David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1012 (2022-05-27)

Notes (S1011)

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Notes (S1013)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (5)
	Images from 2022-05-27 >>         [ Local Files >> ]
	2022-05-30
	MeadeGeneric 1.3.5.414

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-05-27)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by time & conditions.
2. AstroMain.  Check out new 3.51.10 version to see that fixes to Near Zenith Focus Field Centering work ok

 Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, DeviceHub 6.6.0.8,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.3.375, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.6
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.10
   
• AstroMain 3.51.10,  AstroPlan 1.30.7,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.8.1
  AstroVOE 1.10  AstroSN 1.8.2,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.9.1
  (AstroWeather 1.17, AstroAllSky 3.16,  AstroObsCam 1.9, AstroLaunch 1.9.1)

Highlights

•  Targets. 6 targets were successfully acquired. This was fewer than hoped due to cloud which delayed the start of the session.
• AstroMain.  No issues with new 3.51.10 version.  Earlier issue with incorrect reporting of Pointing Errors for the Near Zenith Focus Field are confirmed as being fixed

Notes:

• Cloud. Start delayed due to cloud. 
• Summer Twilight . Twilight conditions for rest of session. (Sun Alt -11.25° at local midnight)

  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)

Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 21:39:08 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 23:27 & 01:32 21:39:10   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 23:27 23:27:17   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 00:44:37 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:44) 00:45:05 Session Created Live Session Created (2022-05-27 S01012, ImageSaveNum: 1012001) 00:45:07   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:46:48   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:46:54 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:46:57 Session Pending Session pending (2022-05-27) 00:46:59 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-05-27) 00:47:01   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.30.7) 00:47:44   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 772) 00:48:07   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 00:48:15   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 00:48:38 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 00:49:23   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:50:04 Session Running Session running 00:50:06   Queue Started Observing Queue started (6 targets selected) 00:50:09     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 16, HIP 78946) 00:52:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:55:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 00:57:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 00:57:43       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:59:55       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 01:01:41       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 01:01:59     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 16, HIP 78946) 01:03:29     Target Started (1/6) Target started (1/6, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) 01:06:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:08:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 01:17:56     Target Completed Target completed (1/6, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) 01:18:01     Target Started (2/6) Target started (2/6, GCVS SS Cyg) 01:21:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:23:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 01:29:28     Target Completed Target completed (2/6, GCVS SS Cyg) 01:33:38     Target Started (3/6) Target started (3/6, NGC 4545 w/SN2022fuc) 01:38:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:40:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 01:56:47     Target Completed Target completed (3/6, NGC 4545 w/SN2022fuc) 01:56:51     Target Started (4/6) Target started (4/6, AT2022jrp (CV)) 01:59:36       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:05:35     Target Completed Target completed (4/6, AT2022jrp (CV)) 02:07:38     Target Started (5/6) Target started (5/6, GCVS R CrB) 02:10:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:12:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 02:15:44     Target Completed Target completed (5/6, GCVS R CrB) 02:16:56     Target Started (6/6) Target started (6/6, GCVS U Her) 02:19:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:21:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 02:30:31     Target Completed Target completed (6/6, GCVS U Her) 02:30:34   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 02:30:36 Session Closing Session closing 02:31:31   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 02:32:34   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 56s), Az: 90.0 deg 02:33:42   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 64s) 02:33:57   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 02:34:19   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 02:35:13   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 02:35:15 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 02:35:21 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail -- No Alerts                --

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Operational Issues (2022-05-27, S1012)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (1)
• Small Defects (0)
• Continuous Improvement (5)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Observatory Computer wouldn't restart correctly following 'Restart Computer' (Post Session, 2022-05-30).  Following an initial issue installing MeadeGeneric driver 1.3.5.414, an attempt to restart the observatory computer was made over VNC connection.  After waiting a reasonable length of time (1 min, then 5 mins+) a fresh VNC connection was attempted in order to sign into the computer, but no connection was available.  Visit to observatory showed that windows had seem to have stalled whilst restarting (icon spinning and making no apparent progress). Problem appeared to be related to closing the previous windows instance rather with rebooting computer or starting the new windows instance.  This suggests a problem closing a process or a problem creating a hibernation file. Computer was power cycled using computer's On/Off button and the computer then started ok, and MeadeGeneric update successfully installed.  This seems to be at least the second restart issue that has occurred recently.   On this instance all programs had been closed down before the restart was initiated.  The ability to remotely restart the observatory computer is critical to convenient / remote operation of the observatory. It is propsed to conduct a fresh test to see if this is a one-off problem or whether there is a more general problem with restarting the computer. Test should be done via Ipad/vnc whilst sitting in the observatory in order to observe the behaviour of the observatory computer during restart process.   Daytime test conducted 2022-05-31 after computer had been on for more than 24 hours. This test confirmed that computer was able to restart ok.  The issue is  therefore deemed to be closed. However future restarts will be monitored for any reoccurance of the problem and establish any pattern.
  Closed 2022-05-31 (Observatory Computer / Windows)

