David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 831 (2020-11-21)

Notes (S830)

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Notes (S832)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (4),  Continuous Improvement (4)
	Images from 2020-11-21 >>
	Foc2 Wide Search Auto-Focusing Issue (S831)

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-11-21)

Main aims -

1. Comet C/2020 M3 (Atlas). Take images of new comet currently pasisng through Orion
2. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of deep sky targets
3. Bug fixes.  Check that bugs discovered in last session in AstroMain 3.31.2 have been fixed, and that recent new features are working ok

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2,  DeviceHub 4.5.0.1, UPB 1.5 
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.9
   
• AstroMain 3.32.6,  AstroGuard 1.4.6,   AstroPlan 1.17.5  AstroShCap 1.3.6, AstroVOE 1.5, AstroProtect 1.4.1
  (AstroWeather 1.10.13, AstroAllSky 3.6)

Highlights

•   Dome Parking.  D.

Lowlights

•   Cloud. C

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 a clear spell in middle of evening (cloud cover 0-23%) but clouding at 22:00 to 02:00 (cloud cover 54-78%) , becoming totally overcast from 02:00 onwards.  Minimum temperature 6 degC. Wind becoming strong onwards dawn with potential rain (heavy rain forecast from 08:00 onwards) In the event there was a clear spell from 18:00 to 20:10 but transparency and seeing were fairly poor, and sky was bright due to moonlight and cloud reflection. Cloud thickened at 21:45 and session suspended.   User intervention made to finish session at 23:30 due to  cloud and rain risk.

