David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 864 (2021-02-26)

Notes (S863)

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Notes (S865)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (2),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	Images from 2021-02-26 >>     [ Local Files >> ]
	SharpCap Software Update - v3.2.6480

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-02-26)

Main aims

1. AstroMain.  Test features and fixes added in AstroMain 3.37.4 software, and crucially test stability and absence of UI lockups
2. Targets. Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by conditions.

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2,  DeviceHub 6.5.1.0,  UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.5 SP1
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.9Dev3
   
• AstroMain 3.37.4 ('good'),  AstroGuard 1.5,   AstroPlan 1.20.5, AstroShCap 1.3.10, AstroVOE 1.5.2, AstroSN 1.4.1,  AstroProtect 1.5
  (AstroWeather 1.11, AstroAllSky 3.9.3, AstroObsCam 1.4.5)

Highlights

• Sesssion Suspension. Sky conditions deteriorated during the evening with development of high cloud.  Autoguiding failed in final target due to cloud/poor transparency. AstroMain worked perfectly and choose the right moment to suspend the session and avoid wasted images  

Lowlights

•   AstroMain 3.37.4 (original). Prior to session a version AstroMain 3.37.4 including code refactoring and attempted fixes for UI lock up issue was tested on development computer and shown to have a serious & fundamenetal start-up exception and couldn't be used.  Earlier 3.37.3.1 version was quickly edited with one of the original 3.37.4 improvements and recompiled as 3.37.4 (new).

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)

