David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 765 (2020-04-01)

Notes (S764)

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Notes (S766)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (3),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Images from 2020-04-01 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-04-01)

Main aims

1. Targets: Acquire images of a number of comets and deep sky objects
   

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 3.20.3 ,  Astroguard 1.2.11,   AstroPlan 1.14,  AstroShCap 1.2.15, AstroVOE 1.3.5, UPB 1.4.17  (AstroWeather 1.8.6, AstroAllSky 3.5.1)
  

Highlights

• Good Conditions.  Good seeing / good condition enabled productive session with good guiding
• Targets.  x targets successfully imaged

Lowlights

•   Dome Positioning.  Slippage of the dome's rotation encoder wheel caused the dome shutter to become misplaced from the telescope position from 00:28 onwards leading to obstruction of the telescope's view of the night sky and consequential loss of multiple targets.

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)

Pre-Session Weather Forecast (API data from darksky.net) Forecast not saved/archived due to technical issue. In the event skies were ...

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 20:40:24 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-04-01 S00765, ImageSaveNum: 765001) 20:41:44   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 20:43:25   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:43:40   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 20:43:47   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 20:44:54   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 43s) 20:47:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:51:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 20:53:40       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 20:53:50       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 20:56:23       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 20:57:59       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:00:12       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:00:56 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:01:01 Session Pending Session pending (2020-04-01) 21:01:03 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-04-01) 21:01:05   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.14) 21:02:51   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-04-01 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 489) 21:02:55   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 21:02:58   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:03:11 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 21:03:14   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 21:03:16   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 21:03:18 Session Running Session running 21:03:20   Queue Started Observing Queue started (41 targets selected) 21:03:22   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 21:03:51     Target Started (1/41) Target started (1/41, Basel 10) 21:07:58   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions 21:08:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:11:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:17:23     Target Completed Target completed (1/41, Basel 10) 21:17:25     Target Started (2/42) Target started (2/42, C/2019 Y1 (ATLAS)) 21:32:37     Target Completed Target completed (2/42, C/2019 Y1 (ATLAS)) 21:32:39     Target Missed (3/42) Target's time slot was missed (3/42, GCVS FO Ori) 21:32:41     Target Started (4/42) Target started (4/42, GCVS CM Tau) 21:48:00     Target Aborted (4/42) Target aborted (4/42, GCVS CM Tau) due to Priority 1 ToO Target 21:48:02     Target Started (5/43) Target started (5/43, PGC 40043) 22:09:26     Target Completed Target completed (5/43, PGC 40043) 22:09:29     Target Missed (6/43) Target's time slot was missed (6/43, GCVS RR Tau) 22:09:31     Target Missed (7/43) Target's time slot was missed (7/43, LAMOST-HVS1) 22:09:33     Target Started (8/43) Target started (8/43, GCVS DX Cnc) 22:13:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:16:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 22:20:51     Target Completed Target completed (8/43, GCVS DX Cnc) 22:20:53     Target Started (9/43) Target started (9/43, 155P/Shoemaker) 22:37:26     Target Completed Target completed (9/43, 155P/Shoemaker) 22:37:28     Target Started (10/43) Target started (10/43, GCVS ER UMa) 22:40:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:43:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 22:47:05     Target Completed Target completed (10/43, GCVS ER UMa) 22:47:07     Target Started (11/43) Target started (11/43, GCVS RZ LMi) 22:51:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:53:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 22:58:56     Target Completed Target completed (11/43, GCVS RZ LMi) 22:58:58     Target Started (12/43) Target started (12/43, GCVS AM CVn) 23:01:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:04:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 23:07:04     Target Completed Target completed (12/43, GCVS AM CVn) 23:07:07     Target Started (13/43) Target started (13/43, GCVS CN Leo) 23:11:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:14:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 23:21:26     Target Completed Target completed (13/43, GCVS CN Leo) 23:21:28     Target Started (14/43) Target started (14/43, GCVS RZ LMi) 23:24:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:27:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 23:32:22     Target Completed Target completed (14/43, GCVS RZ LMi) 23:32:24     Target Started (15/43) Target started (15/43, GCVS S Cyg) 23:37:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:39:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 23:49:18     Target Completed Target partially completed (15/43, GCVS S Cyg) 23:49:20     Target Started (16/43) Target