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 16:21:58 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 16:47 & 06:02 16:47:09   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 16:47 16:47:10   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud 17:20:02 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (17:20) 17:20:32 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-11-21 S00831, ImageSaveNum: 831001) 17:20:34   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 17:22:27   Services Started Observatory Services started 17:22:35 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 17:22:37 Session Pending Session pending (2020-11-21) 17:22:39 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-11-21) 17:22:41   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.17.5) 17:23:08   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-11-21 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 566) 17:23:20   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 17:23:26   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 17:23:36 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 17:25:23   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 17:25:38 Session Running Session running 17:25:39   Queue Started Observing Queue started (47 targets selected) 17:26:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:30:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 17:32:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 17:32:48       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 17:36:04       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 17:37:58       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 17:38:15       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded 17:38:22     Target Started (1/47) Target started (1/47, UGCA 105) 17:42:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:44:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 18:00:49     Target Completed Target completed (1/47, UGCA 105) 18:00:51     Target Started (2/47) Target started (2/47, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 18:03:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:06:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 18:13:06     Target Completed Target completed (2/47, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 18:13:08     Target Started (3/47) Target started (3/47, GCVS BL Lac) 18:13:10   Dome Running test to see Dome Driver is stalled 18:13:26   Dome Dome Driver/Dome Slaving found to be ok. 18:16:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:19:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 18:23:25     Target Completed Target completed (3/47, GCVS BL Lac) 18:23:28     Target Started (4/47) Target started (4/47, WDS GRB 34) 18:26:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:28:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 18:30:34     Target Completed Target completed (4/47, WDS GRB 34) 18:31:13     Target Started (5/47) Target started (5/47, 61 Cyg) 18:34:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:37:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 18:38:45     Target Completed Target completed (5/47, 61 Cyg) 18:38:47     Target Started (6/47) Target started (6/47, GCVS CI Cyg) 18:41:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:44:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 18:47:41     Target Completed Target completed (6/47, GCVS CI Cyg) 18:47:43     Target Started (7/47) Target started (7/47, GCVS S Cyg) 18:50:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:53:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 19:02:55     Target Completed Target completed (7/47, GCVS S Cyg) 19:02:57     Target Started (8/47) Target started (8/47, 184P/Lovas) 19:06:23       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 19:16:24     Target Completed Target completed (8/47, 184P/Lovas) 19:16:26     Target Started (9/47) Target started (9/47, UGC 12506) 19:18:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:21:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 19:37:50     Target Completed Target completed (9/47, UGC 12506) 19:38:37     Target Started (10/47) Target started (10/47, GCVS HH And) 19:40:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:43:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 19:45:16     Target Completed Target completed (10/47, GCVS HH And) 19:46:52     Target Started (11/47) Target started (11/47, GCVS SS Cyg) 19:49:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:52:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 19:56:08     Target Completed Target completed (11/47, GCVS SS Cyg) 20:02:04     Target Started (12/47) Target started (12/47, NGC 932) 20:04:51       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:22:08     Target Completed Target completed (12/47, NGC 932) 20:24:26     Target Started (13/47) Target started (13/47, NGC 615) 20:28:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:31:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 20:46:58     Target Completed Target completed (13/47, NGC 615) 20:47:00     Target Started (14/47) Target started (14/47, NGC 514) 20:48:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:51:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 21:02:41     Target Completed Target completed (14/47, NGC 514) 21:04:10     Target Started (15/47) Target started (15/47, GCVS Z And) 21:07:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:10:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 21:14:05     Target Completed Target completed (15/47, GCVS Z And) 21:14:07     Target Started (16/47) Target started (16/47, NGC 720) 21:16:52       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:29:32     Target Completed Target completed (16/47, NGC 720) 21:30:21     Target Started (17/47) Target started (17/47, GCVS RX And) 21:33:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:36:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 21:38:52     Target Completed Target completed (17/47, GCVS RX And) 21:38:54     Target Started (18/47) Target started (18/47, GCVS U And) 21:40:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:43:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 21:53:16     Target Completed Target completed (18/47, GCVS U And) 21:53:18     Target Started (19/47) Target started (19/47, GCVS DY Per) 21:56:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:59:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 22:03:27     Target Completed Target completed (19/47, GCVS DY Per) 22:03:29     Target Started (20/47) Target started (20/47, GCVS GK Per) 22:05:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:08:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 22:11:10     Target Completed Target completed (20/47, GCVS GK Per) 22:11:36     Target Started (21/47) Target started (21/47, UGC 6930) 22:15:45       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:28:25     Target Completed Target completed (21/47, UGC 6930) 22:28:58     Target Started (22/47) Target started (22/47, GCVS RR Tau) 22:31:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:34:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 22:40:27     Target Completed Target completed (22/47, GCVS RR Tau) 22:40:30     Target Started (23/47) Target started (23/47, GCVS CM Tau) 22:42:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:45:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 22:59:14     Target Completed Target completed (23/47, GCVS CM Tau) 23:00:02     Target Started (24/47) Target started (24/47, UGC 4299) 23:03:06       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:20:20     Target Completed Target completed (24/47, UGC 4299) 23:22:24     Target Started (25/47) Target started (25/47, NGC 2782) 23:24:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:27:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22) 23:43:18     Target Completed Target completed (25/47, NGC 2782) 23:44:46     Target Started (26/47) Target started (26/47, UGC 4872) 23:47:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:50:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 23) 00:06:03     Target Completed Target completed (26/47, UGC 4872) 00:06:05     Target Started (27/48) Target started (27/48, C/2020 M3 (Atlas), ToO) 00:08:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:10:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 24) 01:09:54     Target Completed Target completed (27/48, C/2020 M3 (Atlas), ToO) 01:09:56     Target Missed (28/48) Target's time slot was missed (28/48, UGCA 47) 01:09:58     Target Missed (29/48) Target's time slot was missed (29/48, IC 402) 01:10:00     Target Started (30/48) Target started (30/48, NGC 1843) 01:16:47     Target Completed Target partially completed (30/48, NGC 1843) 01:16:49     Target Started (31/48) Target started (31/48, UGCA 102) 01:19:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:22:39       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic) 01:38:14     Target Completed Target completed (31/48, UGCA 102) 01:38:16     Target Started (32/48) Target started (32/48, C/2020 M3 (Atlas)) 01:40:57       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:44:44     Target Completed Target completed (32/48, C/2020 M3 (Atlas)) 01:45:47     Target Started (33/48) Target started (33/48, UGCA 116) 01:47:47       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:05:29     Target Completed Target completed (33/48, UGCA 116) 02:08:09     Target Started (34/48) Target started (34/48, GCVS FU Ori) 02:09:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:12:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 26) 02:15:37     Target Completed Target completed (34/48, GCVS FU Ori) 02:16:29     Target Started (35/48) Target started (35/48, UGCA 127) 02:19:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:22:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 27) 02:38:10     Target Completed Target completed (35/48, UGCA 