David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 799 (2020-08-24)

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	2020-08-24 (Session 799)
	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Continuous Improvement (3)
	AutoStart Results
	Foc2 Auto-Focusing Result
	Images from 2020-08-24 >>
	2020-08-28
	Investigation - Ongoing Issues that prevent fully reliable operations

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-08-24)

Main aims

1. Targets. Acquire images of a number of targets if conditions allow.
2. Focusing with Wide Search. Conduct live test of autofocusing of Foc2 (Secondary Scope) system using a precursive widened ('wide') search range

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2,  DeviceHub 4.6.1.10, UPB 1.5 
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.9
   
• AstroMain 3.28,  AstroGuard 1.4.2,   AstroPlan 1.16,  AstroShCap 1.2.23, AstroVOE 1.3.6
  (AstroWeather 1.10.10, AstroAllSky 3.6)
  

Highlights

• AutoStart. AutoStart (6th test) was successfully used to kick off the session.

Lowlights

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 showed semi-clear conditions (24-33% cloud cover) before midnight but becoming increasingly cloudy later on (48-98% cloud cover), with moderate-light wind (14-11 mph), no rain and a minimum temperature of 14°C. In the event conditions were clear or partly cloudy until 02:15  before becoming totally clouded thereafter. Clearest interval was 00:05 to 01:15 (up to 38 AllSky Stars). Entire night was dry. Minimum outside temperature 12°C rising to 13.5°C by dawn.

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 00:13:36   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -10°C) 00:13:38 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-08-24 S00799, ImageSaveNum: 799001) 00:13:40   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:13:42   UPB Port Lost UPB Powerbox Port Lost 00:15:29   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:15:37 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:15:39 Session Pending Session pending (2020-08-24) 00:15:41 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 00:12 & 03:47 00:15:43 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:12) 00:15:45 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-08-24) 00:15:47   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.16) 00:16:28   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-08-24 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 533) 00:16:31   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -10°C) 00:16:36   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 00:16:47 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 00:17:33   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:17:36   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 00:19:38   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (2.1 mins total) 00:19:40 Session Running Session running 00:19:42   Queue Started Observing Queue started (14 targets selected) 00:20:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:23:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 00:23:40       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:26:22       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 00:28:30       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 00:28:33     Target Started (1/14) Target started (1/14, B107). Using SharpCap 00:35:11     Target Aborted (1/14) Target aborted (1/14, B107) due to GRB Alert 00:38:50     Target Started (2/14) Target started (2/14, NGC 6704) 00:41:09 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 00:41:11   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 00:41:13     Target Aborted (2/14) Target aborted (2/14, NGC 6704) due to cloud 00:41:15   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 00:41:17 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:42:04   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 49s) 00:49:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/14, NGC 6704) due to cloud 01:01:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/14, GCVS V Sge) due to cloud 01:10:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/14, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 01:19:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/14, GCVS HH And) due to cloud 01:30:43 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:31:28   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 01:31:32 Session Running Session running 01:31:34   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:31:36     Target Started (6/14) Target started (6/14, UGC 695) 01:33:34   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 01:33:54 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 01:33:56   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:33:58     Target Aborted (6/14) Target aborted (6/14, UGC 695) due to cloud 01:34:00   Queue Paused Queue paused for SoftSuspend 01:34:02 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:34:04   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 01:34:44   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 44s) 01:45:28     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/14, UGC 695) due to cloud 01:51:55 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:52:40   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 01:52:43 Session Running Session running 01:52:45   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:52:47     Target Started (7/14) Target started (7/14, 61 Cyg) 01:54:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:57:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 01:58:57     Target Completed Target completed (7/14, 61 Cyg) 01:58:59     Target Started (8/14) Target started (8/14, ARP 314) 02:01:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:05:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 02:21:06     Target Completed Target completed (8/14, ARP 314) 02:21:08     Target Started (9/14) Target started (9/14, NGC 7592) 02:23:56       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:32:04 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 02:32:06   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 02:32:09     Target Aborted (9/14) Target aborted (9/14, NGC 7592) due to cloud 02:32:11   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 02:32:13 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:32:59   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 49s) 02:36:19 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:37:04   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 02:37:06 Session Running Session running 02:37:08   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:37:10     Target Started (9/14) Target started (9/14, NGC 7592) 02:42:45     Target Completed Target partially completed (9/14, NGC 7592) 02:42:48     Target Started (10/14) Target started (10/14, UGC 6) 02:45:10       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 02:45:25 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 02:45:27   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 02:45:29     Target Aborted (10/14) Target aborted (10/14, UGC 6) due to cloud 02:45:31   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 02:45:34 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:46:20   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 02:47:35 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:48:20   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 02:48:22 Session Running Session running 02:48:24   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:48:26     Target Started (10/14) Target started (10/14, UGC 6) 02:49:51 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 02:49:53   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 02:49:55     Target Aborted (10/14) Target aborted (10/14, UGC 6) due to cloud 02:49:57   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 02:49:59 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:50:46   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 49s) 02:52:11 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:52:21 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 02:52:36   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 15s) 02:53:52 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:53:54   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 02:52, closing time 15s) 02:59:38     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/14, UGC 6) due to cloud 03:05:32 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:06:17   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 03:06:19 Session Running Session running 03:06:21   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:06:23     Target Started (11/14) Target started (11/14, UGC 260) 03:07:59       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 03:09:12   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 03:09:14 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 03:09:16   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:09:18     Target Aborted (11/14) Target aborted (11/14, UGC 260) due to cloud 03:09:20   Queue Paused Queue paused for SoftSuspend 03:09:23 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:09:25   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 03:10:07   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 46s) 03:22:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/14, UGC 260) due to cloud 03:32:54 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:33:40   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 03:33:43 Session Running Session running 03:33:45   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:33:47     Target Started (12/14) Target started (12/14, NGC 206) 03:37:30   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 03:38:00 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 03:38:02   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:38:03     Target Aborted (12/14) Target aborted (12/14, NGC 206) due to cloud 03:38:05   Queue Paused Queue paused for SoftSuspend 03:38:08 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:38:10   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 03:38:50   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 44s) 03:40:10 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:40:55   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 03:40:57 Session Running Session running 03:40:59   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:41:01     Target Started (12/14) Target started (12/14, NGC 206) 03:54:23     Target Completed Target partially completed (12/14, NGC 206) 03:54:25     Target Started (13/14) Target started (13/14, GCVS RX And) 03:56:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:57:37 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 03:57:39   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:57:41       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted 03:57:43     Target Aborted (13/14) Target aborted (13/14, GCVS RX And) due to cloud 03:57:45   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 03:57:48 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:58:32   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 46s) 03:58:40     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/14, GCVS RX And) due to cloud 04:28:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/14, NGC 582) due to other condition 04:28:17   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:28:24 Session Closing Session closing 04:28:29   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 03:58, closing time 46s) 04:29:15   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 45s) 04:30:11   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 46s) 04:30:41   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 04:31:31   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:31:33 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:31:34 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

