David's Astronomy - Notes 2019-10-26 (S00716)

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Notes - Session 716 (2019-10-26)

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	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result - Night Summary Plot - Session Event Log

	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0), Major Issues (0), Minor Issues (5), Continuous Improvement (0)

	Images from 2019-10-26 >>

	Investigation - Soft Suspend at 21:57

Session Aims & Highlights (2019-10-26)

Main aims

AstroMain: Test new code that suspends session if 'AllSkyStars' count falls below 20 and only resumes session if 'AllSkyStars' exceeds 24 or stays above 20 for 8 minutes.
Targets: Acquire images of a selection of new targets plus monitoring of previous variable stars, nearby stars and comets.
(Wind and or cloud was expected to end the session at some point)

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 3.16.1 Astroguard 1.2.8, AstroPlan 1.12.8, AstroShCap 1.2.5, AstroVOE 1.3.4, UPB 1.4.17 (AstroWeather 1.7.9, AstroAllSky 3.5)

Highlights

AstroMain . The program and its new ObsQueue and OB objects performed flawlessly

Lowlights

Cloud/Wind

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
20:37:27	Session Created	Live Session Created (2019-10-26 S00716, ImageSaveNum: 716001)
20:37:49	Scope Switched On	Scope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox.
20:38:02	Obs.Manager Started	Obs.Manager started
20:38:04	Obs.Overseer Started	Obs.Overseer started
20:38:08	Services Started	Observatory Services started
20:39:24	Services Started	Observatory Services started
20:42:15	Observatory (Auto)	Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
20:42:19	Session Pending	Session pending (2019-10-26)
20:42:21	Session Initiating	Session initiating (2019-10-26)
20:42:23	Plan Requested	Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.12.8)
20:43:34	Plan Loaded	Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-10-26 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 404)
20:43:47	Camera1 Connected	SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
20:43:52	Telescope Connected	Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
20:44:06	Session Equilibration	Session ready for dome & camera equilibration
20:44:51	Shutter Opened	Shutter opened (opening time 46s)
20:44:54	Equilibration Started	Dome Equilibration started
20:48:57	Equilibration Ended	Dome Equilibration ended (4.1 mins total)
20:48:59	Session Running	Session running
20:49:01	Queue Started	Observing Queue started (43 targets selected)
20:50:10	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:52:11	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
20:52:13	Target Started (1/43)	Target started (1/43, GCVS V Sge)
21:01:02	Target Completed	Target partially completed (1/43, GCVS V Sge)
21:01:05	Target Started (2/43)	Target started (2/43, WDS GRB 34)
21:03:53	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:05:41	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
21:07:20	Target Completed	Target completed (2/43, WDS GRB 34)
21:07:22	Target Started (3/43)	Target started (3/43, 61 Cyg)
21:10:19	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:12:09	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
21:13:27	Target Completed	Target completed (3/43, 61 Cyg)
21:13:29	Target Started (4/43)	Target started (4/43, GCVS BL Lac)
21:15:56	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:17:54	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
21:22:04	Target Completed	Target completed (4/43, GCVS BL Lac)
21:22:06	Target Started (5/43)	Target started (5/43, GCVS CI Cyg)
21:24:18	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:26:11	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5)
21:30:02	Target Completed	Target completed (5/43, GCVS CI Cyg)
21:30:04	Target Started (6/43)	Target started (6/43, GCVS FG Sge)
21:32:35	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:34:35	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
21:37:07	Target Completed	Target completed (6/43, GCVS FG Sge)
21:37:09	Target Started (7/43)	Target started (7/43, NGC 7479)
21:39:20	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:41:24	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7)
21:57:45	Target Completed	Target completed (7/43, NGC 7479)
21:57:47	Queue Paused	Queue paused for SoftSuspend
21:57:49	Queue Resumed	Queue resumed after SoftSuspend (0s)
21:57:51	Target Started (8/43)	Target started (8/43, M39). Using SharpCap
21:57:53	Session Suspended	Session suspended
21:58:38	Shutter Closed	Shutter closed (closing time 48s)
22:03:09	Session Resuming	Session resuming
22:03:54	Shutter Opened	Shutter opened (opening time 45s)
22:03:56	Session Running	Session running
22:03:58	Queue Resumed	Observing Queue resumed
22:05:06	Target Completed	Target completed (8/43, M39)
22:09:57	Target Started (9/43)	Target started (9/43, NGC 7814). Using SharpCap
22:20:40	Target Completed	Target completed (9/43, NGC 7814)
22:26:39	Target Started (10/43)	Target started (10/43, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN))
22:29:42	Focusing Failed	Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
22:38:16	Target Completed	Target completed (10/43, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN))
22:40:24	Target Started (11/43)	Target started (11/43, GCVS RX And)
22:42:20	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:44:09	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8)
22:46:49	Target Completed	Target completed (11/43, GCVS RX And)
22:47:54	Target Started (12/43)	Target started (12/43, GCVS U And)
22:50:18	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:52:08	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9)
23:02:38	Target Completed	Target completed (12/43, GCVS U And)
23:02:40	Target Started (13/43)	Target started (13/43, GCVS GK Per)
23:05:12	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:07:16	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10)
23:10:16	Target Completed	Target completed (13/43, GCVS GK Per)
23:10:18	Target Started (14/43)	Target started (14/43, GCVS SS Cyg)
23:12:59	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:16:30	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11)
23:20:18	Target Completed	Target completed (14/43, GCVS SS Cyg)
23:23:43	Target Started (15/43)	Target started (15/43, NGC 7243). Using SharpCap
23:34:09	Target Completed	Target completed (15/43, NGC 7243)
23:36:05	Target Started (16/43)	Target started (16/43, GCVS Z And)
23:38:36	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:41:01	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12)
23:44:53	Target Completed	Target completed (16/43, GCVS Z And)
23:44:55	Target Started (17/43)	Target started (17/43, GCVS HH And)
23:46:42	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:49:04	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13)
23:50:55	Target Completed	Target completed (17/43, GCVS HH And)
23:51:29	Target Started (18/43)	Target started (18/43, GCVS DY Per)
23:55:04	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:57:03	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14)
00:01:58	Target Completed	Target completed (18/43, GCVS DY Per)
00:02:00	Target Started (19/43)	Target started (19/43, GCVS CM Tau)
00:04:10	Focusing Failed	Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
00:09:02	User Intervention	User request to close and finish session
00:09:04	Target Completed	Target partially completed (19/43, GCVS CM Tau)
00:09:06	Queue Aborted	Job Queue aborted
00:09:09	Session Closing	Session closing
00:09:57	Shutter Closed	Shutter closed (closing time 44s)
00:10:06	Dome Parked	Dome parked (parking time 9s)
00:10:18	Telescope Parked	Telescope parked (parking time 10s)
00:11:01	Session Housekeeping	Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
00:11:16	Session Finished	Session Finished

