David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 897 (2021-05-10)

Notes (S896)

Notes Main

Home Page

Notes (S898)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (3),  Small Defects (3),  Continuous Improvement (15)
	Images from 2021-05-10 >>      [ Local Files >> ]
	2021-05-11
	DeviceHub 6.5.1.4
	2021-05-18
	Refactoring PlateSolve & Other Image Routines

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-05-10)

Main aims

1. AstroPlan.  Try out AstroPlan 1.22 with new Schedule Builder feature that excludes Target Observations in parts of twillight sky in evening of morning that are too bright due to position of Sun below horizon and position of Target above but close to horizon and in general direction of sun.
2. Image Linking. Test out modification to Image Linking / Pointing Error Determination made in AstroMain 3.39.11
3. Targets. Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by time & conditions

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2,  DeviceHub 6.5.1.3,  MeadeGeneric 1.1.0.337, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.5 SP1
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.9Dev4
   
• AstroMain 3.39.12,  AstroPlan 1.22,  AstroShCap 1.3.11, AstroGuard 1.6,   AstroVOE 1.7, AstroSN 1.5,  AstroProtect 1.6
  (AstroWeather 1.12.4, AstroAllSky 3.10.4, AstroObsCam 1.5.5 )

Highlights

•   AstroPlan.  New Schedule Builder feature that excludes Target Observations in parts of twillight sky in evening of morning that are too bright seems to be working correctly. resolved issues with image linking/pointing error determination seem during recent sessions. 
•   Centering.  Centering appears to be working correctly (confirming result of previous S896 session)

Lowlights

•   None

Notes:

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance Dec Notes : Run 4 (black) failed due to cloud/lost star Run 5 (red) impacted by anomalous Dec jumps and periods of ineffective Dec guiding Run 8 (red) impacted by long period of ineffective Dec guiding Run 1 (orange) impacted by anomalous Dec jump(s)

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)

Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 23:04:59 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 23:04 & 02:13 23:05:01 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:05) 23:05:32 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-05-10 S00897, ImageSaveNum: 897001) 23:05:35   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 23:07:18   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:07:25 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:07:26 Session Pending Session pending (2021-05-10) 23:07:29 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-05-10) 23:07:31   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.22) 23:08:08   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 636) 23:08:23   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 23:08:30   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:08:45 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 23:10:12   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:10:28   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 23:15:27   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 23:15:29 Session Running Session running 23:15:31   Queue Started Observing Queue started (14 targets selected) 23:15:33     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 13, HIP 63666) 23:16:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:19:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 23:21:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 23:21:40 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 23:21:42   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 23:22:03       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:22:22     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 13, HIP 63666) 23:22:24   Queue Paused Queue pausing for Session Suspension 23:22:27 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:23:13   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 48s) 23:44:30 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:45:15   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:45:17 Session Running Session running 23:45:19   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:45:21     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 14, HIP 69068) 23:46:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:47:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:47:53       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:50:13       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3, wide) 23:52:03       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 23:52:25     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 14, HIP 69068) 23:52:27     Target Started (1/14) Target started (1/14, NGC 5018 w/SN2021fxy) 23:52:29     Target Failed Target failed due To missed start time (1/14, NGC 5018 w/SN2021fxy) 23:56:27     Target Started (2/14) Target started (2/14, 61 Cyg) 23:56:30     Target Failed Target failed due To missed start time (2/14, 61 Cyg) 23:56:32     Target Started (3/14) Target started (3/14, GCVS BL Lac) 00:02:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:04:08       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Ambiguous) 00:07:52     Target Completed Target completed (3/14, GCVS BL Lac) 00:07:54     Target Started (4/14) Target started (4/14, AT2021hkn) 00:11:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:12:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:18:38     Target Completed Target completed (4/14, AT2021hkn) 00:19:03     Target Started (5/14) Target started (5/14, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) 00:24:38 Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 00:24:40   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 00:24:44     Target Aborted (5/14) Target aborted (5/14, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) due to threat of rain 00:24:46   Queue Paused Queue paused For Session Suspension 00:24:48 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:25:38   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 00:26:53 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:27:38   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:27:40 Session Running Session running 00:27:42   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:27:44     Target Started (5/14) Target started (5/14, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) 00:27:58 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 00:28:00   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 00:28:02   CCDSoft Issue CCDSoft has encountered an image save issue [0000] 00:28:04   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft restarting in attempt to fix image save issue [0000] 00:28:22   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 00:28:38     Target Aborted (5/14) Target aborted (5/14, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) due to cloud 00:28:40   Queue Paused Queue paused For Session Suspension 00:28:42 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:29:29   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 00:32:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/14, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) due to cloud 00:52:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/14, NGC 3310 w/SN2021gmj) due to cloud 01:14:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/14, NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno) due to cloud 01:21:58 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:22:43   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 01:22:45 Session Running Session running 01:22:47   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:22:49     Target Started (8/14) Target started (8/14, UGC 8426 w/AT2021knq) 01:26:28       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 01:36:25 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 01:36:27   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:36:31     Target Aborted (8/14) Target aborted (8/14, UGC 8426 w/AT2021knq) due to cloud 01:36:33   Queue Paused Queue paused For Session Suspension 01:36:35 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:37:20   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 01:50:26 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:51:11   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 01:51:13 Session Running Session running 01:51:15   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:51:17     Target Started (9/14) Target started (9/14, C/2020 T2 (Palomar)) 02:02:35     Target Completed Target partially completed (9/14, C/2020 T2 (Palomar)) 02:02:37     Target Started (10/14) Target started (10/14, CGCG 056-009 w/SN2021apf) 02:06:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:08:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 02:24:41     Target Completed Target completed (10/14, CGCG 056-009 w/SN2021apf) 02:24:43     Target Started (11/14) Target started (11/14, UGC 11177 w/AT2021koq) 02:28:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:30:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 02:45:41     Target Completed Target completed (11/14, UGC 11177 w/AT2021koq) 02:45:43     Target Started (12/14) Target started (12/14, GCVS U Her) 02:48:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:50:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 02:57:25     Target Completed Target completed (12/14, GCVS U Her) 02:57:27     Target Started (13/14) Target started (13/14, GCVS SS Her) 03:00:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:01:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 03:05:08     Target Completed Target completed (13/14, GCVS SS Her) 03:05:10     Target Started (14/14) Target started (14/14, HIP 87937) 03:08:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:10:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 03:13:14     Target Completed Target completed (14/14, HIP 87937) 03:13:18   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:13:20 Session Closing Session closing 03:14:14   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 03:15:01   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 40s), Az: 90.0 deg 03:15:52   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 46s) 03:16:28   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 03:17:15   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:17:17 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:17:24 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 00:00:01 Dome Alert DomeRecords have stopped updating 00:00:21 Dome Alert DomeRecords have resumed updating 00:27:59 CCDSoft Image file [0000] hasn't been saved to disk, possible CCDSoft issue 01:23:31 CCDSoft Image file has been saved to disk following CCDSoft Restart

Back to Top

Operational Issues (2021-05-10, S897)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (3)
• Small Defects (3)
• Continuous Improvement (15)

[ Prev | Next ]

Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• AstroMain crashing when using rarely used buttons.  Problem generally related to executing 'btnAbortTarget.Visible = False' in thread initiated routines (e.g. RunSlewToAndLocate()). Problem begun after disabling checks for accessing objects created on a different thread. Problem fixed by replacing code  with 'objConsole.Invoke(Sub() objConsole.btnAbortTarget.Visible = False)'
  Fixed 2021-05-19 (AstroMain 3.40)
   