None

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Operational Issues (2020-08-24, S799)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Unhandled exception (value can not be null) whilst attempting to Build Description (Analysis/Image Sets), (2020-08-25).  Unhandled exception produced for target NGC 206 when 'Build Description' facility was accidently used before having an aligned images in the target's 'aligned' folder
  Fixed 2020-08-25 (AstroMain 3.28.1)

Continuous Improvement

• Take 3 final focus images using Foc2 system to confirm quality of the best focus position and the backlash used.
  Done 2020-08-29 (AstroMain 3.28.1)
   
• Add TimeStamp to lines recorded in AstroGuards' log file
  Done 2020-08-27 (AstroGuard 1.4.3)
   
• Focus Profiles that are aborted during measurement (eg for a Hard Suspend) should return the Focuser to original position prior to leaving the routine.  Target 13/14 (GCVS RX And) was on focus step 7/14 of Profile No. 5 when a hard suspend was called at 03:57   Was the focuser returned to original position  (988) or left at 7/14 step position (1008). Although Report file doesn't report than focuser is returned to original position, the Monitor.dat file indicates that focuser did return to 988 either at the point of abort or very shortly after.  Prehaps the reporting needs to be made more clear. Checking shows the report does clearly show the Focuser Position being restored. Its a little less obvious due to all the messages associated with HardSuspend & Target Aborting, but it is definitely there.
  Closed (AstroMain)

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AutoStart - Results

Result: Successful Test of AstroGuard and a Live Session was created and begun under complete automated control.  The session ran successfully though cloud interferred with or prevented majority of the night's targets.  

AutoStart Mode was initiated from AstroMain 3.28 program at 00:12 (post midnight). It's operational window was from 00:12 (straightaway)  until 03:47 (SunAlt -12 degs {ascending} minus 30 mins).
Conditions at 00:12 were suitable for observing and AutoStart ran, creating a new live session (S799), and beginning Observatory Night Services including powering up and connecting to the LX200 Telescope. The dome was opened at 00:16 and session began running at 00:19, starting with autofocusing of Main Scope (Foc1 system) and GuideScope (Foc2 system).

