David's Astronomy Pages
Notes - Session 819 (2020-10-13)

 
Bullet Session Aims & Highlights
 - Observing Result
 - Night Summary Plot
 - Session Event Log
 
Bullet Operational Issues
  - Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (11),  Continuous Improvement (19)
Bullet Images from 2020-10-13 >>
2020-10-13 am
Bullet GCN Monitoring - GRB Swift 999948
2020-10-14
Bullet GCN Monitoring - GRB Swift 1000255
2020-10-15
Bullet DeviceHub 6.5.0.1
Bullet Stalled Dome Issue - Status
Bullet SharpCap Scripting- Notes
2020-10-21
Bullet AstroSN - Data Source and Proof of Concept
 

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-10-13)

Main aims

  1. Autoguide Monitoring / Charts. Check that autoguide monitoring / charts are now working correctly following revision to PHD2 Messaging Routines made in AstroMain 3.30.3
  2. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of deep sky targets
  3. Bug fixes.  Check that bugs discovered in last session in AstroMain 3.30.3 have been fixed.

Equipment & Software

Highlights

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan
Image
  
Observing Result
Image
   
Dome & Scope Slewing Performance
Image
  
Slew/Centering Performance
Image
  
Guiding Performance
Image
Image
  
Sky Conditions (Locate Frames)
Image
  
Night Sky Summary Plot
Top axis: Sky Brightness at Zenith (in ADU/s)
Lefthand axis: Local Time (hh LT). Righthand axis: Sun Altitude (degs)
Image   
  
Pre-Session Weather Forecast (API data from darksky.net)
Pre-Session Weather forecast showed initial wet and cloudy conditions (64-93% cloud cover),
gradually improving to become failry clear from 01:00 onwards (15-23% cloud cover)
Wind (13-16 mph), Minimum temperature 12°C by dawn

In the event conditions were initial showery with rain at 19:00 and 21:30.
Sky clear and dry between 21:40 and  01:00 allowing observing session to take place.
Cloud developed rapidly at 01:10 and ended the night's observing. Rain from 03:00 to 04:40.
Image
Image   
  
Session Event Log
Time     Event Detail
19:07:58 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 19:07 & 05:46
19:08:02   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud
19:36:07 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:36)
19:36:37 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-10-13 S00819, ImageSaveNum: 819001)
19:36:40   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox.
19:38:29   Services Started Observatory Services started
19:38:38 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
19:38:42 Session Pending Session pending (2020-10-13)
19:38:44 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-10-13)
19:38:46   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.16.6)
19:39:17   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-10-13 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 554)
19:39:29   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C)
19:39:35   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
19:39:45 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration
19:42:27   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
19:42:29 Session Running Session running
19:42:31   Queue Started Observing Queue started (36 targets selected)
19:43:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:47:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
19:50:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
19:50:51       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
19:53:45       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide)
19:55:50       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
19:56:10       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded
19:56:13     Target Started (1/36) Target started (1/36, GCVS S Cyg)
19:58:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:01:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
20:11:12     Target Completed Target completed (1/36, GCVS S Cyg)
20:11:14     Target Started (2/36) Target started (2/36, 61 Cyg)
20:13:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:16:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
20:17:41     Target Completed Target completed (2/36, 61 Cyg)
20:17:43     Target Started (3/36) Target started (3/36, GCVS SS Cyg)
20:20:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:23:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5)
20:26:51     Target Completed Target completed (3/36, GCVS SS Cyg)
20:30:47     Target Started (4/36) Target started (4/36, GCVS CI Cyg)
20:32:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:35:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
20:39:22     Target Completed Target completed (4/36, GCVS CI Cyg)
20:39:24     Target Started (5/37) Target started (5/37, C/2019 K7 (Smith), ToO)
20:41:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:44:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7)
20:45:32 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter)
20:45:34   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
20:45:37     Target Aborted (5/37) Target aborted (5/37, C/2019 K7 (Smith), ToO) due to cloud
20:45:39   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend
20:45:41 Session Suspended Session suspended
20:46:27   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 49s)
20:51:28     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/38, C/2019 U6 (Lemmon), ToO) due to cloud
20:51:32     Target Missed (7/38) Target's time slot was missed (7/38, GCVS BL Lac)
20:57:58     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/38, GCVS HH And) due to cloud
20:58:53 Session Resuming Session resuming
20:59:38   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
20:59:40 Session Running Session running
20:59:42   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
20:59:44     Target Started (9/38) Target started (9/38, UGC 12914)
21:01:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:04:35       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star lost
21:06:34   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
21:08:04   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions
21:20:18     Target Completed Target completed (9/38, UGC 12914)
21:20:21     Target Started (10/38) Target started (10/38, NGC 708)
21:23:00   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
21:23:13       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S)
21:26:00   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions
21:30:06   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
21:30:31   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions
21:37:22 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter)
21:37:24   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
21:37:26     Target Aborted (10/38) Target aborted (10/38, NGC 708) due to cloud
21:37:28   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend
21:37:30 Session Suspended Session suspended
21:38:12   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 40s)
21:39:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/38, NGC 708) due to cloud
21:55:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/38, GCVS U And) due to cloud
22:05:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/38, GCVS GK Per) due to cloud
22:13:44     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/38, GCVS RX And) due to cloud
22:23:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/38, GCVS DY Per) due to cloud
22:43:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/38, UGC 1803) due to cloud
23:05:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/38, NGC 48) due to cloud
23:16:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/38, WDS GRB 34) due to other condition
23:32:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/38, NGC 514) due to cloud
23:45:34     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/38, GCVS TT Ari) due to cloud
00:01:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/38, M31_AT2020vak) due to other condition
00:23:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/38, UGC 12506) due to cloud
00:37:43   Camera1 SetPoint SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -10°C)
00:45:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/38, UGCA 1) due to cloud
01:13:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/38, NGC 474) due to cloud
01:32:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/38, UGC 6930) due to cloud
01:53:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/38, NGC 2782) due to cloud
02:15:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/38, NGC 772) due to cloud
02:34:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/38, NGC 720) due to cloud
02:55:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/38, UGCA 24) due to cloud
03:14:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/38, NGC 584) due to cloud
03:35:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/38, UGCA 82) due to cloud
03:46:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/38, GCVS FU Ori) due to cloud
03:58:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/38, Nova AT2020bfc) due to cloud
04:18:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/38, NGC 1843) due to cloud
04:41:10     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/38, IC 421) due to cloud
05:23:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/38, NGC 2232) due to cloud
05:35:38     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/38, Berkeley 26) due to cloud
05:55:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/38, GCVS CM Tau) due to cloud
06:16:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (38/38, GCVS RR Tau) due to cloud
06:16:32   Queue Completed Job Queue completed
06:16:39 Session Closing Session closing
06:16:44   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 21:38, closing time 40s)
06:16:52   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 7s), Az: 90.0 deg
06:17:38   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 43s)
06:18:08   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox.
06:18:55   Services Stopped Night Services stopped
06:18:57 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
06:19:04 Session Finished Session Finished
 