Small Defects

• None

• Allow 'Import Store File' button facility (AstroMain/Analysis/Images tab) to import .GIF image if .PNG image doesn't exist.  Whilst performing backlog analysis of S859 (2021-02-16)  store fille couldn't be imported into Image Builder tool.  Extending functionality will allow older (pre- .png) images to be accessed using Image Builder. Checking showed that AstroMain is already designed to import a .gif file if the .png file doesn't exist.  Problem on this occasion was a user error (user was trying to import square root scaled image rather than the available linear scaled image).
  Closed 2022-05-30 (AstroMain 3.51.11) 
   
• Review AstroMain code for conducting longer pulse guides now that the limit of 9999 ms pulse guides has been removed in MeadeGeneric driver 1.3.4+.  It is believed that current AstroMain 3.51.10 code uses direct commands to LX200 for pulse guides in range 10000 to 30000 ms).  Current code using objScope.PulseGuide when required pulse duration is <= 9999ms, otherwise it uses PulseGuideUsingMgCommand()  which calls objScope.CommandBlind (":Mg" + d + CStr(Duration) + "#", True).   Code changed in AstroMain 3.51.11 so that ASCOM .PulseGuide is called for durations > 10000 when a new checkbox 'cboxUseMeadeLongerPulseGuideWorkaround.Checked' on More/Backdoor tab is false.  Setting checkbox = True allows AstroMain to be be backward compartible with the previous  MeadeGeneric driver (1.3.3) in case of any issue with the new 1.3.4/1.3.5 driver.
  Done 2022-05-30 (AstroMain 3.51.11)
   
• Test newly installed version of MeadeGeneric driver (1.3.5).   Check that the new MeadeGeneric driver (installed 2022-05-30) doesn't introduce any problems or issues. Daytime testing after installation were successful.  New version used successfully  during session S1013 (2022-05-30) (ie no problems or issues arose).
  Done 2022-05-31 (Session, MeadeGeneric)
   
• Test Longer Pulse Guiding in new installed version of MeadeGeneric driver (1.3.5). Test Longer Duration Pulse Guide (>9999ms) using new MeadeGeneric driver (1.3.5). Test to be made using Guide North button facility from AstroMain's Scope1/Polar-Align tab.  GuideNorthForSetAmount () routine to be run with a distance of 300 arc sec (5 arc min) which will correspond to a pulse guide duration of 22161 ms  (from 300/13.537 (at x0.90 guide rate) * 1000).   This will allow implementation of longer Pulse Guiding in version 1.3.4+ to be confirmed.  Longer Pulse Guide was tested at the start of session S1013 (2022-05-30).
  Done 2022-05-31 (Session, MeadeGeneric)
   
• Query: Hard-to-explain Star Lost events whilst guiding Target 4/6 (AT2022jrp). Six star lost events were recorded whilst guiding 5x60s frames for AT2022jrp.  They are hard to explain. AllSky view was clear, Seeing was fairly good (FWHM 2.5-3.0") , Wind Speed was around 7 mph (ie relatively light),  the Guide Frames show a well-picked Guide Star and the guide summary chart shows consistently high S/N values (no dips coming into/out of star lost event). So nothing to explain why the Star Lost events occurred.  The StarLost events are a mystery ?.  Looking at Guiding Summary Chart showing Star Lost events and following RA error anomalies suggests that sharp jumps in RA pointing were possibly responsible.responsible.  Telescope coordinates at the time were Az 257.5°, Alt 58.8°, Hour Angle 42.3°.  Closed after review 2022-05-31.
  Closed 2022-05-31 (Session, PHD2 Guiding)

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2022-05-30

MeadeGeneric 1.3.5.414

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