David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 845 (2021-01-05)

Notes (S844)

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Notes (S846)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Images from 2021-01-05 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-01-05)

Main aims

1. Targets. Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets and deep sky targets as allowed by conditions.
2. PHD2.  Try out new 2.6.9dev3 version

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  2.6.9Dev3
   
• AstroMain 3.33.3  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

• AstroMain UI.  AstroMain operated without hanging even though windows were being manipulated during session monitoring.
   (previously program has appear to hung when program windows were clicked/bright to front. Earlier frozen AstroMainissues can be considered resolved).
•   Cloud. Cloudy interval prevented acquistion of images from 21:20 to 03:00

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 initial rain showers followed by semi-clear skies in first part of evening (42-50% cloud cover), with skies becoming progressively more cloudy (56-76% cloud cobver) with possibility of light rain showers throughout night. Minimum tempertaure of 3 degC and light-moderate wind (9-13 mph). In the event skies there were sufficiently clear for observing in first half of night with passing cloud/light rain showers, But second half of night was mainly cloud with only occassional clear patches Minumum Temperature of 1 to 2 degC. Winds relatively light, but bringing showers in from the North Sea.

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 20:14:12 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 20:14 & 06:36 20:14:17 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:14) 20:14:46 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-01-05 S00845, ImageSaveNum: 845001) 20:14:49   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 20:16:45   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:16:54 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:16:57 Session Pending Session pending (2021-01-05) 20:16:59 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-01-05) 20:17:01   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.18) 20:17:43   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2021-01-05 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 580) 20:17:55   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 20:18:00   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 20:18:11 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 20:19:42   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 20:19:57 Session Running Session running 20:20:00   Queue Started Observing Queue started (35 targets selected) 20:21:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:24:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 20:26:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 20:26:17       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 20:28:35       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 20:30:25       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 20:30:41       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded 20:31:57     Target Started (1/35) Target started (1/35, AT2020aetd) 20:34:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:36:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 20:52:49     Target Completed Target completed (1/35, AT2020aetd) 20:53:49     Target Started (2/35) Target started (2/35, UGC 1161 w/SN2020acch) 20:57:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:59:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:15:22     Target Completed Target completed (2/35, UGC 1161 w/SN2020acch) 21:16:11     Target Started (3/35) Target started (3/35, VV 37) 21:18:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:20:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:23:58 Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 21:24:00   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 21:24:02     Target Aborted (3/35) Target aborted (3/35, VV 37) due to threat of rain 21:24:04   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 21:24:06 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:24:53   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 21:31:08 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:32:49 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:32:51   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 21:24, closing time 50s) 21:34:54 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:35:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/35, VV 37) due to cloud 21:36:34 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:36:36   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 21:24, closing time 50s) 21:38:59   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 21:41:29 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:42:14   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:42:16 Session Running Session running 21:42:18   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 21:42:20     Target Started (4/35) Target started (4/35, UGC 2528 w/AT2020adnx) 21:44:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:45:20 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 21:45:22   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 21:45:24       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted 21:45:26     Target Aborted (4/35) Target aborted (4/35, UGC 2528 w/AT2020adnx) due to cloud 21:45:28   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 21:45:30 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:46:15   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 21:57:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/35, UGC 2528 w/AT2020adnx) due to cloud 22:08:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/35, GCVS GK Per) due to cloud 22:20:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/35, C/2020 M3 (Atlas)) due to cloud 22:25:33   Camera1 SetPoint -20°C SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -20°C) 22:28:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/35, GCVS NV Ori) due to cloud 22:39:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/35, GCVS RR Tau) due to cloud 22:59:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/35, SN 2020aagy) due to cloud 23:21:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/35, AT2020aetf) due to cloud 23:33:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/35, LAMOST-HVS1) due to cloud 23:53:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/35, NGC 2782 w/SN2020scc) due to cloud 00:15:55     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/35, NGC 3266) due to cloud 00:27:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/35, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 00:46:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/35, M33 w/AT2021bl) due to cloud 01:02:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/35, Nova Per 2020 w/AT2020abap) due to cloud 01:23:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/35, UGC 4134) due to cloud 01:45:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/35, UGCA 216) due to cloud 02:07:30     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/35, NGC 4414 w/AT2021J) due to cloud 02:29:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/35, UGCA 297) due to cloud 02:52:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/35, UGC 4550) due to other condition 02:57:18 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:58:03   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 02:58:05 Session Running Session running 02:58:07     Target Started (22/35) Target started (22/35, UGC 5495) 02:58:09   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:00:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:02:34       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Ambiguous) 03:18:45     Target Completed Target completed (22/35, UGC 5495) 03:18:47     Target Started (23/35) Target started (23/35, NGC 3243) 03:21:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:23:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 03:39:13     Target Completed Target completed (23/35, NGC 3243) 03:39:58     Target Started (24/35) Target started (24/35, NGC 3643) 03:42:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:44:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 04:00:58     Target Completed Target completed (24/35, NGC 3643) 04:05:58     Target Started (25/35) Target started (25/35, IC 600) 04:08:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:10:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 04:26:17     Target Completed Target completed (25/35, IC 600) 04:26:19     Target Started (26/35) Target started (26/35, UGC 5760 w/SN2020zoq) 04:28:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:30:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 04:45:55     Target Completed Target completed (26/35, UGC 5760 w/SN2020zoq) 04:47:04     Target Started (27/35) Target started (27/35, M85) 04:49:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:51:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 05:00:31     Target Completed Target completed (27/35, M85) 05:02:06     Target Started (28/35) Target started (28/35, GCVS ER UMa) 05:04:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:06:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 05:10:32     Target Completed Target completed (28/35, GCVS ER UMa) 05:12:24     Target Started (29/35) Target started (29/35, GCVS RZ LMi) 05:14:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:16:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 05:21:14     Target Completed Target completed (29/35, GCVS RZ LMi) 05:24:12     Target Started (30/35) Target started (30/35, NGC 3697 w/AT2020aavb) 05:26:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:28:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 05:44:49     Target Completed Target completed (30/35, NGC 3697 w/AT2020aavb) 05:46:34     Target Started (31/35) Target started (31/35, GCVS AM CVn) 05:48:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:50:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 05:53:05     Target Completed Target completed (31/35, GCVS AM CVn) 05:56:07     Target Started (32/35) Target started (32/35, AT2020adcx) 06:01:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:03:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 06:09:13     Target Completed Target completed (32/35, AT2020adcx) 06:09:15     Target Started (33/35) Target started (33/35, UGC 6930 w/SN2020rcq) 06:12:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:14:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 06:25:46     Target Completed Target completed (33/35, UGC 6930 w/SN2020rcq) 06:25:49     Target Started (34/35) Target started (34/35, NGC 5331 w/AT2020abir) 06:29:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:31:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 06:47:16     Target Completed Target completed (34/35, NGC 5331 w/AT2020abir) 06:47:43     Target Started (35/35) Target started (35/35, GCVS U Her) 06:50:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:51:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 06:59:04     Target Completed Target completed (35/35, GCVS U Her) 06:59:07   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:59:11 Session Closing Session closing 07:00:01   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 07:00:31   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 23s), Az: 90.0 deg 07:01:08   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 30s) 07:01:38   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 07:02:33   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:02:35 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:02:43 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail -- No Alerts                --

