David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 739 (2020-01-08)

Notes (S738)

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Notes (S740)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (2),  Minor Issues (12),  Continuous Improvement (8)
	Changes prior to session (Optical Cleaning, Rebalancing, Refocusing, Updated Plate Scale)
	Guiding Performance
	Images from 2020-01-08  >>
	Dark Frames (2020-01-09)
	Flat Frames (2020-01-09)

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-01-08)

Main aims

1. Scope Reconfiguration: Setup new configuration (focusing,  camera orientaion and plate scale)
2. Telescope Rebalance:  Check performance following rebalancing of scope (RA and Dec)
3. Targets: Acquire images of selected variable and nearby stars (conditions too light for deep sky imaging)
4. Guiding:  Continue checking guiding performance after recent changes

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2,  POTH Hub
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.6dev3
   
• AstroMain 3.19.2 ,  Astroguard 1.2.9,   AstroPlan 1.13.8,  AstroShCap 1.2.10, AstroVOE 1.3.4, UPB 1.4.17  (AstroWeather 1.8.2, AstroAllSky 3.5.1)
   
  Note: AstroMain 3.19.2 was a custom version of 3.19.1  to include some important updates without including untested code associated with new Guide Procedures.   (the current 3.19.2 draft code was moved to 'AstroMain - Work 3.19.3')

Highlights

• Targets. x targets successfully acquired.

Lowlights

•   Guiding Performance.  Several targets suffered from poor guiding in Declination. due to variable backlash experienced at different points in the sky.

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Slew/Centering Performance

Dome Slewing 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) Forecast showed  In the event skies

