David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 826 (2020-11-03)

Notes (S825)

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Notes (S827)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (2),  Continuous Improvement (4)
	Images from 2020-11-03 >>
	2020-11-04
	178MC Dark Frames
	ShCap - Events

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-11-03)

Main aims -

1. Cam1 Guiding. Test routines and settings for guiding using LX200/ST10 (main scope, north down images) whilst imaging with TS80/178MC (secondary scope)
2. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of deep sky targets
3. Bug fixes.  Check that bugs discovered in last session in AstroMain 3.31.2 have been fixed, and that recent new features are working ok

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2,  DeviceHub 4.5.0.1, UPB 1.5 
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.9
   
• AstroMain 3.32.1,  AstroGuard 1.4.6,   AstroPlan 1.17  AstroShCap 1.3.3, AstroVOE 1.5, AstroProtect 1.4.1
  (AstroWeather 1.10.13, AstroAllSky 3.6)

Highlights

• Dome Parking.  Data was collected about a issue that has affected the last two session  whereby false alerts are being generated by the observatory control program (AstroMain) during observatory shutdown saying that Dome Parking had failed when the dome had in fact successfuly moved to its park position, allowing a fix to be made to Dome.SlewToAzimuth (90) routine.   Fix to be tested over the course of next few sessions to make sure that it resolved the issue.
•   Cloud. Conditons deteriorated very shortly after starting the session and session suspended itself until dawn due to cloud.
  Cloud prevented testing routines and settings associated with Cam1 guiding (guiding using LX200/ST10 (main scope, north down images) whilst imaging with TS80/178MC (secondary scope)
  
  Above rows are likely a typographical duplicate from a previous session

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) Pre-Session Weather forecast showed a clear spell in middle of evening (cloud cover 0-23%) but clouding at 22:00 to 02:00 (cloud cover 54-78%) , becoming totally overcast from 02:00 onwards.  Minimum temperature 6 degC. Wind becoming strong onwards dawn with potential rain (heavy rain forecast from 08:00 onwards) In the event there was a clear spell from 18:00 to 20:10 but transparency and seeing were fairly poor, and sky was bright due to moonlight and cloud reflection. Cloud thickened at 21:45 and session suspended.   User intervention made to finish session at 23:30 due to  cloud and rain risk.

