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 Notes - Session 895 (2021-05-06)

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Bullet Session Aims & Highlights
 - Observing Result
 - Night Summary Plot
 - Session Event Log
 
Bullet Operational Issues
  - Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (3),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (4)
Bullet Images from 2021-05-06 >>      [ Local Files >> ]
Bullet DeviceHub 6.5.1.3
Bullet Investigation - Abnormal Pointing Errors & Centering Failures

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-05-06)

Main aims

  1. AstroMain.  Test out bug fixes in AstroMain 3.39.10 and collect trace data to help understand other particular issues/bugs.
  2. DeviceHub.  Test out new DeviceHub 6.5.1.3  version which addresses the issue where fast polling for telescope slews was not immediately started when the slew began.
  3. Targets. Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by time & conditions

Equipment & Software

Highlights

Notes

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan
Image
  
Observing Result
Image
   
Dome & Scope Slewing Performance
Image
  
Slew/Centering Performance
Image
  
Guiding Performance
Dec Notes : Run 2 & Run 5 (black) failed due to cloud/lost star
Run 5 (red) impacted by anomalous Dec jumps and periods of ineffective Dec guiding
Run 14 (black) impacted by having wrong Dec Guide Mode (North mode unable to correct north star drift)
Run 7 (red) impacted by anomalous Dec jump and periods of ineffective Dec guiding
Run 4 (red) impacted by periods of ineffective Dec guiding
Run 13 (red) impact by anomalous Dec jumps
Run 1 and Run 8 (orange) impact by anomalous Dec jumps
Image
Image
  
Sky Conditions (Locate Frames)
Image
  
  
Night Sky Summary Plot
Top axis: Sky Brightness at Zenith (in ADU/s)
Lefthand axis: Local Time (hh LT). Righthand axis: Sun Altitude (degs)
Image   
  
Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast
Image
Image   
  
Session Event Log
Time     Event Detail
23:11:10 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 23:11 & 02:30
23:11:14 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:11)
23:11:44 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-05-06 S00895, ImageSaveNum: 895001)
23:11:46   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox.
23:13:29   Services Started Observatory Services started
23:13:36 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
23:13:40 Session Pending Session pending (2021-05-06)
23:13:42 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-05-06)
23:13:44   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.21.6)
23:14:29   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 634)
23:14:42   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
23:14:48   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
23:14:58 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration
23:15:45   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 46s)
23:16:40 Session Running Session running
23:16:42   Queue Started Observing Queue started (14 targets selected)
23:18:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:19:00 Critical Humidity Alert Critical Humidity Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter)
23:19:02   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (high humidity)
23:19:11       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted due to HardSuspend
23:19:14       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
23:19:34   Queue Paused Queue pausing for Session Suspension
23:19:38 Session Suspended Session suspended
23:20:25   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 47s)
23:21:40 Session Resuming Session resuming
23:22:00   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 20s)
23:22:02 Session Running Session running
23:22:04   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
23:29:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:32:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide)
23:34:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
23:34:46       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
23:37:06       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3, wide)
23:39:01       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
23:39:18       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded
23:39:26     Target Started (1/14) Target started (1/14, Nova Per 2020 (CV))
23:43:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:45:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
23:47:20     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/14, Nova Per 2020 (CV))
23:47:23     Target Started (2/14) Target started (2/14, NGC 3310 w/SN2021gmj)
23:52:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:54:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5)
23:59:38   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity)
23:59:53 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter)
23:59:55   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
23:59:58     Target Aborted (2/14) Target aborted (2/14, NGC 3310 w/SN2021gmj) due to cloud
00:00:00   Queue Paused Queue paused For Session Suspension
00:00:02 Session Suspended Session suspended
00:00:48   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 49s)
00:02:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/14, NGC 3310 w/SN2021gmj) due to cloud
00:16:57   UPB.Switch Restart UPB.Switch has been restarted.
00:24:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/14, NGC 5018 w/SN2021fxy) due to other condition
00:24:31 Session Resuming Session resuming
00:25:16   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
00:25:18 Session Running Session running
00:25:20   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
00:27:16     Target Started (4/14) Target started (4/14, NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno)
00:30:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:32:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
00:49:02     Target Completed Target completed (4/14, NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno)
00:49:05     Target Started (5/14) Target started (5/14, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz)
00:51:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:53:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7)
01:00:29   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity)
01:00:31 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter)
01:00:33   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
01:00:35     Target Aborted (5/14) Target aborted (5/14, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz) due to cloud
01:00:37   Queue Paused Queue paused For Session Suspension
01:00:39 Session Suspended Session suspended
01:01:24   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s)
01:04:09 Session Resuming Session resuming
01:04:54   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
01:04:56 Session Running Session running
01:04:58   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
01:05:00     Target Started (5/14) Target started (5/14, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz)
01:13:19     Target Completed Target partially completed (5/14, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz)
01:13:21     Target Started (6/14) Target started (6/14, UGC 8426 w/AT2021knq)
01:17:50       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S)
01:35:36     Target Completed Target completed (6/14, UGC 8426 w/AT2021knq)
01:35:38     Target Started (7/14) Target started (7/14, C/2020 T2 (Palomar))
01:39:08       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S)
01:53:39     Target Completed Target completed (7/14, C/2020 T2 (Palomar))
01:53:41     Target Started (8/14) Target started (8/14, GCVS U Her)
01:56:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:58:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8)
02:06:02     Target Completed Target completed (8/14, GCVS U Her)
02:06:04     Target Started (9/14) Target started (9/14, UGC 11177 w/AT2021koq)
02:08:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:10:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9)
02:26:45     Target Completed Target completed (9/14, UGC 11177 w/AT2021koq)
02:26:47     Target Started (10/14) Target started (10/14, 61 Cyg)
02:29:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:32:00       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - failed QC check (Quadratic)
02:33:17     Target Completed Target completed (10/14, 61 Cyg)
02:33:19     Target Started (11/14) Target started (11/14, GCVS BL Lac)
02:38:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:39:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11)
02:43:24     Target Completed Target completed (11/14, GCVS BL Lac)
02:43:26     Target Started (12/14) Target started (12/14, AT2021hkn)
02:45:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:47:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12)
02:53:16     Target Completed Target completed (12/14, AT2021hkn)
02:54:50     Target Started (13/14) Target started (13/14, GCVS HH And)
02:58:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:00:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13)
03:02:32     Target Completed Target completed (13/14, GCVS HH And)
03:03:06     Target Started (14/14) Target started (14/14, NGC 7767 w/AT2021kni)
03:08:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:10:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14)
03:26:37     Target Completed Target completed (14/14, NGC 7767 w/AT2021kni)
03:26:40   Queue Completed Job Queue completed
03:26:42 Session Closing Session closing
03:27:37   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s)
03:27:57   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 13s), Az: 90.0 deg
03:29:10   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 65s)
03:29:40   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch.
03:30:29   Services Stopped Night Services stopped
03:30:31 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
03:30:43 Session Finished Session Finished
 
Session Alerts
Time     Alert Detail
00:16:57 UPB.Switch disconnected UPB.Switch has unexpectedly disconnected. Restart will be attempted
00:16:59 UPB.Switch UPB.Switch has been successfully restarted.

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Operational Issues (2021-05-06, S895)

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Critical Issues

Major Issues

Minor Issues

Small Defects

Continuous Improvement

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DeviceHub 6.5.1.3

New Version
A new version of DeviceHub was installed today (2021-05-06) just ahead of session S895.  This new version addresses the issue where fast polling for telescope slews was not immediately starting from the time that a slew was requested.