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 18:15:29 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-01-08 S00739, ImageSaveNum: 739001) 18:15:55   Scope Switched On Telescope power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 18:17:40   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:18:12 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:18:17 Session Pending Session pending (2020-01-08) 18:18:19 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-01-08) 18:18:21   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.13.8) 18:19:47   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-01-08 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 447) 18:20:01   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 18:20:05   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 18:20:17 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 18:20:20   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 18:20:22   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 18:20:24 Session Running Session running 18:20:26   Queue Started Observing Queue started (35 targets selected) 18:21:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:23:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 18:23:19       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 18:24:52       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 18:24:54     Target Started (1/35) Target started (1/35, GCVS Z And) 18:27:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:29:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 18:37:47     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/35, GCVS Z And) 18:38:47     Target Started (2/35) Target started (2/35, WDS GRB 34) 18:40:40   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 18:41:15   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions 18:48:00 User Intervention User interventation to restart telescope / resolve centering issue 18:53:11 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2020-01-08 S00739, ImageSaveNum: 739011) 18:55:08   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 18:55:10   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 18:55:12   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:56:31   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 18:57:02   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 18:57:04   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 18:57:06   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:57:23   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 18:59:34 Program Closed Program closed by User 19:07:39 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2020-01-08 S00739, ImageSaveNum: 739011) 19:07:56   Scope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 19:08:06   Scope Switched On Telescope power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 19:08:45   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 19:08:47   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 19:41:19 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2020-01-08 S00739, ImageSaveNum: 739011) 19:42:48   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 19:42:50   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 19:42:54   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:43:19 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:43:21 Session Pending Session pending (2020-01-08) 19:43:23 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-01-08) 19:43:25   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.13.8) 19:45:20   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-01-08 V2 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 448) 19:45:25   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 19:45:33   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 19:45:45 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 19:45:48   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 19:45:50   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 19:45:52 Session Running Session running 19:45:54   Queue Started Observing Queue started (42 targets selected) 19:46:54       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:48:30       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 19:49:20     Target Started (1/42) Target started (1/42, GCVS DY Per) 19:52:48       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 19:57:52     Target Completed Target completed (1/42, GCVS DY Per) 19:58:37     Target Started (2/42) Target started (2/42, WDS GRB 34) 20:02:00 User Intervention User intervention to sort out problems with TCF-S focus driver 20:02:51     Target Failed Target failed due to centering error (2/42, WDS GRB 34) 20:02:53   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 20:04:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:05:13       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted 20:08:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:11:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 20:34:29   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 36s) 20:34:44   Scope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 20:35:19   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 20:35:38   Scope Switched On Telescope power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 20:37:20   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:37:49 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:37:51 Session Pending Session pending (2020-01-08) 20:37:53 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-01-08) 20:37:55   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-01-08 V2 ACTIVE PLAN S739, Plan ID: 448) 20:37:56   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 20:38:00 User Intervention User intervention to restart telescope 20:38:04   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 20:43:26 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2020-01-08 S00739, ImageSaveNum: 739022) 20:43:40   Scope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 20:43:52   Scope Switched On Telescope power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 20:45:40   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 20:45:42   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 20:45:46   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:46:03   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 20:46:17   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 20:48:12 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:48:16 Session Pending Session pending (2020-01-08) 20:48:18 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-01-08) 20:48:20   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-01-08 V2 ACTIVE PLAN S739, Plan ID: 448) 20:48:22   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 20:48:24   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 20:48:37 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 20:48:40   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 20:48:42   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 20:48:44 Session Running Session running 20:48:46   Queue Started Observing Queue started (40 targets selected) 20:49:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:51:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 20:51:22       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 20:53:03       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 20:53:05     Target Missed (3/42) Target's time slot was missed (3/42, GCVS HH And) 20:53:07     Target Missed (4/42) Target's time slot was missed (4/42, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) 20:53:09     Target Missed (5/42) Target's time slot was missed (5/42, GCVS Z And) 20:53:11     Target Missed (6/42) Target's time slot was missed (6/42, C/2017 T2 (PanStarrs)) 20:53:13     Target Started (7/42) Target started (7/42, GCVS NV Ori) 20:56:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:00:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 21:01:43     Target Completed Target partially completed (7/42, GCVS NV Ori) 21:01:45     Target Started (8/42) Target started (8/42, GCVS FU Ori) 21:07:34     Target Completed Target completed (8/42, GCVS FU Ori) 21:07:37     Target Started (9/42) Target started (9/42, GCVS DX Cnc) 21:10:22       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:14:50     Target Completed