David's Astronomy Pages
Notes - Session 812 (2020-09-19)

 
Bullet Session Aims & Highlights
 - Observing Result
 - Night Summary Plot
 - Session Event Log
 
Bullet Operational Issues
  - Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (4),  Continuous Improvement (6)
Bullet Images from 2020-09-19 >>
Bullet Temperature Effects on Foc1 Focusing (S811 & S812)
Bullet Wind Data Problems (2020-09-25)
 

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-09-19)

Main aims

  1. Targets. Acquire images of a selection of deep sky targets, including collection of final mosaic frame for B106 that was missed during earlier session.
  2.  DeviceHub Activity Log.  Use DeviceHub Activity Logging to help diagnose any Dome Connection Issues

Equipment & Software

Lowlights

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan
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Observing Result
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Dome & Scope Slewing Performance
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Slew/Centering Performance
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Guiding Performance
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Sky Conditions (Locate Frames)
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Night Sky Summary Plot
Top axis: Sky Brightness at Zenith (in ADU/s)
Lefthand axis: Local Time (hh LT). Righthand axis: Sun Altitude (degs)
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Pre-Session Weather Forecast (API data from darksky.net)
Pre-Session Weather forecast showed dry and relatively clear conditons for the entire night ( 0-7% cloud cover)
with temperature falling to minimum temperature of 9 °C by dawn and  fairly light winds (4-6 mph) 

