David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 885 (2021-04-14)

Notes (S884)

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Notes (S886)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (5),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Images from 2021-04-14 >>     [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-04-14)

Main aims

1. 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  2.6.9Dev4
   
• AstroMain 3.38.15,  AstroPlan 1.21.6,  AstroShCap 1.3.11, AstroGuard 1.6,   AstroVOE 1.7, AstroSN 1.5,  AstroProtect 1.6
  (AstroWeather 1.12.4, AstroAllSky 3.10.3, AstroObsCam 1.5.5 )

Highlights

Notes

• Autostart Details
   
    Autostart Earliest StartTime          2021-04-14 21:12  (-12deg-40min) Actual StartTime : 21:29
    Plan created                          2021-04-14 21:32  ( -25mins  ) 
    Plan loaded                           2021-04-14 21:33
    Expected Shutter Opening    Info      2021-04-14 21:34  ( -23 mins )   Actual Opening :   21:34
    Expected Equilbrat'n Start  Info      2021-04-14 21:35  ( -22 mins )   Actual Start :     21:35  (equilibration skipped)
    Expected Run Start          Info      2021-04-14 21:40  ( -17 mins )
    Expected Near-Zenith Foc1   Info      2021-04-14 21:41  ( -16 mins )   Actual Foc1 start  21:41 (failed)
    Expected Near-Zenith Foc2   Info      2021-04-14 21:49  (  -8 mins )   Actual Foc2 start  21:45
    Sun Altitude -12 deg                  2021-04-14 21:52
    Expected Queue Start        Info      2021-04-14 21:55  (  -2 mins )   Actual Start 21:55
    Plan Queue Start            Info      2021-04-14 21:57  ( On Track )

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance Dec Notes : Run 1 (black) failed due to occuled view (observayory roof blocked guidescope's view of sky) Run 4, Run 6 (orange) impacted by periods of ineffective Dec guiding Run 8 (orange) impacted by wrong Dec Mode ? Run 20 (orange) impacted by Dec Jump ?

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)

Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 20:58:44 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 21:12 & 03:52 21:12:31   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 21:12 21:12:32   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud 21:29:38 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:29) 21:30:10 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-04-14 S00885, ImageSaveNum: 885001) 21:30:12   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:32:07   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:32:15 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:32:18 Session Pending Session pending (2021-04-14) 21:32:20 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-04-14) 21:32:22   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.21.6) 21:32:54   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 624) 21:33:10   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 21:33:16   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:33:27 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 21:35:03   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:35:19   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 21:40:19   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 21:40:21 Session Running Session running 21:40:23   Queue Started Observing Queue started (23 targets selected) 21:41:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:45:53       Focusing Failed Foc1 focus result not accepted (Profile No 1) 21:45:56       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:48:21       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 21:50:15       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:50:31       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded 21:55:38     Target Started (1/23) Target started (1/23, GCVS ER UMa) 21:59:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:03:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 22:05:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 22:06:38     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/23, GCVS ER UMa) 22:06:40     Target Started (2/23) Target started (2/23, UGC 5421) 22:10:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:12:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:28:58     Target Completed Target completed (2/23, UGC 5421) 22:29:00     Target Started (3/23) Target started (3/23, UGC 5760 w/SN2020zoq) 22:33:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:35:38       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Ambiguous) 22:51:33     Target Completed Target completed (3/23, UGC 5760 w/SN2020zoq) 22:51:35     Target Started (4/23) Target started (4/23, NGC 3310 w/SN2021gmj) 22:55:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:57:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 23:13:40     Target Completed Target completed (4/23, NGC 3310 w/SN2021gmj) 23:13:42     Target Started (5/23) Target started (5/23, UGCA 240) 23:35:04     Target Completed Target partially completed (5/23, UGCA 240) 23:35:06     Target Started (6/23) Target started (6/23, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) 23:39:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:41:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 23:50:04     Target Completed Target completed (6/23, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) 23:50:06     Target Started (7/23) Target started (7/23, NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno) 23:54:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:56:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:12:49     Target Completed Target completed (7/23, NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno) 00:12:52     Target Started (8/23) Target started (8/23, NGC 5018 w/SN2021fxy) 00:16:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:19:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 00:34:47     Target Completed Target completed (8/23, NGC 5018 w/SN2021fxy) 00:34:49     Target Started (9/23) Target started (9/23, NGC 4018) 00:39:02       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:56:44     Target Completed Target completed (9/23, NGC 4018) 00:56:47     Target Started (10/23) Target started (10/23, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz) 01:00:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:02:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 01:17:48     Target Completed Target completed (10/23, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz) 01:17:50     Target Started (11/23) Target started (11/23, IC 863 w/SN2021foa) 01:21:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:23:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 01:39:55     Target Completed Target completed (11/23, IC 863 w/SN2021foa) 01:39:58     Target Started (12/23) Target started (12/23, IC 992 w/SN2021dwg) 01:44:24       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:02:13     Target Completed Target completed (12/23, IC 992 w/SN2021dwg) 02:02:15     Target Started (13/23) Target started (13/23, C/2020 T2 (Palomar)) 02:05:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:08:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 02:21:37     Target Completed Target completed (13/23, C/2020 T2 (Palomar)) 02:21:39     Target Started (14/23) Target started (14/23, VV 807 w/AT2021fbu) 02:25:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:42:51     Target Completed Target completed (14/23, VV 807 w/AT2021fbu) 02:42:54     Target Started (15/23) Target started (15/23, HIP 87937) 02:46:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:48:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 02:51:13     Target Completed Target completed (15/23, HIP 87937) 02:51:15     Target Started (16/23) Target started (16/23, AT2021hkn) 03:03:09   UPB.Switch Restart UPB.Switch has been restarted. 03:03:54     Target Completed Target partially completed (16/23, AT2021hkn) 03:03:56     Target Started (17/23) Target started (17/23, GCVS BL Lac) 03:06:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:08:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 03:12:15     Target Completed Target completed (17/23, GCVS BL Lac) 03:12:18     Target Started (18/23) Target started (18/23, KIC 8462852) 03:15:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:17:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 03:20:57     Target Completed Target completed (18/23, KIC 8462852) 03:20:59     Target Started (19/23) Target started (19/23, 61 Cyg) 03:23:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:25:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 03:26:57     Target Completed Target completed (19/23, 61 Cyg) 03:27:00     Target Started (20/23) Target started (20/23, GCVS HH And) 03:31:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:33:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 03:35:07     Target Completed Target completed (20/23, GCVS HH And) 03:35:09     Target Started (21/23) Target started (21/23, WDS GRB 34) 03:39:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:41:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 03:43:16     Target Completed Target completed (21/23, WDS GRB 34) 03:43:18     Target Started (22/23) Target started (22/23, 7P/Pons-Winnecke) 03:47:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:49:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 04:02:25     Target Completed Target completed (22/23, 7P/Pons-Winnecke) 04:02:27     Target Started (23/23) Target started (23/23, GCVS CY Lyr) 04:05:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:06:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 04:10:42     Target Completed Target completed (23/23, GCVS CY Lyr) 04:10:45   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:10:47 Session Closing Session closing 04:11:40   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 04:12:11   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 24s), Az: 90.0 deg 04:12:51   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 33s) 04:13:21   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:14:11   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:14:13 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:14:30 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 21:56:54 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (GCVS ER UMa) 22:07:57 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (UGC 5421) 22:52:54 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (NGC 3310) 23:15:02 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (UGCA 240) 03:03:08 UPB.Switch disconnected UPB.Switch has unexpectedly disconnected. Restart will be attempted 03:03:11 UPB.Switch UPB.Switch has been successfully restarted.

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Operational Issues (2021-04-14 S885)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (5)
• Continuous Improvement (2)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Two rogue jogs occured during the session and pointing errors were larger than in recent session. Rogue jogs have been rare during recent sessions (rare since moving from POTH Hub to DeviceHub). Scope position needs to be resynced plus at the start of next session,  followed by a short mapping run.  Rogue jogs might have occurred on Target 5/23 (UGCA 240) which was in a position very close to zenith.    Centering data for UGCA 240   1) 4.87",  2) 3.56", 3) 3.37",  4) 3.16". Examining log file shows UGCA 240 had jog discrepencies of  2.44, 2.69, 4.62,  4.63  arc mins.  The two discrepencies which are greater than 3' are counted as rogue jogs. These were jogs where the scope hardly moved in response to the jog request and are very different from the rogue jogs in POTH.Hub days where the scope moved but ended some 25-35' from intended position & often in the wrong direction.  No action required.
  Closed (Session)
   
• Zenith FWHM Chart plotted Profile 1 with a FWHM value of 0.0 .
  Fixed 2021-04-15 (AstroMain 3.38.16)
   