started (16/43, GCVS U Her) 00:00:51     Target Completed Target partially completed (16/43, GCVS U Her) 00:00:53     Target Started (17/43) Target started (17/43, GCVS SU Tau) 00:10:32     Target Completed Target partially completed (17/43, GCVS SU Tau) 00:10:34     Target Started (18/43) Target started (18/43, GCVS SY Cnc) 00:13:03       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:17:13     Target Completed Target completed (18/43, GCVS SY Cnc) 00:17:15     Target Started (19/43) Target started (19/43, GCVS DY Per) 00:20:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:23:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 00:28:11     Target Completed Target completed (19/43, GCVS DY Per) 00:28:13     Target Started (20/43) Target started (20/43, GCVS GK Per) 00:33:00       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 00:37:56     Target Completed Target completed (20/43, GCVS GK Per) 00:37:58     Target Started (21/43) Target started (21/43, GCVS SS Her) 00:47:50     Target Completed Target completed (21/43, GCVS SS Her) 00:47:52     Target Started (22/43) Target started (22/43, GCVS AM Her) 00:50:50       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:57:02     Target Completed Target completed (22/43, GCVS AM Her) 00:57:04     Target Started (23/43) Target started (23/43, GCVS CY Lyr) 01:00:44       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 01:06:00     Target Completed Target completed (23/43, GCVS CY Lyr) 01:06:02     Target Started (24/43) Target started (24/43, GCVS CI Cyg) 01:09:46       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 01:14:56     Target Completed Target completed (24/43, GCVS CI Cyg) 01:14:58     Target Started (25/43) Target started (25/43, GCVS CI Cyg) 01:23:50     Target Completed Target completed (25/43, GCVS CI Cyg) 01:23:52     Target Started (26/43) Target started (26/43, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) 01:28:08       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 01:37:45     Target Completed Target completed (26/43, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) 01:37:47     Target Started (27/43) Target started (27/43, C/2020 A2 (Iwamoto)) 01:44:16       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 01:53:55     Target Completed Target completed (27/43, C/2020 A2 (Iwamoto)) 01:53:57     Target Started (28/43) Target started (28/43, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) 01:59:17       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 02:08:51     Target Completed Target completed (28/43, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) 02:08:53     Target Started (29/43) Target started (29/43, GCVS Z And) 02:13:04       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 02:18:05     Target Completed Target partially completed (29/43, GCVS Z And) 02:18:07     Target Started (30/43) Target started (30/43, GCVS SS Cyg) 02:27:01     Target Completed Target completed (30/43, GCVS SS Cyg) 02:28:25     Target Started (31/43) Target started (31/43, GCVS BL Lac) 02:32:22       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 02:37:48     Target Completed Target completed (31/43, GCVS BL Lac) 02:38:43     Target Started (32/43) Target started (32/43, GCVS BL Lac) 02:42:03       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 02:47:27     Target Completed Target completed (32/43, GCVS BL Lac) 02:49:01     Target Started (33/43) Target started (33/43, GCVS BL Lac) 02:52:17       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 02:57:30     Target Completed Target completed (33/43, GCVS BL Lac) 02:59:19     Target Started (34/43) Target started (34/43, GCVS BL Lac) 03:02:39       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 03:08:00     Target Completed Target completed (34/43, GCVS BL Lac) 03:09:37     Target Started (35/43) Target started (35/43, GCVS V Sge) 03:13:22       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 03:23:10     Target Completed Target completed (35/43, GCVS V Sge) 03:23:12     Target Started (36/43) Target started (36/43, GCVS R CrB) 03:25:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:29:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 03:32:23     Target Completed Target completed (36/43, GCVS R CrB) 03:32:25     Target Started (37/43) Target started (37/43, 61 Cyg) 03:41:58     Target Completed Target partially completed (37/43, 61 Cyg) 03:42:01     Target Started (38/43) Target started (38/43, GCVS HH And) 03:49:31     Target Completed Target completed (38/43, GCVS HH And) 03:49:33     Target Started (39/43) Target started (39/43, GCVS R CrB) 03:52:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:55:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 03:58:53     Target Completed Target completed (39/43, GCVS R CrB) 03:58:55     Target Started (40/43) Target started (40/43, WDS GRB 34) 04:07:01     Target Completed Target completed (40/43, WDS GRB 34) 04:07:03     Target Started (41/43) Target started (41/43, C/2019 Y1 (ATLAS)) 04:20:42     Target Completed Target completed (41/43, C/2019 Y1 (ATLAS)) 04:20:45     Target Started (42/43) Target started (42/43, GCVS FG Sge) 04:24:31       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 04:28:29     Target Completed Target completed (42/43, GCVS FG Sge) 04:28:31     Target Started (43/43) Target started (43/43, HIP 87937) 04:32:31       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 04:36:48     Target Completed Target completed (43/43, HIP 87937) 04:36:51   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:36:54 Session Closing Session closing 04:37:49   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 50s) 04:38:19   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 30s) 04:38:32   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 10s) 04:39:02   Scope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 04:39:50   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:39:52 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:40:21 Session Finished Session Finished

