David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 775 (2020-04-27)

Notes (S774)

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Notes (S776)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (3),  Continuous Improvement (9)
	Best Focus Chart
	Images from 2020-04-27 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-04-27)

Main aims

1. Targets: Acquire images of a number of deep sky objects and comets.   Observations concentrated on following up on a number of recent supernovae.

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, PHD2  2.6.6dev3
   
• AstroMain 3.21 (new) ,  Astroguard 1.2.11,   AstroPlan 1.14.2 (new),  AstroShCap 1.2.15, AstroVOE 1.3.5, UPB 1.4.17 
  (AstroWeather 1.8.6, AstroAllSky 3.5.1)
  

Highlights

• Good Conditions.  Very good seeing (< 2 arc secs) & calm conditions
• Targets.  4 targets successfully imaged
• Zenith FWHM Chart.  Modifications to Zenith FWHM Chart to give it a 0 to 8 arc sec Y-Axis range were finally delived(AstroMain 3.20.7)

Lowlights

• Cloud / Fog . Four hours of observing lost when clouds / fog rolled in at 23:45.

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding 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 (API data from darksky.net) Pre-Session Weather forecast was for clear skies and calm conditions until around 04:00 when cloud was expected to begin developing. Minimum temperature forecast was 6°C. ( The TV Weather Forecast however showed that cloud would probably develop overnight at some point) In the event conditions were clear and calm to 23:45 at which point cloud / ? fog rapidly developed and forced the closure of the dome shutter for the remainder of the night. Temperature fell to minimum of 1°C at 23:45 before climbing to 6.5°C under the cloudy skies.

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 21:16:34 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-04-27 S00775, ImageSaveNum: 775001) 21:31:54 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2020-04-27 S00775, ImageSaveNum: 775001) 21:32:08   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 21:32:10   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 21:32:14   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:32:33   Scope Switched On Telescope power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:34:28   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:34:46   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 21:34:58   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:37:34   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 47s) 21:39:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:44:37       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic) 21:46:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:49:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:51:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:54:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:55:56 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:56:01 Session Pending Session pending (2020-04-27) 21:56:03 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-04-27) 21:56:05   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.14.2) 21:56:20   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-04-27 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 499) 21:56:24   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 21:56:29   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:56:41 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 22:10:50   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 22:20:44   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (9.9 mins total) 22:20:46 Session Running Session running 22:20:48   Queue Started Observing Queue started (15 targets selected) 22:20:50     Target Started (1/15) Target started (1/15, C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)) 22:24:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:27:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:49:06     Target Completed Target completed (1/15, C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)) 22:49:08     Target Started (2/15) Target started (2/15, IC 2740) 23:08:56     Target Completed Target partially completed (2/15, IC 2740) 23:08:58     Target Started (3/15) Target started (3/15, NGC 4546) 23:11:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:15:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 23:30:53     Target Completed Target completed (3/15, NGC 4546) 23:30:55     Target Started (4/15) Target started (4/15, NGC 4636) 23:35:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:38:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 23:54:11     Target Completed Target completed (4/15, NGC 4636) 23:54:13     Target Started (5/15) Target started (5/15, NGC 4691) 23:57:37       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:00:00 Program Closed Program closed by User 00:00:00   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 00:15:11     Target Completed Target completed (5/15, NGC 4691) 00:15:13     Target Started (6/15) Target started (6/15, NGC 4902) 00:18:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:21:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:37:18     Target Completed Target completed (6/15, NGC 4902) 00:37:20     Target Started (7/15) Target started (7/15, NGC 4915) 00:40:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:44:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 01:00:05     Target Completed Target completed (7/15, NGC 4915) 01:00:07     Target Started (8/15) Target started (8/15, NGC 4995) 01:05:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:08:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 01:23:59     Target Completed Target completed (8/15, NGC 4995) 01:24:01     Target Started (9/15) Target started (9/15, NGC 4697) 01:26:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:29:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 01:45:27     Target Completed Target completed (9/15, NGC 4697) 01:45:29     Target Started (10/15) Target started (10/15, IC 3870) 01:48:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:52:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 02:07:36     Target Completed Target completed (10/15, IC 3870) 02:07:38     Target Started (11/15) Target started (11/15, UGC 9422) 02:11:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:14:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 02:17:20 Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 02:17:22   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 02:17:24     Target Aborted (11/15) Target aborted (11/15, UGC 9422) due to threat of rain 02:17:26   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 02:17:28 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:18:16   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 50s) 02:25:11     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/15, UGC 9422) due to cloud 02:32:31 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:33:17   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 46s) 02:33:20 Session Running Session running 02:33:22   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:33:24     Target Started (12/15) Target started (12/15, IC 1222) 02:52:29     Target Completed Target partially completed (12/15, IC 1222) 02:52:31     Target Started (13/15) Target started (13/15, PGC 54559) 02:55:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:58:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 03:14:28     Target Completed Target completed (13/15, PGC 54559) 03:14:31     Target Started (14/15) Target started (14/15, UGC 10528) 03:16:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:19:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 03:34:58     Target Completed Target completed (14/15, UGC 10528) 03:35:17     Target Started (15/15) Target started (15/15, HIP 87937) 03:39:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:42:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 03:45:40     Target Completed Target completed (15/15, HIP 87937) 03:45:43   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:45:46 Session Closing Session closing 03:46:39   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 49s) 03:49:44   Dome Park Aborted Dome Park aborted (185s, Az=130.6degs) 03:49:55   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 9s) 03:50:25   Scope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 03:51:15   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:51:17 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:51:26 Session Finished Session Finished