• Images from Target 3/23 (UGC 5760 w/SN2020zoq) had a distinct light gradient / pattern that was suspicioned to be due to IR leakage from the ObsCam.   Target UGC 5760 was located at Az 186 / Alt 46 and other targets located near due south have been observed unexpected light gradients and/or brighter than expected background since installing an IR NightCam  on 2021-02-16.  There being no moon, light pollution or cloud at the time that could otherwise explain the anomaly. Seeing the opportunity of performing a definitive test for IR leakage an opaque cover was placed in front of the NightCam and a comparison of the CCD images with the IR lights on and with them blocked. The test confirmed that the ObsCam's IR lights are causing a problem that degrades the quality of CCD images when the telescope is pointing in certain directions (see Investigation ObsCam - IR leakage onto CCD Images,  Session S885 Test (2021-04-14) ) . The issue was tested in detail during session S886 (see Investigation ObsCam - IR leakage onto CCD Images,  Session S886 Tests (2021-04-15) ) and shown to be due to IR light leaking into the imaging train between the CCD Camera and the Telescope's OTA (most likely a light leakage in the TCF-S focuser).   The issue was successfully fixed during the S886 session by tieing a jumper (jersey) around the CCD Camera adapter / TCF-S Focuser in order to block the IR light from reaching the CCD Camera chip.  This is suitable as a short to medium term fix.  The possibility of a longer term solution will be examined in due course.
  Fixed 2021-04-15  (Observatory)
   
• Near Zenith Foc1 Profile 1 for Focus Field 10 failed.   Foc1 Profile also failed for focus field 10 in the last session (S884).   In both case the Wide Focusing task is moved onto the first target with the result that first target ends up being only partially completed when it reaches the end of its time slot.    In case of S885 the Wide Focus Profile failed to use CalculateBestFocusPosition,   Peak FWHM  reported as 100.00 arc secs, Zenith FWHM (est.) reported as 0.00 arc secs.  Code needs to be modified so that FHWM is vcNull (-99).   Profile to be rerun in test mode if possible to understand failure.  In case of S884, Wide Focus Profile was successful but normal profile although successfully collected ultimately failed during QC due to an ambiguous result. Profile to be rerun in test mode to understand failure.  Ambiguous result is given if Curve Fit isn't used, which can happens if bf0 < bfAlt - 120 Or bf0 > bfAlt + 120 .  For this Profile (BestFocus From Curve, bf0 was 5735, whilst bfAlt was 5604.  The difference (131) meant that bf0 was outside the allowed range.    The tolerance has been increased from +/- 120 to +/- 150 in AstroMain 3.39.13
    Code modified 2021-05-10 (AstroMain 3.39.13) 
   
• Poor guiding on Target 5/23 (UGCA 240).  Stars trailed E-W (due to drift / PE error in RA).   PHD2 indicates that Guide Star became lost or was never set.  Target was near zenith and it is probable that GuideScope view of the sky was occluded by the observatory roof.  Although stars were visible in later guide frames the guide reference frame showed no visible stars. This is the same or similar issue that affected xxxx in session Sxxx (2021-xx-xx).    Code need to be modified to cancel guiding if there are no stars in the guide reference image and/or target is very close to zenith.  Fixed in AstroPlan 1.29.15  by ensuring that targets are no longer included in night-time observing plan at times when the target's position lies close to zenith (where Alt > 84°).
  Fixed 2022-04-24 (AstroPlan 1.29.15) 
  

Continuous Improvement

• AutoStart Monitoring should reported the expected time that Sun Altitude will reach the prescribed reference altitude. .
  Done 2021-04-15 (AstroMain 3.38.16)
   
• Although Foc1 Profile 1 was ultimately unsuccessful there was sufficient data for the Chart to be saved and preserved.  In the event Profile 1 was reused for Foc2 Profile. This should only happen if the focus star can not be found or is too dim (or is quickly lost ?).  Currently 'SavedProfileFileName' (string) is used to indicate whether to save focus profle to Live Folder/Current Session Web Page and the success or failure text written to TargetInfo Chart (aided by SavedProfileFWHM (double) and SavedProfileFailReason (string) ).    Profile ID is reset (gProfileNo = gProfileNo - 1) in Foc1 and Foc2 focusing in the event of an AbortScript (jobAbort = True) or AbortTarget (jobAbortTarget = True)  condition.   Examining Logs and FocusProfiles there is no indication that Profile1 was reused for Foc2 Profile, everything looks ok.   This appears to a be false alarm / the issue can be closed. (reviewed 2021-05-29)
  Closed  2021-05-29 (AstroMain)

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