127) 02:38:51     Target Started (36/48) Target started (36/48, Scholz's Star) 02:41:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:44:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 28) 02:59:50     Target Completed Target completed (36/48, Scholz's Star) 03:00:17     Target Started (37/48) Target started (37/48, UGCA 164) 03:02:20       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:17:13 Critical Wind Alert Critical Wind Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 03:17:15   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (wind) 03:17:17     Target Aborted (37/48) Target aborted (37/48, UGCA 164) due to wind 03:17:19   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:17:21 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:18:03   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 03:19:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/48, UGCA 164) due to wind 03:20:13 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:20:58   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 03:21:00 Session Running Session running 03:21:02   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:22:39     Target Started (38/48) Target started (38/48, UGC 4332) 03:24:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:27:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 29) 03:43:21     Target Completed Target completed (38/48, UGC 4332) 03:45:01     Target Started (39/48) Target started (39/48, GCVS U Gem) 03:47:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:50:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 30) 03:53:07     Target Completed Target completed (39/48, GCVS U Gem) 03:54:34     Target Started (40/48) Target started (40/48, GCVS RZ LMi) 03:56:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:59:21       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic) 04:04:10     Target Completed Target completed (40/48, GCVS RZ LMi) 04:06:22     Target Started (41/48) Target started (41/48, UGCA 201) 04:08:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:11:23       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic) 04:12:03 Critical Wind Alert Critical Wind Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 04:12:05   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (wind) 04:12:08     Target Aborted (41/48) Target aborted (41/48, UGCA 201) due to wind 04:12:10   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:12:12 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:12:53   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 40s) 04:14:13 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:14:58   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 04:15:00 Session Running Session running 04:15:02   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:15:04     Target Started (41/48) Target started (41/48, UGCA 201) 04:22:14 Critical Wind Alert Critical Wind Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 04:22:16   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (wind) 04:22:19     Target Aborted (41/48) Target aborted (41/48, UGCA 201) due to wind 04:22:21   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:22:23 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:23:09   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 04:24:24 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:25:09   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 04:25:11 Session Running Session running 04:25:13   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:25:15     Target Started (41/48) Target started (41/48, UGCA 201) 04:31:03     Target Completed Target partially completed (41/48, UGCA 201) 04:31:05     Target Started (42/48) Target started (42/48, GCVS DX Cnc) 04:32:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:36:20       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic) 04:40:49     Target Completed Target completed (42/48, GCVS DX Cnc) 04:40:51     Target Started (43/48) Target started (43/48, GCVS SY Cnc) 04:42:33       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:47:08     Target Completed Target completed (43/48, GCVS SY Cnc) 04:49:05     Target Started (44/48) Target started (44/48, UGCA 188) 04:51:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:53:57       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic) 04:55:52 Critical Wind Alert Critical Wind Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 04:55:54   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (wind) 04:55:57     Target Aborted (44/48) Target aborted (44/48, UGCA 188) due to wind 04:55:59   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:56:01 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:56:47   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 05:02:58 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:03:43   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 05:03:45 Session Running Session running 05:03:47   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 05:03:49     Target Started (44/48) Target started (44/48, UGCA 188) 05:06:58 Critical Wind Alert Critical Wind Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 05:07:00   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (wind) 05:07:19   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 05:07:21   CCDSoft Restarted CCDSoft Restarted in attempt to fix image save issue [0000] 05:08:59 Session Suspended Session suspended 05:09:48   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 05:10:29     Target Aborted (44/48) Target aborted (44/48, UGCA 188) due to wind 05:10:31   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 05:11:08 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:11:54   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 05:11:56 Session Running Session running 05:11:58   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 05:12:00     Target Started (45/48) Target started (45/48, UGC 5459) 05:14:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:16:09 Critical Wind Alert Critical Wind Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 05:16:11   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (wind) 05:16:18       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted 05:16:21     Target Aborted (45/48) Target aborted (45/48, UGC 5459) due to wind 05:16:23   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 05:16:25 Session Suspended Session suspended 05:17:09   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 05:20:14 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:20:59   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 05:21:01 Session Running Session running 05:21:03   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 05:21:05     Target Started (45/48) Target started (45/48, UGC 5459) 05:29:20 Critical Wind Alert Critical Wind Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 05:29:22   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (wind) 05:29:25     Target Aborted (45/48) Target aborted (45/48, UGC 5459) due to wind 05:29:27   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 05:29:30 Session Suspended Session suspended 05:30:15   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 05:30:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (45/48, UGC 5459) due to wind 05:31:35 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:32:20   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 05:32:23 Session Running Session running 05:32:25   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 05:33:26 Critical Wind Alert Critical Wind Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 05:33:28   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (wind) 05:33:30   Queue Paused Queue pausing for Session Suspension 05:33:31 Session Suspended Session suspended 05:34:16   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 05:35:36 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:36:21   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 05:36:23 Session Running Session running 05:36:25     Target Started (46/48) Target started (46/48, NGC 4559) 05:36:27   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 05:38:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:42:10       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic) 05:57:59     Target Completed Target completed (46/48, NGC 4559) 05:58:01     Target Started (47/48) Target started (47/48, UGC 5760) 06:00:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:03:34       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic) 06:18:45   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 06:19:37     Target Completed Target completed (47/48, UGC 5760) 06:19:39   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 06:19:40 Session Suspended Session suspended 06:20:30   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 06:41:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (48/48, GCVS CN Leo) due to other condition 06:41:30   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:41:32 Session Closing Session closing 06:41:37   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 06:20, closing time 50s) 06:42:27   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 41s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:43:06   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 31s) 06:43:36   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 06:44:24   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:44:26 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:44:58 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 18:13:07 Dome Dome has been unexpectedly stationary for more than 12 mins 18:13:22 Dome Dome Movements have begun again (outage 12.3 mins) 18:13:26 Dome Dome Driver/Dome Slaving found to be ok following Slew Tests. 21:55:01 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (GCVS DY Per) 05:06:59 CCDSoft Image file [0000] hasn't been saved to disk, possible CCDSoft issue 05:13:04 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (UGC 5459)