Operational Issues (2019-10-26, S716)

Critical Issues (0)
Major Issues (0)
Minor Issues (5)
Continuous Improvement (0)

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Critical Issues

None

Major Issues

None

Minor Issues

Telescope not connected when initially starting Observatory Services. Issue was due to the code not waiting for Scope's new Power State to be re-read after powering up the Scope.
Fixed 2019-10-27 (AstroMain 3.16.2)
Issues with SoftSuspend and New 'Suspend when Star Count below 20'. See Investigation - Soft Suspend at 21:57
Fixed 2019-10-29 (AstroMain 3.16.3)
CloudSensor and Weather Data readings became anomalous for a 1 hour period at 02:00 (DST Issue). Wind and Clarity values froze and 'AllSkyStars dropped by 70%. Problem was associated with the period when clocks went back 1 hour as Daylight Savings ended and clocks switched from BST to GMT. Problem only effects two nights of the year
To be fixed at some point (AstroWeather/AstroAllSky/AstroMain)
Current Time Line on Website Charts (Observing Plan and Observing Results was being drawn at the wrong position (DST Issue). Error varying from 15 mins too late to 30 minutes too late. Problem was associated the end of Daylight Savings, with the night being one hour longer in local time than in UT time..
Fixed ~ 2021 (AstroMain, AstroPlan, Website)
Observing Plan does not handle the 'extra hour' when the clocks went back at 02:00 (DST Issue).
Fixed ~2021 (AstroMain, AstroPlan, Website)

Continuous Improvement

None

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Investigation - Soft Suspend at 21:57

This review looks at the performance of the AstroMain program to soft suspend event at 21:57.