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 17:08:32 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 17:15 & 05:29 17:15:05   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 17:15 17:15:06   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud 17:36:17 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (17:36) 17:36:59   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 17:37:01 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-11-03 S00826, ImageSaveNum: 826001) 17:37:03   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 17:38:55   Services Started Observatory Services started 17:39:04 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 17:39:07 Session Pending Session pending (2020-11-03) 17:39:09 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-11-03) 17:39:11   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.17) 17:39:49   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-11-03 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 561) 17:39:52   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 17:39:56   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 17:40:06 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 17:41:53   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 17:42:09   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 17:47:08   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (5.0 mins total) 17:47:10 Session Running Session running 17:47:12   Queue Started Observing Queue started (51 targets selected) 17:48:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:53:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 17:56:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 17:56:09       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 17:58:22       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 18:00:14       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 18:00:32       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded 18:00:36     Target Started (1/51) Target started (1/51, GCVS S Cyg) 18:03:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:06:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 18:16:18     Target Completed Target completed (1/51, GCVS S Cyg) 18:16:20     Target Started (2/51) Target started (2/51, HIP 87937) 18:18:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:21:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 18:25:09     Target Completed Target completed (2/51, HIP 87937) 18:25:11     Target Started (3/51) Target started (3/51, GCVS CY Lyr) 18:27:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:30:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 18:33:54     Target Completed Target completed (3/51, GCVS CY Lyr) 18:33:57     Target Started (4/51) Target started (4/51, GCVS AM Her) 18:36:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:39:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 18:43:56     Target Completed Target completed (4/51, GCVS AM Her) 18:43:58     Target Started (5/51) Target started (5/51, C/2019 K7 (Smith)) 18:45:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:48:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 18:56:26     Target Completed Target completed (5/51, C/2019 K7 (Smith)) 18:57:13     Target Started (6/51) Target started (6/51, GCVS RX And) 19:00:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:03:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 19:05:50     Target Completed Target completed (6/51, GCVS RX And) 19:05:52     Target Started (7/51) Target started (7/51, GCVS DY Per) 19:08:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:11:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 19:15:59     Target Completed Target completed (7/51, GCVS DY Per) 19:16:02     Target Started (8/51) Target started (8/51, GCVS TT Ari) 19:19:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:22:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 19:28:27     Target Completed Target completed (8/51, GCVS TT Ari) 19:28:29     Target Started (9/51) Target started (9/51, GCVS U And) 19:30:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:33:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 19:43:19     Target Completed Target completed (9/51, GCVS U And) 19:43:22     Target Started (10/51) Target started (10/51, C/2019 U6 (Lemmon)) 19:47:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:50:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 19:58:39     Target Completed Target completed (10/51, C/2019 U6 (Lemmon)) 19:58:42     Target Started (11/52) Target started (11/52, NGC 7656, ToO) 20:01:49       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:19:12     Target Completed Target completed (11/52, NGC 7656, ToO) 20:19:15     Target Missed (12/52) Target's time slot was missed (12/52, GCVS CI Cyg) 20:19:17     Target Missed (13/52) Target's time slot was missed (13/52, 61 Cyg) 20:19:19     Target Started (14/52) Target started (14/52, GCVS SS Cyg) 20:26:03     Target Completed Target completed (14/52, GCVS SS Cyg) 20:27:08     Target Started (15/52) Target started (15/52, GCVS BL Lac) 20:29:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:32:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 20:35:40     Target Completed Target completed (15/52, GCVS BL Lac) 20:37:26     Target Started (16/52) Target started (16/52, GCVS Z And) 20:39:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:42:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 20:45:57     Target Completed Target completed (16/52, GCVS Z And) 20:46:15     Target Started (17/52) Target started (17/52, GCVS HH And) 20:48:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:51:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 20:52:52     Target Completed Target completed (17/52, GCVS HH And) 20:54:30     Target Started (18/52) Target started (18/52, WDS GRB 34) 20:56:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:59:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 21:00:43     Target Completed Target completed (18/52, WDS GRB 34) 21:02:45     Target Started (19/52) Target started (19/52, NGC 772) 21:07:00       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 21:09:32   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 21:10:12   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions 21:12:27   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 21:13:07   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions 21:13:52   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 21:14:33     Target Aborted (19/52) Target aborted (19/52, NGC 772) due to User Intervention 21:14:35   Queue Paused Queue paused for SoftSuspend 21:14:37 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:15:27   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 21:37:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/52, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) due to rain 22:14:43   Camera1 SetPoint -15°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -15°C) 22:16:29     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/52, NGC 2158) due to cloud 22:32:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/52, M31_AT2020vak) due to wind 22:49:58     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/52, NGC 514) due to wind 23:02:30     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/52, GSC 1224:29) due to wind 23:11:06     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/52, GCVS GK Per) due to wind 23:14:48   Camera1 SetPoint -20°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -20°C) 23:30:44     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/52, NGC 2782) due to cloud 23:34:50   Camera1 SetPoint -15°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -15°C) 23:43:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/52, GCVS ER UMa) due to wind 23:45:21 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:46:06   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:46:08 Session Running Session running 23:46:10     Target Started (28/52) Target started (28/52, Nova AT2020bfc) 23:46:12   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:48:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:51:52       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Ambiguous) 23:58:34     Target Completed Target completed (28/52, Nova AT2020bfc) 23:58:36     Target Started (29/52) Target started (29/52, GCVS DX Cnc) 00:00:45       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:07:37     Target Completed Target completed (29/52, GCVS DX Cnc) 00:07:39     Target Started (30/52) Target started (30/52, GCVS FO Ori) 00:11:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:13:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 00:17:50     Target Completed Target completed (30/52, GCVS FO Ori) 00:17:52     Target Started (31/52) Target started (31/52, GCVS NV Ori) 00:20:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:23:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 00:26:52     Target Completed Target completed (31/52, GCVS NV Ori) 00:26:54     Target Started (32/52) Target started (32/52, GCVS CN Ori) 00:29:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:32:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 00:36:13     Target Completed Target completed (32/52, GCVS CN Ori) 00:36:15     Target Started (33/52) Target started (33/52, NGC 2232) 00:38:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:41:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 00:49:22   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:49:47   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions 00:53:52   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:59:33 Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 00:59:35   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 01:00:09     Target Aborted (33/52) Target aborted (33/52, NGC 2232) due to threat of rain 01:00:11   Queue Paused Queue paused for SoftSuspend 01:00:13 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:00:58   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 01:01:01   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 01:10:14   Camera1 SetPoint -20°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -20°C) 01:13:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/52, NGC 2232) due to rain 01:20:15   Camera1 SetPoint -15°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -15°C) 01:22:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/52, GCVS U Gem) due to rain 01:35:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/52, Berkeley 37) due to wind 02:00:18   Camera1 SetPoint -20°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -20°C) 02:01:40     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/52, C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)) due to threat of rain 02:13:55     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/52, Berkeley 26) due to rain 02:20:20   Camera1 SetPoint -15°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -15°C) 02:23:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (38/52, LAMOST-HVS1) due to rain 02:35:42     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (39/52, Berkeley 76) due to cloud 02:40:22   Camera1 SetPoint -20°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -20°C) 02:55:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (40/52, Scholz's Star) due to rain 03:00:24   Camera1 SetPoint -15°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -15°C) 03:05:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (41/52, GCVS FU Ori) due to cloud 03:16:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (42/52, NGC 2324) due to wind 03:27:11     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (43/52, GCVS RZ LMi) due to rain 03:44:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (44/52, UGC 6930) due to cloud 03:54:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (45/52, GCVS AM CVn) due to wind 04:06:35 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:07:20   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 04:07:22 Session Running Session running 04:07:24     Target Started (46/52) Target started (46/52, NGC 3243) 04:07:26   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:21:43     Target Completed Target partially completed (46/52, NGC 3243) 04:21:45     Target Started (47/52) Target started (47/52, GCVS CN Leo) 04:24:09       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:33:58     Target Completed Target completed (47/52, GCVS CN Leo) 04:34:01     Target Started (48/52) Target started (48/52, NGC 3643) 04:39:42       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 04:57:06     Target Completed Target completed (48/52, NGC 3643) 04:57:08     Target Started (49/52) Target started (49/52, M61) 04:59:35   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 05:01:05 Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 05:01:07   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 05:01:09     Target Aborted (49/52) Target aborted (49/52, M61) due to threat of rain 05:01:11   Queue Paused Queue paused for SoftSuspend 05:01:13 Session Suspended Session suspended 05:02:00   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 05:02:03   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 05:12:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (49/52, M61) due to rain 05:35:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (50/52, NGC 4277) due to cloud 05:48:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (51/52, GCVS U Mon) due to cloud 06:07:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (52/52, GCVS SY Cnc) due to other condition 06:07:58   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:08:01 Session Closing Session closing 06:08:06   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 05:02, closing time 50s) 06:08:30   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 15s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:09:17   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 44s) 06:09:48   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 06:10:38   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:10:40 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:11:02 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 18:02:06 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (GCVS S Cyg)