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Operational Issues (2020-11-21 S831)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (4)
• Continuous Improvement (4)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Session being repeatedly suspending and resumimg multiple times due to wind gusts/squalls during last 2 hours of session.  Critical Wind alerts (03:17, 04:12, 04:22, 04:55, 05:06. 05:16, 05:29,  05:33) caused session to supend / shutter to close as wind strengths increased during the last part of the night. Each of these events initiated a 'HardSuspend'.  This is where session is immediately suspended without waiting for a target to finish naturally.  As wind quietened in between each gust/squall event the session resumed again. Image quality was reasonable despite the wind.  Obs.Manager seems to have reacted reasonably given the conditions.  MustClose() routine dictates that Shutter must be closed when WeatherStation.WindSpeed exceeds 20mph or when the Synposis.CriticalWind becomes Critical (this has the same threshold of 20 mph, but can uses online (DarkSky.Net) wind data value if the weather station is offline).  CanResume() routines can support opening of shutter again when WindSpeed Not > 20 & Not Critical  (ie the converse of MustClose).  SetAutoSaveFolder() routine.  A line statement to only resume when WeatherStationData.Av10minWind <= 14 is commented out.  Code has now been modified so that at a period of least 15 minutes has to be waited since last wind speed reading of > 20 mph with a current average wind speed of < 15 mph.
  Fixed 2020-11-24 (AstroMain 3.32.8)
   