In the event conditions were dry and generally very clear, however cloudy intervals (high cloud) occurred at 23:00-23:30  and 02:05-02:50
 Wind was light to calm throughout the nights  and temperature fell to minimum of 6.5°C just before dawn.
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Session Event Log
Time     Event Detail
20:29:50 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-09-19 S00812, ImageSaveNum: 812001)
20:29:52   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox.
20:31:44   Services Started Observatory Services started
20:31:53 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
20:31:55 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 20:13 & 04:54
20:31:57   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud
20:31:59 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:29)
20:32:01 Session Pending Session pending (2020-09-19)
20:32:03 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-09-19)
20:32:05   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.16)
20:32:36   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-09-19 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 546)
20:32:48   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -10°C)
20:32:54   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
20:33:05 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration
20:33:51   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
20:33:54   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started
20:33:56   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (0.0 mins total)
20:33:58 Session Running Session running
20:34:00   Queue Started Observing Queue started (32 targets selected)
20:35:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:40:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
20:43:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
20:43:17       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
20:45:42       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide)
20:47:42       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
20:48:02       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded
20:48:05     Target Missed (1/32) Target's time slot was missed (1/32, GCVS R CrB)
20:48:07     Target Started (2/32) Target started (2/32, GCVS U Her)
20:50:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:53:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
20:59:38     Target Completed Target partially completed (2/32, GCVS U Her)
20:59:40     Target Started (3/32) Target started (3/32, UGC 10528)
21:01:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:04:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
21:20:43     Target Completed Target completed (3/32, UGC 10528)
21:20:45     Target Started (4/32) Target started (4/32, HIP 87937)
21:22:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:25:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5)
21:28:15     Target Completed Target completed (4/32, HIP 87937)
21:28:18     Target Started (5/32) Target started (5/32, GCVS CI Cyg)
21:30:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:32:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
21:36:12     Target Completed Target completed (5/32, GCVS CI Cyg)
21:36:14     Target Started (6/32) Target started (6/32, 61 Cyg)
21:38:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:41:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7)
21:42:42     Target Completed Target completed (6/32, 61 Cyg)
21:42:44     Target Started (7/32) Target started (7/32, GCVS SS Cyg)
21:44:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:47:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8)
21:51:10     Target Completed Target completed (7/32, GCVS SS Cyg)
21:55:54     Target Started (8/32) Target started (8/32, GCVS HH And)
21:58:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:01:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9)
22:02:37     Target Completed Target completed (8/32, GCVS HH And)
22:04:09     Target Started (9/32) Target started (9/32, UGC 260)
22:06:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:09:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10)
22:25:58     Target Completed Target completed (9/32, UGC 260)
22:26:31     Target Started (10/32) Target started (10/32, UGC 11994)
22:28:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:31:10       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star lost
22:47:14     Target Completed Target completed (10/32, UGC 11994)
22:47:16     Target Started (11/33) Target started (11/33, 11P/Tempel-Swift-LINEAR, ToO)
22:49:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:52:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12)
23:00:47     Target Completed Target completed (11/33, 11P/Tempel-Swift-LINEAR, ToO)
23:00:49     Target Started (12/34) Target started (12/34, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS), ToO)
23:03:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:06:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13)
23:12:17     Target Completed Target completed (12/34, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS), ToO)
23:12:19     Target Missed (13/34) Target's time slot was missed (13/34, NGC 6978)
23:12:21     Target Started (14/34) Target started (14/34, GCVS BL Lac)
23:14:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:16:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14)
23:20:27     Target Completed Target completed (14/34, GCVS BL Lac)
23:21:33     Target Started (15/34) Target started (15/34, NGC 7722)
23:23:46       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
23:36:28     Target Completed Target completed (15/34, NGC 7722)
23:38:55     Target Started (16/34) Target started (16/34, NGC 7592)
23:42:51       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
00:00:33     Target Completed Target completed (16/34, NGC 7592)
00:01:17     Target Started (17/34) Target started (17/34, NGC 7678)
00:03:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:06:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15)
00:22:03     Target Completed Target completed (17/34, NGC 7678)
00:23:39     Target Started (18/34) Target started (18/34, UGC 695)
00:26:20       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
00:50:04     Target Completed Target completed (18/34, UGC 695)
00:52:05     Target Started (19/34) Target started (19/34, UGC 711)
00:55:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:58:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16)
01:14:43     Target Completed Target completed (19/34, UGC 711)
01:14:46     Target Started (20/34) Target started (20/34, UGC 1856)
01:16:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:19:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17)
01:35:44     Target Completed Target completed (20/34, UGC 1856)
01:36:49     Target Started (21/34) Target started (21/34, GCVS GK Per)
01:39:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:42:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18)
01:45:21     Target Completed Target completed (21/34, GCVS GK Per)
01:45:30     Target Started (22/34) Target started (22/34, NGC 2782)
01:48:31       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
02:05:43     Target Completed Target completed (22/34, NGC 2782)
02:07:52     Target Started (23/34) Target started (23/34, UGCA 220)
02:10:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:13:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19)
02:28:54     Target Completed Target completed (23/34, UGCA 220)
02:30:14     Target Started (24/34) Target started (24/34, UGC 6930)
02:32:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:35:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20)
02:46:24     Target Completed Target completed (24/34, UGC 6930)
02:47:36     Target Started (25/34) Target started (25/34, WDS GRB 34)
02:50:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:53:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21)
02:55:00     Target Completed Target completed (25/34, WDS GRB 34)
02:55:51     Target Started (26/34) Target started (26/34, UGC 542)
02:57:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:00:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22)
03:16:44     Target Completed Target completed (26/34, UGC 542)
03:18:13     Target Started (27/34) Target started (27/34, GCVS RX And)
03:20:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:22:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 23)
03:25:23     Target Completed Target completed (27/34, GCVS RX And)
03:26:33     Target Started (28/34) Target started (28/34, GCVS TT Ari)
03:28:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:31:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 24)
03:37:22     Target Completed Target completed (28/34, GCVS TT Ari)
03:38:29     Target Started (29/34) Target started (29/34, UGC 2082)
03:40:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:43:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 25)
03:59:19     Target Completed Target completed (29/34, UGC 2082)
04:00:51     Target Started (30/34) Target started (30/34, UGCA 42)
04:03:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:05:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 26)
04:22:03     Target Completed Target completed (30/34, UGCA 42)
04:23:13     Target Started (31/34) Target started (31/34, GSC 1224:29)
04:25:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:28:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 27)
04:32:14     Target Completed Target completed (31/34, GSC 1224:29)
04:33:55     Target Started (32/34) Target started (32/34, GCVS U And)
04:35:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:38:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 28)
04:48:04     Target Completed Target completed (32/34, GCVS U And)
04:48:06     Target Started (33/34) Target started (33/34, NGC 1128)
04:50:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:53:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 29)
05:08:59     Target Completed Target completed (33/34, NGC 1128)
05:10:23     Target Started (34/34) Target started (34/34, GCVS CM Tau)
05:12:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
05:15:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 30)
05:29:44     Target Completed Target completed (34/34, GCVS CM Tau)
05:29:47   Queue Completed Job Queue completed
05:29:51 Session Closing Session closing
05:30:41   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s)
05:31:12   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 31s), Az: 90.0 deg
05:31:57   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 40s)
05:32:28   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox.
05:33:17   Services Stopped Night Services stopped
05:33:19 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
05:33:46 Session Finished Session Finished
   
