David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 843 (2021-01-02)

Notes (S843A)

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Notes (S844)

	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 2021-01-02 >>
	PHD2 Upgrade 2.6.9dev2 & Multi-Star Guiding

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-01-02)

Main aims

1. Telescope. Carry out short mapping run to correctly apply the TPoint model following issue Starting Telescope in previous session attempt (2020-12-30)
2. PHD2. Try out new snapshot version of PHD2 (2.6.9Dev2) , test new multi-star guiding feature.
3. Targets. Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets and deep sky targets as allowed by conditions.

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2,  DeviceHub 6.5.1.0,  UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.5 SP1
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.9Dev2
   
• AstroMain 3.33.2  AstroGuard 1.4.6,   AstroPlan 1.18  AstroShCap 1.3.6, AstroVOE 1.5.2, AstroSN 1.1,  AstroProtect 1.4.1
  (AstroWeather 1.10.13, AstroAllSky 3.6)

Highlights

• Telescope.  Short mapping run successfully conducted at start of session. 
• PHD2.  New multi-star guiding worked successfully and seaminglessly with AstroMain's AutoGuide operations.  LX200/ST10 profile set up to use the main CCD (instead of the Tracking/Guide CCD)

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance

Sky Conditions (Locate Frames)

Chart unavailable for this session

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 clear skies in first part of evening (0-31% cloud cover), with skies clouding over  from 20:00 to 22:00 (51-97% cloud cover) becoming totally overcast from 23:00 onwards (98-100% cloud cover) Minimum tempertaure of 2 degC and light wind (7-8 mph). In the event skies there were sufficiently clear for observing in first part of evening, but skies had poor transparancy. Skies poor for remainder of night. Minumum Temperature of 1 degC. Winds initially calm-light, but increasing to light by dawn.

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 18:41:45 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-01-02 S00843, ImageSaveNum: 843001) 18:42:02   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 18:42:49   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:43:38 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:43:41 Session Pending Session pending (2021-01-02) 18:43:43 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-01-02) 18:43:45   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.18) 18:45:01 Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 18:45:13   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2021-01-02 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 578) 18:45:16   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 18:45:19   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 18:45:30 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 18:45:41 Wait On Weather Waiting For acceptable conditions 18:45:43 Session Suspended Session suspended 18:45:45   Queue Started Observing Queue started (52 targets selected) 18:45:48   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 18:48:21 Session Resuming Session resuming 18:49:06   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 18:49:08 Session Running Session running 18:49:10   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 18:49:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:51:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 18:51:45     Target Started (1/52) Target started (1/52, UGC 1161 w/SN2020acch) 18:54:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:56:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 19:11:59     Target Completed Target completed (1/52, UGC 1161 w/SN2020acch) 19:12:01     Target Started (2/52) Target started (2/52, GCVS HH And) 19:14:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:16:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 19:17:40     Target Completed Target completed (2/52, GCVS HH And) 19:17:42     Target Started (3/52) Target started (3/52, GCVS U And) 19:20:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:21:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 19:28:54   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 19:31:46     Target Completed Target completed (3/52, GCVS U And) 19:31:49     Target Started (4/52) Target started (4/52, GCVS RX And) 19:33:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:35:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 19:38:14     Target Completed Target completed (4/52, GCVS RX And) 19:39:44     Target Started (5/52) Target started (5/52, AT2020acxk) 19:42:35       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 19:43:46 Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 19:43:48   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 19:43:50     Target Aborted (5/52) Target aborted (5/52, AT2020acxk) due to threat of rain 19:43:52   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 19:43:54 Session Suspended Session suspended 19:44:41   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 19:51:06     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/52, AT2020acxk) due to rain 20:11:28     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/52, UGC 678 w/AT2020abjq) due to cloud 20:27:58     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/52, 156P/Russell-LINEAR) due to rain 20:40:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/52, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) due to other condition 20:51:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/52, GCVS TT Ari) due to other condition 21:05:49 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:06:34   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:06:36 Session Running Session running 21:06:38   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 21:07:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:09:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:09:10     Target Started (10/52) Target started (10/52, NGC 514 w/AT2020uxz) 21:11:24 Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 21:11:26   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 21:11:28     Target Aborted (10/52) Target aborted (10/52, NGC 514 w/AT2020uxz) due to threat of rain 21:11:30   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 21:11:32 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:12:14   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 21:19:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/52, GCVS DY Per) due to cloud 21:39:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/52, SN 2020aagy) due to wind 21:50:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/52, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 22:04:44 Session Resuming Session resuming 22:05:30   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 22:05:32 Session Running Session running 22:05:34   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 22:06:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:08:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 22:08:25     Target Started (14/52) Target started (14/52, UGC 2528 w/AT2020adnx) 22:15:24     Target Completed Target partially completed (14/52, UGC 2528 w/AT2020adnx) 22:15:26     Target Started (15/52) Target started (15/52, GCVS CN Ori) 22:19:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:21:00       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Ambiguous) 22:24:26     Target Completed Target completed (15/52, GCVS CN Ori) 22:24:28     Target Started (16/52) Target started (16/52, GSC 1224:29) 22:26:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:28:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 22:34:20     Target Completed Target completed (16/52, GSC 1224:29) 22:34:22     Target Started (17/52) Target started (17/52, 398P/Boattini) 22:38:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:40:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 22:48:21     Target Completed Target completed (17/52, 398P/Boattini) 22:48:24     Target Started (18/53) Target started (18/53, Nova Per 2020 w/AT2020abap, ToO) 22:50:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:52:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 23:00:20     Target Completed Target completed (18/53, Nova Per 2020 w/AT2020abap, ToO) 23:00:22     Target Started (19/54) Target started (19/54, 277P/LINEAR, ToO) 23:02:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:04:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 23:08:01 Critical Rain Alert Critical Rain Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 23:08:03   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (rain) 23:09:07     Target Aborted (19/54) Target aborted (19/54, 277P/LINEAR, ToO) due to rain 23:09:09   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:09:11 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:09:56   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 23:09:57     Target Missed (20/54) Target's time slot was missed (20/54, GCVS NV Ori) 23:09:59     Target Missed (21/54) Target's time slot was missed (21/54, GCVS DX Cnc) 23:14:28     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/54, GCVS GK Per) due to wind 23:25:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/54, GCVS RR Tau) due to rain 23:37:13 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:37:58   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:38:00 Session Running Session running 23:38:02   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:39:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:41:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 23:41:37     Target Started (24/54) Target started (24/54, GCVS CM Tau) 23:42:04   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 23:44:34 Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 23:44:36   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 23:44:37     Target Aborted (24/54) Target aborted (24/54, GCVS CM Tau) due to threat of rain 23:44:40   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:44:42 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:45:24   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 23:53:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/54, GCVS FU Ori) due to wind 00:03:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/54, LAMOST-HVS1) due to wind 00:13:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/54, GCVS U Mon) due to wind 00:23:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/54, GCVS U Gem) due to wind 00:33:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/54, GCVS SU Tau) due to wind 00:53:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/54, NGC 2782 w/SN2020scc) due to wind 01:11:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/54, UGC 6930 w/SN2020rcq) due to wind 01:33:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/54, Scholz's Star) due to cloud 01:44:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/54, GCVS SY Cnc) due to rain 01:59:11     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/54, M85) due to rain 02:18:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/54, MCG +6-30-84 w/AT2021K) due to cloud 02:35:10     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/54, Nova Per 2020 w/AT2020abap) due to rain 02:45:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/54, GCVS FO Ori) due to rain 02:55:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (38/54, GCVS RZ LMi) due to rain 03:16:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (39/54, NGC 3643) due to cloud 03:28:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (40/54, GCVS AM CVn) due to cloud 03:38:40     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (41/54, GCVS ER UMa) due to rain 03:58:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (42/54, NGC 4414 w/AT2021J) due to cloud 04:20:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (43/54, NGC 5331 w/AT2020abir) due to cloud 04:34:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (44/54, GCVS U Her) due to rain 04:47:40     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (45/54, GCVS CN Leo) due to cloud 05:02:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (46/54, KUG 1206+328 w/AT2020aeps) due to rain 05:24:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (47/54, NGC 4454 w/SN2020abgq) due to cloud 05:38:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (48/54, AT2020adcx) due to cloud 05:58:58     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (49/54, UGC 10909 w/AT2020abkz) due to cloud 06:14:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (50/54, GCVS S Cyg) due to cloud 06:25:16   Camera1 SetPoint -25°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -25°C) 06:28:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (51/54, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) due to cloud 06:44:58     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (52/54, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) due to cloud 06:55:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (53/54, GCVS AM Her) due to cloud 07:15:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (54/54, GCVS R CrB) due to other condition 07:15:10   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 07:15:15 Session Closing Session closing 07:15:20   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 23:45, closing time 45s) 07:16:30   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 61s), Az: 90.0 deg 07:17:12   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 33s) 07:17:42   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 07:18:32   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:18:34 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:18:46 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail -- No Alerts                --

