset on Observatory Tab after the PHD2 service is stopped.
  Done 2019-11-03 (AstroMain 3.16.8)
   
• SharpCap produced a notification dialog message when it had 'No Stacked Data to Save'  requiring the user to cancel.   Message was produced for M39 target after the wrong camera had been specified and there were no targets that could be used for Stacking.   Such dialog pop-ups can be a problem for automated operation where usser is not present and must be avoided.  AstroShCap's python code to be check number of Stacked Frames before attempting to Save the LiveStack frame (both .fits or .png save)
  Fixed 2019-10-23 (AstroShCap 1.2.4)
   
• SharpCap Image set results for M39 reported as "FailedImag" which is incomplete/ambiguous.  Message was meant to read
  "Failed      Image cancelled to prevent observation from overrunning its time slot".  But was cropped to 10 characters due to a AstroMain bug
  Fixed 2019-10-22 (AstroMain 3.15.3)
  

Continuous Improvement

• Automate the specification of desired SharpCap Camera . Use  'Auto' in 'txtShCapCameraIndex' field to select Camera 0 in Observatory Computer and Camera 5 on Development Computer whilst still allowing a specific other camera to be set.
  Done 2019-10-22 (AstroMain 3.15.3)
   
• SessionEvents for 'SharpCap Targets' should indicate the use of SharpCap
  Done 2019-10-22 (AstroMain 3.15.3)
   
• The 'Taking SharpCap ImageSet' report message should show the Image Specification (Frames, Exp, Gain etc)
  Done 2019-10-22 (AstroMain 3.15.3)
   
• The Connect Camera message should indicate the Camera name, not just the index 
  Done 2019-10-22 (AstroShCap 1.2.3)
   
• TakeImageSet needs to set other camera settings (Image Size, Binning, Save Type etc)
  Done Oct 2020 (AstroShCap)
   
• Operation for slewing to and focusing scope at a Initial Focus Field should fill in the 'txtCurrentObject' field with 'Focus Field xx (Con)'
  Done 2019-10-22 (AstroMain 3.15.3)
   
• Automate the saving of LiveStack Images to the Target/Set folder that contains the rawframes folder (individual frames).
  Done 2019-10-22 (AstroShCap 1.2.3)
   
• Automate the file conversion, image size reduction & saving of LiveStack Images to the Live Folder for upload to the WebSite.
  Done 2019-10-22 (AstroShCap 1.2.3 & AstroMain 3.15.3)
   
• Save 'before midnight' and 'after midnight' SharpCap Images in the same main NightDate folder, rather than in separate date folders
  Done 2019-10-22 (AstroShCap 1.2.3).  
  CaptureFolder automatically set to a folder for each Night-Dated Session when the notify_session method with session name is sent from AstroMain ShCap.Start.
   
• Use 2 locate frames for SharpCap targets.   SharpCap images (using LocateMethod -6) use Normal Centering which is a max of 2 locate frames & finish after the first successful link.  Although the target may be jogged to the center, the Centering Charts show the only point available which is from the initial slew which might be 5 to 12 arc min out which gives a misleading impression about the centering performance.
  Done 2019-11-02 (AstroMain 3.16.7)
   
• Blank Line to inserted before the final 'Current AllSky Meas' to provde additional white space in Report File
  Done 2019-10-22 (AstroMain 3.15.3)
   
• Option to be added in AstroMove to copy session's AstroShCap log & report files from Observatory Computer
  Done 2019-11-04 (AstroMove 1.4)
   
• Option to be added in AstroMove to copy session's SharpCap folder from Observatory Computer
  Done 2019-11-04 (AstroMove 1.4)
   
• Include AstroShCap in list of Program Versions by machine name
  Done 2019-11-03 (AstroMove 1.3.9)

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SharpCap Notes

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