The changes in 6.5.1.3 that are associated with polling are

https://github.com/ASCOMInitiative/ASCOMDeviceHub/releases

Results

Results from session S895 (2021-05-06) showed that the new version operated ok and delivered the fast polling from the point that a slew or jog is requested.

- Fast polling begins straight away. Fresh values from the scope comes through around 1.5s after making slew request (this was delayed by up to 3-4s with previous DH version).

- Polling of a particular telescope property (e.g Altitude) now happens around every 0.9s during fast polling (it was every 1.4-1.5s with previous DH version)
   ( both with fast polling rate (gap time between poll cycles) of 0.5s )

Although the new DH version becomes the ‘official installed version’ (i.e. the one that opens up if you select Device Hub from an ASCOM Telescope Chooser)  it is not the version that opens up if I go to certain ASCOM 6.5 SP1 installed shortcuts at  Start/ASCOM Device Hub   or Start/All Programs/ASCOM Platform 6/Scope-Dome Hubs/ASCOM Device Hub  (though it is the one that opens if I go to Start/All Programs/ASCOM Platform 6/ASCOM Device Hub.   

Although the 6.5.1.3 installation says it is removing the previous version of DH this doesn’t fully happen.   The DH 6.5.1.3 install puts its executable & DLLs  at C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ASCOM\Telescope, but doesn’t remove DH 6.5.1.0  which remains present at C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ASCOM\DeviceHub (where it was installed by ASCOM 6.5 SP1) and to which the ASCOM Installed Shortcuts remain pointing to.  

This may of course be by design. It’s something that I’m aware of and I just workaround it (I open DH from my client program in order to have its window always open on the desktop, rather than having sit as a icon in the notification area, so I have to just make a small change to my code to use the new DH filepath.  No problem. )

Effect on Scope Paths

Slew To Near Zenith Focus Point (S895, DeviceHub 6.5.1.3)
 - 81.0 deg slew
- 34 az/alt points
- 1.06s average time between az/alt points

