David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 834 (2020-11-26)

Notes (S833)

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Notes (S834)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (2),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	Images from 2020-11-26 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-11-26)

Main aims -

1. Refocus Main Scope.  Move LX200 main mirror so that scope is at focus at around the middle of TCF-S focuser range
   ( i.e. at a position of around 3500-4000,  focuser range of 0 - 7000)
    (problems encountered in prior session (S833) where best focus was as low as 150 and profiles were being clipped)
2. Targets. Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets and deep sky targets as allowed by bright moonlight conditions.
3. Bug Fixes. Check that bug fixes made since last session haven't upset the program operation and are working where appropriate.

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 3.32.9,  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)
  
• Notes scope resynced from

Highlights

• Targets.  x targets were observed.
• Telescope Refocusing.  Telescope main mirror moved allowing the TCF-S foucser (0-7000 range) to be at focus at 3930 instead of prior positon at 739.

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 cloudy skies throughout the first part of the night (cloud cover 90-100%) but clearing slightly from 01:00 onwards (cloud cover 22-68%) with calm conditions (wind 4-7 mph), Minimum temperature 2 degC. In the event there was a clear spell from 18:00 to 20:40 with a more prolonged clear spell from 23:20 to 04:40 and a further clear spell at 06:30 till dawn. Temperatures fell below 0 degC at 01:00 reaching a minimum of -1.5 degC.  Winds were calm to very light.