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Operational Issues (2020-04-27, S775)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (1)
• Minor Issues (3)
• Continuous Improvement (9)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Problem connecting to TCF-S focuser at start of session (2020-04-27, S775).  After loading new AstroMain version (3.21) & creating new session, the TCF-S focuser couldn't be connected to when Day Services were started. Before starting AstroMain there had been an earlier UPB dialog window saying that Connection to PowerBox had been lost (whilst it had subsequently reconnected automatically it may have interrupted comms / com port for TCF-S focuser which operates through the UPB box).  (This issue occurred previously in session Sxxx  )
  In the event the computer was restarted and the issue resolved itself (ie the TCF-S focuser was able to be connected  to )
  Looking back at the data from the day revealed that the TCF-S data had gone offline at 13:30.  This 'flag' could have been used to check for and sort out the problem ahead of the session.  Whilst the missing data might have revealed itself on some occassion when looking at Current Conditions web page it didn't on this occasion.  What could be done to flag up the issue better. Automatic Email ? Could the problem have anything to do with SharpCap still having an ASCOM connection to the port used by TCF-S focuser and was this blocking AstroMain's re-connection ? Improvements made in late Sept version (~ AstroMain 3.28.4), such that COM Port associated with TCF-S focuser is automatically looked for at start of new session. Monitored to see if fully fixed or not. Issue deemed to be closed (2021-02-10)
   Improvements made in late Sept version / Resolved (~ AstroMain 3.28.4).

Minor Issues

• Foc1 best focus position was very different to that expected.  1st focusing attempt began with the focuser at 2398 (T=5.6°C). This is consistent with settings from the previous session (S774, 3 days beforehand) where the final focus profile measurements had set the best focus position at 2570 (T= 4.1°C) with focus offset of -286 (average focus offset for session S774 had been -241).  Profile 1 failed and it was clear that best focus position was much higher than expected value (ie 3250+ rather than 2398). Profile 2 measurements set the best focus position at 3396 (T= 5.9°C, focus offset 777)  which was refined with Profile 3 which set best focus position at 3418 (T= 6.0°C, focus offset 817) This equates with a 1020 jump in expected focus position.   (average focus offset of xxx in S765  compares with an average focus offset of -241 in S774, ie average xxxx jump in expected focus). There had been no known change in main LX200 mirror position and the change can only be explained in terms of a significant change in atmospheric properties between the two sessions.   (Update: There was a similar but even larger change in focus offset between sessions S774 and S775 (1760 jump). A Continuous Improvement ticket has been raised to allow a more flexible aproach to Autofocusing).  Wide precursive search is now automatically included at start of each new session (from 2020-09-04 onwards0
  Closed 2020-09-04 (AstroMain 3.28.3)
    
• Dome Failed to Park within Permitted Time.    Checking observatory status at 04:30 using 'Latest Session webpage showed there had been a Park Dome failure at 03:49 whilst closing the Observatory down.   The dome hadn't reached its Park position after 3 minutes (180s) and the operation had been aborted by the Obs.Manager.  (Note:  the timeout occurs during slew to near 90 deg and before the actual Park command is issued).  Since the shutter was closed and the telescope had been successfully parked the observatory was deemed safe and no immediate action was taken.  The following morning the dome was found to be sitting at Az 130.6° (40.6° away from its normal Park Position). The dome was successfully parked using the Dome Rotation Control box at 10:45. This occurred without any incident or problem.   There were signs on the dome roof flange indicating that the rotation wheels had been slipping on the flange when roof was at Az 130.6° . Roof flange was dry when examined but obviously may have been wet earlier in the night when the observatory was being shutdown.  This issue occurred previously in session S759 (180s timeout at Az 99.5°) and S774 (180s timeout at Az 111.5°). There is no indication that tension of drive rotation system is too slack.   Given that issue has occurred at 3 different azimuth positions doesn't suggest a specific hold-up position (a Continuous Improvement ticket has been raised to look into whether an attempt to slew back around the other way or back the other way a little before making a fresh attempt to slew to park position would help)
  Closed 2020-04-28 (Observatory) 
   