ScopePath Info | Time: 0.0,  Slewing: 0, Slew: 0.000,  Az: 181.35, Alt: 3.53
ScopePath Info | Time: 1.3,  Slewing: 1, Slew: 0.004,  Az: 181.37, Alt: 3.53,  Angular Change: 0.004
ScopePath Info | Time: 3.0,  Slewing: 1, Slew: 0.156,  Az: 181.37, Alt: 3.53,  Angular Change: 0.152
ScopePath Info | Time: 3.8,  Slewing: 1, Slew: 4.244,  Az: 181.29, Alt: 3.53,  Angular Change: 4.087
ScopePath Info | Time: 4.8,  Slewing: 1, Slew: 9.276,  Az: 181.35, Alt: 7.75,  Angular Change: 5.033
ScopePath Info | Time: 6.2,  Slewing: 1, Slew: 14.447, Az: 181.34, Alt: 12.77, Angular Change: 5.171
ScopePath Info | Time: 7.0,  Slewing: 1, Slew: 14.566, Az: 181.35, Alt: 17.93, Angular Change: 0.119
ScopePath Info | Time: 7.8,  Slewing: 1, Slew: 19.616, Az: 181.33, Alt: 17.93, Angular Change: 5.050
ScopePath Info | Time: 8.8,  Slewing: 1, Slew: 29.288, Az: 181.47, Alt: 22.97, Angular Change: 9.672
ScopePath Info | Time: 10.5, Slewing: 1, Slew: 34.589, Az: 181.64, Alt: 38.02, Angular Change: 5.301
ScopePath Info | Time: 11.5, Slewing: 1, Slew: 39.553, Az: 181.75, Alt: 42.97, Angular Change: 4.963
ScopePath Info | Time: 12.3, Slewing: 1, Slew: 44.591, Az: 181.88, Alt: 47.99, Angular Change: 5.039
ScopePath Info | Time: 13.1, Slewing: 1, Slew: 49.628, Az: 181.88, Alt: 47.99, Angular Change: 5.037
ScopePath Info | Time: 13.9, Slewing: 1, Slew: 54.571, Az: 182.03, Alt: 53.01, Angular Change: 4.943
ScopePath Info | Time: 14.9, Slewing: 1, Slew: 59.515, Az: 182.22, Alt: 57.94, Angular Change: 4.944
ScopePath Info | Time: 16.6, Slewing: 1, Slew: 64.547, Az: 182.83, Alt: 67.89, Angular Change: 5.032
ScopePath Info | Time: 17.4, Slewing: 1, Slew: 69.706, Az: 183.40, Alt: 73.03, Angular Change: 5.159
ScopePath Info | Time: 18.4, Slewing: 1, Slew: 74.699, Az: 184.40, Alt: 78.01, Angular Change: 4.993
ScopePath Info | Time: 19.4, Slewing: 1, Slew: 78.754, Az: 184.40, Alt: 78.01, Angular Change: 4.055
ScopePath Info | Time: 20.4, Slewing: 1, Slew: 79.604, Az: 187.74, Alt: 83.95, Angular Change: 0.850
ScopePath Info | Time: 21.2, Slewing: 1, Slew: 79.943, Az: 188.13, Alt: 84.29, Angular Change: 0.338
ScopePath Info | Time: 22.2, Slewing: 1, Slew: 80.198, Az: 188.13, Alt: 84.29, Angular Change: 0.256
ScopePath Info | Time: 23.3, Slewing: 1, Slew: 80.513, Az: 187.83, Alt: 84.03, Angular Change: 0.314
ScopePath Info | Time: 24.1, Slewing: 1, Slew: 80.674, Az: 187.49, Alt: 83.72, Angular Change: 0.161
ScopePath Info | Time: 25.1, Slewing: 1, Slew: 80.766, Az: 187.33, Alt: 83.56, Angular Change: 0.092
ScopePath Info | Time: 25.9, Slewing: 1, Slew: 80.804, Az: 187.24, Alt: 83.47, Angular Change: 0.038
ScopePath Info | Time: 27.7, Slewing: 1, Slew: 80.885, Az: 187.20, Alt: 83.43, Angular Change: 0.081
ScopePath Info | Time: 28.5, Slewing: 1, Slew: 80.917, Az: 187.30, Alt: 83.42, Angular Change: 0.032
ScopePath Info | Time: 29.3, Slewing: 1, Slew: 80.943, Az: 187.64, Alt: 83.42, Angular Change: 0.027
ScopePath Info | Time: 30.4, Slewing: 1, Slew: 80.954, Az: 187.91, Alt: 83.41, Angular Change: 0.011
ScopePath Info | Time: 31.2, Slewing: 1, Slew: 80.957, Az: 188.01, Alt: 83.41, Angular Change: 0.003
ScopePath Info | Time: 31.8, Slewing: 1, Slew: 80.964, Az: 188.05, Alt: 83.41, Angular Change: 0.007
ScopePath Info | Time: 33.0, Slewing: 1, Slew: 80.967, Az: 188.05, Alt: 83.41, Angular Change: 0.003
ScopePath Info | Time: 34.9, Slewing: 1, Slew: 80.972, Az: 188.05, Alt: 83.41, Angular Change: 0.005

Earlier Slew To Near Zenith Focus Point (S894, DeviceHub 6.5.1.0)
- 81.5 deg slew
- 26 az/alt points
- 1.37s average time between az/alt points

