David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 777 (2020-05-02)

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Notes (S778)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (8),  Continuous Improvement (7)
	Guidescope Focusing (V3)
	Images from 2020-05-02 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-05-02)

Main aims

1. Targets: Acquire images of a number of variable star, nearby star, deep sky objects and comets. 
2. OJ 287: Acquire images the QSO / AGN object OJ 287, recently feature on BBC Website 'Dancing Garguntum Blackholes: perform on queue"
3. Guidescope Focusing: Test out new method of focusing Guidescope (fmodeSharpCapV3).

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 3.21.3,  Astroguard 1.2.11,   AstroPlan 1.14.2,  AstroShCap 1.2.17, AstroVOE 1.3.5, UPB 1.4.17 
  (AstroWeather 1.8.6, AstroAllSky 3.5.1)
  

Highlights

• Good Conditions.  Good seeing (2.5 arc secs) & calm conditions
• Targets.  x targets successfully imaged
• OJ 287. 
• Guidescope Focusing.  New method to focus guidescope worked.

Lowlights

• Dome COM Port.  Dome Port changed during initial manual operations. requiring parking the scope and restart of observatory software.

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 moderately clear skies (22-37% cloud),  calm conditions and a minimum temperature of 4°C. In the event conditions were clear and calm through the whole night, with a minimum temperature of 1°C

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 22:37:55 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-05-02 S00777, ImageSaveNum: 777001) 22:38:06   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 22:38:08   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 22:38:12   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:38:19   Scope Switched On Telescope power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 22:40:35   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:40:58   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 22:41:08   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 22:42:13   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 44s) 22:44:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:45:08   Dome Port Changed Dome Port changed from COM9 to COM14 22:47:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 22:47:37       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 22:50:45       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 22:52:31   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 22:53:27   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 22:54:36   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 22:55:06 Program Closed Program closed by User 22:56:54 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2020-05-02 S00777, ImageSaveNum: 777001) 22:57:15   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 22:57:17   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 22:57:21   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:57:32   Scope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 22:57:48   Scope Switched On Telescope power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 22:59:22   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:00:21   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:01:08   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:02:00   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:02:35 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:02:37 Session Pending Session pending (2020-05-02) 23:02:39 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-05-02) 23:02:41   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.14.3) 23:02:46   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-05-02 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 501) 23:02:58   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 23:03:05   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:03:17 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 23:03:20   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 23:03:22   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 23:03:24 Session Running Session running 23:03:26   Queue Started Observing Queue started (17 targets selected) 23:04:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:07:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 23:08:37     Target Started (1/17) Target started (1/17, GCVS DX Cnc) 23:12:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:15:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 23:19:52     Target Completed Target completed (1/17, GCVS DX Cnc) 23:19:55     Target Started (2/17) Target started (2/17, OJ 287) 23:23:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:27:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 23:42:57     Target Completed Target completed (2/17, OJ 287) 23:43:00     Target Started (3/17) Target started (3/17, C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)) 23:46:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:48:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 00:10:13     Target Completed Target completed (3/17, C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)) 00:10:15     Target Started (4/17) Target started (4/17, NGC 4636) 00:34:36     Target Completed Target completed (4/17, NGC 4636) 00:34:38     Target Started (5/17) Target started (5/17, 88P/Howell) 00:35:05     Target Failed Target failed due to slew error (5/17, 88P/Howell) 00:47:20     Target Started (6/17) Target started (6/17, NGC 4277) 00:52:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:55:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 01:10:56     Target Completed Target completed (6/17, NGC 4277) 01:10:58     Target Started (7/17) Target started (7/17, NGC 5157) 01:14:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:17:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 01:33:07     Target Completed Target completed (7/17, NGC 5157) 01:33:09     Target Started (8/17) Target started (8/17, UGC 10528) 01:36:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:39:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 01:54:57     Target Completed Target completed (8/17, UGC 10528) 01:54:59     Target Started (9/17) Target started (9/17, GCVS CY Lyr) 01:57:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:00:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 02:03:42     Target Completed Target completed (9/17, GCVS CY Lyr) 02:04:44     Target Started (10/17) Target started (10/17, GCVS AM Her) 02:07:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:10:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 02:15:29     Target Completed Target completed (10/17, GCVS AM Her) 02:15:31     Target Started (11/17) Target started (11/17, GCVS CI Cyg) 02:16:37   Dome Port Lost Dome Port Lost 02:16:42   Dome Port Changed Dome Port changed from COM14 to COM9 02:19:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:21:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 02:25:24     Target Completed Target completed (11/17, GCVS CI Cyg) 02:25:26     Target Started (12/17) Target started (12/17, GCVS SS Cyg) 02:28:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:31:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 02:35:00     Target Completed Target completed (12/17, GCVS SS Cyg) 02:39:19     Target Started (13/17) Target started (13/17, GCVS S Cyg) 02:42:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:45:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 02:55:07     Target Completed Target completed (13/17, GCVS S Cyg) 02:55:09     Target Started (14/17) Target started (14/17, 61 Cyg) 02:57:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:59:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 03:01:07     Target Completed Target completed (14/17, 61 Cyg) 03:01:09     Target Started (15/17) Target started (15/17, GCVS R CrB) 03:03:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:06:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 03:09:14     Target Completed Target completed (15/17, GCVS R CrB) 03:09:53     Target Started (16/17) Target started (16/17, GCVS SS Her) 03:14:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:17:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 03:20:28     Target Completed Target completed (16/17, GCVS SS Her) 03:20:30     Target Started (17/17) Target started (17/17, HIP 87937) 03:23:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:26:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 03:28:14     Target Completed Target completed (17/17, HIP 87937) 03:28:17   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:28:20 Session Closing Session closing 03:29:13   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 50s) 03:30:23   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 70s) 03:30:34   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 9s) 03:31:04   Scope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 03:31:55   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:31:57 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:32:06 Session Finished Session Finished

