David's Astronomy Pages
Notes - Session 663 (2019-02-13)

   
Bullet Session Aims & Highlights
 - Observing Result
 - Night Summary Plot
 - Session Event Log
 
Bullet Operational Issues
  - Critical Issues (2),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (1),  Continuous Improvement (0) 
   
Bullet Investigation - Shutter Drive Unit didn't detect that Shutter had finished opening
Bullet Autofocussing - FWHM Profile & HFD V-Slope Comparison
 
Bullet Images from 2019-02-13  >>
 

Session Aims & Highlights (2019-02-13)

Main aims

  1. Exoplanet Project - Acquire some baseline images of a number of exoplanet host stars
    (this is in advance of a series of renewed attempts to detect and record an exoplanet transit )
  2. Variable Stars Project - Acquire some baseline images of a number of new variable stars
    (this includes some eclipsing binaries and other rapidly varying stars not previously observed)
  3. Software & Systems  - Check stability of software and presence of any side effects following changes to AstroMain and AstroGuard to improve telescope protection

Equipment & Software

Highlights

Lowlights

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan (2019-02-13, S663)
Image
 
Observing Result (2019-02-13, S663)
Image
   
Night Sky Summary Plot - 2019-02-13, S663
Top axis: Sky Brightness at Zenith (in ADU/s)
Lefthand axis: Local Time (hh LT). Righthand axis: Sun Altitude (degs)
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Session Event Log (2019-02-13, S663)
Time     Event Detail
17:52:38 Session Created Live Session Created (2019-02-13 S00663, ImageSaveNum: 663001)
17:56:48   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started
17:56:54   Services Started Observatory Services started
17:57:20   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
17:57:24   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
17:58:20 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
17:58:25 Session Pending Session pending (2019-02-13)
17:58:27 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-02-13)
17:58:29   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan ()
18:01:31   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-02-13 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 276)
18:01:39   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C)
18:01:41   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
18:18:37   Shutter Opened Shutter Opened, but due to Relay Switch Comms failure status remained as Opening
19:00:51   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 45s)
19:01:25   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 10s)
19:03:56   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 45s)
19:12:26   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time ---)
19:12:29   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started
19:16:27   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (4.0 mins total)
19:16:29 Session Running Session running
19:16:31   Queue Started Observing Queue started (42 targets selected)
19:16:33     Target Missed (1/42) Target Missed (1/42, WDS GRB 34)
19:16:35     Target Missed (2/42) Target Missed (2/42, GCVS RX And)
19:16:37     Target Missed (3/42) Target Missed (3/42, GCVS X TRI)
19:16:39     Target Missed (4/42) Target Missed (4/42, GCVS SS Cyg)
19:16:41     Target Missed (5/42) Target Missed (5/42, GCVS EV Lac)
19:16:43     Target Started (6/42) Target started (6/42, GCVS HH And)
19:19:43       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:21:43     Target Completed Target completed (6/42, GCVS HH And)
19:21:45     Target Started (7/42) Target started (7/42, GCVS TV Cas)
19:23:43       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:26:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
19:30:56     Target Completed Target completed (7/42, GCVS TV Cas)
19:30:58     Target Started (8/42) Target started (8/42, HAT-P-20)
19:40:06     Target Completed Target completed (8/42, HAT-P-20)
19:40:08     Target Started (9/42) Target started (9/42, GCVS Z And)
19:43:45       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:46:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
19:51:33     Target Completed Target partially completed (9/42, GCVS Z And)
19:51:35     Target Started (10/42) Target started (10/42, GCVS U And)
20:04:57     Target Completed Target partially completed (10/42, GCVS U And)
20:04:59     Target Started (11/42) Target started (11/42, GCVS NV Ori)
20:12:42     Target Completed Target completed (11/42, GCVS NV Ori)
20:12:44     Target Started (12/42) Target started (12/42, XO-2)
20:14:50       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:17:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
20:23:32     Target Completed Target partially completed (12/42, XO-2)
20:23:35     Target Started (13/42) Target started (13/42, GCVS DX Cnc)
20:31:10     Target Completed Target completed (13/42, GCVS DX Cnc)
20:31:12     Target Started (14/42) Target started (14/42, GSC 1224:29)
20:39:45     Target Completed Target completed (14/42, GSC 1224:29)
20:39:47     Target Started (15/42) Target started (15/42, GCVS FU Ori)
20:46:05     Target Completed Target completed (15/42, GCVS FU Ori)
20:46:07     Target Started (16/42) Target started (16/42, GCVS SU Tau)
20:49:18       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:52:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
20:58:49     Target Completed Target completed (16/42, GCVS SU Tau)
20:58:52     Target Started (17/42) Target started (17/42, WASP-104)
21:10:27     Target Completed Target completed (17/42, WASP-104)
21:10:29     Target Started (18/42) Target started (18/42, GCVS RR Tau)
21:13:04       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:15:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5)
21:22:34     Target Completed Target partially completed (18/42, GCVS RR Tau)
21:22:36     Target Started (19/42) Target started (19/42, CoRoT-1)
21:38:07     Target Completed Target completed (19/42, CoRoT-1)
21:38:10     Target Started (20/42) Target started (20/42, GCVS CN Ori)
21:40:32       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:44:32     Target Completed Target completed (20/42, GCVS CN Ori)
21:44:34     Target Started (21/42) Target started (21/42, WASP-12)
21:55:11     Target Completed Target completed (21/42, WASP-12)
21:55:13     Target Started (22/42) Target started (22/42, GCVS GK Per)
22:02:42     Target Completed Target completed (22/42, GCVS GK Per)
22:02:44     Target Started (23/42) Target started (23/42, GCVS FO Ori)
22:05:13       Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:08:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
22:13:56     Target Completed Target completed (23/42, GCVS FO Ori)
22:13:58     Target Started (24/42) Target started (24/42, GCVS U Mon)
22:25:02     Target Completed Target completed (24/42, GCVS U Mon)
22:25:04     Target Started (25/42) Target started (25/42, GCVS U Gem)
22:31:34     Target Completed Target completed (25/42, GCVS U Gem)
22:31:37     Target Started (26/42) Target started (26/42, GCVS SY Cnc)
22:37:08     Target Completed Target completed (26/42, GCVS SY Cnc)
22:38:06     Target Started (27/42) Target started (27/42, GCVS RZ LMi)
22:47:20     Target Completed Target completed (27/42, GCVS RZ LMi)
22:49:23     Target Started (28/42) Target started (28/42, HAT-P-36)
