David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 860 (2021-02-18)

Notes (S859)

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Notes (S861)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (3),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Images from 2021-02-18 >>     [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-02-18)

Main aims

1. AstroMain.  Test features and fixes added in AstroMain 3.36 software, and crucially test stability and absence of UI lockups
2. ObsCam. Conduct first live test of new AstroObsCam software for capturing webcam pictures of the telescope & interior of the observatory during operation including AstroAllSky-AstroObsCam communication and picture upload & display on current session webpage.
3. Targets. Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & 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  2.6.9Dev3
   
• AstroMain 3.36.1,  AstroGuard 1.5,   AstroPlan 1.20.5, AstroShCap 1.3.10, AstroVOE 1.5.2, AstroSN 1.4.1,  AstroProtect 1.5
  (AstroWeather 1.11, AstroAllSky 3.8.1, AstroObsCam 1.2)

Highlights

• AstroMain.  Apart from one lockup of the UI the new 3.36 version of AstroMain worked well, providing several new features and fixes
• ObsCam. Second live test of new AstroObsCam software for capturing webcam pictures of the telescope & interior of the observatory during operation went very well.  It included AstroAllSky-AstroObsCam communication and picture upload & display on the current session and observatory status webpages. 

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)

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 22:14:30 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 22:14 & 05:32 22:14:33 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:14) 22:15:03 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-02-18 S00860, ImageSaveNum: 860001) 22:15:04   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 22:17:06   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:17:15 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:17:18 Session Pending Session pending (2021-02-18) 22:17:20 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-02-18) 22:17:22   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.20.5) 22:18:01   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 596) 22:18:15   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 22:18:22   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 22:18:32 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 22:20:49   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 22:20:51 Session Running Session running 22:20:53   Queue Started Observing Queue started (24 targets selected) 22:22:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:25:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 22:26:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 22:26:55       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 22:29:08       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 22:30:56       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 22:31:12       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded 22:32:19     Target Started (1/24) Target started (1/24, M31 w/AT2021bfs) 22:35:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:38:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:54:10     Target Completed Target completed (1/24, M31 w/AT2021bfs) 22:54:12     Target Started (2/24) Target started (2/24, AT2021ckv) 22:57:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:59:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 23:15:06     Target Completed Target completed (2/24, AT2021ckv) 23:16:02     Target Started (3/24) Target started (3/24, UGC 3502 w/AT2021cwc) 23:19:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:21:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 23:37:08     Target Completed Target completed (3/24, UGC 3502 w/AT2021cwc) 23:37:54     Target Started (4/24) Target started (4/24, SN 2021xn) 23:42:06       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:59:14     Target Completed Target completed (4/24, SN 2021xn) 00:00:16     Target Started (5/24) Target started (5/24, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) 00:02:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:04:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 00:12:43     Target Completed Target completed (5/24, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) 00:15:08     Target Started (6/24) Target started (6/24, AT2021dbp (CV)) 00:17:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:19:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:25:59     Target Completed Target completed (6/24, AT2021dbp (CV)) 00:27:00     Target Started (7/24) Target started (7/24, UGCA 174) 00:30:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:32:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 00:48:20     Target Completed Target completed (7/24, UGCA 174) 00:49:22     Target Started (8/24) Target started (8/24, NGC 3277) 00:53:14       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 01:11:01     Target Completed Target completed (8/24, NGC 3277) 01:11:44     Target Started (9/24) Target started (9/24, KUG 1206+328 w/SN2020aeps) 01:14:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:16:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 01:27:11     Target Completed Target completed (9/24, KUG 1206+328 w/SN2020aeps) 01:29:06     Target Started (10/24) Target started (10/24, UGC 7170) 01:32:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:34:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 01:50:07     Target Completed Target completed (10/24, UGC 7170) 01:51:28     Target Started (11/24) Target started (11/24, NGC 4631 w/AT2021biy) 01:54:39       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:11:59     Target Completed Target completed (11/24, NGC 4631 w/AT2021biy) 02:13:20     Target Started (12/24) Target started (12/24, UGC 5760 w/SN2020zoq) 02:16:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:34:24     Target Completed Target completed (12/24, UGC 5760 w/SN2020zoq) 02:35:42     Target Started (13/24) Target started (13/24, NGC 3818) 02:42:21       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 02:45:55   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 03:00:08     Target Completed Target completed (13/24, NGC 3818) 03:00:11   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:00:13 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:01:01   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 03:17:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/24, UGCA 245) due to cloud 03:39:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/24, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz) due to cloud 04:01:10     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/24, AT2021bgi) due to cloud 04:19:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/24, UGC 6930 w/SN2020rcq) due to cloud 04:40:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/24, UGC 9083 w/AT2021buk) due to cloud 04:51:50     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/24, GCVS R CrB) due to cloud 05:10:17     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/24, 7P/Pons-Winnecke) due to cloud 05:19:38     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/24, GCVS SS Her) due to cloud 05:27:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/24, HIP 87937) due to cloud 05:37:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/24, GCVS AM Her) due to cloud 06:07:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/24, AT2021cyg) due to cloud 06:07:28   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:07:33 Session Closing Session closing 06:07:38   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 03:01, closing time 50s) 06:08:38   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 52s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:09:14   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 28s) 06:09:45   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:10:35   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:10:37 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:10:53 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 23:26:41 Dome Dome has been stationary for more than 10 mins 23:38:02 Dome Dome Movements have begun again (outage 21.4 mins)

