David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 795 Attempt (2020-07-13)

Notes (S794)

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Notes (S795)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (2),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	No Images from 2020-07-13 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-07-13)

Session attempted on 2020-07-13 but dome unfortunately remained shut the whole time due to cloud.

Main aims

1. Targets. Aquire variety of targets if conditions allowed.

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2,  POTH , UPB 1.5 
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.8
   
• AstroMain 3.25.8,  AstroGuard 1.4.2,   AstroPlan 1.15.3,  AstroShCap 1.2.22, AstroVOE 1.3.6
  (AstroWeather 1.10.8, AstroAllSky 3.6)

Highlights

•  Automation.   Observatory manager kept the dome shut the whole night but ready to begin automated observing should the sky have cleared.

Lowlights

• Cloud. Sky clouded over straight way and didn't clear before dawn (no targets acquired)

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

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) Pre-Session Weather forecast showed fairly cloudy skies (41-74% cloud cover) for whole night, with light winds (wind 7 - 11mph), no rain and a minimum temperature of 12°C. Despite poor forecast a session was attempted because skies where clear at sunset and clouds was only slowly moving in from NW through civill twilight. In the event conditions became cloudy at 23:40 and remained clouded over until dawn

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 23:33:54 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-07-13 S00795, ImageSaveNum: 795001) 23:34:12   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 23:34:26   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 23:36:22   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:37:10   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:38:53 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:38:57 Session Pending Session pending (2020-07-13) 23:38:59 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-07-13) 23:39:01   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.15.3) 23:39:36   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-07-13 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 524) 23:39:41   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 23:39:46   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:39:57 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 23:39:59 Wait on Weather Waiting for acceptable conditions 23:42:03 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:42:05   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 02:17, closing time 45s) 23:42:07   Queue Started Observing Queue started (15 targets selected) 23:52:04   Camera1 SetPoint SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -10°C) 23:52:20     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (1/15, GCVS CY Lyr) due to cloud 00:01:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/15, GCVS CI Cyg) due to cloud 00:14:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/15, GCVS S Cyg) due to cloud 00:26:10     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/15, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 00:37:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/15, GCVS U Her) due to cloud 00:46:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/15, HIP 87937) due to cloud 00:57:58     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/15, Berkeley 45) due to cloud 01:09:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/15, GCVS V Sge) due to cloud 01:20:29     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/15, GCVS WZ Sge) due to cloud 01:41:22     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/15, NGC 6928) due to cloud 01:51:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/15, 61 Cyg) due to cloud 02:06:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/15, GCVS SS Cyg) due to cloud 02:14:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/15, GCVS HH And) due to cloud 02:23:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/15, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 02:41:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/15, GCVS RX And) due to cloud 02:41:22   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 02:41:24 Session Closing Session closing 02:41:29   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 02:17, closing time 45s) 02:41:31   Dome Parked Dome already parked (parked at 02:17, parking time 36s) 02:42:01   Telescope Parked Telescope may have failed to park correctly (attempt 29s) 02:42:31   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 02:43:25   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 02:43:28 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 02:43:30 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 02:42:01 Scope Failed To Park Correctly Telescope may have failed to park correctly

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Operational Issues (2020-07-13, S795 Attempt)

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

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List of operational issues below includes to 2 minor issues that were associated with session attempt on 2020-07-13.

Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Dome Shutter Health data stopped being output to ObsEnv record at 23:38 on 2020-07-13.    Time (~ 23:38:37) corresponded to the start of session 2020-07-13 S00795 Attempt.  New ASCOM Trace Log file (ASCOM.Pulsar_Observatories_Dome.2337.536300.txt) created at 23:37.53 but has no data beyond 23:37:53.724.   When data is not available an alert should probably be raised.    An alert is now raised when up to date health data isn't available &  Dome Control traffic light turns to Red on ObsViewer.
  Warning Added 2020-07-15 (AstroMain 3.25.9)
   
• Dew Heater settings flat-lined at 20% at  02:43 on 2020-07-14.   Dew Heater flat lined at 20% but without any associated ASCOM Switch Dialog Window message. Time corresponded to end of session 2020-07-13 S00795 Attempt and the resumption of  general session 2020-07-13 at 02:43 (2020-07-14 am).  Logfile shows error messages 'Timeout waiting for SwitchLock to become free' from 02:43:53.45 onwards. It would seem that SwitchLock Flag was raised at the moment the session was finished which stopped access to Switch operations.  When starting new session / new switch connection it is important that SwitchLock is set to False. to avoid this issue
  Fixed 2020-07-15 (AstroMain 3.25.9)

Continuous Improvement

• None

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