22:59:20     Target Completed Target completed (28/42, HAT-P-36)
23:01:07     Target Started (29/42) Target started (29/42, HAT-P-12)
23:10:30     Target Completed Target completed (29/42, HAT-P-12)
23:12:01     Target Started (30/42) Target started (30/42, HAT-P-44)
23:27:31     Target Completed Target completed (30/42, HAT-P-44)
23:29:06     Target Started (31/42) Target started (31/42, GCVS AM CVn)
23:36:39     Target Completed Target completed (31/42, GCVS AM CVn)
23:38:08     Target Started (32/42) Target started (32/42, TrES-3)
23:44:00   Computer Crash Computer unexpectedly crashed/rebooted itself
23:45:00 Observatory Shutdown AstroProtect operated to close shutter, park dome & park scope
00:14:18 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2019-02-13 S00663, ImageSaveNum: 663287)
00:16:06   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started
00:16:14   Services Started Observatory Services started
00:20:14   Services Started Observatory Services started
00:20:33   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
00:20:42   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
00:21:18 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
00:21:23 Session Pending Session pending (2019-02-13)
00:21:25 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-02-13)
00:21:27   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-02-13 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 276)
00:21:29   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
00:21:31   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
00:22:19   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s)
00:22:22   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started
00:22:24   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user
00:22:26 Session Running Session running
00:22:28   Queue Started Observing Queue started (10 targets selected)
00:22:30     Target Missed (33/42) Target Missed (33/42, GCVS S Cyg)
00:22:32     Target Missed (34/42) Target Missed (34/42, GCVS R CrB)
00:22:34     Target Missed (35/42) Target Missed (35/42, HAT-P-18)
00:22:36     Target Started (36/42) Target started (36/42, GCVS ER UMa)
01:04:30 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode
01:04:42 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
01:04:43 Session Pending Session pending (2019-02-13)
01:04:45 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-02-13)
01:04:47   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-02-13 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 276)
01:04:49   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
01:04:51   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
01:04:54   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started
01:04:56   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user
01:04:58 Session Running Session running
01:05:00   Queue Started Observing Queue started (7 targets selected)
01:05:02     Target Missed (36/42) Target Missed (36/42, GCVS ER UMa)
01:05:04     Target Missed (37/42) Target Missed (37/42, Kepler-447)
01:05:06     Target Missed (38/42) Target Missed (38/42, TrES-2)
01:05:08     Target Missed (39/42) Target Missed (39/42, TrES-5)
01:05:10     Target Started (40/42) Target started (40/42, GCVS U Her)
01:05:49   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped
01:05:58 Program Closed Program closed by User
01:06:36 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2019-02-13 S00663, ImageSaveNum: 663289)
01:06:48   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started
01:06:55   Services Started Observatory Services started
01:07:07 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
01:07:10 Session Pending Session pending (2019-02-13)
01:07:12 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-02-13)
01:07:14   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-02-13 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 276)
01:07:16   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
01:07:18   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
01:07:22   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started
01:07:24   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user
01:07:26 Session Running Session running
01:07:28   Queue Started Observing Queue started (1 targets selected)
01:08:21 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
01:08:23 Session Pending Session pending (2019-02-13)
01:08:25 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-02-13)
01:08:27   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan ()
01:09:01   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-02-13 V2 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 277)
01:09:09   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
01:09:11   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
01:09:16   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started
01:09:18   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user
01:09:20 Session Running Session running
01:09:22   Queue Started Observing Queue started (28 targets selected)
01:11:22     Target Started (1/28) Target started (1/28, GCVS AM CVn)
01:17:56     Target Completed Target completed (1/28, GCVS AM CVn)
01:20:25     Target Started (2/28) Target started (2/28, GCVS CN Leo)
01:31:18     Target Completed Target completed (2/28, GCVS CN Leo)
01:32:47     Target Started (3/28) Target started (3/28, GCVS RZ LMi)
01:40:30     Target Completed Target completed (3/28, GCVS RZ LMi)
01:44:05     Target Started (4/28) Target started (4/28, GCVS RR Tau)
01:54:19     Target Completed Target completed (4/28, GCVS RR Tau)
01:54:39     Target Started (5/28) Target started (5/28, XO-2)
02:04:37     Target Completed Target completed (5/28, XO-2)
02:10:30 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2019-02-13 S00663, ImageSaveNum: 663344)
02:10:38   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started
02:10:41   Services Started Observatory Services started
02:10:56 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
02:10:59 Session Pending Session pending (2019-02-13)
02:11:01 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-02-13)
02:11:03   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-02-13 V2 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 277)
02:11:12   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
02:11:15   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
02:11:22   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started
02:15:22   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (4.0 mins total)
02:15:24 Session Running Session running
02:15:26   Queue Started Observing Queue started (23 targets selected)
02:15:28     Target Missed (6/28) Target Missed (6/28, GCVS DX Cnc)
02:15:30     Target Started (7/28) Target started (7/28, GCVS SY Cnc)
02:21:55     Target Completed Target completed (7/28, GCVS SY Cnc)
02:24:00   User Interventation User Interventation in order to close session
02:25:00 Session Closing Session Closing (Manual)
02:26:13   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 49s)
02:27:28   Dome Parked Dome parked
02:27:31   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 63s)
02:29:51   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 41s)
02:30:41   Camera1 Disconnected SBIG Camera closed down & disconnected
02:33:07   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped
02:33:30 Session Finished Session Finished (Manual)