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 18:10:14 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 18:27 & 05:13 18:27:11   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 18:27 18:27:12   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud 18:45:43 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (18:45) 18:46:13 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-02-26 S00864, ImageSaveNum: 864001) 18:46:15   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 18:48:11   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:48:20 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:48:23 Session Pending Session pending (2021-02-26) 18:48:25 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-02-26) 18:48:27   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.20.5) 18:49:07   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 601) 18:49:18 Program Resumed AstroMain UI resumed again at 18:49 after 7s 18:49:21   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 18:49:27   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 18:49:37 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 18:51:09   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 18:51:25   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 18:56:24   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (5.0 mins total) 18:56:26 Session Running Session running 18:56:28   Queue Started Observing Queue started (39 targets selected) 18:57:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:00:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:02:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:02:37       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:04:56       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 19:06:46       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 19:07:02       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded 19:08:24     Target Started (1/39) Target started (1/39, NGC 304 w/SN2021dnn) 19:12:10       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 19:29:15     Target Completed Target completed (1/39, NGC 304 w/SN2021dnn) 19:30:15     Target Started (2/39) Target started (2/39, UGC 1436 w/SN2021nv) 19:33:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:35:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 19:51:53     Target Completed Target completed (2/39, UGC 1436 w/SN2021nv) 19:52:37     Target Started (3/39) Target started (3/39, 156P/Russell-LINEAR) 19:55:48       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:05:26     Target Completed Target completed (3/39, 156P/Russell-LINEAR) 20:06:52     Target Started (4/39) Target started (4/39, GCVS RX And) 20:10:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:11:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 20:14:31     Target Completed Target completed (4/39, GCVS RX And) 20:15:12     Target Started (5/39) Target started (5/39, 184P/Lovas) 20:18:36       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:28:50     Target Completed Target completed (5/39, 184P/Lovas) 20:29:38     Target Started (6/39) Target started (6/39, UGC 2505 w/SN2021bge) 20:33:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:35:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 20:50:56     Target Completed Target completed (6/39, UGC 2505 w/SN2021bge) 20:51:30     Target Started (7/39) Target started (7/39, AT2021ckv) 20:54:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:56:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:12:40     Target Completed Target completed (7/39, AT2021ckv) 21:13:23     Target Started (8/39) Target started (8/39, GCVS FU Ori) 21:18:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:20:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 21:22:43     Target Completed Target completed (8/39, GCVS FU Ori) 21:22:45     Target Started (9/39) Target started (9/39, Scholz's Star) 21:26:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:29:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 21:43:59     Target Completed Target completed (9/39, Scholz's Star) 21:44:01     Target Started (10/39) Target started (10/39, GCVS SY Cnc) 21:46:51       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:51:28     Target Completed Target completed (10/39, GCVS SY Cnc) 21:52:47     Target Started (11/39) Target started (11/39, LAMOST-HVS1) 21:55:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:57:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 22:00:46     Target Completed Target completed (11/39, LAMOST-HVS1) 22:02:33     Target Started (12/39) Target started (12/39, UGC 3502 w/AT2021cwc) 22:07:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:09:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 22:22:03   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:22:08   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions 22:24:28   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:24:33   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions 22:25:44     Target Completed Target completed (12/39, UGC 3502 w/AT2021cwc) 22:25:46     Target Started (13/39) Target started (13/39, GCVS RR Tau) 22:27:18   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:28:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:29:54   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions 22:30:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 22:32:14   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:36:29   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions 22:36:37     Target Completed Target completed (13/39, GCVS RR Tau) 22:36:39     Target Started (14/39) Target started (14/39, AT2021dbp (CV)) 22:39:15   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:39:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 22:45:16     Target Completed Target completed (14/39, AT2021dbp (CV)) 22:45:18   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 22:45:20 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:46:10   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 22:46:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/39, AT2021dbp (CV)) due to cloud 23:00:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/39, 398P/Boattini) due to cloud 23:10:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/39, GCVS U Gem) due to cloud 23:21:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/39, GCVS DX Cnc) due to cloud 23:41:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/39, KUG 0830+278 w/SN2020adow) due to cloud 00:03:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/39, SN 2021xn) due to cloud 00:19:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/39, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) due to cloud 00:40:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/39, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz) due to cloud 01:02:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/39, MCG +6-30-84 w/SN2021K) due to cloud 01:24:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/39, NGC 6223 w/SN2021bls) due to cloud 01:37:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/39, GCVS RZ LMi) due to cloud 01:58:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/39, AT2021rl) due to cloud 02:17:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/39, UGC 6930 w/SN2020rcq) due to cloud 02:27:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/39, GCVS AM CVn) due to cloud 02:46:50     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/39, C/2020 T2 (Palomar)) due to cloud 03:06:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/39, UGC 9083 w/AT2021buk) due to cloud 03:18:45     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/39, GCVS ER UMa) due to cloud 03:38:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/39, AT2021dtd) due to cloud 03:50:55     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/39, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 04:00:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/39, GCVS EV Lac) due to cloud 04:19:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/39, NGC 4631 w/AT2021biy) due to cloud 04:41:29     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/39, LEDA 1634284 w/SN2021bkw) due to cloud 05:02:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/39, 7P/Pons-Winnecke) due to cloud 05:11:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/39, HIP 87937) due to other condition 05:19:44     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (38/39, GCVS R CrB) due to cloud 05:45:29     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (39/39, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) due to other condition 05:45:34   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:45:38 Session Closing Session closing 05:45:43   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 22:46, closing time 50s) 05:47:15   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 83s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:47:59   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 37s) 05:48:29   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:49:20   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:49:22 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:49:54 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 22:21:58 Dome Dome has been stationary for more than 10 mins 22:25:48 Dome Dome Movements have begun again (outage 13.9 mins)

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Operational Issues (2021-02-26 S864)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (2)
• Continuous Improvement (0)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Original (intended) version of AstroMain 3.37.4 crashing during pre-session test with fatal exception System.TypeInitializationException: 'The type initializer for 'CCDApp2.globals' threw an exception.' in Main.vb Form1_load() against objMainForm = Me.   This was a version including code refactoring and attempted fixes for UI lock up issue was tested on development computer and shown to have a serious & fundamenetal start-up exception and couldn't be used.  The previous working version (3.37.3.1) was quickly edited with one of the original 3.37.4 improvements and recompiled as 3.37.4 (new).
  (Testing the following day identified the critical line(s) that led to the problem. See Investigation - Failed AstroMain Version (3.37.4 original)
  Resolved 2021-02-26 (AstroMain 3.37.4 'good')
   
• Observing Plan's Job Queue is not being tabulated on the Job Queue Tab (TabQueue2).   When running a session the Job Queue tab remains blank and isn't being populated by the calls to objConsole.DisplayShootListQSO() routine.  Tracing code shows that the DisplayShootListQSO() executes normally and makes the appropriate to methods and properties belonging to the CheckedListBox 'listTargetImagingQSO'  and to the TextBox 'txtNumPlanObservations' .
  Resolved 2021-02-26 (AstroMain 3.37.7)

Continuous Improvement

• None

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SharpCap Software Update - v3.2.6480

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