David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 830 (2020-11-19)

Notes (S829)

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Notes (S831)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (2),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2020-11-19 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-11-19)

Main aims -

1. Comet C/2020 M3 (Atlas). Take images of new comet currently pasisng through Orion
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 3.32.6,  AstroGuard 1.4.6,   AstroPlan 1.17.5  AstroShCap 1.3.6, AstroVOE 1.5, AstroProtect 1.4.1
  (AstroWeather 1.10.13, AstroAllSky 3.6)

Highlights

•   Dome Parking.  

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 19:15:26 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 19:15 & 05:58 19:15:28 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:15) 19:16:11   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 19:16:13 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-11-19 S00830, ImageSaveNum: 830001) 19:16:15   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 19:18:08   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:18:16 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:18:18 Session Pending Session pending (2020-11-19) 19:18:20 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-11-19) 19:18:22   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.17.5) 19:18:48   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-11-19 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 565) 19:18:51   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 19:18:56   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 19:19:07 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 19:21:03   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 19:21:18 Session Running Session running 19:21:21   Queue Started Observing Queue started (35 targets selected) 19:22:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:26:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:29:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:29:25       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:31:39       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 19:33:30       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 19:33:45       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded 19:33:50     Target Started (1/35) Target started (1/35, GCVS RX And) 19:36:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:39:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 19:42:21     Target Completed Target completed (1/35, GCVS RX And) 19:47:22     Target Started (2/35) Target started (2/35, GCVS S Cyg) 19:54:16   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 20:01:10     Target Completed Target partially completed (2/35, GCVS S Cyg) 20:01:12   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 20:01:14 Session Suspended Session suspended 20:01:57   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 20:11:13   Camera1 SetPoint -20°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -20°C) 20:11:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/35, GCVS SS Cyg) due to cloud 20:28:39 Session Resuming Session resuming 20:29:24   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 20:29:26 Session Running Session running 20:29:28     Target Started (4/35) Target started (4/35, NGC 2782) 20:29:30   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 20:37:38     Target Completed Target partially completed (4/35, NGC 2782) 20:37:40     Target Started (5/35) Target started (5/35, NGC 157) 20:38:05   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 20:41:42     Target Failed Target failed due to cloud (5/35, NGC 157) 20:41:44   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 20:41:46 Session Suspended Session suspended 20:42:35   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 20:53:22     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/35, NGC 157) due to cloud 21:04:57 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:05:43   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:05:45 Session Running Session running 21:05:47     Target Started (6/35) Target started (6/35, UGCA 1) 21:05:49   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 21:22:21     Target Completed Target partially completed (6/35, UGCA 1) 21:22:23     Target Started (7/35) Target started (7/35, GCVS U And) 21:24:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:27:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:37:07     Target Completed Target completed (7/35, GCVS U And) 21:37:09     Target Started (8/35) Target started (8/35, GCVS DY Per) 21:40:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:43:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:47:54     Target Completed Target completed (8/35, GCVS DY Per) 21:47:56     Target Started (9/35) Target started (9/35, UGCA 36) 21:50:40       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:08:16     Target Completed Target completed (9/35, UGCA 36) 22:08:18     Target Started (10/35) Target started (10/35, UGCA 44) 22:10:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:13:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 22:29:20     Target Completed Target completed (10/35, UGCA 44) 22:34:21     Target Started (11/35) Target started (11/35, IC 1870) 22:54:49     Target Completed Target completed (11/35, IC 1870) 22:54:51     Target Started (12/36) Target started (12/36, NGC 932, ToO) 22:58:01       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:15:34     Target Completed Target completed (12/36, NGC 932, ToO) 23:15:36     Target Missed (13/36) Target's time slot was missed (13/36, UGCA 47) 23:15:38     Target Started (14/36) Target started (14/36, NGC 474) 23:17:13       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 23:40:14     Target Completed Target completed (14/36, NGC 474) 23:40:52     Target Started (15/36) Target started (15/36, WDS GRB 34) 23:43:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:46:30       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Ambiguous) 23:48:09     Target Completed Target completed (15/36, WDS GRB 34) 23:49:07     Target Started (16/36) Target started (16/36, NGC 514) 23:51:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:54:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 00:05:09     Target Completed Target completed (16/36, NGC 514) 00:06:29     Target Started (17/36) Target started (17/36, UGCA 82) 00:08:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:11:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 00:27:34     Target Completed Target completed (17/36, UGCA 82) 00:28:51     Target Started (18/36) Target started (18/36, NGC 1637) 00:31:09       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:48:29     Target Completed Target completed (18/36, NGC 1637) 00:51:13     Target Started (19/36) Target started (19/36, GCVS CM Tau) 00:53:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:56:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 01:10:21     Target Completed Target completed (19/36, GCVS CM Tau) 01:11:13     Target Started (20/36) Target started (20/36, GCVS RR Tau) 01:13:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:16:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 01:22:36     Target Completed Target completed (20/36, GCVS RR Tau) 01:22:38     Target Started (21/36) Target started (21/36, UGC 3777) 01:25:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:28:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 01:44:43     Target Completed Target completed (21/36, UGC 3777) 01:44:45     Target Started (22/36) Target started (22/36, UGC 4609) 01:47:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:50:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 02:06:40     Target Completed Target completed (22/36, UGC 4609) 02:07:02     Target Started (23/36) Target started (23/36, UGCA 166) 02:10:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:13:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 02:28:44     Target Completed Target completed (23/36, UGCA 166) 02:29:23     Target Started (24/36) Target started (24/36, C/2020 M3 (Atlas)) 02:31:51       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:35:24     Target Completed Target completed (24/36, C/2020 M3 (Atlas)) 02:38:34     Target Started (25/36) Target started (25/36, OJ 287) 02:41:00       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:58:32     Target Completed Target completed (25/36, OJ 287) 03:00:56     Target Started (26/36) Target started (26/36, UGCA 208) 03:03:44       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:20:40     Target Completed Target completed (26/36, UGCA 208) 03:23:18     Target Started (27/36) Target started (27/36, UGCA 219) 03:26:12       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 03:43:26     Target Completed Target completed (27/36, UGCA 219) 03:45:40     Target Started (28/36) Target started (28/36, UGC 3904) 03:48:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:50:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 04:07:02     Target Completed Target completed (28/36, UGC 3904) 04:08:02     Target Started (29/36) Target started (29/36, UGC 4186) 04:11:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:14:13   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 04:14:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 04:29:50     Target Completed Target completed (29/36, UGC 4186) 04:29:52   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:29:54 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:30:44   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 04:39:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/36, GCVS SY Cnc) due to cloud 04:59:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/36, NGC 3718) due to cloud 04:59:57   Camera1 SetPoint -20°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -20°C) 05:17:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/36, UGC 6930) due to cloud 05:39:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/36, M61) due to cloud 05:52:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/36, GCVS DX Cnc) due to cloud 06:05:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/36, GCVS CN Leo) due to cloud 06:35:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/36, UGCA 228) due to cloud 06:35:30   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:35:36 Session Closing Session closing 06:35:41   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 04:30, closing time 50s) 06:36:51   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 62s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:37:38   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 39s) 06:38:08   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 06:38:57   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:39:00 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:39:16 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 21:38:33 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (GCVS DY Per)