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 20:03:29   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 20:03:31 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-11-26 S00834, ImageSaveNum: 834001) 20:04:08   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 20:04:31   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:04:42   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 20:04:43   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 20:05:21 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:05:24 Session Pending Session pending (2020-11-26) 20:05:26 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-11-26) 20:05:28   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.17.5) 20:07:07   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-11-26 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 569) 20:07:10   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 20:07:18   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 20:07:29 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 20:07:31 Session Running Session running 20:07:33   Queue Started Observing Queue started (42 targets selected) 20:08:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:11:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 20:11:36       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 20:14:01       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 20:15:53       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 20:16:08       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded 20:16:15     Target Started (1/42) Target started (1/42, GCVS SS Cyg) 20:18:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:21:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 20:25:30     Target Completed Target completed (1/42, GCVS SS Cyg) 20:29:36     Target Started (2/42) Target started (2/42, GCVS Z And) 20:31:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:33:19       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 20:37:22     Target Completed Target completed (2/42, GCVS Z And) 20:38:22   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 20:38:24   Queue Paused Queue pausing for Session Suspension 20:38:27 Session Suspended Session suspended 20:39:17   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 20:50:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/42, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) due to cloud 21:03:42     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/42, GCVS U And) due to cloud 21:08:30   Camera1 SetPoint -20°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -20°C) 21:18:38     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/42, 184P/Lovas) due to cloud 21:19:10   UPB.Switch Restart UPB.Switch has been restarted. 21:27:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/42, GCVS RX And) due to cloud 21:41:28     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/42, 398P/Boattini) due to cloud 22:01:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/42, GCVS CM Tau) due to cloud 22:12:45     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/42, GSC 1224:29) due to cloud 22:26:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/42, 156P/Russell-LINEAR) due to cloud 22:35:20     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/42, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 22:46:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/42, GCVS TT Ari) due to cloud 22:56:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/42, GCVS DY Per) due to cloud 23:06:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/42, GCVS ER UMa) due to cloud 23:18:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/42, GCVS DX Cnc) due to cloud 23:26:52 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:27:37   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:27:39 Session Running Session running 23:27:41     Target Started (16/42) Target started (16/42, GCVS SU Tau) 23:27:43   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:33:28     Target Completed Target partially completed (16/42, GCVS SU Tau) 23:33:30     Target Started (17/42) Target started (17/42, GCVS CN Ori) 23:37:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:40:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 23:42:19     Target Completed Target partially completed (17/42, GCVS CN Ori) 23:42:21     Target Started (18/42) Target started (18/42, NGC 514) 23:44:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:47:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 23:58:43     Target Completed Target completed (18/42, NGC 514) 23:58:45     Target Started (19/42) Target started (19/42, GCVS GK Per) 00:01:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:03:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:06:53     Target Completed Target completed (19/42, GCVS GK Per) 00:06:55     Target Started (20/42) Target started (20/42, GCVS NV Ori) 00:10:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:13:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 00:16:59     Target Completed Target completed (20/42, GCVS NV Ori) 00:17:01     Target Started (21/42) Target started (21/42, GCVS FU Ori) 00:19:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:22:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 00:25:18     Target Completed Target completed (21/42, GCVS FU Ori) 00:25:20     Target Started (22/42) Target started (22/42, GCVS U Gem) 00:27:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:31:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 00:34:14     Target Completed Target completed (22/42, GCVS U Gem) 00:34:16     Target Started (23/42) Target started (23/42, GCVS SY Cnc) 00:37:20       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:41:26     Target Completed Target completed (23/42, GCVS SY Cnc) 00:41:28     Target Started (24/42) Target started (24/42, GCVS HH And) 00:46:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:49:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 00:51:53     Target Completed Target completed (24/42, GCVS HH And) 00:51:55     Target Started (25/42) Target started (25/42, C/2020 M3 (Atlas)) 00:54:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:58:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 01:03:25     Target Completed Target completed (25/42, C/2020 M3 (Atlas)) 01:08:25     Target Started (26/42) Target started (26/42, GCVS RR Tau) 01:15:17     Target Completed Target partially completed (26/42, GCVS RR Tau) 01:15:19     Target Started (27/42) Target started (27/42, NGC 2232) 01:18:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:21:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 02:09:31     Target Completed Target partially completed (27/42, NGC 2232) 02:09:33     Target Started (28/42) Target started (28/42, Scholz's Star) 02:12:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:15:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 02:30:31     Target Completed Target completed (28/42, Scholz's Star) 02:30:33     Target Started (29/42) Target started (29/42, GCVS U Mon) 02:33:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:36:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 02:41:44     Target Completed Target completed (29/42, GCVS U Mon) 02:41:46     Target Started (30/42) Target started (30/42, NGC 2782) 02:44:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:47:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 03:03:24     Target Completed Target completed (30/42, NGC 2782) 03:03:26     Target Started (31/42) Target started (31/42, NGC 4559) 03:05:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:08:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 03:24:42     Target Completed Target completed (31/42, NGC 4559) 03:24:45     Target Started (32/42) Target started (32/42, LAMOST-HVS1) 03:28:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:31:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 03:34:53     Target Completed Target completed (32/42, LAMOST-HVS1) 03:34:55     Target Started (33/42) Target started (33/42, GCVS CN Leo) 03:37:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:41:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 03:49:23     Target Completed Target completed (33/42, GCVS CN Leo) 03:49:25     Target Started (34/42) Target started (34/42, GCVS RZ LMi) 03:51:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:54:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 03:59:23     Target Completed Target completed (34/42, GCVS RZ LMi) 03:59:25     Target Started (35/42) Target started (35/42, NGC 3643) 04:02:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:05:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 04:20:51     Target Completed Target completed (35/42, NGC 3643) 04:20:53     Target Started (36/42) Target started (36/42, UGC 6667) 04:23:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:26:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22) 04:42:57     Target Completed Target completed (36/42, UGC 6667) 04:42:59     Target Started (37/42) Target started (37/42, UGC 6930) 04:45:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:48:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 23) 04:49:32   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 04:54:27 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 04:54:29   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 04:54:32     Target Aborted (37/42) Target aborted (37/42, UGC 6930) due to cloud 04:54:34   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:54:36 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:55:22   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 49s) 04:56:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/42, UGC 6930) due to cloud 05:18:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (38/42, UGCA 262) due to cloud 05:40:38     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (39/42, UGCA 211) due to cloud 06:03:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (40/42, UGC 5421) due to cloud 06:25:22     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (41/42, UGCA 201) due to cloud 06:28:01 Session Resuming Session resuming 06:28:46   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 06:28:48 Session Running Session running 06:28:50   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 06:28:52     Target Started (42/42) Target started (42/42, M85) 06:31:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:34:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 24) 06:43:53     Target Completed Target completed (42/42, M85) 06:43:56   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:43:57 Session Closing Session closing 06:44:52   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 06:45:34   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 35s), Az: 90.1 deg 06:46:12   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 31s) 06:46:42   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:47:29   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:47:31 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:48:28 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 21:19:10 UPB.Switch disconnected UPB.Switch has unexpectedly disconnected. Restart will be attempted 21:19:12 UPB.Switch UPB.Switch has been successfully restarted.

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Operational Issues (2020-11-26 S834)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Unable to make VNC connection to Observatory Computer from IPad.  VNC connection to Observatory Computer from Development Computer still works, as does VNC connection to Development Computer and AllSky Computers from IPad.  Problem has been seen before.  Restarting IPad doesn't fix the issue.  Issue was fixed by restarting the observatory computer ahead of the next session (S835). Its unclear if there would have been a fix that didn't involve restarting the observatory computer (like restarting VNC server), but  the method used was the easiest to perform remotely (stopping the vnc server would haven't prevented remotely access to restart the server !).
  Fixed (Observatory Computer)
   
• Long duration exposures like 180s exposure used for supernova targets are being taken too close to the bright moon, resulting in unusable images. SN monitoring is designed to be conducted under C3 (ie bright sky conditions) as well as darker conditions.  Active SN targets should be modified to use P3 (project) conditions criteria that use a wider minimum moon offset (25 deg) than the minimum offset of 10 deg used in the standard C3 criteria.
  Fixed 2020-11-28 (Observatory Computer)

Continuous Improvement

• None 

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