David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 713 (2019-10-22)

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Notes (S714)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (10),  Continuous Improvement (6)
	Images from 2019-10-22  >>
	SharpCap Notes

Session Aims & Highlights (2019-10-22)

Main aims

1. SharpCap:  Execute the second live session test involving integrated SharpCap/AstroMain imaging, under better sky conditons
2. Targets: Acquire images of a selection of new targets and monitoring of previous variable stars, nearby stars and comets.
   

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 3.15.3  Astroguard 1.2.8,   AstroPlan 1.12.8,  AstroShCap 1.2.3, AstroVOE 1.3.4, UPB 1.4.17  (AstroWeather 1.7.9, AstroAllSky 3.5)

Highlights

• AstroMain . Apart from 1 small incident the program performed well.
   - the one incident was that progress through Observatory Shutdown (Session State = 'Closing') stalled after parking scope and required intervention to enable the Session to finish)
• SharpCap. Integrated session including SharpCap imaging of targets using TS 80mm/f6 APO secondary scope and ZWO ASI 178MC camera again 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 by the Job Queue via ShCap Server (AstroShCap)
   - Control of the ZWO ASI 178MC Camera was seeminglessly switched between SharpCap and PHD2 as required
   - LiveStack pictures were automatically uploaded and displayed on website

Lowlights

• SharpCap.  There were several issues
  - LiveStacking didn't seem to start with a good 'first' frame, which then prevented the alignment of following frames
  - There were some false aborts, where the TakeImageSet/LiveStacking seemed to abort itself
  - There were other false aborts where AstroMain job executor felt that the SharpCap job had finished, when in fact it hadn't
  - Only semi-useful frames where produced by manual interventation to restarting LiveStack in order to get a fresh first good frame
  - SharpCap file name templates on Observatory Computer were manually setup beforehand to use the new standards defined on Development Computer
    (leading to displaced files)