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Operational Issues (2020-05-02, S777)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (1)
• Minor Issues (8)
• Continuous Improvement (7)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Dome Port Changed during Session.  Whilst taking a focus profile (under Manual control) the Dome Port changed from COM9 to COM14 at 22:45:08. The automatic attempt to restart the Dome Connection failed to make a valid connection, and Dome Object was disconnected.  A manual attempt to disconnect and then reconnect Dome/Telescope resulted in a problem accessing Telescope Coords from AstroMain/TheSky6.   (Scope should probably have been disconnected in TheSky6  before disconnecting from AstroMain,  may need Scope to remain active in PHD2) . Telescope was parked from POTH.Hub following by stopping and restarting Observatory Software. This resolved the issue and the session was able to continue. (Later in the session the Dome Port was lost at 02:16 as it changed from COM14 back to COM9. This time the automatic reconnection was successful). A possible similar issue occurred on 2021-05-19 which saw shutter health information being down for 4.5 days until issue was noticed.  Dome Port is no longer changing since new Observatory Computer( with WIndows 10) was installed 2021-12-10.
  Resolved 2021-12-06  (Observatory Computer)

Minor Issues

• Unable to connect to AstroShCap. After restarting AstroMain (due to an operational difficulty), a connection to the AstroShCap server couldn't be made. Problem was related to not previously closing the connection to AstroShCap and/or  not stopping & restarting SharpCap & AstroShCap before restarting AstroMain.  Connection couldn't be established by using the Disconnect ShCap button followed by restarting AstroShCap/SharpCap. On this occasion access to SharpCap was not critical to the continuation of the session as the  new V3 method for focusing the guidescope using images shot with SharpCap had already been successfully tested. Actually the problem was caused by having 2 copies of SharpCap / AstroShCap open at the sane time. It would be handy for AstroMain to check that there aren't more than one copy of SharpCap / AstroShCap open at the same time.
  Resolved (Session)
     
• One target failed due to slew error.  ATarget 5/17 (88P/Howell) failed due to slew error at 00:35. Examining log files showed that it failed due to a 0.6 deg discrepency between the Target Coords and the post-slew Telescope Coords.  It is possible that Centering operations might have still be able to bring the telescope onto the Target, and attempting this was worth the risk give the otherwise waste of the observational timeslot.  Tolerance has been increased from 30 arc mins (0.5 arc deg) to new value of 60 arc mins (1 arc deg)
  Fixed 2020-05-03 (AstroMain 3.21.4)
   
• Wind Direction lines are displayed on Weather Graphs as flat lines when data is 'stuck' (instead of drawing gaps). When Weather Station Wind data goes offline for some reason the Virtual Weather Station continues to record the last valid values in the vws database.  AstroWeather reads the database file and draws Wind Direction as a flat line, not recognising that the data is suspect.   AstroWeather should ignore the suspect constant wind direction values and 'draw' a data gap (as it does for suspect constant wind speed values.
  Fixed 2020-05-04 (AstroWeather 1.8.7)
   
• Monitor File contains invalid 'Foc/C' values when FocTemp is blanks and CCD Temp is -99. When Focuser1 isn't connected invalid Foc/C values such as 16962 or 17117 are written to the Monitor File, Foc/C cells should be written with 'blank' instead.
  Fixed 2020-05-03 (AstroMain 3.21.4)
   
• After restarting AstroMain the value of FMin position on the BestFocus Graph appears to have been lost. After starting the session and conducting a first focus profile with best focus of 3211, FMin was established at 2600. After restarting AstroMain (due to an operational difficulty) further focus profiles with best focus values of (3255), 3052, 3124, 3105 etc were plotted above the graph area, implying that FMin and or FMax, FRange values had been lost or reset in someway. FocusTemperatureChart and SeeingChart didn't suffer a similar problem. Checking the 'SessionData.dat' file shows that FMin value of 2600 was correctly written to the file. It seems that FMax wasn't correctly set after resuming the scope. Examining the plot in more detail indicates that the orginal time axis labels were overwritten with new values and the best focus points were drawn according to a new Min Time value.  Checking the 'SessionData.dat' file shows that a Time Min value of 22:30 (which corresponds to  a new Time Min value based on a subsequent best focus point at 23:04.  The original Time value was 22:00 (which corresponds to the initial best focus point at 22:44.
  Fixed 2020-05-04 (AstroMain 3.21.5 / AstroMain 3.21.6 )
   