• Turn Off Tracking (objScope.Tracking = False) isn't working . This was seen as a issue in session S893 (2021-04-30) when the scope continued tracking even though Tracking had been turned off.   It was thought that the problem was a one-off glitch with LX200, but extra code was added in AstroMain 3.39.x to identify and try to get around the condition should it occur again.  The new Tracking Check successfully reported "Scope appears to be tracking even though Tracking=False" after telescope tracking was turned off (following session suspension), however code to Turn On Tracking and Turn Off Tracking again failed to turn off tracking, the scope continued to track.    It is beginning to look like this is a problem with the MeadeGeneric driver. Telescope.cs code shows Set Tracking changes and internal variable _Tracking,  but doesn't seem to send any command to the LX200 scope to effect a physical change in the telescope actual tracking state.    The problem has been communicated to the author of MeadeGeneric Driver and logged as an issue in the driver's bitbucket project site (https://bitbucket.org/cjdskunkworks/meadeautostar497/issues/24/get-set-tracking).  If no fix is forthcoming a workaround could be implemented when using CommandBlind and CommandString calls to interact directly with the scope.  Until the driver is fixed (or a workaround is implemented) it is proposed to switch back to using the MeadeLX200GPS driver. This was thwarted by a failure to access the MeadeLX200GPS driver at start of Session S898 (2021-05-22).  Workaround added to AstroMain 3.40.1 that commands to turn off tracking / turn on tracking using the Scope.Tracking property are supplemented by sending a ":AL#"  (Land Mode) command to the scope to physically turn off tracking, and or sending a ":AP#"  (Polar Mode) command to the scope to physically turn on tracking. Issue with MeadeGeneric driver eventually resolved with release of 1.3.1.361 version (dated 2021-08-04) which was installed on Observatory Computer on 2021-08-16 and successfully tested.  At same time the earlier workaround was removed/hidden in AstroMain 3.41 (2021-08-16).
  Fixed 2021-08-16 (MeadeGeneric 1.3.1, AstroMain 3.41)
   
• OTA Temperature and UPB EnvTemperature unexpectedly went offline and stayed offline for some 12 hours (2021-05-21)  . Environmental Graphs show OTA Tube Temperature and UPB Env Temperature going offline at ~ 18:20 - 18:30.   Monitor File shows UPB Env Temp and Dew Heater data going offline at 18:15-18:17, with OTA Temperature flat-lining from that time onwards. Report files records unexpected disconnection of UPB.Switch at 18:15 and attempt to restart the Switch connection but with no indication that it was successful.  Log file records shows the attempted restart of  UPB.Switch at 18:15, and the stopping of UPB.Switch Service (B) at 18:15:47. This is followed by messages every 5s that 'Obs. Monitor is frozen' and messages every 60s that 'objPowerBox2 is not connected'.  Examining log shows that execution hung up/stalled during the later part of RestartSwitch() routine. Extra tracing added to PowerBox.RestartSwitch() routine to better identify the point where execution hung. Closed after review 2021-11-01.
  Closed 2021-11-01  (AstroMain / UPB)

Small Defects

• When conducting Near Zenith Focusing the NearZenithFocusing routine sent 'HIP 63666' to AstroAllSky via TeleComm TP/IP link when it should have sent 'Focus Field 13'. This is a minor correction to the code line just added in AstroMain 3.39.12. Correction is necessary for local files web page to correct display the AllSky 'Scope' image associated with this 'target'.
  Fixed 2021-05-11 (AstroMain 3.39.13)
   
• When closing the Dome the 'recently' modified Report Line contains an error   "Close Dome...      Ok  &nDome is closing".   Code added in AstroMain 3.39.12 contains an error, which is now fixed in AstroMain 3.39.13.
  Fixed 2021-05-11 (AstroMain 3.39.13)
   
• Exception during InsertSessionEvent : "Scope parked Turn scope off. " (Handbox).    SQL logic error.  Problem is presumed to be due to the quote " symbols in the Event description.
  Fixed 2021-05-11 (AstroMain 3.39.13)

Continuous Improvement

• Session Equilibration code inserting an unnecessary Short Delay between entering state/ listing times and start of dome opening.  Message appears if there is less than 30s until the Schedululed Dome Opening.  The delay is so short that it would be best to go directly to opening the dome. Code modified so that the T1 (Dome Opening) time is set to Now if it is within the next 2 minutes.
  Fixed 2021-05-11 (AstroMain 3.39.13)
   