ScopePath Info | Time: 0.0,  Slewing: 0, Slew: 0.000,  Az: 182.44, Alt: 3.50
ScopePath Info | Time: 1.1,  Slewing: 1, Slew: 0.004,  Az: 182.45, Alt: 3.49,  Angular Change: 0.004
ScopePath Info | Time: 2.4,  Slewing: 1, Slew: 0.008,  Az: 182.46, Alt: 3.49,  Angular Change: 0.004
ScopePath Info | Time: 3.8,  Slewing: 1, Slew: 4.938,  Az: 183.41, Alt: 3.94,  Angular Change: 4.930
ScopePath Info | Time: 5.2,  Slewing: 1, Slew: 10.594, Az: 185.10, Alt: 13.49, Angular Change: 5.657
ScopePath Info | Time: 6.6,  Slewing: 1, Slew: 20.463, Az: 186.20, Alt: 18.48, Angular Change: 9.869
ScopePath Info | Time: 7.8,  Slewing: 1, Slew: 25.621, Az: 187.09, Alt: 23.23, Angular Change: 5.158
ScopePath Info | Time: 9.3,  Slewing: 1, Slew: 30.653, Az: 187.97, Alt: 33.36, Angular Change: 5.031
ScopePath Info | Time: 10.7, Slewing: 1, Slew: 40.378, Az: 188.48, Alt: 38.36, Angular Change: 9.726
ScopePath Info | Time: 12.1, Slewing: 1, Slew: 45.623, Az: 188.99, Alt: 43.03, Angular Change: 5.245
ScopePath Info | Time: 13.5, Slewing: 1, Slew: 50.656, Az: 190.46, Alt: 53.24, Angular Change: 5.032
ScopePath Info | Time: 14.7, Slewing: 1, Slew: 60.478, Az: 191.45, Alt: 58.22, Angular Change: 9.823
ScopePath Info | Time: 16.2, Slewing: 1, Slew: 65.634, Az: 194.60, Alt: 68.05, Angular Change: 5.156
ScopePath Info | Time: 17.6, Slewing: 1, Slew: 75.235, Az: 197.49, Alt: 72.98, Angular Change: 9.601
ScopePath Info | Time: 19.2, Slewing: 1, Slew: 78.811, Az: 201.95, Alt: 77.39, Angular Change: 3.576
ScopePath Info | Time: 20.6, Slewing: 1, Slew: 81.042, Az: 215.24, Alt: 82.74, Angular Change: 2.231
ScopePath Info | Time: 22.2, Slewing: 1, Slew: 81.289, Az: 216.70, Alt: 83.05, Angular Change: 0.247
ScopePath Info | Time: 23.6, Slewing: 1, Slew: 81.303, Az: 216.80, Alt: 83.07, Angular Change: 0.014
ScopePath Info | Time: 25.0, Slewing: 1, Slew: 81.347, Az: 216.67, Alt: 83.05, Angular Change: 0.044
ScopePath Info | Time: 25.8, Slewing: 1, Slew: 81.428, Az: 216.61, Alt: 83.04, Angular Change: 0.081
ScopePath Info | Time: 27.4, Slewing: 1, Slew: 81.462, Az: 216.58, Alt: 83.03, Angular Change: 0.034
ScopePath Info | Time: 28.8, Slewing: 1, Slew: 81.489, Az: 217.05, Alt: 83.00, Angular Change: 0.027
ScopePath Info | Time: 30.3, Slewing: 1, Slew: 81.502, Az: 217.13, Alt: 82.99, Angular Change: 0.013
ScopePath Info | Time: 31.3, Slewing: 1, Slew: 81.508, Az: 217.19, Alt: 82.98, Angular Change: 0.006
ScopePath Info | Time: 33.1, Slewing: 1, Slew: 81.511, Az: 217.20, Alt: 82.98, Angular Change: 0.003
ScopePath Info | Time: 34.3, Slewing: 1, Slew: 81.517, Az: 217.20, Alt: 82.98, Angular Change: 0.006

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Investigation - Abnormal Pointing Errors & Centering Failures

Issue: Target 9/14 (UGC 11177) and Target 11/14 (GCVS BL Lac) had unusually large Locate Point errors (23.87' & 23.99'/25.37'). 

Description:

Analysis

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This Web Page: Notes - Session 895 (2021-05-06)
Last Updated : 2024-09-30
Site Owner : David Richards
Home Page : David's Astronomy Web Site