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Operational Issues (2021-01-05 S845)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Dome opening failed at 21:31.  Dome was commanded to open at 21:31 after session began resuming.   A slightly later attempt to Open Dome at 21:37 worked ok. A Manual command via DeviceHub also worked ok.  Pulsar Trace log shows OpenShutter command being received at 21:31:09, but the shutter state remains closed (ShutterState 2).  The log shows that a further Open Shutter command was received at 21:34:54 which again produced no action from the shutter. A further Open Shutter command was received at 21:37:30 which did finally result in the shutter opening.  A further Open Shutter command was received at 21:41:30 which again resulted in the shutter opening.  Problem is similar to previously reported issue whereby CloseShutter Commands received by the Pulsar Dome Driver are sometimes being ignored by the Dome Controller/Shutter (an issue which has been already reported to Pulsar Observatories for their innvestigation). If necessary this new similar issue should also be sent to Pulsar Observatories.   A workaround has been added to follow-up any ignored open/close shutter requests with a repeated request.  Issue was identified to be due to a behaviour of the Dome Shutter where it would enter a semi-sleep state.  Problem was eventually fixed by Pulsar Shutter Software Version 1.25 which was installed on 2021-03-21.   In this version (at the expense of a slightly higher battery drain rate) the Shutter doesn't fall asleep but it is continuously attentive to open/close requests.
  Fixed 2021-03-31 (Pulsar Shutter Software 1.25)

Continuous Improvement

• Add a workaround so that any ignored open/close requests are quickly followed up and repeated. Implemented within OpenShutterTask (up to 2 attempts) and CloseShutterTask (up to 3 attempts made).  Further attempts to Close Shutter are made every 60s if necessary (when  SessionState=SessionState.Suspended and ShutterOpen).
  Done 2021-01-10 (AstroMain 3.33.5)
   
• Query: Best Fit Curve for Foc2 Wide Search Focus Profile (TS80) didn't appear sufficiently aligned with data / peak FWHM point (20:26) . See Fig 1 below .   Data to be rerun through Simulator.    Replay conducted 2021-05-25.  Decision made that no code modification is required as autofocusing worked and the curve fit  / representation is reasonable given the underlying dataset.
  Closed 2021-05-25 (AstroMain)

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