• Add new facility to AstroMove's Session Tab that can conveniently open folders of any particular session given its ID number. The tab already allows convenient access to folders from the last 3 sessions,  but currently accessing any prior session involves long winded searching for the folder through Windows explorer.
  Done (AstroMove 1.7.2)
   
• Add new button facility to AstroMove's Admin Tab that will open both the web site local folder and the web site's online FTP folder to ease the task of uploading files to website.  This will changing things from being an overall 6 mouse click-mouse process to a maximum 3 mouse click process. Ftp site has to be opened using  Shell("cmd.exe /c " + """" + f + """", AppWinStyle.NormalFocus)   where f is the file path to a shortcut that points to the FTP site  (a file path to FTP site itself doesn't work, I guess the credentials are missing)
  Done (AstroMove 1.7.2)
   
• Remove Legacy Sync Routines. Remove old button routines for ImageAndSync, ImagePositionAndSync, SyncAndShortMappingRun. Rationalise sync mode, remove old cNoSyncHide and cVMA_NoSync.
  Done 2021-05-17 (AstroMain 3.40)
   
• Draw Focuser1 Change Events on GuidingChart. Draw FocuserPosition change events on GuidingCharts so that impact of TCF-S focuser movements on Guiding can be seen & understood. Lines drawn as thin green vertical lines - short lines for small movements <180 steps, longer lines for larger focuser movements.  In case of session issues the operation can be disabled by a backdoor checkbox setting
  Done 2021-05-17 (AstroMain 3.40)
   
• Shorten time spent on ImageLink Attempts when there are too few stars.  Current live-session image linking will attempt a plate solution for up to 4 different combinations of catalog and search radius. If there are too few stars in th eimage (i.e. SmartCountStars  < 5) a failed operation report line and up to 10 log message lines are reported for each attempt.   When there are too few stars link operation and reporting should be shortened to just a single report line and a minimal number of log lines.
  Done 2021-05-17 (AstroMain 3.40)
   
• Query.  SmartStarCount function returning different values on Obs.Computer & Dev.Computer.   Raw Image 897015 has a SmartStarCount of 4 on Observatory Computer but has a SmartStarCount of 8 on Development Computer.   Either SmartStarCount parameters are different (ie different User settings, e.g  gAutoLocateStarMagCutoff  (SU.AutoLocateStarMagCutoff , txtAutoLocateStarMagCutoff.Text) ) or SExtractor parameters are different (i.e. diffferent Inventory results).   SU.AutoLocateStarMagCutoff is -7 on both computers.  SourceExtraction properties varied slightly between the two computers. Resetting Dev.Computer SExtractor settings to be the same as on the Obs.Computer and rerunning Image Linking returned the expected SmartStarCount values
  Fixed 2021-05-17 (Dev.Computer)
   
• Report proper PointingError, Offsetn, OffsetW, Active Stars values when performing SolvePlateWithASTAP.  Current routines return value 0 for PointingError, OffsetN, OffsetW, ActiveStars to Summ File.
  Done 2021-05-17 (AstroMain 3.40)
   
• Add Raw Folder button link to AstroMove's Session Tab.  Add 'Raw' buttons to make it easier to access raw data files belonging to a session. .
  Done 2021-05-19 (AstroMove 1.7.3)
   
• Rename the ambigiously named routines 'AnalyseStarsShell' & AnalyseImageSunMoonDetail.  Whilst the 'AnalyseStarsShell()' routine calls 'AnalysisStarsInImage()' routine (from where the 'AnalyseStarsShell' name is derived) the routine also executes Plate Solution & CalculatePointingError routines for during the analysis of Reduced Images.  Whilst the 'AnalyseImageSunMoonDetail()' routine calls 'AnalyseSunMoon() routine to obtain Sun/Moon Altitude & Angular Distance,  the routine does a lot of other things including calling routines to PlateSolve image,  AnalyseImageBasicData, AnalyseSky, AnalyseFWHM,  and writing the image's SUMM file record.   AnalyseImageSunMoonDetail()' changed to 'AnalyseImageFull()' in AstroMain 3.40
  Done 2021-05-19 (AstroMain 3.40)
   