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 19:28:44 Session Created Live Session Created (2019-10-22 S00713, ImageSaveNum: 713001) 19:29:31   Scope Switched On Scope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 19:31:06   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 19:31:08   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 19:31:13   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:31:49 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:31:53 Session Pending Session pending (2019-10-22) 19:31:55 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-10-22) 19:31:57   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.12.8) 19:33:03   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-10-22 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 397) 19:33:16   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 19:33:22   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 19:33:35 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 19:34:20   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 19:34:23   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 19:38:20   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (4.0 mins total) 19:38:22 Session Running Session running 19:38:24   Queue Started Observing Queue started (20 targets selected) 19:39:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:41:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:41:11     Target Started (1/20) Target started (1/20, NGC 5777) 20:00:59     Target Completed Target completed (1/20, NGC 5777) 20:01:02     Target Started (2/20) Target started (2/20, IC 5067). Using SharpCap 20:03:07     Target Completed Target completed (2/20, IC 5067) 20:13:27     Target Started (3/20) Target started (3/20, 61 Cyg) 20:15:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:17:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 20:19:13     Target Completed Target completed (3/20, 61 Cyg) 20:20:31     Target Started (4/20) Target started (4/20, M39). Using SharpCap 20:22:05     Target Aborted (4/20) Target aborted (4/20, M39) due to Unknown Reason 20:32:53     Target Started (5/20) Target started (5/20, GCVS HH And) 20:36:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:38:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 20:39:46     Target Completed Target completed (5/20, GCVS HH And) 20:40:18     Target Started (6/20) Target started (6/20, NGC 7814). Using SharpCap 20:54:24     Target Completed Target completed (6/20, NGC 7814) 20:57:00     Target Started (7/20) Target started (7/20, WDS GRB 34) 20:59:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:01:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:03:04     Target Completed Target completed (7/20, WDS GRB 34) 21:04:25     Target Started (8/20) Target started (8/20, C/2017 T2 (PanStarrs)). Using SharpCap 21:06:21     Target Completed Target completed (8/20, C/2017 T2 (PanStarrs)) 21:21:07     Target Started (9/20) Target started (9/20, NGC 489) 21:23:34       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:39:58     Target Completed Target completed (9/20, NGC 489) 21:42:59     Target Started (10/20) Target started (10/20, NGC 489) 21:43:37       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:44:31     Target Completed Target partially completed (10/20, NGC 489) 21:44:33   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 21:44:52 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:44:54 Session Pending Session pending (2019-10-22) 21:44:56 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-10-22) 21:44:58   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.12.8) 21:45:23   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-10-22 V2 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 398) 21:45:27   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 21:45:31   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:45:44 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 21:45:47   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 21:45:49   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 21:45:51 Session Running Session running 21:45:53   Queue Started Observing Queue started (40 targets selected) 21:47:52     Target Started (1/40) Target started (1/40, 61 Cyg) 21:50:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:52:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:53:49     Target Completed Target completed (1/40, 61 Cyg) 21:54:56     Target Started (2/40) Target started (2/40, GCVS SS Cyg) 21:57:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:59:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 22:02:52     Target Completed Target completed (2/40, GCVS SS Cyg) 22:09:19     Target Started (3/40) Target started (3/40, GCVS BL Lac) 22:11:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:13:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 22:17:19     Target Completed Target completed (3/40, GCVS BL Lac) 22:19:06     Target Started (4/40) Target started (4/40, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) 22:21:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:23:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 22:32:24     Target Completed Target completed (4/40, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) 22:32:51     Target Started (5/40) Target started (5/40, GSC 1224:29) 22:35:30       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:40:21     Target Completed Target completed (5/40, GSC 1224:29) 22:42:43     Target Started (6/40) Target started (6/40, GCVS RR Tau) 22:45:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:47:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 22:54:01     Target Completed Target completed (6/40, GCVS RR Tau) 22:54:03     Target Started (7/40) Target started (7/40, GCVS V Sge) 22:58:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:00:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 23:09:00     Target Completed Target completed (7/40, GCVS V Sge) 23:09:02     Target Started (8/40) Target started (8/40, GCVS U And) 23:11:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:14:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 23:22:55     Target Completed Target partially completed (8/40, GCVS U And) 23:22:57     Target Started (9/40) Target started (9/40, NGC 509) 23:25:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:27:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 23:44:02     Target Completed Target completed (9/40, NGC 509) 23:44:04     Target Started (10/40) Target started (10/40, NGC 516) 23:46:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:48:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 00:05:03     Target Completed Target completed (10/40, NGC 516) 00:05:05     Target Started (11/40) Target started (11/40, GCVS DY Per) 00:07:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:09:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 00:14:40     Target Completed Target completed (11/40, GCVS DY Per) 00:14:42     Target Started (12/40) Target started (12/40, GCVS S Cyg) 00:17:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:19:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 00:30:00     Target Completed Target completed (12/40, GCVS S Cyg) 00:30:02     Target Started (13/40) Target started (13/40, GCVS CI Cyg) 00:32:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:34:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 00:37:57     Target Completed Target completed (13/40, GCVS CI Cyg) 00:37:59     Target Started (14/40) Target started (14/40, WDS GRB 34) 00:39:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:42:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 00:43:47     Target Completed Target completed (14/40, WDS GRB 34) 00:43:49     Target Started (15/40) Target started (15/40, GCVS Z And) 00:46:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:48:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 00:52:31     Target Completed Target completed (15/40, GCVS Z And) 00:52:33     Target Started (16/40) Target started (16/40, GCVS TT Ari) 00:54:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:57:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 01:04:32     Target Completed Target completed (16/40, GCVS TT Ari) 01:04:34     Target Started (17/40) Target started (17/40, GCVS RX And) 01:06:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:09:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 01:11:44     Target Completed Target completed (17/40, GCVS RX And) 01:11:46     Target Started (18/40) Target started (18/40, NGC 502) 01:13:50       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 01:30:12     Target Completed Target completed (18/40, NGC 502) 01:30:14     Target Started (19/40) Target started (19/40, NGC 985) 01:34:14       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 01:46:47 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 01:46:49   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:46:52     Target Aborted (19/40) Target aborted (19/40, NGC 985) due to cloud 01:46:54   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 01:46:57 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:47:42   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 47s) 01:47:45     Queue Resumed Queue resumed after HardSuspend (51s) 01:48:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/40, NGC 985) due to cloud 01:58:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/40, GCVS HH And) due to cloud 02:09:10 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:09:55   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 02:09:58 Session Running Session running 02:10:00   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:10:02     Target Started (21/40) Target started (21/40, GCVS CM Tau) 02:18:05 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 02:18:07   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 02:18:09     Target Aborted (21/40) Target aborted (21/40, GCVS CM Tau) due to cloud 02:18:11   Queue Paused Queue paused for SoftSuspend 02:18:13   Queue Resumed Queue resumed after SoftSuspend (0s) 02:18:15   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 02:18:17 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:18:19 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:19:01   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 48s) 02:19:03     Queue Resumed Queue resumed after HardSuspend (55s) 02:26:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/40, GCVS SU Tau) due to cloud 02:34:58     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/40, GCVS FO Ori) due to wind 02:42:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/40, GCVS NV Ori) due to cloud 02:50:17     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/40, GCVS FU Ori) due to cloud 02:58:45     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/40, GCVS U Gem) due to cloud 03:01:19 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:02:05   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 46s) 03:02:08 Session Running Session running 03:02:10   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:02:12     Target Started (27/40) Target started (27/40, GCVS DX Cnc) 03:05:34       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 03:10:11     Target Completed Target completed (27/40, GCVS DX Cnc) 03:10:13     Target Started (28/40) Target started (28/40, GCVS GK Per) 03:12:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:15:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 03:18:14     Target Completed Target completed (28/40, GCVS GK Per) 03:18:16     Target Started (29/40) Target started (29/40, GCVS CN Ori) 03:21:54       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 03:25:25     Target Completed Target completed (29/40, GCVS CN Ori) 03:25:34     Target Started (30/40) Target started (30/40, NGC 1614) 03:29:52       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 03:38:37 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 03:38:39   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:38:42     Target Aborted (30/40) Target aborted (30/40, NGC 1614) due to cloud 03:38:44   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 03:38:47 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:39:33   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 48s) 03:39:35     Queue Resumed Queue resumed after HardSuspend (52s) 03:44:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/40, NGC 1614) due to cloud 04:00:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/40, C/2017 T2 (PanStarrs)) due to cloud 04:10:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/40, GCVS RZ LMi) due to cloud 04:31:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/40, SHK 1) due to cloud 04:53:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/40, NGC 3501) due to cloud 05:15:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/40, NGC 3681) due to cloud 05:22:32 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:23:17   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 05:23:20 Session Running Session running 05:23:22   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 05:23:24     Target Started (36/40) Target started (36/40, Rose 8) 05:43:15     Target Completed Target completed (36/40, Rose 8) 05:43:17     Target Started (37/40) Target started (37/40, NGC 4183) 05:46:42       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 05:59:35 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 05:59:37   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 05:59:39     Target Aborted (37/40) Target aborted (37/40, NGC 4183) due to cloud 05:59:41   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 05:59:43 Session Suspended Session suspended 06:00:30   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 47s) 06:00:32     Queue Resumed Queue resumed after HardSuspend (51s) 06:10:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (38/40, GCVS AM CVn) due to cloud 06:22:07 Session Resuming Session resuming 06:22:52   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 06:22:55 Session Running Session running 06:22:57   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 06:22:59     Target Started (39/40) Target started (39/40, NGC 2506) 06:29:44     Target Completed Target partially completed (39/40, NGC 2506) 06:29:46     Target Started (40/40) Target started (40/40, GCVS ER UMa) 06:37:32     Target Completed Target completed (40/40, GCVS ER UMa) 06:37:35   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:37:39 Session Closing Session closing 06:38:29   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 45s) 06:38:35   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 6s) 07:11:53 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode 07:13:32 User Intervention User request to close and finish session 07:13:34 Session Closing Session closing 07:13:36   Shutter Closed Shutter already closed (closed at 06:38, closing time 45s) 07:14:27 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:14:56 Session Finished Session Finished