Target completed (9/42, GCVS DX Cnc) 21:14:52     Target Started (10/42) Target started (10/42, GSC 1224:29) 21:17:43       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:22:10     Target Completed Target completed (10/42, GSC 1224:29) 21:23:54     Target Started (11/42) Target started (11/42, GCVS RX And) 21:26:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:28:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 21:30:42     Target Completed Target completed (11/42, GCVS RX And) 21:31:24     Target Started (12/42) Target started (12/42, GCVS RX And) 21:32:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:34:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 21:36:54     Target Completed Target completed (12/42, GCVS RX And) 21:38:54     Target Started (13/42) Target started (13/42, GCVS RX And) 21:40:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:41:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 21:44:28     Target Completed Target completed (13/42, GCVS RX And) 21:46:24     Target Started (14/42) Target started (14/42, GCVS TT Ari) 21:48:43       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:55:38     Target Completed Target completed (14/42, GCVS TT Ari) 21:57:50     Target Started (15/42) Target started (15/42, GCVS FO Ori) 22:00:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:01:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 22:05:42     Target Completed Target completed (15/42, GCVS FO Ori) 22:05:58     Target Started (16/42) Target started (16/42, 61 Cyg) 22:08:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:10:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 22:12:13     Target Completed Target completed (16/42, 61 Cyg) 22:13:03     Target Started (17/42) Target started (17/42, GCVS SS Cyg) 22:16:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:17:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 22:21:35     Target Completed Target completed (17/42, GCVS SS Cyg) 22:27:25     Target Started (18/42) Target started (18/42, GSC 1224:29) 22:30:56       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:35:35     Target Completed Target completed (18/42, GSC 1224:29) 22:37:16     Target Started (19/42) Target started (19/42, GCVS RX And) 22:39:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:41:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 22:43:47     Target Completed Target completed (19/42, GCVS RX And) 22:44:46     Target Started (20/42) Target started (20/42, GCVS DY Per) 22:46:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:48:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 22:53:40     Target Completed Target completed (20/42, GCVS DY Per) 22:54:04     Target Started (21/42) Target started (21/42, GCVS GK Per) 22:56:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:57:09   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:58:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 23:01:20     Target Completed Target completed (21/42, GCVS GK Per) 23:01:22   Queue Paused Queue paused for SoftSuspend 23:01:25 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:02:15   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 50s) 23:11:26   Camera1 SetPoint SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -20°C) 23:12:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/42, GCVS TT Ari) due to cloud 23:24:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/42, GCVS TT Ari) due to cloud 23:33:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/42, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 23:41:28   Camera1 SetPoint SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -25°C) 23:42:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/42, GCVS CN Ori) due to cloud 23:52:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/42, GCVS U Mon) due to cloud 00:12:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/42, Scholz's Star) due to cloud 00:33:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/42, Scholz's Star) due to cloud 00:43:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/42, GCVS SY Cnc) due to cloud 00:55:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/42, K2-18) due to cloud 01:14:50     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/42, Scholz's Star) due to cloud 01:28:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/42, GCVS CN Leo) due to cloud 01:39:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/42, GCVS RZ LMi) due to cloud 01:48:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/42, GCVS AM CVn) due to cloud 02:01:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/42, GCVS U And) due to cloud 02:12:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/42, GCVS AM Her) due to cloud 02:25:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/42, GCVS S Cyg) due to cloud 02:37:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (38/42, 38P/Stephan-Oterma) due to cloud 02:45:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (39/42, GCVS R CrB) due to cloud 02:54:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (40/42, GCVS ER UMa) due to cloud 03:03:42     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (41/42, GCVS U Gem) due to cloud 03:23:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (42/42, LAMOST-HVS1) due to cloud 03:23:08   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:23:14 Session Continuing Session continuing 03:23:24   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.13.8) 03:23:40   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-01-08 V3 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 449) 03:24:24 Wait on Weather Waiting for acceptable weather conditions 03:24:26 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:24:28   Shutter Closed Shutter already closed (closed at 23:02, closing time 50s) 03:24:31   Queue Started Observing Queue started (21 targets selected) 03:38:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (1/21, LAMOST-HVS1) due to cloud 03:48:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/21, GCVS RZ LMi) due to cloud 03:57:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/21, GCVS AM CVn) due to cloud 04:06:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/21, GCVS U Gem) due to cloud 04:17:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/21, GCVS DX Cnc) due to cloud 04:26:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/21, GCVS SY Cnc) due to cloud 04:38:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/21, GCVS CN Leo) due to cloud 04:50:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/21, K2-18) due to cloud 04:59:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/21, GCVS ER UMa) due to cloud 05:10:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/21, 38P/Stephan-Oterma) due to cloud 05:18:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/21, GCVS R CrB) due to cloud 05:28:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/21, GCVS U Her) due to cloud 05:37:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/21, GCVS SS Her) due to cloud 05:47:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/21, GCVS AM Her) due to cloud 06:05:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/21, 46P/Wirtanen) due to cloud 06:12:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/21, 61 Cyg) due to cloud 06:27:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/21, GCVS SS Cyg) due to cloud 06:36:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/21, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 06:45:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/21, GCVS CY Lyr) due to cloud 06:54:30     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/21, GCVS CI Cyg) due to cloud 07:17:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/21, GCVS S Cyg) due to cloud 07:17:09   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 07:17:15 Session Closing Session closing 07:17:20   Shutter Closed Shutter already closed (closed at 23:02, closing time 50s) 07:18:21   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 61s) 07:18:35   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 10s) 07:18:50   Scope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 07:19:37   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:19:39 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:19:53 Session Finished Session Finished

