David's Astronomy Pages
 Notes - Session 734 (2019-12-31)

 Previous Notes
Notes
(S733)		   Notes
Notes
Main		   Home
Home
Page		   Next Notes
Notes
(S735)		  
 
Bullet Session Aims & Highlights
 - Observing Result
 - Night Summary Plot
 - Session Event Log
 
Bullet Operational Issues
  - Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (3),  Continuous Improvement (3)
   
Bullet Guiding Performance Issues - Declination Backlash
 
Bullet Images from 2019-12-31  >>
 

Session Aims & Highlights (2019-12-31)

Main aims

  1. Targets: Acquire images of a selection of targets including deep sky objects, variable stars, nearby stars and comets.
  2. Guiding:  Continue checking guiding performance after recent changes

Equipment & Software

Highlights

Lowlights

 

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan
Image
  
Observing Result
Image
   
Slew/Centering Performance
Image
  
Dome Slewing Performance
Image
  
Sky Conditions (Locate Frames)
Image
  
Night Sky Summary Plot
Top axis: Sky Brightness at Zenith (in ADU/s)
Lefthand axis: Local Time (hh LT). Righthand axis: Sun Altitude (degs)
Image   
  
Pre-Session Weather Forecast (API data from darksky.net)
Forecast showed 
In the event skies
Image   
  