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Operational Issues (2021-01-02 S843)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (2)
• Continuous Improvement (1)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Dome not rotating around to telescope position when dome initially turned on.  Issue later resolved itself whilst undertaking short automapping run.   Unclear whether issue was real or not (possible issue moving to Ascom 6.5 SP1 ?).  Unclear if this issue and the following issue (where there was an exception whilst setting telescope's guide speed) are related in any way. Decision to close issue as it resolved itself within the session, however dome/scope behaviour will the monitored whilst starting the next few sessions in case of an persistent problem.
  Resolved (Session/Dome)
   
• PHD2 producing warning messages that mount's guide speed is not the same as guide speed used during last calibration.  
  PHD2 detected that mount's guide speed was 0.66 rather than the normally used 0.90 indicating that guide speed was either not set to 0.90 when telescope was initially connected to or it was reset to 0.66 in someway or was incorrectly read by new PHD2 version. There was an anomaly when scope was initially connected from TheSky (opertaion appeared to hang for 10s or do). Also the night's observatory's operations were started as a Test Session before then commencing a Live Session - this is not the normal start-up workflow.  The new ASCOM 6.5 platform can probably be ruled out as 0.90 rate was set ok during the session attempt on 2020-12-30 where 6.5 SP1 Platform was also used.  Log file shows a "The scope is asleep" exception whilst trying to set GuideRate shortly after Start DeviceHub.Scope service (MeadeLX200GPS.Telescope).  There was no such exception during the 2020-12-30 session attempt (again ruling out ASCOM 6.5 SP1 platform as a factor).  Delay before setting Guide Rate is increased from 0.5s to 2s in case timings are critical and can be prevented by a slightly longer delay.
  Fix Attempted 2021-01-03 (AstroMain 3.33.3)

Continuous Improvement

• Disable the 'SendKeys' workaround to negiotate model window for selecting the tracking CCD Chip when starting the LX200/ST10 Profile in PHD2 . This was a workaround in PHD2.ConnectEquipment routine which called SelectSbigCcd() subroutine which was needed for earlier automated operations involving prior versions of PHD2. The workaround is no longer required (and might even cause an issue) now that the 2.6.9dev2 version of PHD2 has been installed.  This new version remembers the user's choice of whether to use the tracking CCD or not for SBIG cameras. 
  Done 2021-01-03 (AstroMain 3.33.3)

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PHD2 Upgrade 2.6.9dev2 & Multi-Star Guiding

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