David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 874 (2021-03-22)

Notes (S873)

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Notes (S875)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (4),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Images from 2021-03-22 >>     [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-03-22)

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 3.38.8,  AstroGuard 1.6,   AstroPlan 1.21.4, AstroShCap 1.3.11, AstroVOE 1.7, AstroSN 1.5,  AstroProtect 1.6
  (AstroWeather 1.12, AstroAllSky 3.10.3, AstroObsCam 1.5 / 1.5.1 )

Highlights

•   Clear Skies. Skies were clearer than forecast allowing multiple targets to be imaged.
•   New Cable Routing.  Plenty of data collected about guiding west of Meridian using new cable routing.
•   Guiding Performance.  No indication that new cable routing has given any improvement in guiding performance. Most of the earlier guiding issues are still present.
         Suggesting either a balance issue or a Dec motor issue.

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance Dec Notes : Run 4 (purple) impacted by ineffective Dec guiding Run 6, Run 7, Run 11, Run 17 (red) impacted by periods of ineffective Dec guiding Run 5, Run 8, Run 10, Run 12, Run 13, Run 18, Run 21 (orange) impacted by periods of ineffective Dec guiding

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 18:32:12 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 19:21 & 04:06 19:21:43   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 19:21 19:21:44   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud 19:41:30 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:41) 19:42:00 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-03-22 S00874, ImageSaveNum: 874001) 19:42:03   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 19:44:02   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:44:10 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:44:15 Session Pending Session pending (2021-03-22) 19:44:17 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-03-22) 19:44:19   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.21.4) 19:45:35   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 612) 19:45:53   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 19:45:59   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 19:46:09 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 19:47:00   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 19:47:16   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 19:52:16   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (5.0 mins total) 19:52:18 Session Running Session running 19:52:20   Queue Started Observing Queue started (29 targets selected) 19:53:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:57:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:59:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:59:31       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 20:01:52       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 20:03:41       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 20:03:58       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded 20:08:52     Target Started (1/29) Target started (1/29, M31 w/Nova2021fbz) 20:13:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:15:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 20:28:01     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/29, M31 w/Nova2021fbz) 20:28:03     Target Started (2/29) Target started (2/29, UGC 1436 w/SN2021nv) 20:31:07       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:48:57     Target Completed Target completed (2/29, UGC 1436 w/SN2021nv) 20:49:00     Target Started (3/29) Target started (3/29, AT2021ckv) 20:52:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:54:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:09:39     Target Completed Target completed (3/29, AT2021ckv) 21:10:21     Target Started (4/29) Target started (4/29, AT2021dbp (CV)) 21:13:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:15:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:21:06     Target Completed Target completed (4/29, AT2021dbp (CV)) 21:22:13     Target Started (5/29) Target started (5/29, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) 21:25:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:27:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:35:33     Target Completed Target completed (5/29, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) 21:37:05     Target Started (6/29) Target started (6/29, IC 357 w/AT2021fyd) 21:41:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:43:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 21:59:20     Target Completed Target completed (6/29, IC 357 w/AT2021fyd) 21:59:22     Target Started (7/29) Target started (7/29, UGC 3502 w/AT2021cwc) 22:02:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:04:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 22:20:30     Target Completed Target completed (7/29, UGC 3502 w/AT2021cwc) 22:20:49     Target Started (8/29) Target started (8/29, SN 2021xn) 22:24:17       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:41:23     Target Completed Target completed (8/29, SN 2021xn) 22:43:11     Target Started (9/29) Target started (9/29, AT2021dtd) 22:47:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:49:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 23:05:02     Target Completed Target completed (9/29, AT2021dtd) 23:05:04     Target Started (10/29) Target started (10/29, GCVS RR Tau) 23:08:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:10:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 23:16:23     Target Completed Target completed (10/29, GCVS RR Tau) 23:16:25     Target Started (11/29) Target started (11/29, AT2021efk (CV)) 23:19:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:21:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 23:27:18     Target Completed Target completed (11/29, AT2021efk (CV)) 23:28:00     Target Started (12/29) Target started (12/29, GCVS DX Cnc) 23:31:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:34:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 23:39:58     Target Completed Target completed (12/29, GCVS DX Cnc) 23:40:00     Target Started (13/29) Target started (13/29, GCVS CN Leo) 23:43:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:45:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 23:53:55     Target Completed Target completed (13/29, GCVS CN Leo) 23:53:57     Target Started (14/29) Target started (14/29, NGC 4015) 23:57:57       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:15:42     Target Completed Target completed (14/29, NGC 4015) 00:15:44     Target Started (15/29) Target started (15/29, GCVS RZ LMi) 00:19:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:21:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 00:26:39     Target Completed Target completed (15/29, GCVS RZ LMi) 00:26:41     Target Started (16/29) Target started (16/29, AT2021bxp (CV)) 00:29:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:32:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 00:38:32     Target Completed Target completed (16/29, AT2021bxp (CV)) 00:38:34     Target Started (17/29) Target started (17/29, NGC 3515 w/AT2021fmd) 00:42:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:59:57     Target Completed Target completed (17/29, NGC 3515 w/AT2021fmd) 00:59:59     Target Started (18/29) Target started (18/29, NGC 4005) 01:03:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:05:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 01:17:21     Target Completed Target completed (18/29, NGC 4005) 01:17:43     Target Started (19/29) Target started (19/29, NGC 5018 w/SN2021fxy) 01:20:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:23:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 01:39:05     Target Completed Target completed (19/29, NGC 5018 w/SN2021fxy) 01:39:35     Target Started (20/29) Target started (20/29, IC 863 w/SN2021foa) 01:42:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:47:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 02:02:41     Target Completed Target completed (20/29, IC 863 w/SN2021foa) 02:02:43     Target Started (21/29) Target started (21/29, UGCA 310) 02:08:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:10:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 02:26:19     Target Completed Target completed (21/29, UGCA 310) 02:26:21     Target Started (22/29) Target started (22/29, UGCA 311) 02:29:01       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:46:52     Target Completed Target completed (22/29, UGCA 311) 02:46:54     Target Started (23/29) Target started (23/29, GCVS BL Lac) 02:51:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:53:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 02:56:54     Target Completed Target completed (23/29, GCVS BL Lac) 02:56:56     Target Started (24/29) Target started (24/29, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz) 03:02:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:04:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 03:20:19     Target Completed Target completed (24/29, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz) 03:25:14     Target Started (25/29) Target started (25/29, NGC 4631 w/AT2021biy) 03:44:30     Target Completed Target partially completed (25/29, NGC 4631 w/AT2021biy) 03:44:32     Target Started (26/29) Target started (26/29, IC 992 w/SN2021dwg) 03:49:59       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 04:04:23     Target Completed Target partially completed (26/29, IC 992 w/SN2021dwg) 04:04:25     Target Started (27/29) Target started (27/29, GCVS R CrB) 04:08:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:09:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22) 04:12:47     Target Completed Target completed (27/29, GCVS R CrB) 04:12:49     Target Started (28/29) Target started (28/29, GCVS U Her) 04:15:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:17:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 23) 04:24:41     Target Completed Target completed (28/29, GCVS U Her) 04:24:43     Target Started (29/29) Target started (29/29, GCVS SS Her) 04:27:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:29:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 24) 04:32:18     Target Completed Target completed (29/29, GCVS SS Her) 04:32:21   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:32:24 Session Closing Session closing 04:33:24   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 55s) 04:34:16   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 44s), Az: 90.0 deg 04:34:51   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 29s) 04:35:21   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:36:11   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:36:13 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:36:34 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 22:09:38 Dome Dome has been stationary for more than 10 mins 22:20:54 Dome Dome Movements have begun again (outage 21.3 mins)

