David's Astronomy Pages
Notes - Session 833 (2020-11-25)

 
Bullet Session Aims & Highlights
 - Observing Result
 - Night Summary Plot
 - Session Event Log
 
Bullet Operational Issues
  - Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (2),  Minor Issues (4),  Continuous Improvement (4)
Bullet Images from 2020-11-25 >>
 

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-11-25)

Main aims -

  1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets and deep sky targets as moonlight conditions allowed.
  2. Bug Fixes. Check that bug fixes made since last session haven't upset the program operation and are working where appropriate.

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 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.
Image
Image   
  
Session Event Log
Time     Event Detail
17:19:12 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-11-25 S00833, ImageSaveNum: 833001)
17:19:15   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox.
17:21:10   Services Started Observatory Services started
17:21:17 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode
17:35:20   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
17:40:19   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
17:57:32   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
18:18:04   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped
18:18:24 Program Closed Program closed by User
18:18:26 Program Closed Program closed by User
18:21:29 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2020-11-25 S00833, ImageSaveNum: 833009)
18:22:44   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started
18:22:46   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started
18:22:50   Services Started Observatory Services started
18:22:59   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
18:36:37   Services Started Observatory Services started
18:37:26 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
18:37:30 Session Pending Session pending (2020-11-25)
18:37:32 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-11-25)
18:37:34   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.17.5)
18:39:03   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-11-25 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 568)
18:39:06   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
18:39:14   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
18:39:30 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration
18:39:32 Session Running Session running
18:39:34   Queue Started Observing Queue started (49 targets selected)
18:40:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
18:44:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
18:46:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
18:46:54       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
18:49:07       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide)
18:50:57       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
18:51:13       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded
18:51:21     Target Started (1/49) Target started (1/49, GCVS SS Cyg)
18:59:03     Target Completed Target completed (1/49, GCVS SS Cyg)
18:59:05     Target Started (2/49) Target started (2/49, GCVS BL Lac)
19:01:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:04:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
19:07:43     Target Completed Target completed (2/49, GCVS BL Lac)
19:07:45     Target Started (3/49) Target started (3/49, GCVS HH And)
19:10:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:13:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
19:14:55     Target Completed Target completed (3/49, GCVS HH And)
19:14:58     Target Started (4/49) Target started (4/49, GCVS RX And)
19:17:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:20:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5)
19:23:20     Target Completed Target completed (4/49, GCVS RX And)
19:23:23     Target Started (5/49) Target started (5/49, KIC 8462852)
19:26:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:29:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
19:36:31     Target Completed Target completed (5/49, KIC 8462852)
19:36:33     Target Started (6/49) Target started (6/49, 61 Cyg)
19:38:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:40:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7)
19:42:16     Target Completed Target completed (6/49, 61 Cyg)
19:42:18     Target Started (7/49) Target started (7/49, 184P/Lovas)
19:46:20       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
19:56:02     Target Completed Target completed (7/49, 184P/Lovas)
19:56:09     Target Started (8/49) Target started (8/49, GCVS CY Lyr)
19:59:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:01:51       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
20:05:19     Target Completed Target completed (8/49, GCVS CY Lyr)
20:06:27     Target Started (9/49) Target started (9/49, GCVS CI Cyg)
20:08:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:11:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9)
20:15:12     Target Completed Target completed (9/49, GCVS CI Cyg)
20:15:14     Target Started (10/49) Target started (10/49, GCVS S Cyg)
20:17:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:20:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10)
20:30:19     Target Completed Target completed (10/49, GCVS S Cyg)
20:30:21     Target Started (11/49) Target started (11/49, GCVS Z And)
20:32:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:35:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11)
20:39:13     Target Completed Target completed (11/49, GCVS Z And)
20:39:16     Target Started (12/49) Target started (12/49, GCVS U And)
20:41:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:44:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12)
20:54:16     Target Completed Target completed (12/49, GCVS U And)
20:54:19     Target Started (13/49) Target started (13/49, NGC 514)
20:56:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:59:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13)
21:10:42     Target Completed Target completed (13/49, NGC 514)
21:10:44     Target Started (14/49) Target started (14/49, 11P/Tempel-Swift-LINEAR)
21:12:42       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S)
21:21:36     Target Completed Target completed (14/49, 11P/Tempel-Swift-LINEAR)
21:22:00   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
21:22:03   Queue Paused Queue pausing for Session Suspension
21:22:05 Session Suspended Session suspended
21:22:55   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s)
21:32:06   Camera1 SetPoint -25°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -25°C)
21:32:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/49, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud
21:42:07   Camera1 SetPoint -20°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -20°C)
21:42:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/49, GCVS DY Per) due to cloud
21:54:50     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/49, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) due to cloud
22:09:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/49, 156P/Russell-LINEAR) due to cloud
22:20:22     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/49, GSC 1224:29) due to cloud
22:34:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/49, 398P/Boattini) due to cloud
22:53:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/49, GCVS CM Tau) due to cloud
23:03:30     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/49, GCVS FO Ori) due to cloud
23:11:55     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/49, GCVS FU Ori) due to cloud
23:20:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/49, GCVS GK Per) due to cloud
23:31:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/49, GCVS RR Tau) due to cloud