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Operational Issues (2020-01-08, S739)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (2)
• Minor Issues (12)
• Continuous Improvement (8)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Issue with ASCOM TCF-S driver file locking up and preventing computer shutdown/restarts.  During initial session starting there were multiple issues including a issue with ASCOM TCF-S driver, these probably related to crashes or forced shutdown of the AstroMain program.  Unable to reconnect to TCF-S focuser it was found that a process was running, but couldn't be stopped from Task Manager (neither End Process or End Process Tree or worked). Even though owner of the process was myself (ie not system). Similarly the process couldn't be stopped using AstroLaunch's  'Kill Stranded Processes' facility. It was not possible to successfully shut down / restart the observatory computer, after waiting several minutes Shut-Down had to be forced by pressing down the laptop's  Power' button.  This is the first time this problem has been seen and may be just a glitch due to current instabilities in the observatory system.   It's not sure if such a locked driver process would have prevented a blue-screen crash from successfully restarting. The issue is of significance in case since if it could stop a crash  prevent .   Onlines suggestions were to using 'Restart Process' from process explorer and then kill the process or use 'taskkill /f /im +name of the exe+'from command prompt (cmd).   Problem appears to have resolved itself.
  Appears Resolved 2020-01-16 (Observatory)
   
• General instability at start of session (involving CCDSoft, TCF-S and AstroMain). Problem was probably caused by the Telescope Power being autoswitched off too soon after parking scope at end of last session.  A 30s delay is now applied before auto-switching off the scope and this and similar problems appears to have been resolved.
  Resolved 2020-01-16 (AstroMain)

Minor Issues

• Frost Slugs on Initial CCD Images. During re-focusing of the LX200 main scope (required as a consequence of incorporating a new 2" to M42 (T2) adapter cooling of the camera produced a series of frost slugs on the SBIG ST-10XME camera images.  Eventually these dissapated, so that my time the main session began the CCD images were clear of artifacts. It is possible that vapour entered the camera as a result of opening the camea and cleaning the camera sensor's window.   To try to prevent frosting problems becoming worse it is proposed to renew the camera's dessicator before the next session.
  Action >> renew dessicator before next session (Observatory)
   
• AstroMain crashed due to unhandled exception whilst initiating GetSunAlt. Although problem may have been caused by general instability in the Observatory system during start of session, it is clear that the AstroMain program should have caught the exception and handled things gracefully.
  Fixed / Resolved 2020 (AstroMain)
   
• AstroMain hung shortly after initiating session.  Problem may have been caused by general instability in the Observatory system during start of session or is an occassional problem that can sometime happens by activating the AstroMain form at a particular point in AstroMain threaded activity.  Problem was probably caused by the Telescope Power being autoswitched off too soon after parking scope.  A 30s delay is now applied before auto-switching off the scope and this and similar problems appears to have been resolved.  Issue closed on 2021-01-04 following a review that showed that the AstroMain was essentially stable (following a series of improvements and fixes), with an absence of any unexplained program hangs or crashes during the 35 sessions between  2020-09-18 & 2021-01-03.
  Closed 2021-01-04 (AstroMain 3.33)
   
• Problems with telescope jogs whilst centering including a number of rogue jogs. There was a continuation of problems seen in the last session. For example first target Z And had the following set of pointing errors 7.22', 2.62', 2.00', 2.47', such the target was still not within the accepable pointing accuracy (< 1') after 3 centering attempts.   The issue may eventually have been fxed later in the session after re-syncing on a star, parking and restarting the telescope, since the last 8 target centered on the first attempt without problem. Monitoring showed that issue either resolved itself or was fixed by a later version of DeviceHub
  Appears Resolved (Observatory/DeviceHub)
   
• Session.ObsManagerTab.png image initially captured and uploaded to web is missing Star Trim and Rain Trim fields.   A little later , possibly after making the Mamager tab active, the image was captured ok with the fields displaying correctly. No further occurence of problem and therefore closed
  Closed 2020-01-22  (AstroMain )
   
