David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 872 (2021-03-17)

Notes (S871)

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Notes (S873)

	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 2021-03-17 >>     [ Local Files >> ]
	2021-03-18
	Pulsar Dome - Software Update (Shutter 1.24)

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-03-17)

Main aims

1. New Cable Routing.  Continue nighttime testing of new cable routing for SBIG power cable and ZWO USB 3 cable.
2. 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 3.38.6,  AstroGuard 1.6,   AstroPlan 1.21.3, AstroShCap 1.3.11, AstroVOE 1.7, AstroSN 1.5,  AstroProtect 1.6
  (AstroWeather 1.11, AstroAllSky 3.10.2, AstroObsCam 1.5)

Highlights

•   ObsCam.  After failure of web-uploading from Observatory Computer at 02:35 (issue with AstroPlan Uploader),  ObsCam image uploaded from AllSky/Weather Computer were useful for showing that observatory has closed down correctly at end of session.
•   Poor conditions / cloud.  Leading to very few useful image or images also lost due to cloud & poor guiding
•   New Cable Routing. No useful information collected about benefits or otherwise of the new cable routing.

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance Dec Notes : Run 4 (black) failed due to cloud/lost star Run 2 (purple) failed due ineffective Dec guiding & cloud/lost star Run 3 (red) impacted by aborted run just after starting Frame 1