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Operational Issues (2020-11-19 S830)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (3)
• Continuous Improvement (1)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Session.SkyConditionsTab file not being written to live folder. This functionality has not been new functionality was added that was intended to allow the upload of up to 3 SkyConditions Tabs files to be uploaded to website. Problem was caused by the Tab01 file being overwritten by a blank Tab02 file when the session ended and reverted to General Session. Bug fixed by ensuring that MoveSkyConditionsTabFiles() routine is only called when the session is a live one (ie ObservatoryManager.bLiveSession = True)
  Fixed 2020-11-21 (AstroMain 3.32.7)
   
• Dome shutter battery not charging following session.  Investigating showed that due to degraded calibration the dome although parked at Az 90 deg, it was 1.4 deg away from position where two halves of induction charger are aligned. Dome was rotated to the correct position and the dome resynced to 90 deg using the Device Hub's SyncTo Azmiuth facility.    Waiting on new home magnet to perform a fresh dome calibration.
  Fixed 2020-11-21 (Observatory) 
   
• Stop the  symbol from showing in Session Events Table.  The  appears to event name when changing Camera 1 setpoint, but doesn't appear in the event description, indicating that there is a solution. Code shows no difference in how the degree symbol is written in the two fields. Both use ' + Chr(176) + "C" ' 

  20:11:13

  Camera1 SetPoint -20°C

  SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -20°

  Considered closed.
  Closed  (AstroMain / AstroPlan)

Continuous Improvement 

• Need new process to automate the stacking of mosaic frame subs. At the moment the best sub from each mosaic point is selected and the rest of the subs placed in 'bad' folder.   Whilst screening of images to remove bad subs (cloud , poor guiding) will still be required, where there are multiple good subs they should be average combined.    At the moment this involves considerable manual intervention to move files so they can be copied to aligned folder, averaged and the temporary files cleared ready for next mosaic point.   The elements are in place to automate most of the process.  A workflow and several supporting routines has been built and added to a new  'Mosaic SubTab on Analysis/ImageSets Tab.
  Done 2020-12-09 (AstroMain 3.32.15)

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