• Telescope Connection couldn't be made.   Issue was determined to be due to user error, as the scope was not power cycled after temporay parking of the scope whilst computer was restarted.  AstroMain was also not informing the user to wait up to 60s when trying to making connection from to telescope. This was similarly due to the telescope power being on (but the scope not responding as it was parked and had been reinitialised with a power off/on cycle.
  Closed. User awareness (2020-02-08) 
   
• AstroMain report file is repeating the line 'setting dew heaters to 29%' every minute when the dew heater setting isn't actually changing.  Prehaps a message every 5 minutes to say that the 'dew heaters are on 29% (auto)' would suffice.
  Fixed (AstroMain 3.19.3)
   
• Dew Heaters shouldn't be increased when Session State changes to Closing/Finished.   Obs.Managers Dew Heater Control is designed to decrease to c. 66-69% when session enters closing/finished state. However it is inappropriate to set dew heaters to 66-69% when the dew heaters were previously at c. 30% because session was suspended.
  Fixed (AstroMain 3.19.3)
   
• Trial Flats (a lot of them) hindered the process of Flats Reduction. Ideally trial flats would be saved as a Snap file.
  Fixed 2020-05-14 (AstroMain 3.22.2)
   
• NV Ori had a focus profile with a very poor FWHM (6.9") .   Poor FWHM appear to be related to passage of a warm front.
  Resolved (Session)
   
• AstroMain requested a V2 plan when the existing V1 plan was still 'active' and could have been continued.   This may have been because AstroMain had been restarted (following either a crash or deliberate restart) or because the ' Continue with New Plan'  option was active (needed for later in the night).  
  >> To be investigated/reviewed (AstroMain / AstroPlan)
   
• AstroLaunch crashed due to unhandled exception when computer restarted.  Exception was 'The process cannot access the file 'C:\Data\CCD Imaging\Logs\AstroProtect_last.log' because it is being used by another process.'
  Problem occurs in the 'frmLogViewer.DisplayLastAstroProtectLog()' routine which is called by 'frmAstroLoader.Form_Load'
  Investigate and fix (AstroLaunch/AstroProtect)

Continuous Improvement

• Add to Obs.Picture and/or Observatory Tab an indication of when a 'SoftSuspend' flag is raised.
  Done (AstroMain 3.19.3)
   
• Add coloured lines to legend to indicate the lines drawn.
  Done (AstroMain 3.19.3)
   
• Indicate on Manager Tab and elsewhere when SoftSuspend is active
  Done (AstroMain 3.19.3)
   
• Park Dome when session is suspended for more than 45 mins
  Done (AstroMain 3.19.3)
    
• Modify Ping Colours to Observatory Computers to show Yellow for shortterm outages, before showing Red (after say 30s)
  Done 2020-01-23 (AstroMove 1.4.3)
   
• Add clarity to when 'Session Admin' has completed.  Status lines still shows 'Copying FITs files to Raw Folder' when job has done..
  Done, 2020-01-19 (AstroMain 3.19.7)
   
• Add a '000_Fits Summary.xls' button to import Fits Summary. Closed in 2023 as no longer relevant or necessary.
  Closed (Excel)
   
• Indicate on Star Info chart the number of centering operations that were required.  Finally implemented in AstroMain 3.71.5 in 2024, with the number of Locate frames taken being appended to the end of the pointing error, as in the following example
     Target Centered     Centered on target, pointing error 0.27 arc min (2)
  Done 2024-10-09 (AstroMain 3.71.5)

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Changes prior to session (Optical Cleaning, Scope Rebalancing, Refocusing, Updated Plate Scale)

Changes made prior to session:

Optical Cleaning

- ST10XME camera and CFW10 focus wheel removed from LX200.  Current 2" to T2 adapter assembly removed.
- CFW10 opened, optical window cleaned,  filters checked and cleaned where necessary
- ST10XME camera open, optical window and window on CCD Sensor cleaned
- ST10XME camera and CFW10 reassembled and installed on LX200 with new (shorter) 2" to T2 adapter