• CCD Images being saved to incorrect folder from 05:06 onwards.   After CCD Images stopped saving at 05:06 (0000 file name issue) protection code operated to successfully restart CCD Soft to resolved the 0000 isue. [  This was the first time this code was used since it was added following 0000 FIT image issue in session Sxxx (2020-xx-xx) ].   The FIT imagesacquired after restarting CCDSoft unfortunately were saved to the General Session folder area and not to the live folder area.  This wasn't spotted and caused additional work during reduction and processing of images from the session.   The code for Restart CCDSoft following a 0000 file issue needs to be modified to ensure that CCDSoft is reset to use the correct AutoSave Folder.   It had be wrongly presumed that CCDSoft would have the same autosave folder that it had before being restarted, but this is evidently not the case (presumably because CCDSoft process is killed rather than being closed by means of a normal application exit).  The top level RestartCCDSoft() routine needs to be modified to also call the SetAutoSaveFolder routine.
  Fixed 2020-11-24 (AstroMain 3.32.8)
   
• The finished Foc2 Focus Profile (Standard) isn't being saved to the Session Log folder.  Whilst Profile is being uploaed to website ok (Session.Foc2Profile2.gif) , the profile in the log folder (FocusProfile.20201122.profile02.gif) although shows a graph framework and the appropriate data table on right is missing data points and the curve of best fit). Problem wasn't unique to this session but has also occurred in previous session (S830) and the following session (S832), in each case the 'blank graph hasa a X Axis range that suggests it was chosen based on Foc1 settings.  The picture uploaded to website from live folder is copied from the session log folder so the profile image in log folder was correct at one stage.  Together this would suggest that the graph was being somehow overwritten at the very start of the following profile (Foc1 profile 3).  Code indicates that an initial call to DrawGraphTab/DrawGraphFocusProfile uses FP.Number variable for forming the file name.  Unless FP.Number is updated before DrawGraphTab is used it will overwrite the profile file from previous Profile. A fix has been made, but it isn't particularly elegant.
  Fixed 2020-11-24 (AstroMain 3.32.8)
   
• One point in Foc2 Focus Profile failed when moving the foc2 focuser apparently timed out. Point 8/16 failed. Although this didn't impact the autofocusing  it is concerning because the focuser should have moved just a short distance from 8810 to 8760,  but it seems to have moved to ? 869 according to the report table. Whilst the SharpCap log and image file indicates that it had moved to 1777, either way its hard to see why the focuser didn't stop at 8760 ?  The unexpected very low max pixel value of 524 (vs value of 15000-20000 expected) confirms that the frame wasn't taken at the correct focuser position. Foc2 Focus Profile routine uses a call to Focuser2.MoveToPosition() which calls MovePosition() which in turns calls ASCOM.Focuser.Move(Position) method.  This is the first time that this problem has been seen.  Extra tracing has been added to specifically check /record the values are being sent to the ASCOM Focuser.Move method. Issue hasn't been seen in following 25 sessions, and is therefore considered to have been just a random glitch and is therefore closed.
  Closed 2021-02-07 (Session / AstroMain)

Continuous Improvement 

• Need additional QC when performing wide focus search. Foc2 Wide Focus Search which picks the lowest FWHM point as basis for following standard focus search worked in this session but only just (Profile2_wide)  The lowest FWHM point at 3.22" was closely followed by a rogue point at 3.45".  Extra quality control needs to be incorporated in order to make sure that rogue points are rejected.  Code added to Foc1 and Foc2 AutoFocusing routines to perform extra validation of focus points to identify and ignore problem data.
  Done 2020-12-04 (AstroMain 3.32.14)
   
• Change 'Focus Failed' events to ' Focusing Skipped' events where the reason is that focus star was not found or was determined to be too dim.  Focus Failed events to hence forward only apply to cases where Foc2 profile has actually commenced. .
  Done 2020-11-24 (AstroMain 3.32.8)
   
• Event should be raised/ saved to database when CCDSoft is restarted in response to 'image file [0000] can be saved' issue.    Although a Red Alert is generated when image file can't be saved (0000 issue) it would be useful to also generate an event.  
  Done 2020-11-24 (AstroMain 3.32.8)
   
• A green Alert should be raised when the first image file is successfully saved following a prior Red Alert due to 0000 issue with CCD Restart.
  Done 2020-11-24 (AstroMain 3.32.8)

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Foc2 Wide Search Auto-Focusing Issue (S831)

Whilst Foc2 Automated Focusing for the TS80 Secondary Scope has improved considerably,  a continuing potential issue was highlighted by the S831 session whereby a near-miss was avoide but only just.  

Wide Search focus algorithum works by scanning a relatively wide focusing range at the start of the session looking for the rough position where the focus is best, it order to set a smaller search range for more detailed auto-focusing.  This typcally work well, but occasionally a rogue point (a point giving an unexpectedly low FWHM value as low as the FWHM associted with the accepted best focus) could cause the algorithum to give pass on an inappropriate 'best focus' position for the narrow search standard focusing, which may prevent the detection of best focus. leading to autoguding failures.