Session Alerts
Time     Alert Detail
-- No Alerts                --                              

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Operational Issues (2020-09-19 S812)

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Critical Issues

Major Issues

Minor Issues

Continuous Improvement

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Temperature Effects on Foc1 Focusing (S811 & S812)

Temperature effects on Foc1 Focusing were examined from two sessions (S811 and S812)

S811 (2020-09-18)

Best Focus Chart for Foc1 System (LX200 + TCF-S focuser) and Focus Temperature Chart are shown below.  Although outside Ambient Temperature drops 5°C  across the course of the nights observing session and Telescope's OTA Temperature drops 6°C over the same interval,  the position of Measured Best Focus Position doesn't change by much, but remains around 2000+/- 200 across the night.   The main change in focus position occurs between 02:00 and 03:00 where there is a distinct (+1 to +2°C) shift in temperature trend that corresponds with a a possible weak warm front. There was no change in seeing conditions, as has been seen before with passage of weather fronts.

Charts from Session S811
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S812 (2020-09-19)

Best Focus Chart for Foc1 System (LX200 + TCF-S focuser) and Focus Temperature Chart are shown below.  Although outside Ambient Temperature dropped 4°C  across the course of the nights observing session and Telescope's OTA Temperature dropped 4.5°C over the same interval,  the position of Measured Best Focus Position again doesn't change by much, but remains around 1900+/- 100 across the night.   Whilst best focus position would normally increase in value with falling temperature, there is, if anything, a general decrease in best focus position. Similar to previous night there is a distinct (+1 to +1.5°C) shift in temperature trend at 02:15-02:30, with a smaller shift in trend at 04:30-04:45  The larger shift is associated with a shift in focus position.  There is a change in wind strength and direction at this time, but there is no change in sky clarity or seeing.

Charts from Session S812
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Wind Data Problems (2020-09-25)

After running well for a fortnight since replacing the batteries in WMR800X Wind Sensor, data problems again returned around 18:30 in 2020-09-25.  Starting at around 18:30 the data resolution suddenly falls and instead of normal high frequency data, the data becomes a series of flat-lined segments. Between 21:45 and 22:00 the normal higher frequency character returns briefly, before there was a complete data dropout at 22:40.

Wind data returned for short periods of time during the night, before finally coming back at around 05:25,  but data is still somewhat ragged.

[ WMR800X Wind Sensor (see New Wind Sensor (WMR800X), 2019-09-09) is associated with WMR80 Weather Station which feeds data to the observatory via wireless link to AllSky/Weather computer running Virtual Weather Station (VWS) software where data is finally charted using AstroWeather.  ]

8h Wind Chart from 2020-09-25 (pm)
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16h Wind Chart from 2020-09-26 (am)
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8h Wind Chart from 2020-09-26 (am)
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