- ST10XME tested, but all frames (darks, and light/flats) have just dark signal.  Tried several times
- Removed ST10XME and CFW10. Opened Camera and checked.   Could see any problem (rotating camera shutter was closed so moved it to its open  position.
- Reinstalled ST10XME and CFW10  on LX200.  Retested Lights/Flats and Darks - Both Ok

Rebalancing

- Rebalanced scope in Dec.  One ankle weight removed (leaving one ankle weight) + 2 main weights. Position of two main weights below OTA and the 80mm guidescope adjusted to achieve best overall balance vertically and horizontally.
- Rebalanced scope in RA. Two weighted ankle weights added to left-hand fork arm to balance the combined weight of Dec Motor, Pegasus Power Box and TCF-S controller on the right-hand fork arm.

Alignment and Focusing

- Aligned scope on Venus in early evening
- Initial re-focusing on Venus using main mirror focuser (with TCF-S focuser set at 4000 steps)
- Refined focusing on 2 mag star using main mirror focuser
- Refined focusing using TCF-S focuser

Plate Scale & Orientation
- Take 15s frames and Image Link
- Checked Camera orientation (orientation 179.5° deg, within tolerance(180 +/- 0.5°), no rotation necessary)
- Checked Image Scale (1.404"/pixel at 3x3 binning)
- Updated standard Image Scale and orientation in AstroMain (0.468 at 1x1,  179.5°)
- Updated standard Reference FOV field size and orientation in TheSky6 (17.03' x 11.47' , 179.5°)

Impact of reducing the length of the optical train (AO-8 removed) is to slightly decrease the plate scale and slighly enlarge the FOV area.

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Guiding Performance

Examples of guiding results from the session are shown below:

Example of Guiding Performance from Session S739

Comparison with previous results

• Forward Plan
  
  - Consider starting the Dec Drift monitoring during an extended setting period. This would be instead of during the first 180s frame or first few 45s frames.
     To do
  
  - Consider recording the direction in which the scope comes onto the target (ie from north or from south) and use that to help predict the backlash that may need to be taken up before the guiding is able to move the scope
      To do

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Dark & Bias frames collected 2020-01-09

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Flat Frames (2020-01-09)

A new set of Flat Frames were collected using Light Board for 1x1, 2x2, 3x3 following recent cleaning of Camera & Filter Wheel and Filters, cleaning of SCT corrector lens and installation of a new 2" to T2 adapter.   Flats are a lot cleaner than previous (in particular in the critical central zone of the image) but the amount of vignetting has increased.  Initial use of the new master flats on raw frames from Session S739, are not possibly not producing 'Reduced' frames that are as flat as desirable, but these results could be affected or exagerated by bright moonlit background.

Sky flats have previously been shown to give better results than Light Board Flat, but take several days to collect flats for 10 filter in 3 different binning configuratopm.  A new sky flats (C filter) will be initially collected and compared, and depending on results, sky flats for other filters gradually collected and used to replace the light board flats.  

(Subsequent Master Flats produced from Sky Flats taken on 2020-01-11, S740 showed less succesful reduction of raw images than the those produced from Light Board Flats taken on 2020-01-09)

Note: The time available for collecting Sky Flats at Dusk/Dawn is much shorter in mid-winter than at other times of the year where the sun desends in altitude much more slowly.