Session Event Log
Time     Event Detail
16:25:02 Session Created Live Session Created (2019-12-31 S00734, ImageSaveNum: 734001)
16:26:22 Program Closed Program closed by User
16:27:01 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2019-12-31 S00734, ImageSaveNum: 734001)
16:28:44   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started
16:28:46   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started
16:28:51   Services Started Observatory Services started
16:30:23   Services Started Observatory Services started
16:30:33   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped
16:30:52 Program Closed Program closed by User
16:37:17 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2019-12-31 S00734, ImageSaveNum: 734001)
16:37:29   Scope Switched Off Scope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox.
16:37:50   Scope Switched On Scope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox.
16:39:19   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started
16:39:21   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started
16:39:26   Services Started Observatory Services started
16:41:10   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
16:41:19   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
16:42:18 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
16:42:21 Session Pending Session pending (2019-12-31)
16:42:23 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-12-31)
16:42:25   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.13.7)
16:43:17   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-12-31 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 440)
16:43:21   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
16:43:24   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
16:43:38 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration
16:55:54 Wait on Weather Waiting for acceptable weather conditions
17:00:56 Session Suspended Session suspended
17:00:58   Shutter Closed Shutter already closed (closure time is unknown)
17:01:00   Queue Started Observing Queue started (61 targets selected)
17:04:05 Session Resuming Session resuming
17:04:50   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 44s)
17:04:52 Session Running Session running
17:04:54   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
17:05:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
17:07:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
17:08:00       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
17:09:33       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
17:09:35     Target Started (1/61) Target started (1/61, GCVS HH And)
17:13:14     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/61, GCVS HH And)
17:13:16     Target Started (2/61) Target started (2/61, WDS GRB 34)
17:16:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
17:17:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
17:19:32     Target Completed Target completed (2/61, WDS GRB 34)
17:19:34     Target Started (3/61) Target started (3/61, GCVS TT Ari)
17:21:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
17:23:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
17:30:53     Target Completed Target completed (3/61, GCVS TT Ari)
17:30:56     Target Started (4/61) Target started (4/61, GCVS CM Tau)
17:33:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
17:35:12       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
17:49:21     Target Completed Target completed (4/61, GCVS CM Tau)
17:49:23     Target Started (5/61) Target started (5/61, GCVS S Cyg)
17:53:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
17:54:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
18:05:15     Target Completed Target completed (5/61, GCVS S Cyg)
18:05:17     Target Started (6/61) Target started (6/61, 68P/Klemola)
18:18:04     Target Completed Target completed (6/61, 68P/Klemola)
18:18:06     Target Started (7/61) Target started (7/61, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN))
18:19:46       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
18:28:22     Target Completed Target completed (7/61, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN))
18:28:24     Target Started (8/61) Target started (8/61, GCVS RX And)
18:29:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
18:31:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7)
18:34:22     Target Completed Target completed (8/61, GCVS RX And)
18:35:55     Target Started (9/61) Target started (9/61, GCVS SS Cyg)
18:38:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
18:40:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8)
18:44:30     Target Completed Target completed (9/61, GCVS SS Cyg)
18:50:16     Target Started (10/61) Target started (10/61, 61 Cyg)
18:52:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
18:54:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9)
18:56:24     Target Completed Target completed (10/61, 61 Cyg)
18:57:20     Target Started (11/61) Target started (11/61, GCVS Z And)
18:59:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:01:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10)
19:05:06     Target Completed Target completed (11/61, GCVS Z And)
19:05:19     Target Started (12/61) Target started (12/61, GCVS DY Per)
19:08:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:10:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11)
19:15:42     Target Completed Target completed (12/61, GCVS DY Per)
19:15:44     Target Started (13/61) Target started (13/61, GCVS V Sge)
19:19:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:21:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12)
19:29:39     Target Completed Target completed (13/61, GCVS V Sge)
19:29:41     Target Started (14/61) Target started (14/61, GCVS CI Cyg)
19:31:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:33:45       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
19:37:22     Target Completed Target completed (14/61, GCVS CI Cyg)
19:37:24     Target Started (15/61) Target started (15/61, GCVS BL Lac)
19:39:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:41:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14)
19:45:41     Target Completed Target completed (15/61, GCVS BL Lac)
19:45:43     Target Started (16/61) Target started (16/61, C/2017 T2 (PanStarrs))
19:48:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:50:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15)
19:59:22     Target Completed Target completed (16/61, C/2017 T2 (PanStarrs))
19:59:24     Target Started (17/61) Target started (17/61, GCVS FU Ori)
20:01:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:03:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16)
20:06:07     Target Completed Target completed (17/61, GCVS FU Ori)
20:06:09     Target Started (18/61) Target started (18/61, GCVS U And)
20:08:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:10:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17)
20:20:44     Target Completed Target completed (18/61, GCVS U And)
20:20:46     Target Started (19/61) Target started (19/61, GSC 1224:29)
20:22:56       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
20:27:46     Target Completed Target completed (19/61, GSC 1224:29)
20:27:54     Target Started (20/61) Target started (20/61, GCVS GK Per)
20:29:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:31:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18)
20:34:27     Target Completed Target completed (20/61, GCVS GK Per)
20:35:45     Target Started (21/61) Target started (21/61, GCVS FO Ori)
20:38:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:39:57       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
20:43:50     Target Completed Target completed (21/61, GCVS FO Ori)
20:43:52     Target Started (22/61) Target started (22/61, GCVS CN Ori)
20:45:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:47:54       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
20:51:21     Target Completed Target completed (22/61, GCVS CN Ori)
20:52:14     Target Started (23/61) Target started (23/61, GCVS ER UMa)
20:56:05       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
21:00:08     Target Completed Target completed (23/61, GCVS ER UMa)