• Foc2 Focusing appears to be writing incorrect Focus Offset to Focus2 data file.   It seems that Foc2 focusing routine is writing Foc1 Focus Offset to focus file rather than its own ? .   Investigating shows that the correct focus offset is being written to dat file, but it is being written in wrong column (?).    Foc2 Offset is now written in the second of the two offset columns.
  Closed 2020-04-29 (AstroMain)

Continuous Improvement

• Autofocus for TCF-S Focuser needs flexibility for hunting best focus where it lies outside the normal range.    Normally the best focus position for a new session will be close to that predicted from the focus settings at the end of previous session (90% of time they are). Occassionally  however (S764  & S775) the best focus position is long way different from the last session due to some significant atmospheric difference or slippage of the LX200 main mirror position.  When autofocussing is under user control the user can quickly see that focusing is long way off and modify the focus offset to move the focussing range inwards or outwards as appropriate which is then able to allow best focus to be obtained on second or third attempt.  Currently when autofocusing is under fully automated control there is no way for the system to find and move to best focus and imaging is severely compromised (due to out of focus stars).  Is there a way for autofocusuing to hunting for best focus outside of the normal range (i.e .a wide range mode) or use focus run to deliberately shift the focus range inwards or outwards based on indications from 1st failed attempt. Could the FWHM of the initial full frame image be used to support using a wider range mode or other flexible approach to autofocusing ?   Wide precursive search is now automatically included at start of each new session (from 2020-09-04 onwards0
  Done 2020-09-04 (AstroMain 3.28.3)
   
• Query: Target 2/15 made no attempt to run a focus profile.    Why was this Target 1/15 did and so did 3/15. Prehaps because Job Manager sensed that there was enough time available in time slot for a 3 minute focussing run.  Checking code shows that Focus Profile is automatically ignored if there is less than 3.5 minutes until planned start of imaging (Session.DeltaMinsFromPlan < -3.5)
  Resolved 2020-05-03 (AstroMain)
   
• 'Ignore Test Events' option in AstroVOE should be changed so that it is NOT the default.   Changing the initial setting of this option will simplify the start-up of this program.  In the event the Option was retitled to Include Test Events (default NO) and code modified accordingly
  Done 2020-04-29 (AstroVOE 1.3.6)
   
• Add Report Line showing when Focus Offset has been manually reset and what the new value is .
  Done 2020-04-29 (AstroMain 3.21.1)
   
• Always create small websized picture of final images regardless of exposure time. When exposures are short (<10s), such as 2s for Barnards Star frames, only the first image is uploaded to the website.  Whilst intermediatary frames shouldn't be uploaded when exposures are short (<10s or so) the final frame should be.   (Notes: Need a flag to indicate that a given image is the last one for the target and use that flag in ConvertFitsToJpg to control the saving of image as a JPG file or not).  Implemented using new SaveType=4  (viz.  SaveImageToJpg(4, 0))
  Done 2020-05-03 (AstroMain 3.21.4)
   
• Given that nights are shortening rapidly change Plan Start time from -11deg to -10deg Sun Alt  (summer time).
  Done 2020-04-29 (AstroPlan 1.14.3)
   
• AstroPlan needs some means of striking a balance between Deep Sky Targets and Star Monitoring.    In session S775 the targets were entirely Deep Sky Targets except for one Astrometric Star target (Barnards Star) at the very end. Based on numbers of active targets the introduction of UGCA project with 267 active targets and extension of Flat Galaxies project (71 active targets) etc means that Variable Stars & Nearby Star projects (only 41 active target in total )  have much lower probability of being selected for the plan
  Look into AstroPlan Target Balancing (AstroMain)
   
• Look into alternative ways of moving the dome to its park position in situation where slew timesout after 180s.  Slew to Park Position has timed-out in a number of recent sessions (S759, S774, S775). 
  Look into idea  (AstroMain)
   
• 'Need to utilise GuideScope Image Scale in GuideMonitor, FWHM  and other parts of AstroMain.   The diffference between using current image scale 1.03 arc sec/pixel (at 1x1) and not using an image scale corrector (ie effectively a 1.00 arc sec/pixel image scale) is small, but the correct thing is to code it to use the best available image scale 
  >> Implement GuideScope Image Scale handling  (AstroMain)

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Best Focus Chart

A new chart "Best Focus Chart"  was finally delivered with AstroMain 3.21 . This chart shows the Best Focus Position for the TCF-S Focuser on the LX200 Main Scope.

Best Focus

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