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 19:43:29 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 19:43 & 04:21 19:43:33 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:43) 19:44:05 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-03-17 S00872, ImageSaveNum: 872001) 19:44:08   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 19:46:05   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:46:14 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:46:18 Session Pending Session pending (2021-03-17) 19:46:20 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-03-17) 19:46:22   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.21.3) 19:46:55   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 610) 19:47:10   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 19:47:16   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 19:47:26 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 19:48:13   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 46s) 19:49:18 Session Running Session running 19:49:21   Queue Started Observing Queue started (31 targets selected) 19:50:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:53:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:55:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:55:40       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:58:09       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 20:00:02       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 20:00:19       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded 20:01:18     Target Started (1/31) Target started (1/31, NGC 304 w/SN2021dnn) 20:08:33   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 20:09:13   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions 20:10:35       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 20:13:58 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 20:14:00   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 20:14:05     Target Aborted (1/31) Target aborted (1/31, NGC 304 w/SN2021dnn) due to cloud 20:14:07   Queue Paused Queue paused For Session Suspension 20:14:08 Session Suspended Session suspended 20:14:58   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 20:20:10     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (1/31, NGC 304 w/SN2021dnn) due to cloud 20:36:18 Session Resuming Session resuming 20:37:03   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 20:37:05 Session Running Session running 20:37:07     Target Started (2/31) Target started (2/31, M31 w/Nova2021fbz) 20:37:09   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 20:48:09     Target Completed Target partially completed (2/31, M31 w/Nova2021fbz) 20:48:11     Target Started (3/31) Target started (3/31, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) 20:49:48 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 20:49:50   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 20:49:52     Target Aborted (3/31) Target aborted (3/31, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) due to cloud 20:49:54   Queue Paused Queue paused For Session Suspension 20:49:56 Session Suspended Session suspended 20:50:43   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 20:58:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/31, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) due to cloud 21:17:53 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:18:38   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:18:40 Session Running Session running 21:18:42     Target Started (4/31) Target started (4/31, AT2021ckv) 21:18:44   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 21:24:04     Target Completed Target partially completed (4/31, AT2021ckv) 21:24:06     Target Started (5/31) Target started (5/31, SN 2021xn) 21:28:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:39:10 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 21:39:12   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 21:39:14     Target Aborted (5/31) Target aborted (5/31, SN 2021xn) due to cloud 21:39:16   Queue Paused Queue paused For Session Suspension 21:39:18 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:40:05   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 21:41:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/31, SN 2021xn) due to cloud 21:55:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/31, AT2021dbp (CV)) due to cloud 22:14:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/31, UGC 3502 w/AT2021cwc) due to cloud 22:28:10     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/31, GCVS RZ LMi) due to cloud 22:40:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/31, AT2021bxp (CV)) due to cloud 22:54:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/31, GCVS CN Leo) due to cloud 23:04:05 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:04:10     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/31, LAMOST-HVS1) due to cloud 23:04:50   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:04:52 Session Running Session running 23:04:54     Target Started (12/31) Target started (12/31, GCVS ER UMa) 23:04:56   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:06:50   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 23:07:15 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 23:07:17   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 23:07:23     Target Aborted (12/31) Target aborted (12/31, GCVS ER UMa) due to cloud 23:07:25   Queue Paused Queue paused For Session Suspension 23:07:28 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:08:15   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 23:13:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/31, GCVS ER UMa) due to cloud 23:25:40     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/31, AT2021bgn (CV)) due to cloud 23:45:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/31, NGC 4631 w/AT2021biy) due to cloud 00:07:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/31, NGC 3515 w/AT2021fmd) due to cloud 00:29:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/31, UGC 7522) due to cloud 00:52:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/31, UGCA 304) due to cloud 01:14:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/31, IC 863 w/SN2021foa) due to cloud 01:35:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/31, NGC 4533 w/SN2021bug) due to cloud 01:57:44     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/31, NGC 4774 w/AT2021cjd) due to cloud 02:18:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/31, C/2020 T2 (Palomar)) due to cloud 02:38:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/31, UGC 9083 w/AT2021buk) due to cloud 02:52:06 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:52:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/31, GCVS U Her) due to other condition 02:52:51   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 02:52:53 Session Running Session running 02:52:55   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:52:58     Target Started (24/31) Target started (24/31, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz) 02:55:11 Critical Humidity Alert Critical Humidity Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 02:55:13   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (high humidity) 02:55:15     Target Aborted (24/31) Target aborted (24/31, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz) due to high humidity 02:55:17   Queue Paused Queue paused For Session Suspension 02:55:19 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:56:06   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 03:11:50     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/31, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz) due to cloud 03:33:42     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/31, IC 992 w/SN2021dwg) due to cloud 03:45:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/31, GCVS R CrB) due to cloud 03:54:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/31, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 04:03:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/31, HIP 87937) due to other condition 04:06:16 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:07:01   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 04:07:03 Session Running Session running 04:07:05     Target Started (29/31) Target started (29/31, GCVS CY Lyr) 04:07:07   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:10:26 Critical Humidity Alert Critical Humidity Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 04:10:28   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (high humidity) 04:10:46     Target Aborted (29/31) Target aborted (29/31, GCVS CY Lyr) due to high humidity 04:10:48   Queue Paused Queue paused For Session Suspension 04:10:52 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:11:41   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 49s) 04:12:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/31, GCVS CY Lyr) due to other condition 04:12:56 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:13:41   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 04:13:43 Session Running Session running 04:13:45   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:13:51     Target Started (30/31) Target started (30/31, GCVS CI Cyg) 04:15:11   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 04:15:13 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 04:15:15   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 04:15:18   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions 04:15:21   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 04:15:53     Target Aborted (30/31) Target aborted (30/31, GCVS CI Cyg) due to cloud 04:15:55   Queue Paused Queue paused For Session Suspension 04:15:56 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:16:46   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 04:22:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/31, GCVS CI Cyg) due to cloud 04:51:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/31, AT2021dtd) due to cloud 04:51:31   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:51:36 Session Closing Session closing 04:51:41   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 04:16, closing time 50s) 04:51:58   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 9s), Az: 90.0 deg 04:52:39   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 35s) 04:53:09   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:53:58   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:54:00 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:54:06 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 23:05:59 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (GCVS ER UMa)