• Obs.Viewer Plan shows the text 'Dome Closed' when it was actually Opening.
  Fixed 2020-05-04 (AstroMain 3.21.4)
   
• Obs.Viewer XSec momentarily draws the Dome as closed in the 2s interval between Shutter Opening and Shutter Open states. ObsViewer logic updated to use new variable Dome.LocalShutterStatus.
  Fixed 2020-05-04 (AstroMain 3.21.4)
   
• Altitude value associated with the first frame of each target in GuideSumm data file is invalid.  The altiude value for the first frame (sometimes also second frame) in each guiding set is not consistent with the altitude values of subsequent frames or the 'Starting Altitude'. Although it is broadly in the correct ball park, it is either higher or lower than it should be by some margin.  It isn't clear what the precise cause of the problem is, however the code has been changed to use an alternative way of setting and reporting Guide altitude associated with each frame, frameset and target. Data from the next session will be examined to see if this has fixed the issue or not. Eventually found the cause of the bug (statement GS.Altitude = GuideStats(k).Altitude was missing from GetGuideStats() routine) and fixed it 2020-10-24 (AstroMain 3.31.1).
  Fixed 2020-10-24 (AstroMain 3.31.1).

Continuous Improvement

• Consolidate code for new V3 method for focusing the guidescope using images shot with SharpCap.
  Done 2020-05-03 (AstroMain 3.21.4 / AstroShCap 1.2.19)
   
• Remove Observatory Humidity Difference from Outside' graph from Current/Recent Weather Webpage. Deprecate creation and use of vwsGraph12.
  Done 2020-05-04 (AstroWeather / Website)
   
• Add Outside Temp to OTA Temperature Graph and reorder lines. Modify Graph29 to show Outside Temp (line1, new), UPB Temp (line2), OTA Temp (line3).
  Done 2020-05-04 (AstroWeather 1.8.7)
   
• Remove the Brief Version of Current/Recent Weather Conditions webpage from website.  Deprecate use of weather_current_brief.htm.
  Done 2020-05-04 (Website)
   
• Modify 'OTA Temperature Difference from Dew Point' Graphs. Modify and rationalise OTA Temperature difference from dew point graphs (Graph37, Graph38 and Graph49) to show difference from Outside Dew Point when Observatory Shutter is open (or opening or closing) and show difference from Observatory Env Dew Point when the Observatory Shutter is closed. This is to avoid the invalid dew warning (orange infilled curve below 0 zero) on some morning when outside conditions are rapidly warming before inside conditions do.    Modified Graph37 (Deprecated Graph49). Modified Graph38. Note: this required the addition of Shutter State to ObsEnv records for it to properly work
  Done 2020-05-04 (AstroWeather 1.8.7)
   
• Add Shutter State to ObsEnv records. This is allow AstroWeather to understand the state of the shutter over last 5day and produce a OTA Temp Difference from Dew Point  using the difference from Outside Dew Point when Observatory Shutter is open (or opening or closing) and show difference from Observatory Env Dew Point when the Observatory Shutter is closed (or Error or vcNull).
  Fixed 2020-05-03 (AstroMain 3.21.4)
   
• Check that there aren't more than one copy of SharpCap / AstroShCap open at the same time. A bug in AstroLaunch was found to cause a second copy of SharpCap to become opened if Launch Programs was used with the SharpCap application checkbox ticked. Issue has now be fixed.
  Done 2020-10-26 (AstroLaunch 1.6.4)

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Guidescope Focusing (V3)

A new method for guidescope focusing was successfully tested at the start of the session.  This new method (fModeSharpCapV3) involves the taking of Focus Frame images using SharpCap (using AstroShCap as per previous method) but with resulting FITS files read into CCDSoft for FWHM analysis as per Main Scope focusing.  Previous guidescope focusing methods using FWHM focus score analysis in SharpCap were found not to be sufficiently reliable across a range of star brightness. The method uses new AstroShCap methods TakeFocusLocateFrame() and TakeFocusFrame ().

Focus Profile below created using new V3 method with CCDSoft based FWHM measurements (AstroMain 3.21.3  &  AstroShCap 1.2.17) shows a well developed peak focus, and FWHM values that are more similar to images taken through LX200 main scope.

In comparison the previous V2 method with SharpCap FWHM Focus Score measurements had much less distinct peak focus and much lower FWHM values (much lower than focus frames taken through LX200 main scope)

Focus Profile for TS APO 80mm Guidescope created using new V3 method (S777)

Focus Profile for TS APO 80mm Guidescope created using previous V2 method (S774)

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