21:02:02     Target Started (24/61) Target started (24/61, GCVS RZ LMi)
21:04:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:06:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21)
21:12:04     Target Completed Target completed (24/61, GCVS RZ LMi)
21:13:20     Target Started (25/61) Target started (25/61, GCVS AM Her)
21:17:11       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
21:22:54     Target Completed Target completed (25/61, GCVS AM Her)
21:23:31     Target Started (26/61) Target started (26/61, GCVS RR Tau)
21:27:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:29:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22)
21:35:37     Target Completed Target completed (26/61, GCVS RR Tau)
21:35:39     Target Started (27/61) Target started (27/61, GCVS SU Tau)
21:38:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:39:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 23)
21:44:44     Target Completed Target completed (27/61, GCVS SU Tau)
21:44:46     Target Started (28/61) Target started (28/61, GCVS SY Cnc)
21:50:48     Target Completed Target completed (28/61, GCVS SY Cnc)
21:52:20     Target Started (29/61) Target started (29/61, GCVS SY Cnc)
21:52:51       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S)
21:56:36     Target Completed Target completed (29/61, GCVS SY Cnc)
22:01:29     Target Started (30/61) Target started (30/61, GCVS DX Cnc)
22:03:46       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
22:08:44     Target Completed Target completed (30/61, GCVS DX Cnc)
22:11:22     Target Started (31/61) Target started (31/61, GCVS SY Cnc)
22:13:41       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
22:14:56     Target Aborted (31/61) Target aborted (31/61, GCVS SY Cnc) due to Prority 1 ToO Target
22:14:59     Target Started (32/62) Target started (32/62, NGC 1975). Using SharpCap
22:27:59     Target Completed Target completed (32/62, NGC 1975)
22:28:02     Target Started (33/62) Target started (33/62, GCVS AM CVn)
22:34:15     Target Completed Target completed (33/62, GCVS AM CVn)
22:34:17     Target Started (34/62) Target started (34/62, LAMOST-HVS1)
22:36:53       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
22:39:55     Target Completed Target completed (34/62, LAMOST-HVS1)
22:39:57     Target Started (35/62) Target started (35/62, Scholz's Star)
22:42:18       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
22:57:53     Target Completed Target completed (35/62, Scholz's Star)
22:59:25     Target Started (36/62) Target started (36/62, GCVS U Mon)
23:01:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:03:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 24)
23:09:45     Target Completed Target completed (36/62, GCVS U Mon)
23:09:47     Target Started (37/62) Target started (37/62, GCVS NV Ori)
23:12:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:13:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 25)
23:17:26     Target Completed Target completed (37/62, GCVS NV Ori)
23:17:28     Target Started (38/62) Target started (38/62, GCVS RR Tau)
23:20:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:22:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 26)
23:28:40     Target Completed Target completed (38/62, GCVS RR Tau)
23:28:42     Target Started (39/62) Target started (39/62, GCVS U Gem)
23:31:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:33:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 27)
23:36:38     Target Completed Target completed (39/62, GCVS U Gem)
23:36:59     Target Started (40/62) Target started (40/62, NGC 4774)
23:41:20       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S)
23:57:33     Target Completed Target completed (40/62, NGC 4774)
23:58:51     Target Started (41/62) Target started (41/62, IC 3247)
00:18:54     Target Completed Target completed (41/62, IC 3247)
00:20:43     Target Started (42/62) Target started (42/62, NGC 5410)
00:39:27     Target Completed Target completed (42/62, NGC 5410)
00:42:35     Target Started (43/62) Target started (43/62, IC 755)
00:45:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:47:29       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
01:04:07     Target Completed Target completed (43/62, IC 755)
01:04:27     Target Started (44/62) Target started (44/62, GCVS CN Leo)
01:07:33       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
01:08:02       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope)
01:10:11       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 29)
01:17:42     Target Completed Target completed (44/62, GCVS CN Leo)
01:17:44     Target Started (45/62) Target started (45/62, NGC 4330)
01:21:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:23:23       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
01:40:03     Target Completed Target completed (45/62, NGC 4330)
01:40:05     Target Started (46/62) Target started (46/62, NGC 4216)
01:59:45     Target Completed Target completed (46/62, NGC 4216)
02:00:33     Target Started (47/62) Target started (47/62, IC 3099)
02:19:49     Target Completed Target completed (47/62, IC 3099)
02:22:25     Target Started (48/62) Target started (48/62, IC 614)
02:42:25     Target Completed Target completed (48/62, IC 614)
02:44:17     Target Started (49/62) Target started (49/62, SHK 352)
02:46:36       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
03:02:53     Target Completed Target completed (49/62, SHK 352)
03:06:09     Target Started (50/62) Target started (50/62, IC 603)
03:08:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:11:01       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
03:27:22     Target Completed Target completed (50/62, IC 603)
03:28:01     Target Started (51/62) Target started (51/62, Rose 29)
03:30:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:33:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 32)
03:49:31     Target Completed Target completed (51/62, Rose 29)
03:49:53     Target Started (52/62) Target started (52/62, IC 3311)
03:53:24       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S)
04:09:36     Target Completed Target completed (52/62, IC 3311)
04:11:45     Target Started (53/62) Target started (53/62, NGC 4289)
04:15:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:16:55       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
04:33:15     Target Completed Target completed (53/62, NGC 4289)
04:33:38     Target Started (54/62) Target started (54/62, NGC 4356)
04:36:23       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
04:51:18   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
04:51:59   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions
04:52:30     Target Completed Target completed (54/62, NGC 4356)
04:54:28   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
04:55:29     Target Started (55/62) Target started (55/62, IC 716)
05:14:23     Target Completed Target completed (55/62, IC 716)
05:14:25   Queue Paused Queue paused for SoftSuspend
05:14:27 Session Suspended Session suspended
05:15:16   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 49s)
05:36:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (56/62, Rose 9) due to cloud
05:58:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (57/62, IC 3474) due to cloud
06:19:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (58/62, Hickson 72) due to cloud
06:32:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (59/62, 38P/Stephan-Oterma) due to cloud
06:51:55     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (60/62, SHK 219) due to cloud
07:02:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (61/62, GCVS R CrB) due to cloud
07:20:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (62/62, GCVS SS Her) due to cloud
07:20:37   Queue Completed Job Queue completed
07:20:42 Session Closing Session closing
07:20:47   Shutter Closed Shutter already closed (closed at 05:15, closing time 49s)
07:21:32   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 45s)
07:21:44   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 11s)
07:22:29 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
07:22:59 Session Finished Session Finished
   