Session Alerts
Time     Alert Detail
19:57:16 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (GCVS S Cyg)

Back to Top


Operational Issues (2020-10-13 S819)

[ Prev | Next ]

Critical Issues

Major Issues

Minor Issues

Continuous Improvement

[ Prev | Next ]

Back to Top


2020-10-13 am


GCN Monitoring - GRB Swift 999948 (2020-10-13)

AstroVOE program picked up a GCN/Swift Notice for a GRB Target of Interest last night at 03:46:42 UT.

2020-10-13T03:46:42 GCN/SWIFT NOTICE    61  Observation SWIFT_BAT_GRB_POSITION          999948    GRB_ALERT 
                    Name:       GRB Swift 999948
                    Trigger No: 999948
                    Dec:        57.0°
                    Pos Error:  0.1°
                    Con:        Lyn (Lynx)
                    GRB Alt:    73.1°       (Clair Observatory)
                    GRB Az:     77.9°       (Clair Observatory)
                    Sun Alt:    -23.5°      (Clair Observatory)
                    Moon Dist   53.0°
                    Moon Illum: 18.6%
                    Observatory isn't operating in automated mode and can't react.

Whilst the skies where unfortunately cloudy last night and the Clair Observatory wasn't open, AstroVOE's rapid recognition of the GRB Alert as being of interest (i.e. occuring at night time, in a part of the sky that is accessible by the observatory telescope and with a small positional uncertainty) is encouraging.

[ Swift Trigger and Burst REAL-TIME Information ]


Action

Back to Top


2020-10-14


GCN Monitoring - GRB Swift 1000255 (2020-10-14)

AstroVOE program picked up a GCN/Swift Notice for a GRB Target of Interest last night at 03:46:42 UT.

2020-10-14T22:49:53 GCN/SWIFT NOTICE 61 Observation SWIFT_BAT_GRB_POSITION 1000255 GRB_ALERT
                    Name: GRB Swift 1000255
                    Trigger No: 1000255
                    Dec: 27.7°
                    Pos Error: 0.1°
                    Con: Psc (Pisces)
                    GRB Alt: 58.2° (Clair Observatory)
                    GRB Az: 150.5° (Clair Observatory)
                    Sun Alt: -39.7° (Clair Observatory)
                    Moon Dist 139.0°
                    Moon Illum: 5.3%
                    Observatory isn't operating in automated mode and can't react.

