David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1214 (2024-05-02)

Notes (S1213)

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Notes (S1215)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2024-05-02 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2024-05-02)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. Dome.  Check out further tweaks to implementation of AstroMain's new recoverDome() routine made in AstroMain 3.68.8

 Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• TheSky6, CCDSoft5, DeviceHub 6.6.1.1,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.9, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.6,   Pulsar Dome Firmware 1.51 & Driver 6.3.10
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.13, Siril 1.0.6, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 6.6 SP1
• [ DomeLink 1.0 / 1.1 - not used ]
   
• AstroMain 3.68.9,  AstroPlan 1.40.1,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.5   (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroVOE 1.13.2,  AstroSN 1.10.3,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.12
  AstroWeather 1.24.1, AstroAllSky 3.20.4,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroLaunch 1.11.3

Highlights

• Targets. 5/12 planned targets observations were completed, with 2 other targets partially completed. Other targets failed due to cloud / session suspension.  Images from 2 target (62P/Tsuchinshan & NGC 4192A w/SN2024exw) were later rejected due to poor sky quality / cloud / poor guiding.
• Dome. No issues opening/closing shutter during session. Dome closed and parked ok at end of session.

Notes:

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 23:32:19 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 23:32 & 02:35 23:32:22 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:32) 23:32:43   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 23:33:10   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 23:33:12 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-05-02 S01214, ImageSaveNum: 1214001) 23:33:17   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 23:35:03   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:35:09 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:35:12 Session Pending Session pending (2024-05-02) 23:35:14 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-05-02) 23:35:24   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 23:35:30   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.40.1) 23:36:52   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 989) 23:37:32   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 23:37:56 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 23:38:41   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 23:38:43 Session Running Session running 23:38:46   Queue Started Observing Queue started (12 targets selected) 23:38:47     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 13, HIP 63666) 23:39:01       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 23:42:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:45:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 23:48:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 23:48:14       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:50:23       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:52:04       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:52:21     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 13, HIP 63666) 23:52:26     Target Started (1/12) Target started (1/12, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy) 23:58:18       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:14:37     Target Completed Target completed (1/12, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy) 00:14:41     Target Started (2/12) Target started (2/12, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)) 00:17:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:20:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 00:32:53     Target Completed Target completed (2/12, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)) 00:33:15     Target Started (3/12) Target started (3/12, 62P/Tsuchinshan) 00:36:17       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:48:05     Target Completed Target completed (3/12, 62P/Tsuchinshan) 00:51:16     Target Started (4/12) Target started (4/12, NGC 4192A w/SN2024exw) 00:56:47       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 01:02:19       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:05:24   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 01:05:26   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:05:29     Target Aborted (4/12) Target aborted (4/12, NGC 4192A w/SN2024exw) due to cloud 01:05:31   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:05:33 Session Suspending Session suspending 01:06:19   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 01:06:21 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:10:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/12, NGC 4192A w/SN2024exw) due to cloud 01:32:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/12, NGC 5235 w/AT2024grb) due to cloud 01:54:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/12, NGC 3690 w/SN2024gzk) due to cloud 02:09:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/12, AT2024crd) due to cloud 02:20:16 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:21:01   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 02:21:03 Session Running Session running 02:21:05   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:21:07     Target Started (8/12) Target started (8/12, NGC 6106 w/SN2024ahv) 02:32:07       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 02:34:18     Target Completed Target partially completed (8/12, NGC 6106 w/SN2024ahv) 02:34:20   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:34:22 Session Suspending Session suspending 02:35:12   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 02:35:14 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:40:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/12, GCVS HH And) due to cloud 02:54:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/12, C/2021 S3 (PANSTARRS)) due to cloud 02:58:54 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:59:39   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 02:59:41 Session Running Session running 02:59:43   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:59:44     Target Started (11/12) Target started (11/12, GCVS BL Lac) 03:06:32     Target Completed Target completed (11/12, GCVS BL Lac) 03:06:36     Target Started (12/12) Target started (12/12, UGC 11067 w/AT2024grw) 03:12:06       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 03:28:13     Target Completed Target completed (12/12, UGC 11067 w/AT2024grw) 03:28:15   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:28:17 Session Closing Session closing 03:29:12   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 03:29:55   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 36s), Az: 90.0 deg 03:31:06   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 68s total) 03:31:21   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 03:31:43   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 03:33:09   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:33:12 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:33:24     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 03:34:19     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.2°) 03:34:25     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.2°) 03:34:27   Dome Parked Dome parked 03:35:57   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (39mA) 03:35:59 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 23:53:04 Red Alert Dome Dome didn't appear to move during the last telescope slew 03:35:57 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (39mA)

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Operational Issues (2024-05-02 S1214)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (0)
• Small Defects (2)
• Continuous Improvement (1)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• Observatory suffered a 5s power-outage (pre-session 13:31).  There was a 5s power outage to the observatory at 13:51:56.   UPS Battery Level at time would provide 55+ mins of power to Telescope Bay. There were no issues to services running on Observatory and on AllSky/Weather Computer, automated recovery routines operated as per design.  Ticket closed.
  Closed 2024-05-03 (Observatory)
   
• Dome didn't appear to move during telescope slew (23:04).  After slew to Target 1/12 (NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy) a red alert was raised with message "Dome didn't appear to move during the last telescope slew".  Investigating showed that Dome was positioned at Az 203.9° at the end of Near Zenith Focussing (Focus Field  13),  and didn't require slewing to Target 1/12 (NGC 4216) (Telescope Az 204.9°).  Alert is explainable in this particular case and ticket is closed.  Code indicates alert is raised when Dome.LastSlewAngleAz=0 and  Scope.LastSlewAngleAz > 5.   A separate continuous improvement ticket is raised so that such cases are either not raised as alerts or defined as a yellow alert instead.   This would be where difference between Telescope Az & Dome Az < 10 and the Dome Az = Slaved Az. (where this can be determined).
  Closed 2024-05-03 (Session)

Continuous Improvement

• In cases where dome doesn't appear to move during telescope slew and where a dome slew is not required, a red alert shouldn't be raised (23:04).  After slew to Target 1/12 (NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy) a red alert was raised with message "Dome didn't appear to move during the last telescope slew".   Investigating showed that the Dome was positioned at Az 203.9° (Telescope Az 210.5°) at the end of Near Zenith Focusing / Focus Field 13,  and didn't require slewing to Target 1/12 (NGC 4216) (Telescope Az 204.9°).  Code indicates red alert is currently raised when Dome.LastSlewAngleAz=0 and  Scope.LastSlewAngleAz > 5.  Alert is explainable in this particular case based on current design.  However such cases should really either not be raised as alerts at all or defined as a yellow alert instead.   AstroMain 3.68.10 modified so that an alert isn't raised when Dome.LastSlewAngleAz = 0 and Dome.Az = SlavedAz (from Volatile DomeRecord.TargetAz).
  Done 2024-05-04 (AstroMain 3.68.10)

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