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Operational Issues (2021-02-18 S860)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (3)
• Continuous Improvement (2)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• ObsCam pictures aren't being promptly uploaded to website.  There is too much lag time between ObsCam Picture capture and its upload to website. This was a somewhat expected outcome of putting together the AstroObsCam application and associated infrastucture together with 24 hours. At present checking for new ObsCam file & its upload occurs on the same frequency (tpUploadFrequency) as other AllSky & Weather files which is defined under settings to be 15 mins.   There is opportunity to speed up the delivery of ObsCam pictures to the website, both in terms of the AstroAllSky loop that checks for new copies of the ObsCam.jpg file and the size of the file. Currently the ObsCam.jpg file is 1920x1080 px size (c. 190 KB) and is then shrunk to 960x540 px  in the WebPage.   There is opportunity to shrink the ObjsCam.jpg files to 960x540 px size (c. 50 KB)) before upload.   AstroObsCam (1.3) has been modified to generate half-sized (sm) 960x540 px pictures in parallel to to full size pictures and to copy the half-sized (sm) picture to  /Server/ObsCam.jpg.   AstroMove (1.6.2) has been modified to support copy of new half-sized (sm) pictures from the Observatory.  AstroAllSky (3.8.2) has been modified to check for a new ObsCam.jpg file every 5s and submit it for uploading if it is new (Note:  at present the program uses a single FTP Upload Queue and whilst the upload operation will sometimes be immediate there will times that the upload operation is held in the queue awaiting its turn).
  Resolved (AstroObsCam 1.3, AstroAllSky 3.8.2, AstroMove 1.6.2)
   
• NightSummary6 and DaySummary6 plots have started to show a closed dome shutter line at all times (not just during live sessions).
  This is side-effect of changing TelePosition in AstroMain to an always on service to support the new AstroObsCam service. Modification made to AstroAllSky so that Dome Shutter Status isn't drawn when TP2.SessionID = "General".
  Done 2021-02-22  (AstroAllSky 3.9)
   
• COM19 (TCF-S Secondary Port) is list in COM Ports List at start of session but doesn't mention TCF-S Secondary Port. Bug fixed (Coding error in ListComPorts routine,  Case SU.TcfFocuserPort2 wasn't listed).
  Fixed 2021-02-23 (AstroMain 3.37.1) 

Continuous Improvement

• Require new Scope Property 'HourAngle' and supporting method to calculate LST that doesn't involve access to TheSky's Utils functions (LST or Utils.ConvertCalenderToJulianDate ).   Implemented to provide necessary functionality to support TP.ScopeHA to AstroObsCam.  but may need further optimisation/rationalisation to access common Lat/Long information and to continue to work correctly when UK clocks moves to BST (at moment Local Time (GMT) = UT).
  Done 2021-02-20  (AstroMain 3.37)
   
• Add checkbox to AstroPlan's Must Include form to allow Target Form to be auto-opened when moving from one target to the next.
  Done 2021-02-22  (AstroPlan 1.20.6)

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