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Foc2 Auto-Focusing Result

 Foc2 Auto-Focusing was performed at start of session on a Near Zenith Star Field (Focus Field 21).   This incorporated a precursive 'wide' focusing during which the approximate position of best focus is determined first based on focus position with lowest FWHM value, followed by normal autofocusing in which position of best focus is determined by quadratic fit to set of focus points, across a smaller range centered on the approximate focus position produced by the 'wide' focusing.  Focusing performed using recently increased backlash value of 3500.

Initial Wide Profile for Focus Field 21 Focus Range :  9271 - 8521 (range: 710), centered of focus position used in last session 'Best Focus' at 8771, based on the focus point with FWHM of 3.04 arc sec.

Detailed Focus Profile for Focus Field 21 Focus Range :  8916 - 8626 (range: 290), centered on rough best focus from the 'Wide' Profile above 'Best Focus' at 8792, based on quadratic curve fit to the set of focus steps. Peak FWHM estimated to be 2.33 arc sec.

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2020-08-28

Investigation - Ongoing Issues that prevent fully reliable operations

Whilst automated Observatory operations has progressed a long way in the last 2 years, and safeguards have been put in place to protect the observatory and equipment from bad weather etc,  there are still a number of ongoing/occasional issues that prevent fully reliable operations which aim to maximise observing time.   An investigation was made to summarise the status of each of the key issues involved.

1) Dome COM Port changing

Issue: COM Port used by the Dome has the habit of occasionally switching from COM9 to COM14 (or from COM14 to COM9),  causing a lost of connection to the Dome Drive Unit and consequential loss of control of the dome's azimuth and shutter state.

What currently happens when COM Port Changes - AstroMain

Every 2s Obs.Monitoring Loop calls Dome.GetDomePort() routine which examines the list of Serial Ports on the Computer and returns which one of the two potential Dome COM Port is currently listed (or empty string if neither). The Current Port is compared with the  COM Port that was active at the time Dome.
If there isn't a a match the Dome's Port has either switched to the other Port or has been lost (empty string)
- If Port is empty string,  'Dome Port Lost at yyyy-MM-dd  HH:MM:SS' is reported
- If Port has changed to the other Port, 'Dome Port has changed ... '  statement is reported,  the Dome is disconnected and a  bRestartDomeConnection flag is set to True.  The raised flag will have the effect of Restarting the Dome Connection at a point 60-65s after the Dome Port was detected to have changed given by 'DomePortChangedTime' date variable.

What currently happens when COM Port Changes - AstroGuard

Provided that Dome is marked as 'Connected'  every 5s AstroGuards' Main Loop calls GetObsDomePort() routine which examines the list of Serial Ports on the Computer and returns the name of the one of the potential Dome COM Ports is currently listed (or empty string if neither). The current Port is then compared with the COM Port that was active at the time the Dome was initially connected.
If there isn't a match the Dome's Port has either switched to the other Port or has been lost (empty string)
- If Port is empty string,  'Dome Port Lost at yyyy-MM-dd  HH:MM:SS' is reported
- If Port has changed to the other Port, 'Dome Port has changed ... '  statement is reported,  the Dome is disconnected and a  bRestartDomeConnection flag is set to True.  This will have the effect of Restarting the Dome Connection at a point 60-65s after the Dome Port was detected to have changed given by 'DomePortChangedTime' date variable.

Whilst this should work to ensure that Dome is disconnected by both AstroMain and AstroGuard, with both programs reconnecting after 60-65s,

Case: 2020-08-20 (S798 Attempt)

Initial Port : COM14  (23:44, AstroMain)

Initial Port: COM14 (23:57, AstroMain, restarted Services)

2) AllSky Computer crashing or otherwise non-responding

Issue: AllSky/Weather Computer either crashes/freezes or has a blue-screen of death (BSOD) failure every 1 - 5 days leading to loss of AllSky and Weather monitoring - including Cloud Sensor data (Sky Clarity, Rain, Light) which is critical to the safe operation of the observatory.

Although improvements have been,  the problem is a persistant one which won't go away.

Forward Plan:  

• Replace AllSky/Weather Computer with a new computer.  Replacement computer has been acquired and the necessary software installed.
  Connections to hardware are still being tested & work is ongoing to solve a number of teething issues.   The final step will involve swapping the existing computer for new one and changing its computer name.
  In progress 2020-08-29 ( AllSky Computer )

3)

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