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Operational Issues (2019-10-22, S713)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (10)
  
• Continuous Improvement (6)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Observatory Shutdown process ('Closing') stalled after parking the Scope. Monitoring of Scope Parking was either not running or it failed to set the flag to say that Scope Parking had completed.   This prevented the 'Closing' code from moving on to Camera Shutdown and thereafter to Session Housekeeping/Finishing.  Problem occurred after a rushed attempt to fix a previous problem noted in the previous session.  Since the observatory shutdown had already closed the shutter, parked the dome and parked the scope and the Observatory Manager was not actually frozen, the issue is classified as Minor rather than Major.
  Fixed 2019-10-23 (AstroMain 3.15.4)
   
• V1 Plan contained multiple instances of same target. NGC 489 was scheduled twice in a row, NGC 7814 was shceduled twice, GSC 1224:29 (Teegardens Star) was scheduled three times in a row. This was probably the worst case so far.
  >> Revisit this ongoing issue and resolve fix (AstroPlan)
   
• SharpCap jobs sometimes aborting after just 1 frame. Example :.
  Fixed 2019-10-23 (AstroShCap 1.2.4)
   
• SharpCap jobs sometimes returning 'a finished' flag of some kind, even though ShCap was still monitoring the LiveStack job (ie AppState still 'Imaging' )
  Fixed 2019-10-23 (AstroShCap 1.2.4)
   
• Set 1 files not saved in correct place. Problem was due to FileName templates having not been updated to the new standards used on Development Computer
  Fixed 2019-10-22 (SharpCap Settings)
   
• LastImage not being set to "" null at start of TakeImageSet.   Leading to incorrect (old) frame image being uploaded to Website when ShCap Imaging failed after < 1 frame
  Fixed 2019-10-23 (AstroShCap 1.2.4)
   
• LiveStack Frames being dropped after the first frame.  First image shows noise only with no stars making further alignment impossible. Need to start preview and waiting for at least 1 or 2 frames to come through before starting LiveStacking.
  Fixed 2019-10-23 (AstroShCap 1.2.4)  
   
• Problem with ShUtil moving of folder for target 'C/2017 T2 (PanStarrs)' due to the forward slash in target name.  Causes folder  /{Session}/C/2017 T2 (PanStarrs)/
  (/ to be removed from Target Name String.
  Fixed 2019-10-23 (AstroShCap 1.2.4)
   
• Still waiting on fix to the issue that Image Frames on website are sometimes the wrong frames due to delay in upload of latest frame(s). Attempt made to resolve issue that the Image.JS file uploaded to website is out of sync with the Images that have been actually uploaded (uses 'FlagImageJsForUpload' flag
  Fixed attempted 2019-11-03 (AstroPlan 1.12.10)
   
• ShCap targets shown as Completed when they were Partially Completed (at best)
  >> Review and fix (AstroShCap/ AstroMain)

Continuous Improvement

• Website contains typo in Notes for Most Recent Image
  Fixed 2019-10-23 (Website)
   
• Upload the AstroShCap log to website at semi regular time intervals and always after each target .  AstroShCap log update finally added in May 2020.
  Done 2020-05-06 (AstroMain 3.21.6)
   
• Add TimeDate Stamp to rows in Log File
  Done 2019-10-23 (AstroShCap 1.2.4)
   
• Still waiting on request to add Target/Field Name to top left of Focus Profile plots
  Done 2019-10-23 (AstroMain 3.15.4)
   
• Add Note to Website Latest Targets page to show that ShCap images are a multi-frame stacked image.
  Done 2019-10-23 (Website)
   
• Add Note 'Title' parameters to SaveZwoPngToJpg routine, so that nFrames, Exp, Bin, Set No (30x10s, 1x1, Set1 ) can be posted on images
  Done 2019-10-23 (AstroShCap 1.2.4)

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SharpCap Notes

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