Results

New Flats - Post Cleaning 2019-01-09, S739 Light Board Flats,  CCD Temp -20°C		Previous Flats - Pre-Cleaning 2019-12-24 & 31, S732 & S733 or 2018-09-14
Master Flat, New C filter (3x3) (Average Median for 26 frames )		Master Flat, New C filter (3x3), 2019-12-31 (Average Median for 25 frames )		Commentary
				Specks on CCD Sensor Window removed from field center and largely removed from rest of field (detail picture show specks moved to edge of CCD) Recent developed overlapping Dust Specks and some other dust removed from Camera/Filter Wheel optical windows Amount of vignetting is greater and there is some shadow at top of field casused by the mirror that takes light to the secondary CCD
Master Flat, B filter (3x3) (Average Median for 13 frames )		Master Flat, B filter (3x3), 2019-12-25 (Sky Flat, Average Median for 15 frames )		Commentary
				Overall improvement from cleaning Organic / chemical deposits on ? CCD Sensor Window seen on Blue and Infrared Filters (with opposing contrasts) have been removed Cleaning has left some faint streaks marks  on CCD Sensor Window
Master Flat, V filter (3x3) (Average Median for 18 frames )		Master Flat, V filter (3x3), 2019-12-25 (Average Median for 15 frames )		Commentary
				Overall improvement but there is some dust dougnuts on left of field caused by dust specks on V filter There is unexplained banding on lower part of field
Master Flat, R filter (3x3) (Average Median for 18 frames )		Master Flat, R filter (3x3), 2019-12-25 (Average Median for 15 frames )		Commentary
				Overall improvement from cleaning Optical windows, CCD Sensor window & Filter There is a blurred dust dougnuts on lower central lower part of field caused by dust speck on R filter
Master Flat, I filter (3x3) (Average Median for 18 frames )		Master Flat, I filter (3x3), 2019-12-25 (Average Median for 15 frames )
				Overall improvement from cleaning Organic / chemical deposits on ? CCD Sensor Window seen principally on Blue and Infrared Filters (with opposing brightness/darkness) have been removed by cleaning Cleaning has left some faint streaks marks  on CCD Sensor Window  There is a very faint dust dougnuts on lower part of field just to left of centre line caused by a dust speck on I filter
Master Flat, Xo filter (3x3) (Average Median for 18 frames )		Master Flat, Xo filter (3x3), 2018-09-14 (Average Median for 15 frames)   Note: Xo (3x3) flats not acquired in 2019-12-24 / 25		Commentary
				Overall improvement from cleaning Optical windows, CCD Sensor window & Filter There is a blurred dust dougnuts on middle left  part of field caused by dust speck on Xo filter
Master Flat, Ha filter (3x3) (Average Median for 17 frames )		Master Flat, Ha filter (3x3), 2018-09-09  (Average Median for 15 frames)   Note: Ha (3x3) flats not acquired in 2019-12-24 / 25		Commentary
				Overall improvement from cleaning Optical windows, CCD Sensor window & Filter   Ha filter itself is clear of any specks  Some diagonal stripping is evident but unexplained.
Master Flat, Nd filter (3x3) (Average Median for 17 frames )		Master Flat, Nd filter (3x3), 2018-09-14 (Average Median for 15 frames)    Note: Nd (3x3) flats not acquired in 2019-12-24 / 25		Commentary
				Overall improvement from cleaning Optical windows, CCD Sensor window & Filter Nd filter itself is clear of any specks
Master Flat, New DB filter (3x3) (Average Median for 18 frames )		Master Flat, New DB filter (3x3), 2019-12-24 (Average Median for 15 frames )		Commentary
				Overall improvement from cleaning Optical windows and CCD Sensor window New DB filter itself is clear of any specks
All Frames 50% original size

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Flat Frame Analysis

Examination of new set of Flat Frames were collected after installation of new shorter 2" to T2 adapter shows that they have a greater amount of vignetting than previous.  There is also a greater amount of shadow at the top of field that is believed to be caused by the mirror that takes light off to the secondary CCD.

Analysis of flat field using CCDWare CCDInspector confirm the extra amount of vignetting.