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Operational Issues (2019-02-13, S663)

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Critical Issues

Major Issues

Minor issues

Continuous Improvement

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Investigation - Shutter Drive Unit didn't detect that Shutter had finished opening (motors ran on for up to 40 minutes)

Under automated operation the Shutter was commanded to open at 18:18:37 (this was some 10 minutes before the starting time for the nights Observing Plan).  The process of opening the shutter normally takes 45-50s. However upon checking the session over a remote connection at around 19:00 it was noted that the plan session hadn't started the observing plan. Checking showed that the session hadn't progressed through the dome equilibration phase and was seemingly still waiting for the shutter to finish opening.  Shutter status field in AstroMain and POTH.HUb showed the shutter was still 'Opening'.   The shutter was manually commanded to close which it duly did in a normal time of 45s.

The observatory was visited and the the shutter system observed whilst it was opened.  On reaching the Open Limit Switch there seemed to be a bit of hiccup and the motor stopped (I think, but I might have intervened). Checking the wires to the Shutter Drive Unit showed them to be somewhat disturbed and the plug that comes from the upper relay switch was partially pulled out from it's port.  The plug was reinserted and the wires tidied up.  The observatory dome was then operated ok for the remainder of the session include a further close / open operation and a final close operation at the end of the session.

It would seem that the wires to shutter unit became pulled loose when passing one of the dome clamps during the last session which had pulled the relay plug from its port. 