Time Line

21:37:09 Target 7/43 (NGC 7479) started
21:52:51 AllSkyStars falls below 20. (start of 9.5 min period below 20)
21:54:39 Cloud comes over the active target (NGC 7479), as shown by 5th & final 180s frame
21:57:45 Target 7/43 (NGC 7479) completed. AllSky Measurement records 'Moderate Cloud'
21:57:45 Job Executor waiting for bSoftSuspend to clear in order to proceed to next target
21:57:47 Queue Paused for soft suspend.
21:57:49 Queue resumed after SoftSuspend (bSoftSuspend must have gone to false
21:57:51 'Below 20 starts' alert ('5 mins' after AllSkyStars fell below 20)
21:57:51 Target 8/43 (M39) started.
21:57:51 Session Suspended (shutter commanded to close)
21:57:49 Session State changes to suspended
21:58:03 CloudSensor reaches min. value of 32.7
21:58:38 Shutter Closed (48s)
21:59:29 SharpCap commanded to take 30x10s frames (LiveStack
22:02:17 AllSkyStars rises to 20+
22:03:09 Session Resuming (shutter commanded to open)
22:03:54 Shutter Open (45s)
22:03:56 Session Running
22:04:54 AllSkyStars rises to 24+
22:05:06 Target 8/43 (M39) completed
22:07:31 AllSkyStars falls below 20 (start of 2.5 min period below 20)
22:09:05 AllSkyStars rises to 20+ (stops 'below 20 stars' alert from occuring)

Code Review

SoftSuspend initiated by the following code in Main Obs.Manager loop.

If (ConditionsDeteriorating() Or 
(objConsole.cboxSuspendWhenStarsUnder20.Checked And Env.AllSkyStarCheck = 
SkyState.Bad))
     And bSoftSuspend = False Then

  
bSoftSuspend = True
   bSoftSuspendOk = False
End If

where ConditionDeteriorating becomes True under the conditions described below :

If Synopsis.Valid And Synopsis.ShutterSafety = acShutterCanOpenWithCaution Then


  If Synopsis.CriticalRainThreat = ThreatLevel.Warning And 
CloudSensorData.Clarity < 24 Then
     Return True
  
ElseIf AvClarity_5min1 < 28 And AvClarity_5min2 < 28 And AvClarity_5min2 < 
AvClarity_5min1 - 1 And AvClarity_1min < 26 Then
     
Return True
  End If
End If

Since Clarity didn't drop below 32.7 throughout the SoftSuspend could only have been triggered by 'Env.AllSkyStarCheck' going to SkyState.Bad

if StarCount < 20 Then
 If MinutesSince(TimeStarsSub20) > 5 Then
    
Return SkyState.Bad
 End If

End If

Conclusions

The most-like sequence of events was
- 21:52: 51 Obs.Manger raises SoftSuspend flag when AllSkyStars fell below 20 as determined from reading Env.AllSkyStarCheck property
                     this was a moment before the 'TimeStarsSub20' timepoint was set by Env.AllSkyStarMonitor (thereby missing the intended 5 mins grace period).
- 21:57:47 Job Executor pauses queue paused after finishing the active target (NGC 7479) after seeing the SoftSuspend flag raised.
                    SoftSuspendOk raised to acknowledge that SoftSuspend flag had been seen
- 21:57:48 Obs.Manager sees that the SoftSuspendOk flag is raised, and set's session state to suspended
                    SoftSuspend flag is lowered
- 21:57:49 Job Executor sees that the SoftSuspend flag is lowered and unpauses the queue.
                    Job Executor begins to execute next Target (M39) just before session state changes to suspended.

Actions:

- Modify the way that 'Env.AllSkyStarState' is set, to ensure any time delays are implemented before publishing change in sky state.
- Delay lowering of SoftSuspend flag until after the session has entered the Suspended State.

This Web Page:	Notes - Session 716 (2019-10-26)
Last Updated :	2024-02-20
Site Owner :	David Richards
Home Page :	David's Astronomy Web Site

David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 716 (2019-10-26)

Session Aims & Highlights (2019-10-26)

Operational Issues (2019-10-26, S716)

Investigation - Soft Suspend at 21:57

David's Astronomy Pages
Notes - Session 716 (2019-10-26)