Back to Top

Operational Issues (2019-12-31, S734)

[ Prev | Next ]

Critical Issues

Major Issues

Minor Issues

Continuous Improvement

[ Prev | Next ]

Back to Top

Guiding Performance Issues - Declination Backlash

Whilst scope reconfiguration and final balancing has still to be completed the effects of the LX200's large Declination Backlash (3-6s) on autoguiding with or without Anti-Backlash on the Mount and with/without Backlash Compensation in PHD2 Declination produce overall poor guiding performance.

Whilst the declination guiding are ok/ acceptable for some targets, for others the results are either much poorer than ideal or plainly unacceptable.  Although performance improved in S733, the performance is again fairly poor or inconsistent at best in S734.

PHD2 Guiding has performed using the 'Auto' Declination Guide Mode as this provided a means to operate declination guiding for an Automated Session where the user is not available to change the direction of Dec guiding according to what is  required for a given target, which might lie in various regions of the sky and in case of cometary targets may be operating with lock shift enabled. The latter might require guiding north or guiding south depending on what direction of Dec motion the comet was travelling across the celestrial sky.

Two examples of poor guiding performance from the session are shown below:

In the first case Dec Errors are up to +/-4 arc secs, and giving average Dec RMS of 1.93", and stars that are elongated in the N-S direction,  whilst the in the second case the Dec Errors are +/- 8 arc secs,  giving average Dec RMS of 3.95" and with 75% of frames showing elongated or  more typically 'double-exposure' like stars.

Example of Poor Guiding Performance from Session S734
  Image
   
  Image

It is concluded that uni-directional guiding is necessary for better image results and the challenge is how to select the correct guide direction for each target.

Whilst the required direction could be selected based on sky position (ordinary targets) or on predicted direction of Dec Motion (comets), in practice this is probably unreasonable since establishing sky regions which show north drift, south drift or no drift and maintaining that information will be very difficult to do well, similarly there will be problems in handling cases where star drift and comet motion are in opposite directions !

The proposed approach is therefore to start guiding each target with Declination Mode set to 'Off, to monitor the trend in Dec movement and then set declination mode accordingly.   Continued monitoring would look at any moving trend in Dec movement and if necessary flip the Declination Mode, as might occur with a long duration target that crossed the Meridian. Such a flip in Dec Mode would ideally be done at the break between frames and include a period of stablisation before imaging proceeded.

Declination Mode can be set or flipped by sending  the 'set_dec_guide_mode' request to the PHD2 Server with the parameter "Off"/"Auto"/"North"/"South" as appropriate.

Back to Top

This Web Page: Notes - Session 734 (2019-12-31)
Last Updated : 2024-02-20
Site Owner : David Richards
Home Page : David's Astronomy Web Site