In this session after reaching a best focus position at DRO 8810 (point 7/16 , FWHM 3.22") the profile found a later point with similar apparent focus at DRO 8410 (point 15/16, FWHM 3.45").     Fortunately the former point at 8810 had a lower FWHM value and was chosen as the best focus point and the operation successfully went on to confirm the eventual best focus at 8816 during standard focusing.  See table and graph below.

| Image                     | Result    | DRO   | FWHM  | HFD   | Temp  | Max   | Mag    | SN   | Elong |
| Taking ShCap Frame   1/16   Ok        |  9110 | 28.51 |     - |   4.9 |  1612 | -10.09 |   42 |  1.04 | 
| Taking ShCap Frame   2/16   Ok        |  9060 | 21.84 |     - |   4.9 |  1964 | -10.41 |   55 |  1.05 | 
| Taking ShCap Frame   3/16   Ok        |  9010 | 16.58 |     - |   4.8 |  3244 | -10.96 |   86 |  1.06 | 
| Taking ShCap Frame   4/16   Ok        |  8960 | 11.21 |     - |   4.8 |  5928 | -11.70 |  149 |  1.05 | 
| Taking ShCap Frame   5/16   Ok        |  8910 |  7.20 |     - |   4.8 | 10980 | -12.32 |  226 |  1.07 | 
| Taking ShCap Frame   6/16   Ok        |  8860 |  4.56 |     - |   4.8 | 22684 | -13.04 |  351 |  1.02 | 
| Taking ShCap Frame   7/16   Ok        |  8810 |  3.22 |     - |   4.8 | 35768 | -13.56 |  469 |  1.03 | 
  Moving TS80 Focuser...      Fail      Timed Out
| Taking ShCap Frame   8/16   Ok        |   869 |     - |     - |   4.8 |   524 |      - |    - |     - | 
| Taking ShCap Frame   9/16   Ok        |  8710 |  8.43 |     - |   4.9 | 11948 | -12.69 |  287 |  1.13 | 
| Taking ShCap Frame  10/16   Ok        |  8660 | 15.16 |     - |   4.9 |  5308 | -11.62 |  144 |  1.09 | 
| Taking ShCap Frame  11/16   Ok        |  8610 | 28.75 |     - |   4.9 |  3480 | -11.11 |   99 |  1.04 | 
| Taking ShCap Frame  12/16   Ok        |  8560 | 39.26 |     - |   4.9 |  2356 | -10.40 |   57 |  1.05 | 
| Taking ShCap Frame  13/16   Ok        |  8510 | 47.49 |     - |   4.9 |  1720 |  -9.92 |   38 |  1.03 | 
| Taking ShCap Frame  14/16   Ok        |  8460 | 54.58 |     - |   4.9 |  1420 |  -9.38 |   23 |  1.06 | 
| Taking ShCap Frame  15/16   Ok        |  8410 |  3.45 |     - |   4.9 |  1224 |  -8.56 |   11 |  1.30 | 
| Taking ShCap Frame  16/16   Ok        |  8360 | 58.07 |     - |   4.9 |  1048 |  -7.74 |    5 |  1.29 | 

Wide Search Focus profile (S831) Profile has picked point of best focus at 8810, but the rogue point at 8410 had very similar FWHM and was thus very close to being 'picked'.

Standard Focus profile (S831) Profile has picked position of best focus at 8816. (its unclear why the graph hasn't been saved to log folder with graph points/curve - This is a bug as the Graph uploaded to website (now overwritten) was ok !

Although the point at 8410 has a similar, though slightly poorer FWHM (3.45" vs 3.22") it has a significantly lower maximum pixel value (1224 vs 35768) and its adjacent points are clearly indicating poorer focus (FWHM  54.58" - 58.07" vs FWHM 4.56" - 8.43").  This inspection shows that the point is clearly a rogue point but how can this be codified so that such points can be definitively rejected ?

It is worth noting that 'smart' wide search focusing which has been raised as a continuous improvement item would have recognised at c. 11/16 or 12/16 that point of best focus had been definitively passed and would have skipped the remaining points including the rogue point (15/16 ) and would have been faster.

 

Proposed fix

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