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Operational Issues (2021-03-17 S872)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• AstroPlan stopped updating website at around 02:35 in the morning, which made it more difficult to establish that the Observatory had been closed down rather than stalled. This is occasional but ongoing issue with AstroPlan.  AstroPlan UI and Target/Plan operations are still functioning when this happens, its just that the Upload Thread has somehow become stalled. The ObsCam picture (separately uploaded from the AllSky/Weather computer) was usefully used on this occasion to establish that the shutter was closed ok and that the telescope & dome had both been parked.  Fixed in the shortterm by restarting AstroPlan.   It would seem that AstroPlan requires some form of Overseer loop to identify problem and restart the Upload Thread or other take appropropriate action.  An FtpOverseer and extra Tracing added in AstroPlan 1.21.4 (2021-03-19) that should narrow down the particular section of code where the Upload Stalling is occuring.   This new information was collected when AstroPlan stalled during S877 (2021-03-29) and was investigated (see Investigation - AstroPlan's FTP Uploading Stalls, 2021-03-29).   Issue is considered to be now  resolved (2022-04-26) as there have been no incidients of problem during the multitude of sessions in Q1 2022.
  Closed 2022-04-26 (AstroPlan)
   
• Guide Summary Chart shows NGC 304 (Guide ID 1) as a Green Circle indicate good guiding (RMS 0.0 - 1.0") when it fact it was cloudy and star was lost throughout the guide attempt.  Stats show RMS values having the value 0.0" with 100% Lost Star. Values should be  vcNull rather than 0.0 and circle should be left unfilled or white.   It's intended that the GuideSummary charts show the impact on guiding associated with different scope / meridian side positions and not the state of the weather.  Fixed in AstroMain 3.38.7 so that RMS values of 0 are treated as being white-filled.    Values in GuideSumm.dat table which should be vcNull (even if they're 0.0) are shown as '--'.
  Fixed 2021-03-21 (AstroMain 3.38.7)
   
• AllSky Imaging failed with generic GDI exception. (2021-03-21 02:29)
  System.Runtime.InteropServices.ExternalException (0x80004005): A generic error occurred in GDI+.
  at System.Drawing.Image.Save(String filename, ImageCodecInfo encoder, EncoderParameters encoderParams)
  at AstroAllSky.ImageViewer.DrawAllSkyImage_STARS()
            in C:\Users\David\Documents\Visual Studio 2019\Projects\AstroAllSky\ImageViewer.vb:line 6398
  at AstroAllSky.globals2.AllSkyTakeFrames()
            in C:\Users\David\Documents\Visual Studio 2019\Projects\AstroAllSky\globals.vb:line 15400
  
  Exception is associated with this line in ImageViewer
   bm_Stars.Save(SU.BaseFolder + "\Server\AllSky.LatestImage.an.jpg", jgpEncoder, myEncoderParameters)
  Several Try Catch blocks added in AstroPlan 3.10.3 to mitigate exceptions from  bitmap.save in DrawAllSkyImage_STARS(), however the problem could still occur elsewhere and could repeat as a series of exceptions, that prevent useful continuation of the program instance.  (In the past AstroAllSky may not have been able to to successfully resume from issues such as this and recenty new code was added to auto-restart AstroAllSky and indeed this was successfully activated on this occasion.    It is possible that the 'fix' added now might block esculation of the issue and might prevent this auto-restart.   To get around this possibilty the number of GDI+ exceptions are counted and if there are more than 3 the exception is re-thrown to be picked up by outer exceptions.
  Mitigated 2021-03-21 (AstroPlan 3.10.3)

Continuous Improvement

• AstroPlan should start a new named log file for each day. Currently AstroPlan overwrites the existing log file each time it is opened and it is possible to not lose information about exceptions or other data relating to last night's session in cases where AstroPlan was deliberately restarted in the morning to re-enable uploading of files to website.
  Done 2021-03-18 (AstroPlan 1.21.4)
   
• Create button routine that can run through past sessions and rebuild Session Pictures htm page from Local Files.  When format of Session Pictures is changed, corrected or improved it would be useful to have a utility than can run through past sessions and rebuild the Session Pictures .htm file, rather than having to manually open each session in Reduction mode in order to re-build each session's .htm file.
  Done 2021-03-21 (AstroMain 3.38.7)

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2021-03-18

Pulsar Dome - Software Update (Shutter 1.24)

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