• Time/Date to be reported when Stopping/Restarting Powerbox Services.  When there is a prolonged problem with connection to power box services and Obs.Monitor makes intervention to restart the service it would be useful to add the time/date to existing reporting. 
  Done 2021-05-22 (AstroMain 3.40)
   
• Remove 'Employ DoEvents' button and function from AstroMain's More/Backdoor tab. Functionality was added as a spectulative attempt to resolve AstroMain thread failures/freezes, but is not used / no longer required. 
  Done 2021-05-22 (AstroMain 3.40)
   
• Access and potentially utilise star data associated a ASTAP based plate solution.  Investigate  '-extract ' option with parameter 'snr_minimum'  for writing a .csv file with the detected star info.  Also investigate '-sqm' option with parameter 'pedestal' for measuring the sky background value in magn/arcsec^2 relative to the stars (the pedestal is the mean value of a dark)   and '-annotate' option for producing a deep sky annotated jpeg file with same name as input file extended with _annotated *.    Testing the  '-extract ' option shows it produces a comma delimited .csv file with one header row and 5 columns (x, y, hfd, snr, flux).   Unclear if HFD is in pixels or in arc sec.  Instr_Mag can be determined from flux. Can be normalised using exposure.    .ini file isn't produced when -annotate option is used which causes PlateSolveWithASTAP() routine to timeout after 120s and not able to report a solution.  Data is .csv file is no more detailed or more useful that the information that is available in CCDSoft Image.Inventory. It certainly doesn'y contain catalog mag info that is avaiable in FITS header following a successful Image.WCS Insert in CCDSoft/TheSky.   Might be able to calculate Ra/Dec for each star in image and use Star Chart look up in TheSky to get catalog mag data.    VMA routines updated in AstroMain 3.40.5 to utilise a ASTAP based plate solution. Routines access  CalcRaDecToXY & CalcXYToRaDec when Image.RaDecToXY & Image.XYToRaDec fail.
  Done 2021-06-09 (AstroMain 3.40.5)
   
• Monitor Dec Guide Mode performance during imaging run and if neccessary swap Dec Guide mode to achieve better guiding.  In the event that wrong Dec Guide Mode was originally chosen or because a different Guide Mode is appropriate as scope tracks from east sky to west sky it would be handy to monitor Dec Guide performance and swap Guide Mode.  Implemented in AstroMain 3.45 or so (2021-10-24)
  Done 2021-10-24 (AstroMain 3.45)
   
• Add new feature to Guiding Monitor to record and output of cummulative Dec Guiding Distance (sum of Dec Guides) and phases of effective and non-effective Dec Guiding. New ticket added in 2021-10-24 (post S927) to record % of time that guiding is within +/- 1 arc sec Ra & withing  +/- 1 arrc sec Dec.
  Done 2021-11-18 (AstroMain 3.46.5)
   
• Query.  GuidePlots frequently show an anomalous Dec Jump around 40s into the Settling Phase.  A Dec jump around 40s into setting period is seen in GuidePlots too frequently to be coincidence (see Fig 1 below). It is something seen in many sessions. Its unclear what is causing this apparent anomaly. It doesn't normally effect  guiding through the main images, but can occasionally lead to an incorrect Dec Guide Mode being selected.    Possibilities i) movement of the TCF-S focuser as it moves to the start of Focus Profile changes the center of gravity of the imaging train and effects scope balance/PHD2 guiding, ii) it is an artefact of Guiding Stats/GuideChart plotting in AstroMain (does PHD2 guide plot show the same feature ?) . The concern is that there may be other Dec jumps that effect guiding more (see Fig 2 & Fig 3).   Code added in AstroMain 3.40 (2021-05-17) to draw FocuserPosition change events on Guiding Charts so that the impact of TCF-S focuser movements on Guiding can be seen & understood.
  To monitor (AstroMain 3.40 / PHD2 / Session)

[ Prev | Next ]

Fig 1.

Fig 2.

Fig 3.

Back to Top

2021-05-11

DeviceHub 6.5.1.4

Back to Top

2021-05-18

Refactoring PlateSolve & Other Image Routines

Back to Top