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Operational Issues (2021-03-22 S874)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (4)
• Continuous Improvement (2)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Website is showing ObsCam pictures for an older telescope position instead of showing the current or certainly more recent telescope position. Pictures at start of session were up to 30 mins behind the current telescope position.  Pictures not showing scope at the current target position '. Problem occurred with Target 1/29 (M31 w/Nova2021fbz) and 2/29 (UGC 1436 w/SN2021nv) but not the following target 3/29 (AT2021ckv).  Investigating showing that AstroObsCam was saving 'slew' pictures to disk but not saving ObsCam pictures associated with changes in the telescope activity (even though this information was being received ok).   No TeleComm initiated FrameCaptures were saved between 20:04 and 20:49.  Because of this the ObsCam.jpg and ObsCam_Scope.jpg files weren't being copied to the 'Server' folder for onward upload to the website. Logfile shows FrameCaptures being requested from TeleComm routines at 20:09, 20:10, 20:13, 20:16, 20:28, 20:29, 20:31, 20:32, each of which should have seen a ObsCam picture getting uploaded to website.   The common factor seems to be that names include '/' character  which is presumed to result in a file save failure.  Fixed by replacing "w/" and "/" characters by "_" characters.
  Fixed 2021-03-22 (AstroObsCam 1.5.1)
   
• 1st 'Focusing Completed'  Session Event for Foc 1 Profile Wide is described as '(Profile No 1)'  but should be described as '(Profile No 1, wide)'.  The equivalent Foc2 Session event is labelled correctly, the problem is with Foc1.
  Fixed 2021-03-23 (AstroMain 3.38.9)
   
• Slaved Dome didn't move for 21.3 mins between 22:09:38 and 22:20:54.   Scope was at a position (Az 309/Alt 66  to Az 310/Alt 64) which didn't require any dome movements to keep the dome slit (Az 305) positioned on the position appropriate to telescope pointing (+/- 1 deg)
  Closed (Session)
   
• Daytime ObsCam monitoring is producing too many false alarms. After a few weeks of use it it is clear that too many false alarms are being produced by the ObsCam Motion Detection monitoring.  These are occuring due to changes in observatory wall associated with sun brightness changes which are presumed to be due to the affect of clouds passing across the sun.  An improved motion detection strategy is required that can distinguish between these natural environmental changes and a potential intruder. Fix attempted in AstroObsCam 1.5.2 (2021-03-23) by normalising pixel values based on Bitmap's average pixel brigtness value, but it didn't produce any improvement. Fixed in AstroObsCam 1.5.3 (2021-03-23) using Standard Deviation calculation and a threshold cutoff of  3.29 sigma. Whilst this resolved the issue, it had an unwelcome side-effect that was fixed in AstroObsCam 1.5.4 (2021-03-27)
  Fixed 2021-03-24 (AstroObsCam 1.5.3)

Continuous Improvement

• Query. Are any Moon Distance checks made before selecting the Near Zenith Focus Field. Is there any risk that the selected focus field lies at or very close to a bright Moon, compromising the ability to focus the scope or cause severe overexposure of the CCD camera.   Examination of code shows that no checks are currently made regarding separation from Moon. Whilst this is unlikely to be give rise to any problems given the high altitude associated wiith near zenith starfields and the lower altitude reached by the Moon at the Observatory's Latitude, it is appropriate to consider Moon Distance when selecting Near Zenith Star Field.  AstroMain 3.38.9 has therefore been modified to ensure that selected Star Field is > 20 arc deg from the Moon. 
  Fixed 2021-03-23 (AstroMain 3.38.9)
   
• AstroObsCam should open a new log file for each new night date.
  Done 2021-03-22 (AstroObsCam 1.5.1)

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