Whilst the skies were unfortunately cloudy last night and the Clair Observatory wasn't open, AstroVOE again recognised the GRB Alert as being of interest (i.e. occuring at night time, in a part of the sky that is accessible by the observatory telescope and with a small positional uncertainty).

AstroVOE program picked up a further GCN/Swift Notice for a GRB Target of Interest at 2020-10-15  22:50:32 UT

2020-10-15T22:50:32 GCN/SWIFT NOTICE 61 Observation SWIFT_BAT_GRB_POSITION 1000452 GRB_ALERT
                     Name: GRB Swift 1000452
                     Trigger No: 1000452
                     Dec: 53.4°
                     Pos Error: 0.1°
                     Con: Cas (Cassiopeia)
                     GRB Alt: 82.9° (Clair Observatory)
                     GRB Az: 243.1° (Clair Observatory)
                     Sun Alt: -40.1° (Clair Observatory)
                     Moon Dist 124.5°
                     Moon Illum: 1.2%
                     Observatory isn't operating in automated mode and can't react.

The forecast wasn't good for the night and the observatory wasn't set to an operation state (AutoStart not running). Whilst there were some clear patches between 20:10 UT and 22:30 UT, at the time of GRB (22:50 UT) the sky had clouded over again.

[ Swift Trigger and Burst REAL-TIME Information ]

Back to Top


2020-10-15


DeviceHub 6.5.0.1

A new version of DeviceHub was installed today (2020-10-15) which offers some improved trapping and logging of exceptions during dome slaving calculations.  Version 6.5.0.1 is a pre-release of the ASCOM 6.5 SP1 version of DeviceHub which might help to identify what is causing the 'Stalled Dome'  issue that has affected several sessions since moving over to using DeviceHub instead of POTH. It is hoped that the information collected from further incidents of the issue will help identify a future fix or other remedy.

There was some concern over the possibility of problems due installing the new 6.5.0.1 version on older ASCOM 6.4 SP1 platform (neither Observatory Computer and Development Computer have been moved to 6.5 platform yet)  but it seems to have installed ok and tests show it to be operating working.

The full list of changes in 6.5.0.1 are

https://github.com/ASCOMInitiative/ASCOMDeviceHub/releases/tag/6.5.0.1

Back to Top


Stalled Dome Issue - Status

 

2020-10-15 DeviceHub 6.5.0.1.  A new version of DeviceHub was installed which offers some improved trapping and logging of exceptions during dome slaving calculations.  Version 6.5.0.1 is a pre-release of the ASCOM 6.5 SP1 version of DeviceHub which might help to identify what is causing the 'Stalled Dome'  issue that has affected several sessions since moving over to using DeviceHub instead of POTH. It is hoped that the information collected from further incidents of the issue will help identify a future fix or other remedy.

2020-10-15  AstroMain 3.30.7. A new version of AstroMain (the observatory's control program) can now identify the Stalled Dome situation and send appropriate Alert Messages. This uses a function 'Dome.TestForStalledDome' to run a couple of quick tests to confirm conclusively whether the Dome Driver/Dome Slaving is stalled or not.   A routine "Restart DeviceHub" can be run via a button function to restart the DeviceHub application, including managing the disconnection of observatory telescope/dome clients and reconnecting those clients again afterwards. (The RestartDeviceHub isn't automatically run for the time being in order that activity log messages can be manually copied and saved for later problem investigation and diagnosis)

Back to Top


SharpCap Scripting- Notes

 

Pause/UnPause LiveStacking
SharpCap.LiveStacking.Parameters.Paused = True
   ... dither ...
   ... wait at least one frame to avoid stacking dithered frame ...
SharpCap.LiveStacking.Parameters.Paused = False

Tell of LiveStacking is open or not
SharpCap.LiveStacking.IsActive


Name of Last Image Captured
SharpCap.GetLastCaptureFilename()

File Path to Dark Frame to subtract
print SharpCap.SelectedCamera.Controls.Find(lambda x: x.Name == "Subtract Dark").Value

Set  Dark Frame for Pre-Processing  'Subtract Dark'

SharpCap.SelectedCamera.Controls.Find(lambda x: x.Name == "Subtract Dark").Value
  = "C://Data//ZWO Imaging//SharpCap//2020-10-20 TEST//darks//Test Camera 1 (Deep Sky)//RAW16@3096x2080//2.0s//gain_150//dark_10_frames_2020-10-20T17_28_19.fits"

Camera.Controls for  ZWO ASI178MC camera
 

Capture Format and Area :  [Colour Space], [Capture Area],  [Binning],  [Output Format],  [Debayer Preview],  [Pan], [Tilt],