Flat Field Analysis - New Optical Set Up 2020-01-09 Short 2" to T2 adapter Master Flat, New C filter (3x3), (Average Median for 26 light-board flat frames )		Commentary
		Position of peak brightness is offset from field centre by 1.82 arc min This is most likely due to mis-collimination of scope (re-collimination continues to be an overdue task) Right hand side of field is more than 4% less illuminated than the centre. Bottom right corner is probably around 5% lower. Top left and bottom right are around 2.5% and 3% less illuminaton
Flat Field Analysis - Interim Optical Set Up 2019-12-31 Long 2" to T2 adapter Master Flat, New C filter (3x3), (Average Median for 25 sky flat frames )		Commentary
		New flat taken to correct images for  2 new dust specks in the Filter Wheel/CCD Camera system that have caused an annoying new pair of overlapping dark doughnuts on raw images Taken with the same optical set up as 2019-12-24 but shows much higher amounts of vignetting than the original flats Right hand side of field shows more than 5 % less illuminated than the centre. Bottom right corner is probably around 6% lower. Top left and bottom right have around 4% and 4.5% less illuminaton than the centre. Difference in vignetting is very hard to explain
Flat Field Analysis - Interim Optical Set Up 2019-12-24 Long 2" to T2 adapter Master Flat, New C filter (3x3), (Average Median for 25 sky flat frames )		Commentary
		Fairly flat field Position of peak brightness is offset from field centre by 1.50 arc min This is most likely due to mis-collimination of scope (re-collimination is an overdue task) Right hand side of field is more than 2 % less illuminated than the centre. Bottom right corner is probably around 2.5% lower. Top left and bottom right have around 1% and 1.5% less illuminaton than the centre.
Flat Field Analysis - Previous Optical Set Up 2018-09-14 With AO-8 Unit Master Flat, New C filter (3x3), (Average Median for 25 sky flat frames )		Commentary
		Somewhat uneven flat field Position of peak brightness is offset from field centre by 1.70 arc min This is most likely due to mis-collimination of scope Top right corner of field has around 2.5% less illumination than centre Bottom right corner is probably around 3% lower. Top left and bottom right have around 1.5% less illuminaton
Master Flat, B filter (3x3) (Average Median for 13 frames )		Commentary
		Overall improvement from cleaning Organic / chemical deposits on ? CCD Sensor Window seen on Blue and Infrared Filters (with opposing contrasts) have been removed Cleaning has left some faint streaks marks  on CCD Sensor Window
Master Flat, V filter (3x3) (Average Median for 18 frames )		Commentary
		Overall improvement but there is some dust dougnuts on left of field caused by dust specks on V filter There is unexplained banding on lower part of field
Master Flat, R filter (3x3) (Average Median for 18 frames )		Commentary
		Overall improvement from cleaning Optical windows, CCD Sensor window & Filter There is a blurred dust dougnuts on lower central lower part of field caused by dust speck on R filter
Master Flat, I filter (3x3) (Average Median for 18 frames )
		Overall improvement from cleaning Organic / chemical deposits on ? CCD Sensor Window seen principally on Blue and Infrared Filters (with opposing brightness/darkness) have been removed by cleaning Cleaning has left some faint streaks marks  on CCD Sensor Window  There is a very faint dust dougnuts on lower part of field just to left of centre line caused by a dust speck on I filter
Master Flat, Xo filter (3x3) (Average Median for 18 frames )		Commentary
		Overall improvement from cleaning Optical windows, CCD Sensor window & Filter There is a blurred dust dougnuts on middle left  part of field caused by dust speck on Xo filter
Master Flat, Ha filter (3x3) (Average Median for 17 frames )		Commentary
		Overall improvement from cleaning Optical windows, CCD Sensor window & Filter   Ha filter itself is clear of any specks  Some diagonal stripping is evident but unexplained.
Master Flat, Nd filter (3x3) (Average Median for 17 frames )		Commentary
		Overall improvement from cleaning Optical windows, CCD Sensor window & Filter Nd filter itself is clear of any specks
Master Flat, New DB filter (3x3) (Average Median for 18 frames )		Commentary
		Overall improvement from cleaning Optical windows and CCD Sensor window New DB filter itself is clear of any specks
All Frames 50% original size

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