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Operational Issues (2020-04-01, S765)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (1)
• Minor Issues (3)
• Continuous Improvement (2)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Multiple targets not correctly acquired / sky obscured by dome roof.  Starting with target GK Per at 00:28, locate frames for most targets from this point onwards failed to image link due to absence of stars, even though the shutter was open and the skies were clear. Two targets (AM Her at 00:47 and R CrB at 03:23 & 03:49) did however manage to record stars & successfully image link. It is presumed that the dome roof was obscure the main telescope's view of the sky for most positions.  It some cases  guidescope had a view of the sky even though the main scope didn't. Together with the related issue 'Dome not parked at correct position at end of session' it is thought that the dome rotation system lost its correct position during the night due to slippage of the rotation encoder wheel.  Issue was fixed by increasing the tension on the encoder arm using a length of elastic, cleaning the dome lip and performing a new Dome Calibration
  Fixed 2020-04-02  (Observatory)

Minor Issues

• Dome not parked at correct position at end of session. Although dome was parked at what the dome rotation system believed to be park position (Az 090 deg) it was actually parked at an azimuth of around 070 deg.   Investigating showed that a related issue 'Multiple targets not correctly acquired  / sky obscured by dome roof.' that caused targets to not be correctly acquired from around 00:28 (GK Per) onwards due to the dome roof apparently obscuring the main telescopes view of the sky.  It is presumed that the wheel on the position encoder arm had slipped at this time and possibly other later times .  This may be due to dew on dome roof flange and the encoder wheel or otherwise some loss of tension in someway. Issue was fixed by increasing the tension on the encoder arm using a length of elastic, cleaning the dome lip and performing a new Dome Calibration
  Fixed 2020-04-02  (Observatory)
   
• Sky Conditions Chart failed (displayed red diagonal cross).  Problem may have began after program gave a net framework exception, which was dismissed by clicking 'Continue'. This is the first time this problem has been seen.   Problem not seen in following session. Recommend closing issue for now, pending any future incident of this kind.
  Closed 2020-04-21 (AdvMain)
   
• Problem with Current Session Web Page on IPAD. Page will continuously try to refresh/redraw itself, making it completely unusable for monitoring the session. Page is ok when viewed from Windows IE 11 browser. Issue has been since once before.  Modifying values in .JS files used by web page didn't stop the continuous page redraws, making it difficult to establish the underlying root cause . Issue resolved itself when new session (S766) started. No problems in sessions S766-770. Recommend closing issue for now, pending any future incident.
  Closed  2020-04-06  (Website / IPAD)

Continuous Improvement

• Include Proper Motion in Variable Star Analysis (VMA).  VMA photometry for DY Per fails as the star's Ra Dec position is drifting from its J2000 position due to proper motion.  This could be solved by adjusting Ra Dec search position according to proper motion which can be obtained from TheSky6 catalogs .  need to access star's     skObjInfoProp_STAR_PM_RA  &   skObjInfoProp_STAR_PM_DEC properties.  A workaround was developed on in mid 2021 for this long standing issue where VMA (variable star magnitude analysis) of DY Per regularly fails (2021-06-07).  Investigation shows that DY Per (GSC 3691:1782) fails because the offset of the star's actual coordinates from the star's catalogue coordinates is around 5.6" which is greater than the current allowed tolerance of 5.0".  A workaround is hard-coded into AstroMain 3.40.5 to increase the offset tolerance for DY Per from 5.0' to 10.0'     A similar hard-coded workaround was added for GSC 394:1211 ( the C (Comparison) Star for the variable star SS Her).
  Workaround put in place for underlying issue 2021-06-07 (AstroMain 3.40.5). Proper Motion inclusion put on hold.
   
• Add 'Copy LogScale', 'Copy Square root Scale' buttons to Analysis/ImageSets form. Adding these buttons which ease the task of building a .logscale.gif  & .sqrootscale.gif filenames during Image Set Analysis.
  Done 2020-04-01 (AstroMain 3.20.4)

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