 
Camera Controls : [Exposure], [Gain],  [Temperature],
   More :                     [Frame Rate Limit], [Flip],  [Turbo USB],  [High Speed Mode],  [Hardware Binning],
Image Controls :    [Brightness],   [White Bal (R)],    [White Bal (B)],   [Timestamp Frames]
Misc Controls :       [Mono Bin],  [Auto Exp Target Brightness],  [Auto Exp Max Exp M S],  [Auto Exp Max Gain]
PreProcessing :     [Subtract Dark],  [Apply Flat],  [Banding Suppression], [Banding Threshold]
Display Histogram:   [Display Black Point],  [Display MidTone Point],  [Display White Point],  [Gamma],
Others:                       [ST4 Guide Port],  [Notes],  [ASCOM Pegasus UPB Focuser],  [Overclock]

Capture Area - Available Values

print SharpCap.SelectedCamera.Controls.Find(lambda x: x.Name == "Capture Area").AvailableValues

>> List[str](['3096x2080', '3096x1560', '2320x2080', '2320x1560', '2080x2080', '1920x1200', '1920x1080', '1600x1200', '1560x1560',
     '1544x2080', '1544x1040', '1280x1024',  '1040x1040', '1024x768', '800x600', '768x520', '640x480', '320x240', 'Custom...'])

ResolutionList = SharpCap.SelectedCamera.Controls.Find(lambda x: x.Name == "Capture Area").AvailableValues
print ResolutionList[0]

>> 3096x2080

 

Back to Top


2020-10-21


AstroSN - Data Source and Proof of Concept

AstroSN is a proposed new AstroSuite application, which is to provide fast automated access to new Supernova and other transient objects are offer them up to AstroPlan/AstroMain as Targets of Opportunity, that could be automatically inserted in the observing queue.   It work in a manner not dissimilar to AstroVOE which monitors the NASA GCN for reatime GRBs and can organise the automatic submission of a GRB for fast reaction observing should the observatory be open.

Step 1 :  Data Source

The initial proposed data source for Active SN is the Rochester Supernova website, and in particular the html document http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/snimages/snactive.html
which is meant to be a list where active objects can be more easily found that the full page . It is also meant so that it can easily be parsed by automated programs.

Quick assessment indicates the document contains a number of html errors that might confuse strict parsing. <label> tags closed by </lable>.However data is organised sufficiently well that  that data can be accessible for moving to the second line that contains the keyword '<table' . Then Skipping the first  table row  <tr>
and then read tables until </table> is reached.

rows are in form <tr><td><a href="../supernova.html#2020urz" target="_self">AT2020urz</a></td><td>anonymous</td><td>17:54:59.990</td><td>-21:22:40.10</td><td>0.0 </td><td>11.1</td><td>2020/10/02</td><td>Nova?</td><td>n/a</td><td>11.1</td><td>2020/10/02</td><td>2020/10/02</td><td>BraTS</td><td>BraTS-SON-T2-020</td></tr>

Step 2 : Proof of Concept Program

Instead of building a custom html parser an online search suggested that the package HtmlAgilityPack had the necessary tools for parsing the web document
https://www.nuget.org/packages/HtmlAgilityPack/

After extracting the .DLL and referencing it from a new Visual Studio Project 'AstroSN' it was quickly established that the data in the web page could be read and manipulated.
Copies of AstroVOE files added to the project as existing items, and a Test Button/Routine into which an online example of code using HtmlAgilityPack was included. The code was edited to reference the required web page and a couple of other edits made to allow it to run/pull data from html document.

try
   Dim web As New HtmlWeb()
   Dim doc As HtmlDocument = web.Load("http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/snimages/snactive.html")

   ' Get all tables in the document
   Dim tables As HtmlNodeCollection = doc.DocumentNode.SelectNodes("//table")

   ' Iterate all rows in the first table
   Dim rows As HtmlNodeCollection = tables(2).SelectNodes("//tr")
   For i As Integer = 0 To rows.Count - 1

      ' Iterate all columns in this row
      Dim cols As HtmlNodeCollection = rows(i).SelectNodes("//td")
      For j As Integer = 0 To cols.Count - 1

         ' Get the value of the column and print it
         Dim value As String = cols(j).InnerText
         MessageBox.Show(value)    
      Next
   Next
Catch ex As Exception
     MessageBox.Show("Error: " + ex.Message)
End Try 

Update: 2021-02-14
Since the proof of concept program was built the program has been built into a fully working application (AstroSN 1.4) that is run manually ahead of each new session. New Supernova of sufficient brightness/interest are loaded into Targets Database and then automatocally incorporated in the night's observing plan. Other objects, suhc as bright CV outbursts are also loaded to the database.   Data loaded including discovery date allow time since discovery to be easily calculated for any later observations.  This aid documentation of obsrevations on website.

Back to Top