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Operational Issues (2020-11-03 S826)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (2)
• Continuous Improvement (4)

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Critical Issues

•  None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Shutter Battery Health Data from Pulsar Dome Observatory flatlined from c. 18:00 (2nd Nov) to c 13:00 (3rd Nov). Flat-lined data started at around 2.75 days since last shutter activation.   Looking at the Pulsar ASCOM log there is nothing anomalous about, apart from confirming that data does indeed flatline during the above period. Comms with DeviceHub are normal.   This was previously logged as an issue in Session 812 (2020-09-19).    Raised with Pulsar Observatories (Matthew Player) in Dec 2020.  Re-raised with additional information on 2021-02-10.  Fixed by installation of new (1.25) version of the Pulsar Shutter software on 2021-03-31. Monitoring over the following month confirmed that the Shutter Unit no longer falls asleep and is always sending back fresh Shutter Battery information.
  Fixed 2021-03-31 (Pulsar Shutter Software 1.25)
   
• AstroPlan stopped uploading live images & documents to Website at around 05:20, which prevented understanding the result of the observatory shutdown using usual means, namely IPAD Safari browsing of website's Current Session Page . This happened on another recent session.  Logging is insufficient to determinine the precise problem.   Logging needs to be enhanced to try to establish what issue might be. Probably need an overseerer thread to monitor the upload thread, and to log and highlight when an issue occurs.   Time of last upload is written to main form to provide better visibility of any issues with uploading.   A bug in CloseLogFile() routine that might be preventing useful exception messages from being written has been fixed.  Problem again occurred during session S841 (2020-12-21).  Improved version of AstroPlan  issued 2020-11-07  with better tracking  (AstroPlan 1.17.2)
  Ongoing ccccasional problem that is proving very difficult to resolve.  (AstroPlan)

Continuous Improvement

• Make series of improvement to AstroShCap reporting following a review of reports from last session and earlier enhancements.
  Done 2020-11-04 (AstroShCap 1.3.4 )
   
• Create separate methods for setting up ShCap Focus Frame Imaging and Focus Profiling.
  Done 2020-11-04 (AstroMain 3.32.2 / AstroShCap 1.3.4 )
   
• Look into Foc1 CRZ versus scatter seen on Focus Chart from session. Look at performing repeat focus profiles on same star field to understand the error bar associated with profile method.
  To Do  (Session / AstroMain)
   
• Create a diagram to illustrate the 'objects' in AstroMain Program. A diagram has been drafted using paper & pen (2020-11-05) however the draft has been mislaid or unintentionally binned.
  To Do  (Session / AstroMain)

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2020-11-04

178MC Dark Frames

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ShCap - Events

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