As per a previous incident involving a probable short circuit in wires going to the lower relay switch, the shutter drive motors continue turning as the relay failed to tell the system that the open/close operation has completed. Examining the shutter units battery level records showed that it dropped from 97% down to 85% and voltage dropped from 15.0v down to 14.6v.  Temperature Sensor reading jumped from 10° C to 20° C during the incident.    16 hours later the battery has still not started to recharge itself.  


It then became clear why there was no recharging ...  Upon checking the observatory the following afternoon it was discovered the two- wire charging cable for the shutter drive unit was wrapped around one of the dome clamps,  one end had been ripped from its metal male plug (which was still inserted in the shutter drive unit) whilst the other end had been ripped out of the upper induction charging box.    There seems to have been no damage to the shutter drive unit or induction charger themselves.  It is presumed that the damage was done during the previous session and at the same time that the plug from the upper relay switch was pulled loose. (whilst relay wire & plugs were looked just after the Shutter Opening Issue, it was dark and this probably explains why the broken cable was noticed). After contacting Pulsar Observatories the induction charger box was removed and it and the cable sent to them by mail for repair.

Actions :

 
Dome Shutter Health Charts showing impact of the incident
(incident time 2018-02-13 18:18 to 19:00)
Image

 

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Autofocussing / HFD Profiles

Selected Focus Profiles from Session
  FWHM and HFD V Slope Focusing Compared
a) Case with well performing HFD Method  (11 steps different)

Focusing prior to Target 7,  GCVS TZ Cas
Focus Star Mag +7.2,  Focus Frame Exp. 1s, 1x1 binning, Temp 7.1 C

Best Focus 1491 (FWHM), Total Time 2.7 mins (Profile 1)
 Best Focus 1480 (HFD), Total Time 1.6 mins (Focus No 1)
Image
  Image
  
FWHM and HFD V Slope Focusing Compared
b) Case with poorly performing HFD Method  (189 steps different)


Focusing prior to Target 9,  GCVS Z And Tau
Focus Star Mag +xx  Focus Frame Exp. 1.5s, 2x2 binning, Temp. 6.6 C

Best Focus 1557 (FWHM) , Total Time 3.0 mins (Profile 2)
Best Focus 1368 (HFD), Total Time 1.9 mins (Focus No 2)
Image
  Image
  
FWHM and HFD V Slope Focusing Compared
c) Case with very poorly performing HFD Method  (189 - 872 steps different !)


Focusing prior to Target 9,  XO-2
Focus Star Mag +xx  Focus Frame Exp. 2s, 2x2 binning, Temp. 6.8 C

Best Focus 1531 (FWHM) , Total Time 3.1 mins (Profile 3)
Best Focus 659 (HFD), Total Time 2.0 mins (Focus No 4) - target before
Best Focus 1102 (HFD), Total Time 1.9 mins (Focus No 5) - target before
Image
Image 
Image 
  
FWHM and HFD V Slope Focusing Compared
d) Case with poorly performing HFD Method  (183 steps different !)


Focusing prior to Target 16,  GCVS SU Tau
Focus Star Mag +xx  Focus Frame Exp. 1.5s, 2x2 binning, Temp. 6.6 C

Best Focus 1426 (FWHM) , Total Time 2.8 mins (Profile 4)
Best Focus 1243 (HFD), Total Time 2.0 mins (Focus No 6)
Image
Image
  
FWHM and HFD V Slope Focusing Compared
e) Case with moderately performing HFD Method  (155 steps different !)


Focusing prior to Target 18,  GCVS RR Tau
Focus Star Mag +xx  Focus Frame Exp. 1s, 2x2 binning, Temp. 7.1 C

Best Focus 1385 (FWHM) , Total Time 2.6 mins (Profile 5)
Best Focus 1230 (HFD), Total Time 1.7 mins (Focus No 7)
Image
  Image
  
FWHM and HFD V Slope Focusing Compared
f) Case with poorly performing HFD Method  (202 steps different !)


Focusing prior to Target 23,  GCVS FO Ori
Focus Star Mag +xx  Focus Frame Exp. 1s, 2x2 binning, Temp. 7.1 C

Best Focus 1219 (FWHM) , Total Time 2.6 mins (Profile 6)
Best Focus 1017 (HFD), Total Time 1.7 mins (Focus No 11)
Image
  Image
  
Focus Offsets for FWHM Profile and HFD- VSlope Methods compared
FWHM measurement are much more consistent and known to be of better quality.
 
  Image

Issues

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