23:42:22     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/49, GCVS DX Cnc) due to cloud
23:51:03 Session Resuming Session resuming
23:51:49   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
23:51:51 Session Running Session running
23:51:53     Target Started (27/49) Target started (27/49, GCVS TT Ari)
23:51:55   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
23:59:10     Target Completed Target partially completed (27/49, GCVS TT Ari)
23:59:12     Target Started (28/49) Target started (28/49, GCVS CN Ori)
00:02:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:04:18       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
00:07:43     Target Completed Target completed (28/49, GCVS CN Ori)
00:07:45     Target Started (29/49) Target started (29/49, NGC 2232)
00:10:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:12:52       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
00:32:53   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
00:35:03 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter)
00:35:05   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
00:35:07     Target Aborted (29/49) Target aborted (29/49, NGC 2232) due to cloud
00:35:09   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension
00:35:11 Session Suspended Session suspended
00:35:53   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s)
00:52:34 Session Resuming Session resuming
00:53:19   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
00:53:21 Session Running Session running
00:53:23     Target Started (29/49) Target started (29/49, NGC 2232)
00:53:25   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
00:59:20   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
01:00:45 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter)
01:00:47   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
01:02:11     Target Aborted (29/49) Target aborted (29/49, NGC 2232) due to cloud
01:02:13   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension
01:02:15 Session Suspended Session suspended
01:03:10   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s)
01:06:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/49, GCVS NV Ori) due to cloud
01:16:17     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/49, GCVS SU Tau) due to cloud
01:17:31   UPB.Switch Restart UPB.Switch has been restarted.
01:26:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/49, GCVS ER UMa) due to cloud
01:38:17     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/49, C/2020 M3 (Atlas)) due to cloud
01:47:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/49, GCVS SY Cnc) due to cloud
01:57:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/49, LAMOST-HVS1) due to cloud
02:13:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/49, UGC 6930) due to cloud
02:22:23   Camera1 SetPoint -15°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -15°C)
02:34:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/49, NGC 2782) due to cloud
02:37:09 Session Resuming Session resuming
02:37:54   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
02:37:56 Session Running Session running
02:37:58     Target Started (38/49) Target started (38/49, Scholz's Star)
02:38:00   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
02:40:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:42:39       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
02:58:15     Target Completed Target completed (38/49, Scholz's Star)
02:59:07     Target Started (39/49) Target started (39/49, GCVS RZ LMi)
03:01:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:03:58       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
03:09:09     Target Completed Target completed (39/49, GCVS RZ LMi)
03:12:32   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
03:12:34     Target Started (40/49) Target started (40/49, NGC 4559)
03:14:07   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions
03:14:11       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
03:18:13   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
03:19:53   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions
03:30:04     Target Completed Target completed (40/49, NGC 4559)
03:33:17     Target Started (41/49) Target started (41/49, UGC 4609)
03:35:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:37:57       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
03:54:02     Target Completed Target completed (41/49, UGC 4609)
03:55:39     Target Started (42/49) Target started (42/49, PGC 29653)
03:58:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:00:59       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
04:17:03     Target Completed Target completed (42/49, PGC 29653)
04:18:01     Target Started (43/49) Target started (43/49, UGCA 150)
04:20:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:23:01       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
04:38:51     Target Completed Target completed (43/49, UGCA 150)
04:40:23     Target Started (44/49) Target started (44/49, UGCA 186)
04:42:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:44:39       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
05:00:32     Target Completed Target completed (44/49, UGCA 186)
05:02:45     Target Started (45/49) Target started (45/49, UGC 5760)
05:04:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
05:07:19       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
05:23:05     Target Completed Target completed (45/49, UGC 5760)
05:25:07     Target Started (46/49) Target started (46/49, UGC 5509)
05:26:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
05:29:29       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
05:44:58     Target Completed Target completed (46/49, UGC 5509)
05:47:29     Target Started (47/49) Target started (47/49, GCVS CN Leo)
05:50:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
05:52:42       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
06:00:47     Target Completed Target completed (47/49, GCVS CN Leo)
06:00:49     Target Started (48/49) Target started (48/49, UGCA 225)
06:03:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
06:05:23       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
06:21:02     Target Completed Target completed (48/49, UGCA 225)
06:23:03     Target Started (49/49) Target started (49/49, M85)
06:25:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
06:27:50       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
06:37:28     Target Completed Target completed (49/49, M85)
06:37:32   Queue Completed Job Queue completed
06:37:34 Session Closing Session closing
06:38:26   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s)
06:39:04   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 30s), Az: 90.1 deg
06:39:39   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 29s)
06:40:10   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox.
06:40:58   Services Stopped Night Services stopped
06:41:00 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
06:41:22 Session Finished Session Finished
 
Session Alerts
Time     Alert Detail
17:21:17 Scope Alert TheSky's scope is reporting a RA=0/Dec=0 position or is not connected
01:17:31 UPB.Switch disconnected UPB.Switch has unexpectedly disconnected. Restart will be attempted
01:17:33 UPB.Switch UPB.Switch has been successfully restarted.

Back to Top


Operational Issues (2020-11-25 S833)

[ Prev | Next ]

Critical Issues

Major Issues

Minor Issues

Continuous Improvement 

[ Prev | Next ]


Fig 1  Graph showing a Focus Profile from the second part of night.  
- Profile is clipped by mininum TCF-S focuser position (0).
- Best focus at 167 liable to fall below 0 if temperature rises further.
- Design flaw prevented clipped profile to be used for updating focus offset and prevent scope from being re-focused at best position

Image

Back to Top