David's Astronomy Pages
Notes - Session 828 (2020-11-07)

 
Bullet Session Aims & Highlights
 - Observing Result
 - Night Summary Plot
 - Session Event Log
 
Bullet Operational Issues
  - Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (2),  Continuous Improvement (7)
Bullet Images from 2020-11-07 >>
Bullet SiriL 0.99.6

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-11-07)

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

Highlights

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 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.
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Session Event Log
Time     Event Detail
19:51:45 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 19:51 & 05:36
19:51:49   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud
19:52:19 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:52)
19:53:02   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
19:53:04 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-11-07 S00828, ImageSaveNum: 828001)
19:53:06   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox.
19:54:58   Services Started Observatory Services started
19:55:07 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
19:55:10 Session Pending Session pending (2020-11-07)
19:55:12 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-11-07)
19:55:14   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.17.2)
19:55:40   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-11-07 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 563)
19:55:43   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C)
19:55:48   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
19:55:58 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration
19:57:55   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
19:58:10 Session Running Session running
19:58:11   Queue Started Observing Queue started (33 targets selected)
19:59:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:02:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
20:05:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
20:05:35       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
20:08:19       Focusing Failed Foc2 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Range)
20:10:10     Target Started (1/33) Target started (1/33, GCVS SS Cyg)
20:13:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:17:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
20:20:40     Target Completed Target completed (1/33, GCVS SS Cyg)
20:25:21     Target Started (2/33) Target started (2/33, GCVS HH And)
20:28:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:31:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
20:33:32     Target Completed Target completed (2/33, GCVS HH And)
20:33:34     Target Started (3/33) Target started (3/33, GCVS BL Lac)
20:36:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:39:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
20:42:55     Target Completed Target completed (3/33, GCVS BL Lac)
20:43:54     Target Started (4/33) Target started (4/33, NGC 514)
20:46:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:48:06 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter)
20:48:08   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
20:48:09       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star lost
20:48:11     Target Aborted (4/33) Target aborted (4/33, NGC 514) due to cloud
20:48:13   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension
20:48:15 Session Suspended Session suspended
20:49:01   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s)
20:58:16   Camera1 SetPoint -20°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -20°C)
20:59:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/33, NGC 514) due to cloud
21:20:38     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/33, UGCA 25) due to other condition
21:29:01 Session Resuming Session resuming
21:29:46   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
21:29:48 Session Running Session running
21:29:51   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
21:30:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:33:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
21:33:45       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
21:36:29       Focusing Failed Foc2 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Range)
21:36:37     Target Started (6/33) Target started (6/33, GCVS U And)
21:37:51   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
21:42:40     Target Completed Target partially completed (6/33, GCVS U And)
21:42:42   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension
21:42:44 Session Suspended Session suspended
21:43:31   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s)
21:46:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/33, GCVS Z And) due to other condition
21:51:21 Session Resuming Session resuming
21:52:06   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
21:52:08 Session Running Session running
21:52:10   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
21:52:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:55:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7)
21:55:33       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
21:58:14       Focusing Failed Foc2 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Range)
21:58:23     Target Started (8/33) Target started (8/33, WDS GRB 34)
22:01:21 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter)
22:01:23   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
22:01:25     Target Aborted (8/33) Target aborted (8/33, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud
22:01:27   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension
22:01:29 Session Suspended Session suspended
22:02:16   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s)
22:14:10     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/33, NGC 3266) due to cloud
22:32:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/33, UGC 6930) due to cloud
22:53:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/33, NGC 4290) due to cloud
23:16:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/33, UGC 5459) due to cloud
23:21:32   Camera1 SetPoint -15°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -15°C)
23:38:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/33, GCVS CM Tau) due to cloud
00:05:39   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted
00:05:54   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped
00:06:15 Program Closed Program closed by User
00:06:17 Program Closed Program closed by User
00:08:37 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2020-11-07 S00828, ImageSaveNum: 828034)
00:08:47   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started
00:08:49   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started
00:08:53   Services Started Observatory Services started
00:09:00   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C)
00:10:01   Services Started Observatory Services started
00:10:53   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
00:11:21 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
00:11:22 Session Pending Session pending (2020-11-07)
00:11:24 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-11-07)
00:11:26   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-11-07 V1 ACTIVE PLAN S828, Plan ID: 563)
00:11:27   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C)
00:11:31   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
00:11:42 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration
00:11:44 Wait On Weather Waiting For acceptable conditions
00:11:46 Session Suspended Session suspended
00:11:48   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closure time is unknown)
00:11:50   Queue Started Observing Queue started (20 targets selected)
00:17:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/33, NGC 2158) due to cloud
00:30:38     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/33, Nova AT2020bfc) due to cloud
00:39:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/33, GCVS RX And) due to cloud
00:48:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/33, GCVS GK Per) due to cloud
01:07:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/33, UGCA 92) due to cloud
01:30:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/33, UGCA 105) due to cloud
01:52:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/33, NGC 1637) due to cloud
02:04:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/33, GCVS SU Tau) due to cloud
02:14:17     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/33, GCVS CN Ori) due to cloud
02:33:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/33, UGCA 102) due to cloud
02:56:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/33, UGCA 104) due to cloud
03:18:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/33, NGC 1843) due to cloud
03:41:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/33, Scholz's Star) due to cloud
04:02:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/33, NGC 2377) due to cloud
04:24:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/33, NGC 2782) due to cloud
04:47:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/33, UGCA 154) due to cloud
05:00:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/33, GCVS RZ LMi) due to cloud
05:21:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/33, NGC 4244) due to cloud
05:43:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/33, UGC 7321) due to cloud
06:11:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/33, M85) due to cloud
06:11:09   Queue Completed Job Queue completed
06:11:14 Session Closing Session closing
06:11:19   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closure time is unknown)
06:12:29   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 61s), Az: 90.1 deg
06:13:15   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 38s)
06:13:45   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox.
06:14:36   Services Stopped Night Services stopped
06:14:38 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
06:14:45 Session Finished Session Finished
 
 
Session Alerts
Time     Alert Detail
-- No Alerts                --                              
 

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Operational Issues (2020-11-07 S828)

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Critical Issues

Major Issues

Minor Issues

Continuous Improvement

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SiriL (0.99.6)

Latest SiriL version,  0.99.6 (1.0.0 beta) dated 2020-09-22,   was downloaded from the siril.org website (https://www.siril.org/) and installed on the Development Computer today (2020-11-08). The intention is to test out this previously unused piece of astrophotography software and appraise its potential as a helper application for the Clair Observatory.

Siril is a free astronomical image processing software intended to process amateur astronomic images and videos. and I learnt about it through an online astronomy forum. I am interested in finding a better way of automating the realtime capture of OSC colour images as I was finding it difficult to get decent colour images through SharpCap's LiveStack without user involvement to twiddle the setting.   I approached the SiriL forum In Oct 2020 to try to understand how I might be able to utilise the program through scripting or piping from an outside program. I learnt that since 0.99 versions, there is a new executable called siril-cli that allows a script to be run without opening the SiriL graphical context. :
  $ siril-cli.exe -s script_file
 will run the script_file (full path possible) from the command line.

See later notes on SiriL 1.0.6.

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